Oriental Empires

64%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,557 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • music
Oriental Empires Game Cover
A perfectly good 4X game with an innovative combat system that feels a bit bland when framed against the richness of its setting.
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"Oriental Empires" is a turn-based strategy game set in ancient China, allowing players to build and expand their own dynasty through conquest and diplomacy. Choose from various factions, each with unique strengths and weaknesses, and manage your empire's resources, technology, and culture. Experience epic battles, engage in strategic warfare, and navigate the complex political landscape of ancient China in this immersive historical simulation.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

64%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,557 reviews
gameplay98 positive mentions
grinding64 negative mentions
  • Unique blend of Civilization and Total War mechanics, offering a fresh take on the 4X genre.
  • Rich historical context and attention to detail in representing ancient Chinese culture.
  • Engaging city management and economic systems that require strategic planning.
  • Combat AI is often unresponsive and can lead to frustrating battles with poor unit coordination.
  • Lack of a comprehensive tutorial or clear explanations for game mechanics, making it difficult for new players to learn.
  • Frequent bugs and performance issues, especially in late-game scenarios, detracting from the overall experience.
  • gameplay408 mentions

    The gameplay of this title is a complex blend of familiar 4X mechanics reminiscent of Civilization and Total War, featuring unique elements like a labor system and auto-combat mechanics. However, many players find the lack of tutorials and unclear mechanics frustrating, leading to a steep learning curve. While the game offers an immersive historical setting and intriguing strategic depth, it suffers from issues such as poorly executed combat mechanics and a confusing user interface, which detracts from the overall experience.

    • “It has a very large amount of historically based (somewhat accurate, I may add) content with a very well executed gameplay loop that doesn't get boring.”
    • “The combat itself is weirdly (and absolutely unexpectedly) satisfying, both visually and gameplay-wise.”
    • “This game is what the Civ titles should have become - immersive, not cartoonish, challenging, and unique mechanics like different types of people to satisfy.”
    • “The most annoying mechanic in the game is the stupid repeated noble rebellions.”
    • “Lack of tutorial: the game is very complex for new players without proper explanation of some of the mechanics, units, palace system, and edicts.”
    • “The 'authority' system completely spoils the gameplay.”
  • graphics181 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the art design and atmospheric visuals despite acknowledging that the overall graphical quality is not groundbreaking. While some describe the graphics as "mediocre" or "muddy," others highlight the beautiful landscapes and detailed environments that enhance immersion, particularly when zooming in on towns and units. Overall, the game's visuals are seen as functional and appealing within the context of its genre, though there is room for improvement.

    • “The graphics are great, especially if you like zooming in and are in theme for the world location, which has also been done justice.”
    • “The atmosphere of the game is really dripping, oozing, bleeding richly with gorgeous artwork and cultural background.”
    • “The graphics are beautiful, as is the music.”
    • “The graphics are muddy and very ugly, and the AI is broken, especially when it comes to diplomacy.”
    • “Graphics are terrible.”
    • “What developers need to improve on is graphics, artwork (generals and king portraits look terrible) and diplomacy.”
  • music138 mentions

    The music in the game is generally praised for its tranquil and immersive quality, effectively capturing the essence of traditional Chinese culture. However, many players note that the soundtrack can become repetitive over time, leading to a desire for more variety in the tracks. Overall, while the music enhances the atmosphere and enjoyment of the game, its limited range may detract from long-term engagement.

    • “The music is good and fits the setting.”
    • “The graphics and music combine to give the game a really wonderful atmosphere.”
    • “Very nice music, relaxing traditional Chinese music you can enjoy listening to all day, making the game feel relaxing to play.”
    • “The soundtrack is repetitive.”
    • “I did not like the music and muted it and played my own.”
    • “The music and lack of animations combined with cumbersome money management and the restrictions that come with it slow the game down and the combat is unfortunately not very good.”
  • grinding64 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly in the mid to late game where city management and resource allocation become cumbersome due to limitations on city control and a clunky user interface. While auto-farming and tech management options help alleviate some of the micromanagement, many still feel that the gameplay leans too heavily on repetitive tasks, making it feel more like a farming simulator than a strategic experience. Overall, the grind can detract from immersion and enjoyment, especially for those who prefer a more streamlined approach to gameplay.

    • “Update: after playing it for over 150+ hours, I can confirm that mid-late playthrough becomes increasingly tedious due to a limit cap on how many cities you can control.”
    • “It takes the 4X genre and boils it down to its most tedious micromanagement form, so devoid of flesh that it can barely be passably called a strategy game.”
    • “The UI is also very frustrating and clunky as the information/building panel keeps defaulting to the farming screen - so when you want to check which settlements have finished building, you have to keep changing the panel view, which becomes very time-consuming and breaks the playing experience.”
  • atmosphere33 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its rich and immersive qualities, featuring detailed graphics and atmospheric music that evoke the essence of ancient East Asia. Players appreciate the depth of the environment, which enhances the overall experience, making it particularly enjoyable for history enthusiasts. While it may lack the tactical depth of other strategy games, its aesthetic design and cultural elements create a calming and engaging atmosphere that stands out in the 4X genre.

    • “The atmosphere is deep and rich, and a decision as small as opening a second barracks can tilt your economy in predictable, challenging ways.”
    • “The atmosphere of the game is really dripping, oozing, bleeding richly with gorgeous artwork and cultural background.”
    • “The graphics and music combine to give the game a really wonderful atmosphere.”
    • “It’s certainly not a triple A title, but it manages to bring a sense of atmosphere to the world of the Orient.”
    • “Some similarities to Civ for sure, but also noticeably different in terms of atmosphere and scale.”
    • “It brings you the calming atmosphere of ancient East Asia, and at the same time gives you a sense of being a grand strategist ordering your units around and telling them how to act.”
  • stability30 mentions

    The game exhibits a range of stability issues, including minor glitches, freezing, and occasional crashes, particularly as gameplay progresses. While some players report smooth graphics and a fun experience, many recommend saving frequently due to the bugs present, especially in the user interface. Overall, the game is considered entertaining but requires further refinement to improve its stability.

    • “It looks lovely, with no glitches, crashes, or lock-ups.”
    • “It just freezes.”
    • “It's not a hard crash, though, it just freezes, stops working, and closes.”
    • “It's early access so it's buggy and by no means perfect.”
  • replayability28 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players praising its seemingly infinite variety in campaigns and the depth added by religion, technology, and location, while others find it lacking after reaching certain milestones. Many appreciate the comfort of familiarity and the engaging tech trees, but some feel that the game can become repetitive and lacks long-term replay value. Overall, opinions vary widely, with some rating it highly for replayability and others expressing disappointment.

    • “The replayability is seemingly infinite; no two campaigns are too similar, but nor are they too different that it breaks the feeling of familiarity, which gives a sense of comfort and immersion.”
    • “However, the scale of the maps combined with the well-thought-out tech trees (yes, there are more than one) and some other features lend the game plenty of fun and replay value.”
    • “High replayability.”
    • “It's like mini civ games that focus on the China Three Kingdoms era. As a strategy game enthusiast, this game is relatively simple to me; the replayability is low after you manage to upgrade all of your cities. There is not much you can do, but it's still worth the money and your time if you really like slow-paced games.”
    • “But has no replay value and gets boring quick.”
    • “Although I don't think there's a whole lot of replayability at the moment.”
  • optimization28 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its performance relative to its small file size and graphics quality, while others report frequent crashes and inconsistent performance. Although there are no major stability issues noted, many users feel that further optimization is needed, particularly in managing game mechanics and user interface elements. Overall, while the game runs smoothly at times, the potential for improvement in optimization remains a significant concern.

    • “Great performance for the amount of space it takes up.”
    • “Combat feels good, game performance is excellent for the graphics you get, music is nice, and it's one of those games I can leave sitting installed on my computer without thinking about it since it's only 1.5 gigs.”
    • “I noticed someone mentioning the very poor performance, so I figured I'd leave this one to counteract it.”
    • “- poor performance.”
    • “No stability issues of note, no performance issues.”
  • story26 mentions

    The game's storytelling is described as a natural engine for narrative, allowing players to plan battles and witness their outcomes, reminiscent of combat mission games. However, some users express disappointment with the lack of a cohesive story or plot in the single-player campaign, feeling it resembles a series of skirmishes rather than a grand narrative. Despite this, the game's oriental design and strategic elements provide a rich backdrop for players to engage with their nation's development and combat.

    • “It's a natural engine for storytelling.”
    • “With simplified graphics reminiscent of This War of Mine, Oriental Empires makes the story come alive on a map in an imaginative way that can be intensely pleasing for many people.”
    • “The techs are limited, but provide story-rich choices to the way you will develop your nation.”
    • “There is no story or plot.”
    • “If there is one thing I don't like so far, it is the supposed grand campaign for single player. There is no story or anything that shows the player it's a campaign. So far, it seems like just one big skirmish match against the AI factions. Hopefully, the dev team changes that as the game development continues.”
    • “The game itself and the story are very oriental in design.”
  • humor12 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players finding it both intentional and amusing, particularly through clever language combinations and quirky design choices. Elements like the population display in Settlers and the mix of English and Chinese pinyin add layers of humor that resonate with those familiar with the cultural references. Overall, the game is noted for its depth and comedic elements, setting it apart from more traditional strategy games.

    • “If this isn't a bug, it's both horrible and hilarious by design.”
    • “In all, I think TW and Civ missed a trick by staying with tried and tested, and these guys have come up with a great, in-depth, and yeah, funny strategy game.”
    • “Settlers, when popping a town down, show a population of 2... that's funny, really.”
  • monetization4 mentions

    Reviews indicate that the monetization strategy of the game is perceived as a cash grab, with users expressing disappointment in the company's advertising and promotion efforts. Many feel that the game's current state does not justify its pricing, suggesting a lack of value for players.

    • “If this was an alpha, and not a game that will soon be released, I would understand, but this feels like a cash grab.”
  • emotional4 mentions

    Players report a deeply emotional experience, highlighting moments of intense connection that evoke tears, while also expressing frustration that transforms their role into that of a commanding general amidst chaotic battles. This duality of emotions enhances the overall engagement with the game.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

63% average critic score

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Play time

13hMedian play time
43hAverage play time
8-75hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 40 analyzed playthroughs

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