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"The Settlers: Rise of an Empire - History Edition" is a city-building strategy game set in a medieval world, now Windows 10 compatible with updated multiplayer functionality via Uplay. Oversee the individual lives of your characters as you grow your empire and increase its wealth to become a legendary king. This edition includes the main game and the expansion "The Eastern Realm."

The Settlers: Rise of an Empire - History Edition screenshot
The Settlers: Rise of an Empire - History Edition screenshot
The Settlers: Rise of an Empire - History Edition screenshot
The Settlers: Rise of an Empire - History Edition screenshot
The Settlers: Rise of an Empire - History Edition screenshot
The Settlers: Rise of an Empire - History Edition screenshot
The Settlers: Rise of an Empire - History Edition screenshot
The Settlers: Rise of an Empire - History Edition screenshot

75%
Audience ScoreBased on 275 reviews
story9 positive mentions
stability10 negative mentions

  • The game is a charming city builder that evokes nostalgia and provides a relaxing gameplay experience.
  • Graphics are visually appealing and have aged well, contributing to the overall enjoyment of the game.
  • The campaign offers a good introduction to the game's mechanics, and the blend of city building with light combat elements is engaging.
  • The game requires Ubisoft Connect, which can be cumbersome and has been reported to cause various issues, including authentication problems.
  • Combat mechanics are considered weak and unbalanced, leading to a less satisfying experience for players looking for strategic warfare.
  • There are numerous bugs and performance issues, including crashes and graphical glitches, which detract from the overall gameplay experience.
  • story
    36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story in the game is generally considered basic and not particularly original, often described as a light narrative that serves as a backdrop for gameplay rather than a compelling plot. While some players find the missions and characters enjoyable, with a mix of fun and challenge, others note that the scripting can be simplistic and that certain missions may feel tedious due to resource gathering mechanics. Overall, the story is serviceable for those seeking a casual experience, but it lacks depth for players looking for a more intricate narrative.

    • “The missions, characters, and storyline are complex and fun.”
    • “I have always enjoyed the Settlers games and this is no exception; it has a fine storyline with lots of different needs to manage for the settlers.”
    • “Love this game... really good storyline and missions.”
    • “The modern games have too much of that fantasy/storybook-like style that just waters down the overall look.”
    • “Here and there you can find annoying minor bugs and oversights like story NPCs lacking a name in some menus, and the story is also absolutely nothing to take seriously (although it's fun in its own right if you don't expect a gripping or original narrative, more like a puppet theater).”
    • “Story is... pretty basic; you start off with your city-state seeming to prosper, but then bandits start to raise some trouble in the first campaign level, and later you'd hear about Vikings causing chaos for coastal communities, which more or less spurs on the story to, of course, build your own empire.”
  • graphics
    32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the graphics of the game are generally praised for their charm and aesthetic appeal, with many noting that they have aged well despite being vintage. While some users highlight minor bugs and issues, the visuals are often described as smooth and pleasing, making the gameplay enjoyable. However, there are also criticisms regarding graphical downgrades and technical problems, particularly in older versions, which detract from the overall experience.

    • “The graphics have aged really well, and the design is beautiful - a charming combination of colorful and realistic.”
    • “The graphics are smooth and pleasing to the eye.”
    • “The gameplay loop is fun and the visuals still hold up to this day.”
    • “I don't know if I'm allowed to write this, but choose the GOG version instead - properly fixed graphical bugs on that version.”
    • “The graphics are in need of serious updating.”
    • “Graphics keep flashing, making the game virtually unplayable.”
  • gameplay
    23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is generally enjoyable, offering a mix of relaxing mechanics and increasing challenge as players progress through the campaign. While some users appreciate the game's solid resource management and city-building elements, others criticize the lack of depth and variety in gameplay mechanics compared to previous titles in the series. Overall, the game strikes a balance between accessibility and engagement, though some players express disappointment over limited content and keybinding options.

    • “The gameplay is fun and relaxing; the missions do get more challenging as you progress through the campaign, though.”
    • “The way the game teaches you its mechanics is really well done.”
    • “This game sits perfectly in the Goldilocks zone of comfortable playability - the mechanics are simple enough to make it a relaxing game, but not oversimplified to the point of boredom.”
    • “The mechanics are clunky and there were numerous times when my production got cratered with no possibility of recovery.”
    • “In my opinion, the game just doesn't seem to offer enough gameplay mechanics and depth for the price.”
    • “As for the gameplay, it's slightly annoying not being able to change keybinds from what I can see.”
  • stability
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous reports of frequent crashes, freezing, and various glitches affecting gameplay, including audio and visual issues. Many users experienced significant frustration due to these problems, with some unable to launch the game at all. Overall, the consensus suggests that the game is plagued by instability and is not recommended unless users are willing to tolerate its numerous bugs.

    • “Then it worked, but the video and the sound were all buggy and janky, the mouse was not constrained to the game viewport, the controls were not rebindable... what a total waste.”
    • “This game freezes constantly, and it’s irritating.”
    • “I should have listened to the other reviews that said this was a buggy mess.”
  • atmosphere
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is characterized by immersive climate zones and changing seasons that enhance both the visual appeal and economic dynamics. Players appreciate the friendly and peaceful ambiance, complemented by engaging music and charming animations, creating a lively and visually appealing experience.

    • “All in all, I recommend the game to anyone looking for a medieval city-building game in a friendly and mostly peaceful atmosphere.”
    • “The game has a very nice immersive atmosphere, great music, and little quirky animations which make it a very lively experience.”
    • “The atmosphere and maps are very nice looking.”
  • music
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is highly praised for its incredible soundtrack, immersive atmosphere, and engaging voiceovers. Players appreciate the lively experience created by the combination of great music and quirky animations.

    • “The soundtrack is incredible.”
    • “I love the sounds, music, and voiceover.”
    • “The game has a very nice immersive atmosphere, great music, and little quirky animations which make it a very lively experience.”
  • grinding
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players note that grinding in the game can be extremely time-consuming, often requiring a significant investment of time, likening it to needing a "second life" to fully engage with it. However, some appreciate the game's simplicity, which helps maintain their interest despite the grind.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The grinding is so excessive that it feels like a second job.”
    • “The repetitive nature of grinding makes the game feel tedious and unfulfilling.”
  • monetization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is primarily funded through microtransactions, which may lead to an influx of promotional emails from Ubisoft, suggesting players consider using a secondary email to avoid spam.

    • “The game feels heavily funded by microtransactions, making it hard to enjoy without spending extra money.”
    • “If you have a second email that isn't bombarded with Ubisoft advertisements, I recommend using it.”
  • humor
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is praised for its humor, featuring a funny story and well-crafted characters that enhance the overall experience. Players find it easy to learn, contributing to its enjoyable and comedic nature.

    • “The game is good, funny, and simple to learn.”
    • “It has a funny story, perfect characters, and just keeps getting better and better.”
  • replayability
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is noted for lacking strong replayability, with users expressing that it does not encourage multiple playthroughs.

  • optimization
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is generally well-received, but players note that it is an older title that lacks optimization for modern PCs, which may affect performance.

    • “It's a good game, just an old one and not optimized for today's PCs.”
    • “The game struggles to run smoothly on modern hardware, which is disappointing.”
    • “Performance issues are rampant, making it hard to enjoy the gameplay.”

Buy The Settlers: Rise of an Empire - History Edition

100h Median play time
97h Average play time
20-170h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

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