best strategy game

I am not a very big gamer, but lately it has been coming back to me. The games that interest me the most are ones that require alot of strategy/planning/thinking. Since I have been out of gaming so long I am not sure whats good anymore and was hoping someone could recommend a really good PC strategy game. Not trying to start a flame war over this, just some titles of good games that I can investigate.

thanks

well no such thing as a "best" of anything, all just opinions so here is what i think

if you haven't played Age of Empires yet then you should, it's one of my favorite strategy games - AoE III came out last year, much better graphics than the 2nd version

also Civilization IV Came out last year - I have it and played it and it's extremely fun - even reviewed it in the Game Reviews section

just two I've played extensively to recommend to you - others include starcraft, and diablo

Why not try the Command and Conquer series? C&C 3 is now out and I think Red Alert 3 is coming out sometime soon.

I'm remember my father play a gane called Civilization when I was a little kid, that game was really popular or it's still popular thought. Try that game before but didn't understand anything so I quit.

The C&C series sold quite a lot of copies and I heard a lot of good reviews. I should give it a try sometime.

You could also try StarCraft, I heard it became an official sport in Korea O_O.

Age of Empires, Fire Emblem, they fit that kind of bill.

Ahh, Red Alert, the game that hooked me on gaming. It was pretty much the.. 1st game I ever got on the PC, my cousin gave it to me to play, and man was it worth it, such a good game.

EDIT: Didn't realize I got off-topic but.. Try C&C, great series, great games. Try Red Alert.

I'm going to Paris and then I'm going to try Wrath of the lich king and Star Craft 2 when the company Blizzard is coming. :)

Command and Conquer 2 is my favourite Strategy game. Because it's the only 1 I've played in a while. World in Conflict is supposed to be very good too though.

i can't believe any of you guys haven't said any total war game! i love playing those kinds of games! i've played rome total war for atleast 150 hours and medieval @ total war i've played just abotu the same! granted it's turned based but it's also a great game. i love it!