Oriental Empires

A distinctly Chinese (with hints of Mongol and Korean) 4X style game. Somewhat minimalist tactical battles (stack v stack in automatic combat). A fun economy to master. Alright diplomacy (which is normally pretty weak in 4X, so IDK).

I somehow keep coming back to it.

This has been on my wishlist a while, and it had a deep price reduction on the Black Friday 2024 sales.

I expected a CIV clone, but instead got more of a Heroes of Might and Magic clone minus all the supernatural elements, but with added historical realism. It is a hex-based game, which I prefer for this genre, I have played this game once so far for about six hours straight. While I could have played the Han, I instead played the group of people from near Szechuan/Sichuan (their name escapes me; I'm not a East Asian / Sino area studies specialist), and learned lots about the historical evolution of East Asian technologies that enabled urbanization and empire formation. That in and of itself is probably worth the price for me.

What else do I find compelling about the game? In no particular order: Peasants can be set to develop farmland, built roads, clear trees and the like (though gated by technological advances) without needing to build a settler unit. You can learn about/ invest in four technologies at a time, with each turn counting as investments into each of the four. You have advisors, there is a marriage system (though not as advanced as others), and innovations allow you to add more kinds of advisors/flunkies. Corruption is an issue, as it becomes worse over time. You can build shrines to placate the peasants, but I'm not sure if the shrines only benefit the nearest settlement or are empire-wide. The same goes with the installations to improve nobles' moods. Bandits flee combat. So, too, will your foes. And your units. It is relatively easy to recapture a settlement, at least before you add walls. Troops come in two flavors: nobles and peasant levies. Peasant levies are cheaper to maintain. Nobles are more effective. I had begun researching crossbows, having already gotten chariots, bows and metal weapons. Copper and jade can be mined. Mulberry trees improve your silk production. Internal trade is important. External trade is important. I don't know how large the map is, as I never reached the edge. Also, I don't know China well enough to place the rivers in my mental map, so I couldn't estimate hex-size.

In general, I find this game similar enough to western games that I can usually understand what is going on, but it is inflected with enough mainland East Asian history to make it intriguing.

This game is a lot of fun and definitely worth playing. It's actually quite innovative in a lot of ways. Here are some examples.
1. Turns happen simultaneously for the player/players and ai.
2. Cities trade with each other and it's actually important to set up a good trade network. (This includes creating production buildings, constructing ports, mining special resources, and more.)
3. Whilst you cannot control units on the battlefield you can see them battle in real time. (You can set tactics on units though)
4. Each city has two types of unrest which you have to manage (Peasant and noble unrest) instead of a global happiness system.
5. There are farmer and herder factions, each with different play styles.
6. An important part of sieging a settlement is surrounding it and breaking through its walls (especially late game) to attack which requires more thought but is also more rewarding than lowering a HP bar.
Other nice things about the game
1. Scenarios are actually fun and varied. (In my opinion especially the dlc, the best I think being the three kingdoms one.)
2. The scale can become massive with thousands of soldiers fighting in battles. (It's quite cool when you see it)
3. There are many different units to recruit.
4. The game has a map and scenario editor you can play around with.
All in all, Oriental Empires it most certainly not a civ clone but its own game. And in my opinion a great one.

Gameplay Mechanics: 8/10
Narrative: 7/10
Graphics: 7/10
Sound and Music: 7/10
Replayability: 8/10
Innovation: 8/10
Oriental Empires is a 4X turn-based strategy game that transports players to ancient China, offering a unique perspective on the genre. Combining city-building, resource management, and large-scale battles, it delivers an experience that feels distinct from traditional 4X games. The gameplay mechanics emphasize long-term planning and cultural development, earning a solid 8/10 for their depth and execution.
The narrative is rooted in historical authenticity, immersing players in the rise of Chinese civilizations from tribal beginnings to imperial dominance. While the story is primarily player-driven, the historical context adds richness to the experience. However, the lack of a structured campaign narrative limits its emotional impact, earning the narrative a 7/10.
Graphically, the game captures the beauty of ancient China with vibrant landscapes and detailed cityscapes. While functional and atmospheric, the visuals don’t break new ground in terms of technical quality, resulting in a 7/10 for graphics.
The sound and music are fitting, with traditional Chinese compositions that enhance the game’s cultural setting. However, the audio design lacks variety and polish, making it serviceable but not memorable. Sound and music score a 7/10.
Replayability is a strength of Oriental Empires, with a wide array of factions to play as, each offering unique starting conditions and playstyles. The sandbox nature of the game and dynamic AI ensure each playthrough feels distinct, earning replayability a commendable 8/10.
Innovation shines in the game’s simultaneous movement system, which adds a new layer of strategy to army positioning and movements. Instead of waiting for turns to resolve sequentially, players must anticipate and counteract enemy movements in real time. This mechanic creates tense and rewarding strategic moments, earning innovation an 8/10.
In summary, Oriental Empires offers a refreshing take on the 4X strategy genre, grounded in the rich history and culture of ancient China. The simultaneous movement system, combined with the game’s focus on cultural development and historical authenticity, makes it a compelling choice for strategy enthusiasts. It’s a solid game that rewards careful planning and thoughtful empire-building.

Mods are definitely what keep this game alive. Some mods even get more attention than the base game itself, though it's a bit unfortunate that most of them are in Chinese without English translations. Despite that, there are a few mods that are incredibly well-made and address issues from the base game.

One of the main balance issues is with factions and units—specifically, peasants and militia. They seem to overpower all other units, regardless of upgrades, but thankfully, some mods fix this. Another downside is the lack of a proper tutorial. The game is complex, and without proper guidance, it can be tough for new players to understand mechanics like units, the palace system, and edicts.

This game has such a great grand strategy vision, and it really needs a sequel to improve and expand on the ideas it introduces. It’s got potential, but it could use some refinement to reach its full potential!

I always wondered how it would feel to command hundreds of soldiers without leaving my couch. Turns out, it's epic. Great mix of strategy and real-time battles!

Great Game! Very Historical, Good Concept but it crash sometimes