Sengoku

53%
Game Brain Score Based on 224 reviews
  • gameplay
  • music
  • graphics
Sengoku Game Cover
The first few times I tried Sengoku, I was lost, but the more I played this game, the more I enjoyed it.
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Sengoku is a warfare Real-Time Strategy game set in 16th century Japan, where you play as a Japanese nobleman aiming to unite the country under your rule. Manage relationships with family, friends, and enemies, conquer provinces, and make alliances with religious factions to increase your influence and become Shogun. The game features a detailed map of Japan divided into 350 provinces and offers multiplayer and single-player modes, accompanied by good music.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

53%
Audience ScoreBased on 224 reviews
gameplay5 positive mentions
grinding2 negative mentions
  • The game offers a unique setting in feudal Japan, providing an interesting alternative to other grand strategy games.
  • Sengoku has engaging mechanics such as the honor system and the ability to hire ninjas, adding depth to gameplay.
  • It's a good entry point for players new to Paradox games, as it simplifies some of the complexities found in titles like Crusader Kings II.
  • The game feels unfinished and lacks the depth and polish of more recent Paradox titles, making it feel like a beta version of Crusader Kings II.
  • Many players find the gameplay repetitive and monotonous, with limited options for diplomacy and province management.
  • The user interface can be clunky and confusing, leading to frustration, especially for new players unfamiliar with the mechanics.
  • gameplay45 mentions

    The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it initially enjoyable but ultimately shallow and lacking depth. While the mechanics are easy to learn, they often feel unfinished or broken, leading to repetitive and frustrating experiences. Players who appreciate grand strategy games may find some enjoyment, particularly in the political aspects, but overall, the game is seen as a lightweight alternative to more polished titles like Crusader Kings II.

    • “Good music, fun mechanics.”
    • “The gameplay becomes simple enough quickly; if you're a history buff like me, you can derive some pleasure through roleplay.”
    • “Very addictive, fun, and has challenging gameplay.”
    • “I wish there was a bit more depth—not complexity necessarily, as some games add needless complexity, but real depth—to the systems and core mechanics of the game.”
    • “The couple of other game mechanics are either completely broken (because it's just blobbing) or don't work (because they didn't playtest this).”
    • “Constant pop-ups of vassals demanding kokujin titles (seriously, only seconds pass between each time I see that same pop-up) and shallow gameplay turn this game into something which brings me more annoyance than enjoyment.”
  • music11 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread praise, with many users highlighting the soundtrack as a standout feature that enhances the overall experience. Reviewers describe the music as "amazing" and "real good," often comparing it favorably to other titles like Crusader Kings. Additionally, some players recommend using a music mod to further enrich the auditory experience.

    • “Good music, fun mechanics.”
    • “The soundtrack is amazing, as well.”
    • “Sound wise the music and sound effects are really good, I like them.”
    • “Just don't forget the music mod someone made for it too.”
    • “It was something of a warmup for Crusader Kings 2, I believe, and it feels thus: a lightweight, pared back real-time grand strategy game with some pacific art and music working together with simple but effective gameplay.”
    • “Better soundtrack than Crusader Kings.”
  • graphics11 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally praised for their aesthetic appeal and distinctive look, with some users noting that it surpasses older titles like CK2 and offers a visually pleasing map. However, criticisms arise regarding the simplicity of the interface and the overall depth of the graphics, which some feel are undermined by inferior gameplay mechanics and a lack of tactical combat. Overall, while the visuals are attractive, they are not enough to elevate the game's experience significantly.

    • “Not a bad game, does still crash a little, but the graphics were top notch.”
    • “But seriously, why does it have better graphics than CK2?”
    • “Graphically, for a game on either the old EU engine or Victoria 2 engine, it looks good. I'd even go as far as to compare the terrain map mode to the current Hearts of Iron IV map; it has a distinctive look to it as opposed to the games that came next.”
    • “Very much in demand from the depth of Japanese culture/history, and has the unique system of 'honour', but the aesthetics are undermined by the beauty of Shogun: Total War 2's interface and the mechanics are far inferior to CKII: it's a shallow, weak counterpart to alternatives.”
    • “No tactical combat, subpar graphics, and an ugly UI.”
    • “Terrible explanations, bad gameplay, so-so graphics, overall not worth it... wouldn't even pay for it.”
  • story5 mentions

    The game's story is highly praised for its engaging and unique narrative, with each playthrough resembling a short interactive story that evolves based on player choices. Users appreciate the depth of character development and the ability to connect various elements, making it feel like an endless story generator, despite occasional frustrations with gameplay challenges.

    • “For me, every playthrough feels like a unique interactive story.”
    • “Every playthrough becomes a short story like that.”
    • “But if you can imagine the stats and the simple portrait of your character and other characters as being real, and manage to connect the dots, this game is an endless story generator.”
  • atmosphere2 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is noted for its impressive visuals and map design, which contribute to a captivating experience, despite some players finding it ultimately boring. Overall, it stands out as one of the best-looking titles in its genre, enhancing the overall ambiance.

    • “The atmosphere of this game, even during slower moments, is still somewhat captivating.”
    • “The map and visuals are impressive, possibly the best in all the Paradox games, creating a truly atmospheric experience.”
    • “Even then, the atmosphere of this game, although it becomes quite boring, is still somewhat worth it.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and occasionally frustrating, particularly due to frequent character deaths that disrupt the gameplay experience.

    • “As such, it can be tedious to play at best, downright frustrating at worst.”
    • “Having the character you are playing constantly dying on you gets a little tedious after a while.”
  • stability2 mentions

    The game suffers from significant stability issues, with users reporting numerous bugs and a lack of clear guidance, leading to a frustrating and clunky experience.

    • “The game is buggy and gives you no idea what to do.”
    • “Boring, buggy, clunky.”
  • humor2 mentions

    The humor in the game is derived from the steep learning curve typical of Paradox games, with players finding it amusing that transitioning from Crusader Kings II to Sengoku requires little additional learning. This irony highlights the challenge of fully exploring the game in a limited timeframe, making players question their ability to assess its value.

    • “It's kind of funny because Paradox games have a steep learning curve, but if you play Sengoku right after Crusader Kings 2, you won't need to learn anything.”
    • “It might seem hilarious, considering you can't really fully explore the game in such a short interval, so you don't really have a say about its worth.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    The game offers virtually limitless replayability, particularly appealing to fans of the era it represents, despite some drawbacks. Players find that the numerous engaging elements encourage repeated playthroughs.

    • “So many great things about this game, but there are also many bad things as well. However, if you love this era like I do, then you learn to appreciate it because it has so much replayability going for it.”
    • “So many great things about this game, but there are also many bad things as well. If you love this era like I do, then you learn to appreciate it because it has a lot of replayability going for it.”
    • “Virtually limitless replay value.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The game's optimization is highly praised, with users noting that its performance surpasses that of any other titles from Paradox, showcasing impressive efficiency and stability.

    • “The game's performance is unparalleled by any other Paradox game; it's quite impressive, really.”
    • “The optimization in this game allows for smooth gameplay even in the most complex scenarios.”
    • “I've never experienced such efficient resource management and performance tuning in a strategy game before.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

71% average critic score

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Play time

10hMedian play time
10hAverage play time
10-10hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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