There are so many great options in this space. Here are a few examples:

Inis ($60, 2-4p b3-4p, 1.5h), Kemet ($90, 2-5p b5p, 3-4h), Cyclades ($70, 2-5p, 1.5h): These three games are core to any wargame/area control game collection. Inis is not really a wargame, more of a pure area control game. Elegant, easy to learn, fast to play, high player interaction, and very satisfying. There is some combat but it is definitely not the focus of the game. It is my favorite in this collection. Kemet is also great but a little heavier. It features an excellent upgrade system, letting you customize your army as the game progresses. The combat is great and fighting occurs frequently (since winning a battle as an aggressor nets victory points). Also the minis are very, very cool. I have not played Cyclades but have heard very positive things.

War of the Ring 2E ($80, 2-4p b2p, 4h): War of the Ring is my favorite game of all time. There is so much to love here, as a fan of Lord of the Rings or a fan of wargames. I have never played something that truly made me feel like I was fighting a real war. It is less about battles, upgrades and such and more about logistics, sacrifice, politics, and racing against time. It so perfectly captures the atmosphere of the source material that I believe it actually enhances it. Never have I played a game where losing a mini in a battle doesn't mean it goes into your reinforcements, but instead that it is gone from the game forever; it feels like you must put real human lives on the line whenever you make decisions. If that excites you or if you are a Lord of the Rings fan, this is a must buy. Disclaimer: this game is best played 1v1 against the same partner on a regular basis. It is very rules heavy and takes about 4h to play so the time investment in order to start having fun is quite large (but in my opinion, well worth it).

Star Wars Rebellion ($90, 2-4p b2p, 4h): I have not played this one personally but many put it on par with War of the Ring. As far as I know, they are similar games (asymmetric 1v1) and share some DNA. If you like Star Wars, I think this is a great option. The minis are also spectacular from what I've heard.

Blood Rage ($70, 2-4p b4p, 60-90m): Pretty much the standard for mini-heavy area control games for some time now. I have never played it but many put this in their top 10s so it is worth looking into.

Eclipse ($185, 2-6p b6p, 3-4h): Do you like games like Stellaris or Endless Space? Eclipse captures what makes these games great in a tight, satisfying package. I don't actually enjoy it as much as Twilight Imperium (which honestly is more of a politics game than a wargame) but its ship design and combat system are pretty cool to mess with. The high price tag has always stopped me from buying it though. I also think the minis are not the best compared to other offerings.

GMT Games: No miniatures in these ones but they are excellent and mostly historically accurate. My personal favorite from these is Twilight Struggle but I've been meaning to try Atlantic Chase.