Imperator: Rome

66%
Game Brain Score Based on 11,992 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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Reviews

66%
Audience ScoreBased on 11,992 reviews
gameplay599 positive mentions
optimization122 negative mentions
  • gameplay2,469 mentions

    The gameplay of *Imperator: Rome* has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its blend of mechanics from previous Paradox titles like *Europa Universalis* and *Crusader Kings*. While some appreciate the depth of the population and trade systems, others criticize the game for its reliance on simplified mechanics, lack of unique nation characteristics, and a cumbersome user interface. Overall, the game has improved significantly since its launch, but many players feel it still lacks the complexity and engaging gameplay found in other Paradox games, leading to a repetitive experience.

    • “Imperator: Rome offers well-thought-out gameplay mechanics, and the systems work together really well.”
    • “The trade mechanics and empire management are really fun when you get the hang of it.”
    • “Overall, the gameplay is fun and engaging, and although the content might be lacking, Imperator: Rome can still bring a lot of joy.”
    • “The gameplay is incredibly bland regardless of who you play as.”
    • “The mechanics are very opaque and it's hard to tell exactly what effects some of your choices will make.”
    • “The game is empty, boring, and the mechanics are a step backwards.”
  • story382 mentions

    The game's story aspect is largely driven by its mission system, which provides players with a sense of direction and purpose through various objectives, though many missions can feel generic and repetitive. While some nations have unique mission trees that enhance the narrative experience, others lack depth, leading to a sense of sameness across different playthroughs. Overall, players appreciate the potential for emergent storytelling but feel that the game still requires significant improvements in narrative engagement and variety to fully realize its potential.

    • “The mission trees are cool as some nations get multiple trees to work with and you can decide which ones you want to do first.”
    • “Branching paths, missions, and events make the game feel alive, and a repeat play of even the same nation can be vastly different.”
    • “The new mission system creates a more guided experience, if you desire to pursue those missions.”
    • “The mission trees are indescribably terrible.”
    • “There is no real story, even though the game gives you missions to guide you through or give you a general idea of what you could do.”
    • “The vast majority of other reviews cover what is good and bad about the game, so I won't repeat it; however, I think the main difference between people who are enjoying it and those who are disappointed is what they were looking for in a game - a map painter or a character-driven story game.”
  • graphics359 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim, with many users praising the stunning visuals, detailed maps, and vibrant aesthetics that effectively bring the ancient world to life. While the graphical improvements are noted as a significant step up from previous Paradox titles, some players express frustration with the user interface and performance issues, suggesting that the focus on visuals may have come at the expense of gameplay depth and functionality. Overall, the game is considered one of the most visually appealing in the Paradox catalog, though opinions vary on whether the graphics alone can compensate for its gameplay shortcomings.

    • “Visually, the game is stunning, with beautifully crafted maps and vibrant graphics that bring the ancient world to life.”
    • “The graphics and map are among the best in the genre, and the synergy of many mechanics means that there is purpose to everything 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!)”
    • “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.”
    • “It's like a text adventure game with graphics.”
  • optimization287 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including stuttering and lag, particularly during late-game scenarios. While some users noted improvements following patches, others still experienced severe performance drops and crashes, leading to frustration. Overall, the game appears to require further optimization to meet the standards set by other titles in the Paradox lineup.

    • “I think among Paradox games it's a hidden gem (in its 2.0 state - I can't comment on earlier versions) with some of the highest performance of any Paradox games, a beautiful soundtrack, one of the most beautiful maps ever, and some great mechanics.”
    • “The new content, such as missions, is a welcome addition and the performance tweaks are much appreciated.”
    • “With patch 1.0.1 I have no more performance problems and the game runs as smoothly as Stellaris or HOI4.”
    • “The downside is that the game is incredibly poorly optimized, and will absolutely melt your computer, and it gets worse with every update.”
    • “Performance is absolutely horrendous.”
    • “The game is currently quite bare bones and, additionally, the performance is not that good as well.”
  • music190 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its atmospheric quality and fitting historical themes, while others criticize its repetitiveness and limited track selection. Some players highlight the soundtrack as one of the game's standout features, calling it beautiful and immersive, yet express disappointment over the lack of a music player and the decision to sell additional tracks as DLC. Overall, while the music enhances the game's aesthetic, its limited variety and accessibility have left some players wanting more.

    • “The soundtrack is gorgeous, however, and a pleasure to listen to.”
    • “The music is wonderful, the graphics are wonderful, the gameplay is top notch.”
    • “The music draws you in, and was what propelled the games from decent to great.”
    • “The music is a joke, made in the most generic style I have ever heard; it entirely robs the game of the atmosphere.”
    • “The soundtrack is very bare bones; I found myself listening to the same three tracks over and over again.”
    • “The fact that the entire soundtrack for the game comes 'extra' is a travesty and is a blatant indication that Paradox has now become nothing more than a traveling band of pickpockets.”
  • stability167 mentions

    The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with numerous users reporting persistent bugs, crashes, and performance issues that significantly hinder gameplay. Many reviews describe the game as "buggy," "unfinished," and "bare-bones," indicating a lack of polish and content at launch. While some players note improvements over time, the overall sentiment remains that the game is still plagued by instability and requires further development to reach its potential.

    • “No glitches or bugs.”
    • “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 very buggy, and the decisions made by the AI are often utterly baffling.”
    • “The entire game at the moment is a hot buggy mess.”
    • “It launched poorly, and though I appreciate the sentiment of Paradox for trying to salvage it, the better plan is to not release a buggy mess.”
  • replayability157 mentions

    Overall, the replayability of "Imperator: Rome" has seen significant improvement, particularly with the introduction of the Invictus mod, which adds depth and content, enhancing the experience for players. While some reviewers note that the game lacks the extensive replay value found in other Paradox titles, many still find it enjoyable and capable of offering numerous hours of gameplay through various nations and playstyles. However, a portion of the community expresses concerns about the game's depth and variety, suggesting that it may not sustain long-term engagement without further updates or expansions.

    • “There is a depth to this that few other games set in antiquity reach, and like all Paradox games, the replayability is endless.”
    • “I bought this game because I wanted a Rome game, but I've found that some of the other areas of the world are much more fun, which adds to the replay value immensely.”
    • “With the different government types, religions, and cultures, this game has unlimited 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.”
    • “It's an okay game, with little replayability as there's nothing really making up the meat of gameplay besides map painting (making the biggest nation), or roleplaying your Roman fantasies.”
  • grinding117 mentions

    The reviews highlight a pervasive sense of tedium associated with grinding in the game, with many players expressing frustration over repetitive tasks, complex micromanagement, and a cumbersome user interface. While some appreciate the depth and strategy involved, the overwhelming consensus is that the gameplay often devolves into a monotonous cycle of managing resources and armies, leading to a lack of engagement and enjoyment over time. Overall, the grinding aspect is seen as a significant drawback, detracting from the potential fun and complexity of the game.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “It's just tedious.”
    • “The mechanics are tedious and too similar to other games.”
    • “All in all, it made for a tedious, unfun experience.”
  • humor34 mentions

    The humor in the game is often derived from its quirky mechanics, amusing bugs, and the absurdity of certain scenarios, such as characters dying in bizarre ways or the juxtaposition of historical elements with comedic outcomes. Players appreciate the lighthearted moments, like the hilarity of conquering territories with unlikely forces or the amusing glitches that add an unexpected layer of fun. However, some critiques point out that while the humor can be entertaining, it sometimes masks deeper issues with gameplay and content.

    • “Wow, I can't believe I joined the hype train just for the humor, and now this is my favorite grand strategy game...”
    • “I found it hilarious conquering Denmark with Swedish tribesmen with chariots and triremes in the 400s BC.”
    • “Imperator Rome is an incredible experience so far; it contains the RPG elements of CK2 in character management and funny and interesting events.”
    • “The game itself is so short it's not funny.”
    • “The humor is insignificant or contains humorous glitches.”
  • monetization29 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 unfinished. Despite some acknowledging the base game's fair pricing, the overwhelming sentiment is that the developer, Paradox, has prioritized profit over quality, leading to disappointment among loyal fans. Overall, the game's monetization practices have left a sour impression, with many feeling betrayed by the developer's approach.

    • “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.”
    • “The game isn't done, and considering how Paradox has taken their DLC policy way beyond any resemblance of something that could be acceptable, it smells like greed and monetization a long way.”
    • “A cash-grabbing game at its core with simply copy-pasted systems from other games, and the promise to innovate throughout later days now comes to an end.”
    • “Unfinished game; almost a year after release, still a mess—just a cash grab by Paradox.”
    • “But to knowingly have made those improvements only to release a skeleton at launch so that you can milk those very same improvements later in DLCs is such an obvious cash grab and quite frankly an insult to a community as loyal as this one.”
  • character development27 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 into character dynamics, others criticize the randomness and minimal player control over character traits and political outcomes, leading to a less engaging experience. Overall, the character development system is seen as underwhelming and in need of significant enhancement to match the complexity and intrigue of earlier 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.”
    • “It has much more character development than EU but less than 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.”
    • “Character development they say; very shallow and underdeveloped.”
    • “One of the weaker features is the character development, which is rather poorly integrated with the rest of the game in terms of functionality; it is still meaningful (with mostly adverse impacts, if you fail to manage it properly or choose to ignore it), but managing it feels like a chore rather than something you want to do.”
  • atmosphere19 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive graphics, detailed world map, and evocative soundtrack, creating a compelling experience reminiscent of historical grandeur. However, some users criticize the music as generic and feel that the game lacks the depth and dynamism found in previous titles like Crusader Kings II, leading to a mixed reception regarding its overall atmospheric quality. While many appreciate the aesthetic appeal, others find it insufficiently engaging, suggesting that the game could benefit from more variety and immersive elements.

    • “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 graphics are beautiful to look at and the atmosphere makes you feel like you are a great historical person ready to conquer Europa and beyond.”
    • “The music is a joke, made in the most generic style I have ever heard; it entirely robs the game of the atmosphere.”
    • “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.”
  • emotional13 mentions

    Overall, players express a mixed emotional response to the game, with some feeling a strong attachment to their in-game kingdoms and characters, while others criticize the lack of emotional connectivity to the story and events. While certain mechanics foster a sense of investment, many reviewers note that the game falls short in creating meaningful emotional connections, leaving them feeling detached from the narrative and characters.

    • “A few hours in, and I'm emotionally invested in my little kingdom.”
    • “Because then I have kind of a connection as to who I'm playing and can be emotionally attached to it.”
    • “The game succeeds at melding the good elements of CK2 and EU4; I was surprised at how well the clan retinue system made me feel like I was ruling over lords in CK2.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

60% average critic score

Buy Imperator: Rome

Play time

31hMedian play time
257hAverage play time
8-250hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 138 analyzed playthroughs

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