I've given up on Civilization in favor of Europa Universalis IV. What it lacks in epic-scale from the ancient era, it makes up for with lovely detail. Attrition

I've given up on Civilization in favor of Europa Universalis IV. What it lacks in epic-scale from the ancient era, it makes up for with lovely detail. Attrition may kill more of your army than the enemy, peasant uprisings and revolts are common (rather than signs of epic mismanagement), papal elections and the Protestant Reformation are intricately structured gameplay mechanics... or you could play as the Aztecs and contend with a 'doom' countdown which can only be sated by occupying enemy lands for human sacrifice. :P