My fav historically based PC games are Civ II and Pharaoh (and the other games in the series by Impressions covering Rome, Asia, and Greece). For fantasy stuff I like the Age of Wonders series as well as Knights and Merchants, Lords of the Realm 2, Banished, Master of Magic, and Heroes of Might and Magic 3. Other great games that are fun and require thought include Roller Coaster Tycoon games and Tropico (they get progressively easier, like most games, so for a kid I'd start with Tropico 3 or 4). Those games are all strategy/building type games. Most have combat, Banished, Tropico, and Roller Coaster Tycoon do not. I get my digital games on GOG.com. Everything there is DRM free and goes on sale often.
