More recent than either. The rate at which games in this series are released was increased after this game.

#13

'ANNO 1602'

also called '1602 A.D.' (US) for the PC released in 1998.

This city-building game could very well be the game I have played the most hours of all time. In fact, I think there is only one other game in existence that can take that crown, and it hasn't been mentioned in my list just yet. Since 'Anno 1602's' release in wonder-year 1998, I have played this game nearly non-stop and though I have shifted to 'Anno 1404' recently (which I had since release, but it took a while to stick) with a friend of mine, I have still played it plenty this year. This game is timeless to me, it is in my very veins.

The player takes control of a ship, and must colonize an island for the land from whence it came. This starts off simple enough, with settlers merely demanding food to survive easily provided by a few fishing-huts. However, to expand the settlement, the population begin to demand more goods and more public buildings as they advance and become more prosperous.

The challenge in this game is to build a settlement large enough and prosperous enough to build the large Cathedral and Palace buildings, only available when your settlement has become a city with plenty wealty inhabitants sustained by your network of islands providing all the goods the populace needs and supported by the vast trade and defence provided by your fleet.

#12 Hint:

Today most known for it's multiplayer aspect, this first game in the series revolved around a campaign that followed three different paths of three different characters from three different countries fighting to reach the same goal.

GODDAMMIT.

I felt really clever for having worked out this one :P

#14 - Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun Firestorm (Kudos to no-one for guessing this)

Without a shadow of a doubt the best RTS I've ever played.  Not the most balanced; nor the best online community, but goddamn it was fantastic amounts of fun.

The near-future setting; wacky yet serious plot; crazy amount of ridiculous units and fantastic additions such as stealth and underground units really added so many different layers to this.  At the time it was a revelation.  Graphics were sharp and the framerate was as smooth as can be.

Really, I can't compliment this game enough.  It hit every note I expect from an RTS and is an experience I've been trying to relive with newer games but they just never seem to capture me in the same way that Tiberian Sun (and Firestorm) did.

Oh, and this guy.  Fuck this guy:

#13 - Theme Hospital (Kudos to Soulfly for guessing this)

Completing the "games involving managing units" section of my list is Bullfrog's finest hour.  I'm sure you've seen me on the forums praising them time and time again for being my favourite company of all time, so I'm sure you can appreciate how much I love this game.

Theme Hospital just mixes in everything I love and expect from them.  Micro-management is tweaked just right to always give you something to do but never be overwhelmed.  The traditional Bullfrog off-the-wall humour is in there, asking you to treat 'diseases' such as infectious laughter; hairyitis and transparancy, caused by a range of reasons including licking the lids of yoghurt pots; eating pizza found under the cooker and prolonged exposure to the moon.  Throw in a ridiculously hyperactive receptionist announcing every little thing about the hospital, and you've got a recipe for tonnes of laughs.

Just like with Tiberian Sun, I really cannot praise this game enough.  Bullfrog just got everything they could've possibly done right with this game and it shines through as a great example of why they were so brilliant.

Clue for my #12 - A side "quest" in this game told the touching yet incredibly depressing story of a young girl who lost her mother and dreamt of the stars.

Super Mario Galaxy :3

Borderlands 2 or Infamous 2?

Mu-hahah.

And also:

*raises glass to your #13*

Very good job!