We Love It's Guide to…
Lead an ancient Chinese tribe from one settlement to empire, managing growth, research, diplomacy and armies that clash on-map.
Released 14 Sep 2017
Grow Tribal Settlements
Build Trade Networks
Set Army Formations
Turn based 4X strategy game, recreating the civilizations of ancient China. Develop your land, build great cities, raise huge armies and fight epic battles, with hundreds of soldiers fighting right on the game map. Advance your technologies, culture and religion to create one of mankind’s biggest empires.
Developed by Shining Pixel Studios · Published by Iceberg Interactive









Begin as a tribe or small state with a single settlement on a map of China and Mongolia. Expand your territory and pursue recognition as the Son of Heaven, through military strength or diplomacy.
Grow settlements by managing population and food, improving land, and constructing buildings. Markets and ports support trade, while research advances technology, culture, philosophy, and religion. Leaders, authority, unrest, and edicts shape the stability of your expanding realm.
Give orders before ending each turn, then watch armies move and battles unfold on the main map. Set formations and battle orders rather than directing each soldier individually. Campaigns also involve diplomacy with rival factions, and multiplayer supports up to 15 players.
Players who enjoy Oriental Empires often praise the scale of its on-map battles, the freedom to develop a small settlement into an empire, and its focus on ancient China. Some also appreciate managing cities and seeing large armies clash across the map. Other reviewers find the systems and interface difficult to understand, and describe the experience as slow or repetitive, especially later in a campaign.
Step into the world of the ancient Orient. Control a city or tribe from the dawn of Chinese history, and turn it into a great empire. Develop your land, create great cities, raise huge armies and fight epic wars. Advance your technology, culture and religion to create one of mankind’s great civilizations. All the action takes place on one spectacular game map that brings to life the mountains, forests, plains and deserts of China. Zoom in close to review your troops and see your peasants toiling, or zoom out for a strategic overview. Plan your battles, end your turn, and then watch as your armies obey your orders, with hundreds of soldiers battling right on the game map.
FEATURES
Start out as a single nation or tribe, starting from humble beginnings with a single settlement and expand your empire and develop your culture with the aim of becoming the universally recognized Son of Heaven and ruler of the world.
Persuade the other factions to recognize you as such by either military force, or by diplomatic persuasion.
Play as one of 24 different factions each with their own special bonuses or penalties.
Vast beautifully rendered map featuring an attractive and authentic depiction of the landscape of China and Mongolia.
Large scale battles with hundreds or thousands of soldiers, depicted in detail right on the game map. Watch skilled armies and reinforcements go to battle, according to the battle orders and formations set by the player.
Fully animated 3D models, with variations in face and clothing for each model, including infantry, cavalry, chariot and artillery units, as well as naval forces.
Long seamless zoom range lets you step right into the game world or zoom out for a strategic overview.
Develop your settlements by constructing buildings and developing the landscape around them, build markets and ports to enable trade by land and water.
Elaborate research tree including technology as well as cultural, philosophical and religious developments.
Many other elements will determine the outcome of you quest for dominance such as Leaders, Sieges, Unrest and Rebellion, and Authority and Culture ratings.
As Emperor, set edicts, laws and decrees to balance power and move into a glorious new Era, with new technologies and military units that change the game!
Conquer together or betray your allies. Anything goes in multiplayer mode, supporting up to 15 players.

| Platforms | Windows |
|---|---|
| Achievements | 60 |
| Age ratings |
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| Controller required | No |
| DLC / extras | 2 listed on Steam |
| Content notices |
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| Metacritic | 74/100 View on Metacritic |
| Website | Official website |