Sid Meier's Covert Action (Classic) (2014)

Sid Meier's Covert Action (Classic) (2014) immerses players in a thrilling 1990s techno-thriller as super-spy Max Remington, tasked with dismantling the shadowy schemes of wild-eyed political extremists, ruthless drug lords, and military dictators. The game expertly combines intricate intelligence gathering—where players recognize faces, break codes, and unravel complex sub-plots to determine critical leads—with high-stakes direct action, deploying a range of weapons from guns and grenades to remote-control bombs. Agents can operate for the CIA, Mossad, or MI5, tackling an unlimited number of procedurally generated cases across 50 cities on three continents, offering a truly dynamic and replayable experience. This acclaimed title stands as a seminal work for its innovative fusion of strategy and action, providing players with crucial decisions international agents face daily, much like the headlines of its original era. Developed by MicroProse, its enduring legacy and commercial rights ultimately found a home under Infogrames, which later rebranded as Atari SA. The 2014 edition makes this groundbreaking espionage adventure accessible to a new generation, solidifying its position among the best games affiliated with the Atari name due to its pioneering design and lasting influence on the spy-thriller genre.