Empire Deluxe Combined Edition

About

"Empire Deluxe Combined Edition" is the latest installment in the classic strategy game series, now available on Steam. The goal is to conquer all cities on the map while preventing opponents from doing the same. With a variety of units and strategies, players must balance offense and defense in their quest for imperial domination.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Empire Deluxe Combined Edition screenshot

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 134 reviews

graphics6 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

Empire Deluxe Combined Edition is a nostalgic and addictive strategy game that retains the core mechanics of the original while offering modern enhancements and customization options.
The game features a variety of gameplay modes, including random map generation and unit customization, providing endless replayability and strategic depth.
Despite its dated graphics, the game is praised for its engaging gameplay and the ability to play against both AI and human opponents, making it a classic choice for strategy enthusiasts.

The AI can be weak and unchallenging, often leading to frustrating gameplay experiences, especially in the early game where it may produce invincible units.
The user interface and controls have been criticized for being less intuitive compared to previous versions, making it difficult for long-time fans to adapt.
Some players feel that the new features and units do not integrate well with the existing gameplay mechanics, leading to a sense of imbalance and disappointment.

graphics
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
70%
10%
The graphics of the game are largely described as dated and simplistic, reminiscent of 80s and DOS-era visuals, which some players find charming and nostalgic. While the graphics may not appeal to those seeking modern aesthetics, many reviewers emphasize that the game's strategic depth and addictive gameplay far outweigh any visual shortcomings. Overall, the consensus is that the game prioritizes gameplay over flashy graphics, making it a rewarding experience for those who appreciate classic design.
- “This modern version has much better graphics, but it's still a blast to play.”
- “While some may consider the now dated graphics a negative, those who have grown up playing the series take the same comfort from those familiar graphics as one might get from donning one's favorite, well broken-in pair of slippers.”
- “Despite simple graphics, the game is full of wonderful tactical and strategic gameplay.”
- “The graphics are nothing to look at since they are from the 80's and the sound is... well... just turn it off.”
- “The graphics are dated.”
- “The graphics are simple and even crude.”
gameplay
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
30%
30%
The gameplay of this reworked classic 4x game remains engaging and relevant, offering a blend of simple mechanics with substantial tactical and strategic depth. Players appreciate the customization options and the new supply and drain mechanics, which enhance decision-making and replayability. Despite its dated graphics, the game continues to provide a rich and enjoyable experience that has stood the test of time.
- “This version has been reworked for modern computers and the gameplay holds up well compared to newer 4X games.”
- “All the variants are available, so you can customize your gameplay for greater challenges as your familiarity with the game grows.”
- “Despite simple graphics, the game is full of wonderful tactical and strategic gameplay.”
- “The new supply system and drain mechanic really adds the element of 'do I really need 6 more infantry divisions?'”
- “It’s dated but still has the core mechanics that make it a solid game that people have loved for over 30 years.”
- “Yes, this game is quite old, but it has more gameplay (and replay) than 98% of the games out there.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players note that while grinding is a significant aspect of the game, it is mitigated by features like convoys, auto-explore, and customizable units that help manage the experience. However, some express concerns about the potential tedium in the late game, where the gameplay can shift to a repetitive "mop up" phase after reaching a certain tipping point. Overall, the grinding is seen as enjoyable up to that point.
- “You're going to be doing a lot of grinding.”
- “It does have what I consider an end-game issue in that there is a tipping point after which it's just mop up, which can be tedious, but it's still fun clawing to that tipping point.”
- “That could soon become very tedious in a game with a large map, and I have seen it be very tedious in other games. However, this game has a lot built into it to manage that automatically, with convoys, paths, auto-explore mode, etc. So many different types of units, all of which can be heavily customized if need be.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
150%
The game offers significant replayability due to its adjustable difficulty levels, allowing players to tailor their experience from easy to challenging. Its solid strategy foundation, combined with simple rules and addictive gameplay, further enhances the incentive to replay.
- “Difficulty can range from trivial to outright impossible depending on how you configure your game, and there is a ton of replayability thanks to this.”
- “The emphasis has always been on presenting a solid strategy game with simple rules, addictive playability, and engaging replayability.”
- “The game lacks meaningful choices, making replayability feel pointless.”
- “Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to play again.”
- “The limited variety in gameplay mechanics leads to a repetitive experience.”
story
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews indicate that the story aspect is either non-existent or not a focal point, with one user expressing frustration over AI decisions rather than engaging narrative elements.
music
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
There are no available reviews or comments regarding the music aspect of the game.
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report that the game is well-optimized, with smooth performance even on large maps, such as the 400x500 Europe map, showing no noticeable drops in performance.
- “I've been playing on the 400x500 Europe map without any discernible drop in performance.”