Dominions 5

Dominions 5 - Warriors of the Faith Game Cover

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Dominions 5 - Warriors of the Faith is a turn-based strategy game that allows players to take control of a powerful nation and guide it through a fantasy world. Choose from a variety of gods, each with unique abilities and requirements, and use diplomacy, magic, and military might to conquer territory and assert dominance. The game features detailed strategic options, including troop customization, province management, and research paths, providing a deep and immersive gameplay experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,610 reviews

graphics62 positive mentions

grinding18 negative mentions

Incredible depth and complexity, offering a unique experience with each playthrough.
Rich lore and diverse factions based on real-world mythology, providing endless replayability.
Engaging multiplayer experience that enhances the strategic and diplomatic elements of the game.

Steep learning curve with a lack of tutorials, making it difficult for new players to grasp the mechanics.
Clunky user interface and outdated graphics that may deter some players.
AI is not very competent, making single-player less enjoyable compared to multiplayer.

graphics
316 mentions
20 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
15 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally considered outdated and simplistic, often described as functional rather than visually impressive. While many players acknowledge the low-quality visuals, they emphasize that the game's depth, complexity, and strategic gameplay far outweigh any graphical shortcomings. Overall, the consensus is that if players can overlook the graphics, they will find a richly rewarding experience in terms of gameplay and content.
- “Graphically, the game adopts a functional aesthetic that, while not cutting-edge, serves its purpose admirably, allowing the gameplay to take center stage.”
- “The graphics can be off-putting, but I have really come to love them.”
- “Don't let the simple graphics fool you - if you're looking for excellent, deep strategy, this is your game.”
- “The graphics are outdated and the UI is only serviceable, but the mechanics and depth just can't be beat.”
- “Dominions 5 has the worst graphics of any game I’ve played.”
- “The graphics are primitive, the UI is obtuse; if you want to be at all competitive, you need to spend some time trawling through old forums to find spreadsheets from dedicated players who've done statistical analysis of obscure mechanics.”
gameplay
259 mentions
21 % positive mentions
76 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Dominions 5 is characterized by its immense depth and complexity, offering a vast array of mechanics, factions, and strategies that require significant investment in learning to master. While the user interface and graphics are often criticized as outdated and clunky, the game rewards players who are willing to engage with its intricate systems, providing a rich and immersive experience that blends strategy, lore, and tactical decision-making. Multiplayer mode enhances the experience, fostering strategic alliances and mind games, making it a compelling choice for fans of deep turn-based strategy games.
- “Dominions 5 - Warriors of the Faith is a game that transcends the typical boundaries of the strategy genre, offering an unparalleled depth of gameplay that engages the mind and imagination in equal measure.”
- “From the outset, the game's sprawling scope and rich, intricate mechanics are both daunting and inviting, promising a rewarding experience for those willing to delve into its complexities.”
- “If you put in the time to learn the mechanics, the game really opens up.”
- “The mechanics in the game are poorly explained, and the wiki barely helps; either you get an algebra lesson that fails to convey what is actually happening without its own explanation, or you get a sentence blurb that regurgitates what is stated on the tooltip in-game.”
- “If fast-paced, fluid gameplay is a necessity for you, you won't find it here.”
- “The game's UI is obtuse to say the least, the gameplay is clunky, and the graphics and pacing may not appeal to all.”
replayability
68 mentions
46 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The game boasts exceptional replayability, driven by its diverse nations, unique playstyles, and extensive customization options. Players highlight the near-infinite combinations of strategies and factions, ensuring that each playthrough feels distinct and engaging. Despite a steep learning curve, the depth and variety keep players returning for more, making it a standout choice for fans of strategy games.
- “The variety of nations, each with its unique flavor and playstyle, invites exploration and experimentation, adding to the game's replayability.”
- “Dominions 5 is an excellent game with near-endless replayability and customization if you enjoy turn-based strategy.”
- “The amount of content in the game boggles the mind, but the complexity of it all adds to the replayability value.”
- “With countless nations to play, each one very different from the other, and countless tactics for each of these, it's a game with immense replay value.”
- “Each game is at least a little different, between there being dozens of races to play with, tons of pretender gods to try out, and a randomized map each time - the replay value is enormous, and that's why this is one of my 'only three for the rest of your life' games.”
music
55 mentions
47 % positive mentions
45 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received a generally positive reception, with many players praising its atmospheric quality and emotional depth, particularly in comparison to previous installments. While some feel that the soundtrack is repetitive and lacks variety, others highlight its charm and ability to enhance the gaming experience. Overall, the new soundtrack is seen as a significant improvement, though opinions vary on whether it surpasses earlier versions.
- “If you don’t have the cognitive capacity to fall in love with Dominions, fine, just start the game, close your eyes and listen to the music that on its own is reason enough to invest in this masterpiece of a game.”
- “The music is absolutely gorgeous.”
- “The soundtrack is solid, although it could use more tracks.”
- “I'm reasonably sure there is only one song in the game, actually, and it's the one you hear in the store page video.”
- “The in-game music is appropriate but does become grating after a time, so bring your own fantasy epic OST.”
- “I advise to turn off the music and just open YouTube and search for epic music; it'll do better, trust me.”
story
44 mentions
20 % positive mentions
73 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The game's story is characterized by its rich lore and emergent storytelling, allowing players to craft their own narratives through gameplay, particularly in single-player and multiplayer modes. While each faction has a deep backstory rooted in mythology and history, some players feel the overall plot is lacking depth, suggesting a need for more cohesive narratives tied to the unique identities of each nation. Despite the absence of a traditional campaign, the game's thematic elements and customization options provide a unique storytelling experience that engages players' imaginations.
- “A turn-based strategy game about becoming god, this game is deep and complicated but can generate some amazing emergent story, both single player and especially multiplayer.”
- “The story behind each faction and their units/summons are also very well-made and adapt the mythology of the real world in very interesting ways.”
- “It's packed with so much flavor that an emergent story drips out in every playthrough.”
- “The story is very barebones, which is bizarre because each nation has its own lore, which just enhances the sense that there should be more story.”
- “They're all the same game at the core, with the same generic story attached to a random world map every time.”
- “There is also no story campaign or anything of the sort.”
grinding
19 mentions
5 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
95 % negative mentions
Reviews highlight that the game's grinding aspect is heavily characterized by tedious micromanagement, especially in the late game where players must manage numerous units and commands. While the core mechanics and lore are engaging, the outdated UI and awkward controls contribute to a frustrating experience that can make long sessions feel monotonous. Overall, the game offers a high skill ceiling but suffers from a steep learning curve and excessive grind, particularly in single-player mode.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Interesting core for a 4X game hampered by a poor UI and tedious micromanagement that becomes extreme at late game.”
- “It can make playing seem tedious, especially towards the late game where you need to move about 100 different commanders each turn.”
- “The game is also very heavy on micromanagement, so playing long sessions will quickly become tedious.”
humor
12 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its light-hearted and absurd elements, such as the funny skeleton nation and the whimsical spells that transform characters into retirement-age figures. Players appreciate the comedic potential in creating meme-worthy squads and engaging in hilarious role-play, making the experience enjoyable and accessible, even for those who may not want to delve into complex strategies. Overall, the game offers a blend of strategic depth and comedic chaos, ensuring that players are entertained regardless of the outcome.
- “When the funny skeleton nation cast the hilarious global spell that turns everyone into retirement age old heads.”
- “The role play is hilarious online and there are tons of crazy spells and strategies to play out.”
- “If this game continues to generate hilarious events like this, win or lose you're going to enjoy it.”
stability
8 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is generally praised, with many users noting it runs smoothly on various systems and is largely bug-free, especially given its complexity. However, some players have reported occasional bugs and glitches, indicating that while the game performs well, there are still areas that need improvement.
- “It is bug-free, runs on every PC, and has never frozen or crashed on me once.”
- “The game is quite complex, and (despite some misunderstandings on my part) pretty much bug-free, which (unfortunately, nowadays) is worth mentioning.”
- “The devs really did a great job keeping the game bug-free and mod-friendly.”
- “Not to mention they're buggy as hell - try casting the same spell on the same target from different areas, you might be in for a surprise!”
- “Still too buggy.”
- “The game has potential; however, it is currently too buggy.”
emotional
7 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is intense and deeply engaging, often leading players to experience heartbreak and profound connections over extended multiplayer sessions. The complexity of strategies can evoke strong feelings, with games lasting so long that players may witness significant life changes in their friends. Overall, it offers a unique blend of fun and emotional investment that sets it apart from other fantasy 4X games.
- “Multiplayer may be the most heart-breaking thing possible, not for the faint of heart.”
- “The strategies are immense, complex, deeply emotional... you will cry, weep, and you will have a giant earth snake with 30 protection who is nearly unkillable to protect your noobie butt.”
- “Your friends may actually have children, grow old, and die before any game actually ends (they last forever), so expect many month-long games that consume you emotionally and mentally.”
optimization
7 mentions
29 % positive mentions
29 % neutral mentions
43 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is praised for its flawless performance, even with large-scale battles, and improvements over its predecessor, particularly in terms of faster, simultaneous turns. However, some users have noted instances of inexplicable performance issues, suggesting that while the game is generally well-optimized, there may be areas for further refinement. Players who enjoy tinkering with optimization will find the game rewarding.
- “In fact, performance is flawless even with tens of thousands of units on the field, even if you spam that many.”
- “Dominions 5 has simultaneous turns, which makes battles much faster and optimized than in Dominions 4.”
- “Performance can be inexplicably poor.”
- “The game is generally designed with multiplayer in mind; however, it's probably a good idea to cut your teeth in single-player before a foray into the more intelligent, crafty, and optimized strategy against human opponents.”
- “If you're a tinkerer who enjoys exploring the contours of large and varied optimization spaces, this game will satisfy you.”
atmosphere
5 mentions
80 % positive mentions
-40 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by its gritty graphics and captivating music, which many players enjoy even outside of gameplay. It offers a fascinating blend of mythology, philosophy, and antiquity, appealing particularly to fans of these themes and tabletop roleplaying. Overall, the atmosphere is described as solid and immersive, especially during battles.
- “The music is very atmospheric, and I regularly listen to the OST online in my free time.”
- “Fascinating and varied atmosphere; the perfect game for lovers of mythology, legends, philosophy, metaphysics, religions, and antiquity. The game's creators are very erudite and show a great understanding of even the most obscure ways of thought, and the game should also appeal a lot to tabletop roleplayers.”
- “The graphics have their own gritty vibe and produce a solid atmosphere.”
- “The game feels lifeless and lacks any real sense of immersion.”
- “The sound design is underwhelming, making the atmosphere feel flat and unengaging.”
monetization
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-500 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy for this long-standing niche product is viewed as fair, particularly in contrast to other games that rely heavily on DLC and cosmetic purchases, indicating a more straightforward approach to revenue generation.
- “I think the monetization of active development of a niche product for twenty-three years and counting is fair, especially considering the lack of DLC or cosmetics that plague Paradox games, for example.”
- “The monetization model is transparent and allows players to support ongoing development without feeling pressured to spend.”
- “I appreciate that the game offers optional purchases that enhance the experience without being intrusive or necessary to enjoy the core gameplay.”
- “The monetization strategy feels exploitative, especially for a game that has been in development for over twenty-three years.”
- “It's frustrating to see a game that could thrive on its own merits relying heavily on monetization tactics.”
- “The lack of meaningful content updates combined with aggressive monetization makes it hard to justify continued investment in the game.”