Subset Games created two amazing games: FTL & Into The Breach
I'm not sure if this counts as a "patient gamer" because I played them to death years ago...but I've been playing both again recently and they're just perfect little games with a ton of replayability. They're not retro (FTL 2012, ITB 2018) but they're old enough to regularly go on sale which is great!
Highly recommended if you like roguelite strategy games.
If you have any similar games to suggest, please leave a comment. I'm sure there's tons of great strategy games I've missed over the years
If you have enjoyed FTL and are looking for more of the same, check out the multiverse mod package - adds a ton of content including overarcing story elements and unique ship and race unlocks.
Yeah, the mods are pc only. Multiverse feels like it quadruples the size of the game. Not every single element of it is fully fleshed out but there's some really cool and unique stuff. They add new ships, crew, quests, sectors, weapons, and secrets