Imperator: Rome

66%
Game Brain Score Based on 16,045 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • graphics
Imperator: Rome Game Cover
Huge, inventive and the reason I'm sleep deprived. It's brilliant.
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"Imperator: Rome" is a grand strategy game set in the classical era, allowing players to build and manage their own ancient empire. Create and govern your population, navigate treachery, and maintain religious loyalty, as you step into the shoes of legendary historical figures such as Alexander, Hannibal, and Caesar. The game features character management, cultural development, and a focus on political and military strategy.

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  • Windows
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Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

66%
Audience ScoreBased on 16,045 reviews
gameplay773 positive mentions
optimization163 negative mentions
  • gameplay3,284 mentions

    The gameplay of *Imperator: Rome* has evolved significantly since its rocky launch, with many players noting improvements in mechanics and overall enjoyment, particularly after the 2.0 update. While the game incorporates elements from other Paradox titles like *Europa Universalis IV* and *Crusader Kings II*, it often feels shallow and repetitive, with many mechanics lacking depth and variety. Players appreciate the potential for future updates and DLCs to enhance gameplay, but many still find the current state of the game lacking in engaging content and complexity.

    • “The gameplay is actually incredibly deep and fun.”
    • “Very good amount and layers of mechanics, and a lot of different ways to handle the development and rise of your favorite antiquity state.”
    • “Imperator: Rome offers well-thought-out gameplay mechanics, and the systems work together really well.”
    • “The gameplay loop falls somewhere between EU4 and CK3, but doesn't find a mixture of those which is actually fun.”
    • “The mechanics feel like a big ol mashup of EU4, CK2, and Stellaris, which is great because I love all 3 of those games.”
    • “The game is empty, boring, and the mechanics are a step backwards.”
  • story519 mentions

    The story aspect of "Imperator: Rome" has received mixed feedback, with many players noting that while the game features a mission system that provides some direction and flavor, it often lacks depth and variety. Players appreciate the unique mission trees for major nations, which enhance the gameplay experience, but criticize the generic missions available for smaller nations and the repetitive nature of the content. Overall, while the game has potential for storytelling through its mechanics, many feel it still falls short in delivering a compelling narrative experience compared to other Paradox titles.

    • “The amount of flavor, mission trees, and unique events created by the Invictus and Terra Indomita mod teams revived the game, and in my opinion, saved it.”
    • “The new mission system really sets Imperator apart from previous games, it is somewhat reminiscent of HOI focus or EU4 missions, but feels better than either, giving you clear short-term goals to help with your territorial ambitions.”
    • “The missions are fun, although constant conquest can get monotonous.”
    • “The story of Imperator makes me sad, because I genuinely believe that this game had massive potential, especially after the 2.0 update.”
    • “The missions system is deeply flawed where you're given the general objective of the mission, but can't see the specifics nor the rewards.”
    • “There is no real story, even though the game gives you missions to guide you through or giving you a general idea of what you could do.”
  • graphics495 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals and detailed map design, often described as the best in Paradox's catalog. Players appreciate the vibrant aesthetics that effectively bring the ancient world to life, although some have noted issues with the user interface and performance on lower-end systems. Overall, while the graphics are a highlight, they are sometimes seen as overshadowing gameplay depth and mechanics.

    • “Visually, the game is stunning, with beautifully crafted maps and vibrant graphics that bring the ancient world to life.”
    • “The graphics and map are up there among the best of the genre, and the synergy of a lot of the mechanics means that there is purpose to everything that you do in the game.”
    • “The graphics are absolutely stunning; this is the best looking game Paradox has put out as of yet.”
    • “I really don't understand the move away from the beautiful map style of Imperator to clunky, awful, and frankly ugly maps that just kill any satisfaction for me (why do you force me into geographical mode when I zoom in? Stop it!)”
    • “This game takes the worst mechanics from all three and mushes them together with graphics that are somehow less understandable than the terrain map.”
    • “The graphics are terrible; there is no customization or even options to choose from during gameplay, even moving troops around the map isn't smooth.”
  • optimization382 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting significant performance improvements since launch, particularly after recent patches. However, issues such as stuttering, frame drops, and crashes persist for some users, especially on lower-end systems or during late-game scenarios. Overall, while the game shows potential for better optimization, it still requires further refinement to achieve consistent performance across all platforms.

    • “Performance is also the best out of all the modern Paradox titles--by far.”
    • “The game has improved a lot over the last few patches in terms of both gameplay and performance (I think I played on almost all patches).”
    • “The new content, such as missions, is a welcome addition and the performance tweaks are much appreciated.”
    • “The downside is that the game is incredibly poorly optimized, and will absolutely melt your computer, and it gets worse with every update.”
    • “I would still buy the game but beware that the performance on Mac is absolutely terrible even if you have the recommended specs you can barely run the game on its lowest settings.”
    • “The game lacks content in almost every angle and was ripe with performance issues from day one.”
  • music243 mentions

    The music in *Imperator: Rome* has received mixed reviews, with many praising its beautiful and atmospheric soundtrack that enhances the game's ancient setting. However, players have criticized the limited number of tracks, leading to repetitiveness during extended play sessions, and the controversial decision to sell the complete soundtrack as a separate DLC. Overall, while the music is generally well-composed and fitting, its scarcity and the monetization strategy have left some players disappointed.

    • “The music is sumptuous, and the visual design perfectly aligns with the ancient tone, with an interface that brings to mind the marble buildings of the time.”
    • “Perhaps the most atmospheric grand strategy game I have played to date, with amazing graphics, soundtrack, and sound design all contributing to a rather immersive experience.”
    • “The soundtrack is incredibly beautiful; Northland and Silk Road actually get me a bit emotional.”
    • “One area where the game falls short is its lack of music that usually keeps growing after later DLCs, so after a while the music became very repetitive.”
    • “The game's soundtrack, while fitting for the time period, is not particularly memorable and can become repetitive over extended play sessions.”
    • “The music is a joke, made in the most generic style I have ever heard, it entirely robs the game of the atmosphere.”
  • stability226 mentions

    The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with numerous users reporting significant bugs, crashes, and performance issues that render it nearly unplayable at times. Many reviews describe the game as a "buggy mess," highlighting problems such as freezing, glitches, and incomplete features, particularly at launch. While some players note improvements over time, the consensus remains that the game is still plagued by instability and requires further development to reach its potential.

    • “The game runs great on my iMac with Big Sur OS.”
    • “All in all though, the game is very stable and relatively bug free.”
    • “What I do like is a Paradox game that does appear to be bug free and has plenty of depth to begin with, which will keep me going for months to come.”
    • “The game is still buggy.”
    • “There are achievements that one cannot unlock, events, common ones, that crash the game, glitches which make it impossible to even play.”
    • “This unfinished buggy mess was sold as a work in progress that will someday be great and buying in on it would help make this great game someday.”
  • replayability209 mentions

    Replayability in "Imperator: Rome" has seen significant improvement since its launch, with many players praising the depth and variety offered by different nations, government types, and the Invictus mod, which adds substantial content and mission trees. While some reviewers note that the game can feel repetitive after a few playthroughs, the combination of diverse mechanics and ongoing community support suggests a solid foundation for replayability, especially for those who enjoy exploring various strategies and scenarios. Overall, the game is considered enjoyable and replayable, particularly with mods, though it still lacks the extensive depth found in other Paradox titles.

    • “The replayability of this game is immense, especially with the Invictus mod which adds content to many of the smaller nations.”
    • “There is a depth to this game that few other games set in antiquity reach, and like all Paradox games, the replayability is endless.”
    • “Invictus adds tons of unique stuff to many parts of the map, so between things like access to certain trade goods, missions, military traditions, geography, levy composition, and religion, there's a lot distinguishing between various different starting states, meaning lots of replayability.”
    • “Despite its historical accuracy and depth, Imperator: Rome struggles with replayability.”
    • “Once you've played a single game of Imperator, it loses all replay value because there isn't enough to go back to.”
    • “The game lacks replay value and honestly gets boring far faster than previous Paradox games.”
  • grinding172 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players describing it as tedious and repetitive. Users frequently mention the excessive micromanagement required for tasks such as population management, trade routes, and military organization, which detracts from the overall enjoyment and engagement of the gameplay. While some appreciate the complexity and depth, the consensus is that the game often feels like a chore rather than a fun strategic experience.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “It's a glorified map painter with a lot of tedious micromanagement.”
    • “I really want to like this game, but once you get past the early game enjoyment, this game just becomes a tedious, frustrating, and poorly thought-out bore.”
    • “The game is a lot more tedious than I was expecting.”
  • humor49 mentions

    The humor in the game is often highlighted through its quirky mechanics, amusing bugs, and the absurdity of historical scenarios, such as the ineptitude of Carthage at sea or the comedic outcomes of character interactions. Players appreciate the lightheartedness that emerges from both gameplay and narrative elements, making it a source of entertainment despite its developmental flaws. Overall, the game successfully blends strategy with humor, creating memorable and funny moments that resonate with players.

    • “Wow, I can't believe I joined the hype train just for the funny, and now this is my favorite grand strategy game...”
    • “Carthage is hilariously inept at sea, even though the AI sometimes appoints their best commanders to navies.”
    • “The characters in the game don't have much of a personality, but the ultra common event where a petitioner appears at court worrying that someone was going to kill her mysteriously has a funny option: 'kill her in a mysterious way'.”
    • “The game itself is so short it's not funny.”
    • “Insignificant or contains humorous glitches.”
  • monetization39 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has been widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, with many reviewers expressing frustration over the reliance on DLC and the perception that the game was released in an unfinished state. Players feel that the focus on monetization detracts from the overall quality and potential of the game, leading to disappointment among long-time fans of the developer. Despite some hope for future improvements, the overwhelming sentiment is that the current monetization practices are exploitative and undermine the gaming experience.

    • “Seriously, the depth is jawdropping, everything is moddable, the community content is endless, educational, great attention to detail, gorgeous visuals, etc. and with no paradox in terms of microtransactions, piecemealing, broken and unbalanced gameplay, and slideshow framerates!”
    • “With less monetization, 10/10.”
    • “Beware of many of the reviews that are using the ability to negatively review games on Steam as a way of voicing dissent with Paradox's monetization policies rather than actually thinking about the quality of Imperator: Rome.”
    • “A cash grabbing game at its core with simply copy-pasted systems from other games and made promises to innovate throughout later days, now comes to an end.”
    • “Unfinished game, almost a year after release still a cash grab by Paradox.”
    • “It felt like a cash grab back on release and it still feels like a cash grab.”
  • atmosphere34 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive depiction of the Roman Republic era, enhanced by stunning graphics, a detailed world map, and a commendable soundtrack that evokes a sense of antiquity. Many players appreciate the combination of aesthetic elements that create a captivating environment, although some critiques highlight inconsistencies in gameplay depth and repetitiveness that can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered one of its strongest features, making it a notable entry in the grand strategy genre.

    • “Perhaps the most atmospheric grand strategy game I have played to date, with amazing graphics, soundtrack, and sound design all contributing to a rather immersive experience.”
    • “The aesthetics and music combine together to make an amazing atmosphere for the game.”
    • “The atmosphere of this game is some of the best in strategy history.”
    • “This Imperator Rome game is unfortunately just a big fiasco, without atmosphere, graphics, playability, challenge, or progression feeling.”
    • “In general, the game simply isn't pleasant to play; it lacks atmosphere, detail, aesthetics, variety, events, dynamism, and all I ended up doing was just accepting alliance offers, researching some stuff from time to time, and staring at the map.”
    • “The game is pretty bare bones, lacks atmosphere, and isn't particularly immersive.”
  • character development33 mentions

    Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its lack of depth compared to previous titles like Crusader Kings II. While some appreciate the integration of ethnic and cultural elements, the overall consensus is that character interactions and development feel shallow and underdeveloped, often overshadowed by the game's focus on empire management and warfare. Players express a desire for more complexity and meaningful character dynamics, as current systems seem to lack the engagement and intrigue found in earlier Paradox games.

    • “I like how the ethnic composition and cultural accuracy relate to character development and to the pops in the regions their families come from.”
    • “The character development and the stories that they create in the world is one of the best features of the experience.”
    • “The best explanation of Imperator: Rome is a combination of the nation building and management of EU4, and the character development of CK2.”
    • “It has almost no character development and you basically have no control over who gets elected/why, which basically means you will lose realm stability every so often and your 'objective' will change.”
    • “It is mostly just marching armies and politics - nothing like the depth of intrigue or possible character development you'd get from CK2.”
    • “Character development they say; very shallow and underdeveloped.”
  • emotional18 mentions

    Overall, reviews indicate a mixed emotional response to the game, with some players feeling a strong attachment to their kingdoms and accomplishments, while others criticize a lack of emotional connectivity to the story and characters. The soundtrack has been noted as a highlight that evokes emotion, but many players express disappointment in the game's failure to foster deeper emotional engagement. The potential for emotional investment exists, particularly through mechanics that mimic character interactions, but many feel it remains underdeveloped.

    • “A few hours in, and I'm emotionally invested in my little kingdom.”
    • “The soundtrack is incredibly beautiful; Northland and Silk Road actually get me a bit emotional.”
    • “Tribal mechanics made me feel like I was on the edge of a civil war all the time, and constantly had to compromise to keep the tribe together.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

60% average critic score

Buy Imperator: Rome

Play time

30hMedian play time
222hAverage play time
9-155hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 172 analyzed playthroughs

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