Shadow Empire
- June 4, 2020
- VR Designs
- 33h median play time
Ambitious in the extreme, Shadow Empire is a unique sci-fi wargame that's a little lost in its own details.
Get on Steam"Shadow Empire is a complex turn-based 4X wargame set in an alien universe, where you lead a small nation in reconquering a devastated planet. Manage budgets, commanders, and diplomacy, and make tough decisions in response to ever-changing challenges. This immersive game offers a unique and rich experience, with an emphasis on military strategy and role-playing features."
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Incredible depth and complexity, offering a unique blend of 4X and wargame mechanics.
- Procedurally generated planets and rich lore create a highly replayable experience.
- Engaging logistics and resource management systems that require strategic planning.
- Clunky and unintuitive UI that makes navigation and understanding mechanics difficult.
- Steep learning curve with insufficient in-game tutorials, requiring extensive manual reading.
- AI often feels unbalanced, with the player facing challenges that the AI does not.
- gameplay174 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Shadow Empire is characterized by its deep and complex mechanics, blending elements from 4X, RPG, and traditional wargames, which offers a rich strategic experience for dedicated players. While the game excels in its logistical systems and internal politics, it presents a steep learning curve due to a convoluted user interface and a lack of clear tutorials, making it less accessible for newcomers. Players who invest the time to master its intricacies often find it rewarding, with high replayability and a unique blend of military strategy and resource management.
“An incredible strategy game for those who can handle both the complexity and the lesser attention to graphics. On a mechanical level, it far outcompetes games with much larger budgets, with the logistical systems being a particular shining star. The internal politicking isn't too bad either, even if it can get overwhelming.”
“The gameplay is reminiscent of a 90's game with the amount of depth, lack of any tutorial or intuitive controls, but if you enjoyed the original Civ or found you pined for a nation-building game with a detailed war system, then you will likely enjoy your time with this gem.”
“The combination of military strategy, economic management, and internal politics can and often does provide an engaging gameplay experience.”
“The gameplay is slow and methodical, and logistical planning is vital to success.”
“The in-game tutorials and help options don't even begin to cover the complexity of the different mechanics.”
“Horrible UI, no explanation of any mechanics; I can't even close the game without using Alt+F4.”
- graphics134 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely criticized as outdated and rudimentary, often likened to those from the 1990s, with many reviewers noting a clunky user interface and minimal visual appeal. However, players emphasize that the game's depth and complexity far outweigh its aesthetic shortcomings, and several mods are available to enhance the visual experience. Ultimately, while the graphics may deter some, they do not detract from the game's engaging mechanics and strategic depth.
“While the art style is quirky and reminds me a lot of older games I used to enjoy, there are many mods by talented artists that add a lot of personality and a feeling of grandeur that honestly is hard to come by.”
“I'm a gamer, not an art critic, so the only purpose graphics need to serve is to make things clear, and that's exactly what they do in this game.”
“If you give it the time and commit to the learning experience, and if you can look past the dated graphics and overlook some of the shortcomings in other areas, you will experience an immersive masterpiece that simply has no equal.”
“Graphics are of course pretty poor.”
“The graphics suck, there's no way around that.”
“The graphics are very basic like a board game with chits, maybe that was the intent but makes it less engaging.”
- story37 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's story is highly praised for its depth and replayability, offering a unique narrative experience with each playthrough. Set in a post-apocalyptic universe, it combines elements of role-playing and strategy, allowing players to create their own stories through emergent gameplay and rich backstories for various factions and planets. While the foundational narrative is compelling, some players desire more structured story content and continuity between campaigns.
“This game is an epic turn-based strategy storyteller.”
“The storytelling is amazing; it really makes you feel connected to your growing, infant civilization trying to rebuild and reclaim the planet.”
“Overall, this game is amazing when it comes to emergent storytelling.”
“The story modules are currently barebones.”
“One gripe is that I wish there was carryover story/benefits between planetary campaigns - maybe something like 'Age of Wonders: Planetfall' does where you're actively jumping from random planet to random planet, rebuilding an empire.”
“The plot of the game revolves around a peaceful utopian future being suddenly snuffed out by a horrible galactic conflict that takes the lives of billions across many worlds.”
- atmosphere35 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is richly immersive, offering a diverse range of planetary environments that significantly impact gameplay and strategy. Players navigate through various settings, from barren moons to lush jungles, each with unique challenges and requirements, enhancing the overall experience. The attention to detail in atmospheric composition and its effects on gameplay elements, such as unit design and resource management, creates a captivating and deep universe that keeps players engaged.
“The remaining 4 million survivors, out of the 1.2 trillion that used to call this home, now scattered in makeshift shelters, trying to not get eaten by the gigantic 30m tall tigersnakes that fly above their heads, or get taken by the mad bandits roaming the lands around them, or let the flesh-eating fungal spores that permeate the atmosphere contact their skin.”
“It's atmospheric, deep, replayable, and absolutely has a one-more-turn feeling.”
“This game *oozes* with atmosphere and begs for you to convince friends into doing an old-school multi-month campaign session.”
“The planet this all takes place on can be anything from a moon with little atmosphere or ability to farm, to a heavy-atmosphere jungle world hostile to Terran life, or anything in between.”
“Then you realize the planet has no atmosphere and only rocket planes can fly.”
“Depending on what your planet looks like (lava planet without an atmosphere? lush jungle? ice world? barren rock?) you will need completely different things in order to build up your society.”
- replayability35 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game boasts high replayability due to its extensive customization options, procedural world generation, and diverse gameplay mechanics that create unique experiences in each playthrough. Players appreciate the depth and complexity, which encourage multiple strategies and approaches, although some note that repetitive events can detract from this aspect. Overall, it is considered a rewarding experience for those willing to invest time in mastering its systems.
“The amount of customization for your empire and units and unique positions you can find yourself in gives this great replayability.”
“This game has amazing replay value, and is an excellent example of combining role-playing elements (i.e. dice rolling, chance, storytelling, random events) with grand strategy.”
“The procedural generation of the game world allows for some amazing replayability.”
“My time is limited and while I am sure there is a lot to reward a player that sticks with this game, fighting against a truly horrendous UI is not something I'm willing to do when there are so many other, far more playable games out there.”
“The events have no cooldown, not diminishing returns; they just spam the same event again and again because the amount of events are a few dozen, repeating themselves in every campaign, hurting the replayability.”
“I don't replay games much after my initial addiction wears off (because there are so many more games out there I always am wanting to try), but this one appears to have a lot of replayability due to how much the game can change via its planet generation systems and the many types of strategies you can pursue.”
- music17 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players enjoying the atmospheric and immersive qualities of the soundtrack, particularly the dark ambient themes that enhance the game's dystopian setting. However, others criticize the music as generic or droning, suggesting it lacks depth and fails to engage players fully. Overall, while the soundtrack has its moments, it may not be universally appealing, with some players preferring to listen to their own music while playing.
“If for no other reason, you should buy this game just so you can hear how ridiculous the intro music is!”
“The tone of the game as well as the music reminds me of the feeling I got back in the days when I was hooked on the old XCOM games (including Apocalypse).”
“While very subjective, it is worth noting that the game also has a lot of charm and soul, mostly due to its post-apocalyptic aesthetics, the lore, and the soundtrack.”
“I'd rather listen to my own music.”
“The 'music' is not music at all; it's droning.”
“Likewise, the sounds of the game are generic sci-fi music and scratchy radio 'I'm on it' screeches for such hardcore orders as 'build a zoo'.”
- grinding13 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, particularly in the early stages where resource management and combat mechanics feel overwhelming and unengaging. While some appreciate the depth of the game's mechanics and the potential for strategic gameplay, many express dissatisfaction with the repetitive nature of battles and the convoluted user interface, which can detract from the overall experience. Ultimately, the grinding can lead to a sense of stagnation, making players feel like they are stuck in an endless cycle of resource management and combat without significant progress.
“It feels like the only time I get any fun out of this game is when it is too easy, and it starts getting easy about halfway through a game, so the entire first half is just god-awful grindy nonsense where combat doesn't make any sense. Engaging in it isn't even prudent because dislodging one militia unit from a minor faction can take a ridiculous amount of resources if you don't have an overwhelming advantage in technology.”
“After a certain point, it becomes tedious, and you just want to go play something else.”
“Expect to get into grinding stalemates with the AI with ever-expanding front lines (remember, logistics do not apply to the AI!).”
- optimization9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while some players find the performance tolerable and even excellent at times, others report serious issues that hinder gameplay. The complexity and depth of the game can lead to a steep learning curve, but many feel that optimization remains lacking, particularly in AI and performance during end-turn sequences. Despite these challenges, the game is still considered playable, with a variety of mechanics that can enhance the experience.
“It is very complex and deep, and even nearly 400 hours in, I continue to learn new techniques and clues that will improve my performance.”
“So many possibilities that affect the way the world looks; the atmosphere influences not only the way you plant your crops but also the type and performance of any aircraft you develop.”
“General game performance is excellent.”
“Optimization in this game does not exist.”
“Game needs to be better optimized.”
“There are some serious performance issues, but it is playable.”
- stability4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while it is largely bug-free and offers an engaging experience, users report clunky UI, textual errors, and occasional graphics glitches that detract from the overall polish. Despite these issues, the game's compelling 4x format keeps players invested.
“Almost bug-free; this has to be the best, most frustrating game I have ever played.”
“The game runs smoothly without any crashes, making for a seamless experience.”
“I appreciate how stable the game is; it allows me to focus on strategy rather than technical issues.”
“The UI is clunky, there are plenty of textual errors, and there are some graphics glitches, but the game is so interesting and enjoyable - the 4X format makes the wargame details much more compelling.”
“Do you want to know why the latest redesign of your recon buggy seems, well, rather buggy?”
“Apart from its aesthetic shortcomings, it's also cumbersome, inelegant, and sometimes buggy.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is highlighted by its customizable aesthetics, allowing players to replace creepy default faces with amusing anime alternatives, which adds a layer of comedic enjoyment, especially when watching others play. This lighthearted approach to character design contributes to a fun and entertaining gaming experience.
“Anything about the game can be changed aesthetically, so if you don't like the creepy default faces, you can replace them with funny anime faces.”
“Seriously, it's funny to watch when someone you don't like has to play it.”
“Funny enough, the last game I had the same feeling about was Distant Worlds.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Many users feel that the game's monetization strategy, particularly regarding downloadable content (DLC), detracts from the overall experience, labeling it as a cash grab that undermines the game's potential.
“This could be a great game if the developer didn't go for the cash grab on the DLC.”
“The monetization strategy feels exploitative and takes away from the overall experience.”
“It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind paywalls, making it hard to enjoy the game fully.”
