XeroMan

Many games already mentioned above, but I would add in Panzer Corps. A faithful remake/update of SSI's Panzer General from the 90s. Love it!

Like many others I really like the idea of terraforming and it should be slow and/or expensive. This thread has dealt mainly with dead planets - what about opening up more tiles on habitable planets? You settle a planet and have the area around your outpost cleared, and you gradually open up more sectors to build in. Then planet size will matter far more. A large habitable planet on which you can open up the full planetary map for exploitation (after a lengthy investm