Old World

A clever spiritual successor to Civilization full of both novelties and big ideas.

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Old World is an epic, historical turn-based strategy game. Set in the classical era, Old World gives players the chance to not just build an empire but to found the greatest dynasty of its age.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Co-Op Team up with friends to complete levels or missions together
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
PvP Player versus Player - Fight against other players in real-time, often in arena-style combat
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

Reviews

84%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,127 reviews

gameplay145 positive mentions

optimization16 negative mentions

Old World combines elements of Civilization and Crusader Kings, offering a unique and engaging gameplay experience.
The orders system adds depth to strategy, requiring players to prioritize actions and manage resources effectively.
The character and event systems create a rich narrative, making each playthrough feel distinct and immersive.

The game can become tedious due to the overwhelming number of events and decisions, leading to a sense of micromanagement.
Performance issues arise in the late game, causing lag and slowdowns that detract from the overall experience.
The AI can feel unbalanced, often overwhelming players with unit spam and aggressive tactics, making it difficult to maintain a peaceful strategy.

gameplay
548 mentions
26 % positive mentions
72 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Old World" is characterized by its innovative mechanics that blend traditional 4X elements with character-driven dynamics reminiscent of "Crusader Kings." The introduction of the orders system, which limits player actions per turn, encourages strategic decision-making and prioritization, while the integration of family and dynasty mechanics adds depth and narrative to the gameplay. While many players appreciate the complexity and interconnectivity of the systems, some find the learning curve steep and certain mechanics, like the orders system, to be frustrating or overly restrictive. Overall, "Old World" is praised for its fresh take on the genre, offering a rich and engaging experience for fans of strategy games.
- “Old World combines the dynasty gameplay of Crusader Kings and its ilk with the 4X gameplay of the Civilization series without becoming so over-complicated that it takes you a ton of time just to get a grasp on the basic mechanics.”
- “The orders system, characters, and families, along with an interesting treatment of religion, are all fascinating mechanics that lead to deep, rich, and engaging gameplay.”
- “Old World introduces several new mechanics to the historical 4X genre, and many of them are challenging and successful, making for a unique and enjoyable gameplay experience.”
- “The orders mechanic, which limits how much you can do in a turn based on how much of a badass your current leader is (or is not), is a challenging twist that I had not seen before.”
- “The gameplay is similar to civilization, but the game is not forgiving; you can't skip on military units and expect to survive.”
- “The overwhelming number of messages and events doesn't make sense at first, but once you begin to understand the aspects of the game they are referring to, it serves to really get you deeper into your gameplay.”
story
169 mentions
27 % positive mentions
71 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The game's story is praised for its depth and engagement, offering a rich tapestry of events and character dynamics that enhance the gameplay experience. Players appreciate the emergent storytelling and the integration of dynasty mechanics, which create a personal narrative as they manage their empire. However, some critiques highlight that the story elements can feel disjointed or underdeveloped compared to other titles in the genre, such as Crusader Kings. Overall, the narrative aspect is seen as a significant improvement over traditional 4X games, providing a more immersive and meaningful experience.
- “The narrative of the game balances nicely with the play, giving a player a rich story to interact with as you play.”
- “The story progression of your lineage is also fun to follow and has its impact on what you and your family end up being good at.”
- “The event system, combined with the characters and dynasties, as well as the smaller time and geography scale, make for a layer of storytelling that Civ doesn't have.”
- “This is the most unfeeling, unemotional, non-immersive text I've ever seen in a game that imagines itself as one to tell a story.”
- “It seems like the creators wanted to create a version of Civ with the storytelling of Crusader Kings, but Old World is ironically more numbers-driven than those games, creating the opposite effect.”
- “The storytelling in Old World does not draw a true memorable line through the game; it's more like a series of events which sometimes follow in small stories.”
music
155 mentions
55 % positive mentions
41 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, with many praising the diverse soundtrack that includes traditional folk music and compositions by notable artists like Christopher Tin and Philip Glass. While some players found certain tracks to be bland or amateurish, the overall sentiment leans towards the soundtrack being a standout feature that enhances the gaming experience. Additionally, the option to customize the music playback adds to the enjoyment for many players.
- “The music score is simply awesome: Bulgarian chanting, Syrian folk music, and modern composers.”
- “The cherry on top is the amazing music.”
- “The soundtrack is phenomenal and the sound design overall is pretty tight.”
- “The soundtrack is very amateurish, and a specific example of this is the Agni Parthene execution they have here - it's just horrible.”
- “Musically, the game is boring with a number of pieces of music lacking flair or blending in well with one another.”
- “Except for the music, which I tend to switch off for this game, as it is going on my nerves (slow and monotonous - at least what I heard so far).”
graphics
134 mentions
45 % positive mentions
45 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the beautiful artwork and immersive atmosphere, while others criticize the visuals as outdated or lacking clarity. Many appreciate the strong art style and music, but note issues with performance and user interface that can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the graphics are considered decent for a 4X strategy game, though they may not stand out compared to competitors like Civilization.
- “The graphics are beautiful, and the game runs well, only starting to slow down on giant maps and once cities get sprawling and established.”
- “It's intelligently designed and dodges most of the pitfalls of this genre while featuring a gorgeous art style in a criminally underrated setting.”
- “The performance is excellent, the graphics are great, the immersion is there, the music is on another level only rivaled by Imperium Greek Wars in my opinion.”
- “Honestly, some of the artworks from this game, especially those of the main characters, seem to have been generated by some AI.”
- “I think my only major complaint is that the art style is just a muddy mess - it can be difficult to tell what is what; silhouettes aren't a great help here.”
- “The graphics aren't as good as either Civ or CK games.”
optimization
86 mentions
9 % positive mentions
72 % neutral mentions
19 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many players reporting severe performance issues, particularly in the late game and on larger maps. While some users have noted improvements following updates, the overall consensus is that the game remains a performance hog, often resulting in low frame rates and long wait times for AI turns, even on high-end systems. Many recommend waiting for further optimization before fully engaging with the game.
- “Performance has been very good on my five-year-old system (RTX 2060, 16GB RAM, SSD, i7-8750H), and the graphics & art style look great.”
- “The performance is excellent, the graphics are great, the immersion is there, the music is on another level only rivaled by Imperium Greek Wars in my opinion.”
- “Performance has been dramatically improved, and the new scenarios are very fun to play.”
- “The only thing that really bothers me at all is the performance; it is very chuggy even though other games like Civ VI run buttery smooth.”
- “Optimization is awful; on a medium map and medium-low settings, starting from mid-game, I have 15-25 fps on RTX 3060.”
- “Unfortunately, the game does have pretty poor performance, but apart from that, I am pretty disappointed in how misunderstood the game is, both by the Steam legions and 'professional' reviewers.”
replayability
55 mentions
40 % positive mentions
55 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, with many players highlighting the variety of characters, events, and customizable gameplay options that contribute to unique experiences in each playthrough. While some reviews mention limitations in replay value after several sessions, the majority emphasize the game's depth, strategic complexity, and engaging mechanics that keep players returning for more. However, a few critiques point to issues like a steep learning curve and performance problems that may hinder the overall replay experience.
- “Tons of replayability as every game is different.”
- “There are a vast array of gameplay options that can be customized, greatly adding to the replay value.”
- “The replayability and depth is enhanced through its incredibly detailed adjustable gameplay conditions and maps.”
- “Mediocre 4x strategy game, not a lot of content with low replay value.”
- “The tech line is short, and the replayability dies out after about 4 to 5 playthroughs.”
- “Replayability is an issue, sadly.”
grinding
53 mentions
6 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
94 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious, particularly in the mid to late game where micromanagement becomes overwhelming and combat drags on without engaging mechanics. While some appreciate the strategic depth and streamlined elements compared to other 4X titles, many express frustration with the repetitive nature of managing large empires and the slow pace of gameplay, leading to a sense of boredom and dissatisfaction.
- “Combat is the right balance of being challenging but not tedious, so it's not frustrating like some 4X games or too easy like in Civ VI.”
- “If you enjoy war games, the grinding aspect is probably not tedious, but I personally find it boring not being able to mass-move my armies.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Grinding down a nearby tribe to seize loads of them so you can expand is the vast majority of the mid game.”
- “I wanted to like it, but it just feels boring and tedious to play.”
- “War is about out meat-grinding your enemy; you must throw 10, 20, and worst case 30 units to win a war, and it's not engaging.”
stability
20 mentions
20 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
80 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting significant glitches, crashes, and freezes, particularly on high-end PCs. However, others have noted a stable experience with minimal bugs, especially on certain systems like the MacBook Pro M1. Overall, while some users find the game promising and relatively bug-free, many others express frustration over its instability and frequent crashes.
- “Runs great on MacBook Pro 16-inch M1 Pro.”
- “I'm very happy with the game; it's stable and seems bug-free.”
- “I will end with how impressed I have been with how stable and bug-free it is since the release on GOG and Steam.”
- “Freezes and shutdowns randomly on high-end PC.”
- “Crashing buggy waste of money.”
- “Well, as others have mentioned, the game is super glitchy and buggy; you can expect it to crash completely within about 2 hours, and the constant saving and reloading is a pain.”
atmosphere
17 mentions
82 % positive mentions
6 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive blend of ancient historical settings, stunning graphics, and a captivating soundtrack by Christopher Tin. Players appreciate the attention to detail in the visual and auditory elements, which enhance the overall experience and create a cozy, engaging environment. The well-written events and thematic depth further contribute to a rich and atmospheric gameplay experience that keeps players invested.
- “I am really enjoying this one; a blend of character-driven gameplay (Crusader Kings) and 4X (Civilization) - with a tremendously atmospheric soundtrack done by Christopher Tin!”
- “The atmosphere is excellent, the music is excellent, and the portrait art looks great even when it gets repetitive, with the 'aging' of the portraits contributing to the legacy feel the game tries (and succeeds) to establish.”
- “From the start, I was excited by the atmosphere and the potential to combine strengths from other 4X games, but in the end - as other players have properly said - it's all about an unfair combat system.”
- “The events are smartly written and really add to the game's atmosphere, immersing you in the classical era.”
humor
10 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of amusing events and quirky interactions, often highlighting the absurdity of political and military situations. Players find enjoyment in the comedic elements of managing their empire, with moments that evoke laughter, such as the antics of AI opponents and the absurdity of certain scenarios. While not as outrageous as those in games like Crusader Kings, the humor remains a notable and entertaining aspect of the gameplay experience.
- “The AI throwing away 5 soldiers to kill your elite hoplite in one blow is both funny and annoying at the same time, though.”
- “The feeling of playing as Rome and dealing with rival nations who look upon my glorious empire with envy, advising the lesser forms of life who look to me for guidance in making decisions for their puny lives, watching and laughing as my fool of a first wife gets mad at me for taking on my third wife as if the fool has any say in it; it's just awesome.”
- “At other times, events are quite humorous and entertaining, especially with the Sacred and Profane DLC.”
character development
8 mentions
25 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
38 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight that "Old World" excels in character development, particularly through the intricate relationships and dynamics of court members and aristocratic families, which significantly influence gameplay. Unlike other strategy games that prioritize cultural or technological advancements, this game emphasizes personal interactions, marriage proposals, and the formation of dynasties, creating a rich narrative experience. Overall, players appreciate the depth of character development as a core tactical element that enhances the game's strategic complexity.
- “Focusing on a shorter time frame and the character development of your court members is what makes this game shine.”
- “In comparison to Humankind, where cultural choices are the most important decision to make, and Civilization, where the cultural/technological card system plays a crucial role, Old World's most important tactical element is the character development of many members of your royal court and aristocratic families supporting you (or not).”
- “As all the reviews stated, I expected a civilization-type game with some character development.”
- “Marriage proposals, character development, and developing an archetype will dictate how you play.”
- “Almost like the beginning ancient and classical ages of Civ 5/6 with a detailed version of character development through the formation of dynasties and noble families.”
emotional
5 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Reviews highlight a stark divide in emotional engagement, with some players feeling the game lacks depth and fails to create an immersive narrative, leading to a sense of wasted time despite enjoyable moments. Conversely, others appreciate the emotional weight of RPG elements, particularly the attachment to characters and armies, which can evoke strong feelings of loss and investment. Overall, the emotional experience varies significantly among players, with some finding it lacking and others deeply resonant.
- “But while I wouldn't say the game was a waste of my time, it made me feel like I wasted my time after the official or unofficial conclusion to every game, and those were such bitter pills to swallow that they made me forget all the sweet times in between when things came together properly.”
- “This really feels like an RPG element which I love, building up your leader is awesome and also heart-wrenching when you lose them.”
- “Another example, the significant emotional investment in armies.”
monetization
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
150 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that while the game's advertising algorithms may be flawed, the monetization elements such as diplomacy, random events, and the dynasty system are perceived as beneficial and enhance the overall gameplay experience.
- “There's definitely something wrong with the advertising algorithms.”
- “The monetization system feels overly aggressive and detracts from the overall experience.”
- “It's frustrating how much you have to spend to enjoy the game fully.”