Subterfuge is amazing (PvP(only)/RTS/free/android/ios). Games take 1-2 weeks, free model is all good and still competitive (premium is cheap one time purchase anyway, no p2w). Source: over 1 year ago

I still dream of a Subterfuge-like (http://subterfuge-game.com) real time game set in the Expanse universe. Source: almost 2 years ago

I'm really curious what you'd think of Subterfuge, which is a super slow RTS that's mostly about scheduling clever maneuvers hours in advance, and viscious diplomacy and betrayals. It's amazing and very stressful and each match lasts like a week in real time. Source: almost 2 years ago

I'd love to see some more great Free-For-All (FFA) games. So much interesting emergent gameplay, game-theory musing, and player-driven engagement. I used to love Warcraft 3 custom game modes that provided this style of gameplay. It results in folks teaming up, then there are inevitable betrayals, back-door trading deals, and all sorts of player-invented fun layered on top of what is otherwise a relatively basic... - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago

Not to be confused with Pioneer Spacesim, the remake of Elite 2, a free online game https://pioneerspacesim.net/. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago

Pioneer space sim https://pioneerspacesim.net/ Crashes when entering multiple star systems for me. Source: almost 2 years ago

I found the flight mechanics of Pioneer space sim to be realistic. https://pioneerspacesim.net/. Source: almost 2 years ago

Fans of the game have made games - see pioneer. https://pioneerspacesim.net/ - this should give you an inkling of what is possible compared to what you might wish. Source: over 2 years ago

Probably Elite. Specs are sadly below the minimums for the modern incarnation of Elite Dangerous, but Oolite and Pioneer are free open-source takes on the first and second games of the series that are worth suggesting to him even if it doesn't help get you a present. Source: over 2 years ago