With school starting up again, it's time to get the old brain running. While awaiting the release of World in Conflict, World at War and StarCraft II, here are five games guaranteed to sharpen the mind.

Civilization IV: Beyond the Sword

The most famous strategy game in history deals with the making of history. Building an empire from the ground up burns away countless hours as people strive to win through superior military, economics, technology or culture. Civ4 mixes things up by including religion, while the Warlords expansion increases the player's ability to make war, and Beyond the Sword rounds things out with corporations, espionage and a new space race. Players learn all about history while conquering the world.

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