Some retro games that I think had great mechanics: Deadlock: turn-based strategy game, like Civilization, but in a sci-fi setting. You had to manage resources

Some retro games that I think had great mechanics: Deadlock: turn-based strategy game, like Civilization, but in a sci-fi setting. You had to manage resources and colonizer during each turn, but there were cut-scenes for battle events. Dark Colony: very fast paced RTS game. Different than most, you couldn't place buildings anywhere in the map, only control access to resources and deny area to rivals using your units. Well balanced units. I think it had amazing graphics and sound design for the time (1997).