Info about Conquest of Elysium 5:

Official game description:
Conquest of Elysium 5 is a quick turn based fantasy strategy game with a touch of rogue-like. The game is full of depth, details and monsters. There are also a huge number of factions, each with its own unique gameplay and magic rituals.  
The main focus in the CoE series is that each race plays differently. We're not talking about a unique building here and a unique unit there, we're talking about completely different playstyles, with different mechanics and different goals. Perhaps you're playing a druid, focused on amassing a vast forest and jungle empire from which to harvest ingredients to summon creatures of the woods with no practical need to conquer mines. Perhaps you're a dwarf, who's only concern is mines and produce units at a set rate every turn, focused almost entirely on upgrading those units to survive as long as possible since they are so difficult to replace. Perhaps you are a Scourge Lord, who’s pyramids of power drain the very life force from Elysium and channel it to him and his Heralds. With 24 different factions that alone is enough to keep your play dynamic as you vie for control of the map to conquer Elysium.  
New for the 5th version of Conquest of Elysium is four additional planes to interact with, boats and ports which enables players to travel to islands beyond the main continent of Elysium, three new factions, new rituals and summons for the existing factions, new battle maps for different fortifications, new independent factions that fight each other, new monsters, more and different random events, and much more.  
The game has ten different planes. There is for instance an Infernal plane that is the home of the devils and the demons. So if a demonologist manages to summon a demon lord, there will suddenly be a dark citadel without its master in inferno. Banishing a devil will force it back to inferno instead of slaying it permanently. Although extremely difficult it is possible to permanently destroy a demon lord by storming inferno and slaying it on that plane. Although there are many planes you will only rarely have to visit them. But they continue to run in the background and make certain actions or random events more exciting. Among the new planes in CoE5 is the sky-realm above Elysium. From the clouds flying armies might descend upon the inhabitants of Elysium, only to take to the skies and retreat if their losses were significant. But the clouds are not unattainable. Beanstalks, rainbows and tall mountain spires allow ground-born armies to ascend to the clouds.  
Most factions start with a random set of rituals, a random set of combat spells and together with the random map that will ensure that no two games are the same. More rituals and spells can be learned during the game if you have the right resources and find the right locations. In addition to the aggressive wildlife of Elysium there's also random events to contend with, from bumper harvests and bandits, to the very gates of the underworld opening into Elysium. Your hands will be full before you even make contact with the enemy.

Release date: Aug 17, 2021

Categories: Turn-based Strategy, Roguelike, 4X, Procedural Generation, Faction Management, Asymmetrical Multiplayer, Empire Building, Tactical, Resource Management

Feature scans:
- MTX: score 20; verdict: Fair but Overpriced; summary: The user feedback highlights concerns about the game's pricing, with multiple reviews describing it as overpriced for the content provided. Some users feel the game is more akin to a DLC expansion for a previous title rather than a full sequel, which has led to disappointment. However, there is no evidence of predatory monetization tactics such as microtransactions, gacha mechanics, or pay-to-win elements. The game appears to rely on a one-time purchase model with free updates, which is viewed positively by some users.
- Wiki: score 50; verdict: Critical Documentation Gaps; summary: The user feedback highlights significant gaps in both in-game documentation and external wiki resources, creating a steep learning curve and reliance on trial-and-error or external guides. While some players enjoy the sense of discovery, the lack of consistent and comprehensive information is a major pain point, particularly for understanding class-specific mechanics and late-game content. The wiki's inconsistencies exacerbate these issues, making it difficult for players to optimize their strategies or fully engage with the game's depth.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics: No data
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes: No data


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Emergent storytelling and humor (weight 0.96): The game generates unpredictable, humorous, and engaging narratives through random events, faction interactions, and unit lore. Players enjoy the emergent stories and chaotic moments.
- Deep strategic gameplay loop (weight 0.96): Players consistently highlight the game's mechanical depth, complex systems, and addictive 'just one more turn' gameplay. The strategic variety and emergent storytelling keep players engaged for dozens of hours.
- Unique and asymmetric factions (weight 0.95): The game features 24+ factions with distinct playstyles, mechanics, and lore, encouraging experimentation and replayability. Players praise the asymmetry and creative faction designs.
- High replayability and variety (weight 0.93): Randomly generated maps, dynamic events, and diverse factions ensure no two playthroughs are the same. Players appreciate the endless possibilities and strategic depth.
- Strong modding and community support (weight 0.91): The game has an active modding scene with Steam Workshop integration, allowing players to enhance or customize their experience. Mods add significant value and variety.
- Rich lore and world-building (weight 0.9): Factions, units, and events are filled with detailed lore, humor, and unique mechanics. Players enjoy discovering the stories behind units and factions.
- Accessible yet deep mechanics (weight 0.88): While the game has a steep learning curve, players find it rewarding and easy to pick up once mechanics are understood. The auto-battle system simplifies combat without sacrificing depth.
- Multiplayer and coop fun (weight 0.86): The game supports stable multiplayer and cooperative play, offering chaotic and engaging experiences with friends. Players highlight the fun of shared gameplay sessions.
- Large and dynamic maps (weight 0.13): The game features expansive maps with multiple planes of existence, astral realms, and seamless movement. Players enjoy the scale and variety of environments.
- Low system requirements (weight 0.12): The game runs smoothly on low-end hardware, making it accessible to a wide audience. Players appreciate the lightweight performance and functional graphics.
- Simpler than Dominions series (weight 0.04): Players appreciate the game's streamlined mechanics and shorter play sessions compared to Dominions, making it more accessible while retaining depth.

Common complaints:
- Technical issues and instability (weight 0.44): Players report frequent crashes, poor performance on certain hardware (e.g., Mac non-Intel processors), and janky controls. These issues disrupt gameplay and frustrate users.
- High difficulty and punishing early game (weight 0.42): The game is notoriously difficult, with players frequently losing on the first turn due to unfair spawns, aggressive wildlife, or lack of resources. This creates a steep barrier to entry and discourages experimentation.
- Lack of documentation and tutorials (weight 0.38): The game provides little in-game guidance, relying on external resources like wikis or manuals. This leaves new players confused about mechanics, units, and objectives.
- Outdated graphics and presentation (weight 0.33): The pixel art style and simplistic graphics are polarizing, with many players finding them unappealing or unclear. The presentation feels dated and low-budget, detracting from immersion.
- Underutilized or empty planes (weight 0.3): Additional planes (e.g., the underworld) feel empty or not worth exploring, offering little strategic value or unique content. This limits the game's depth and replayability.
- Lack of player control in battles (weight 0.27): Battles are auto-resolved with no manual input, leading to frustration when units target poorly or spells are cast randomly. Players feel disconnected from combat outcomes, reducing strategic depth.
- Tedious micromanagement and pacing (weight 0.2): Late-game play becomes slow and repetitive, requiring excessive micromanagement of armies, resources, or rituals. Movement points are limited, making expansion and defense tedious.
- Limited strategic variety (weight 0.09): The game enforces a single playstyle (rapid conquest) and lacks meaningful choices in unit customization or faction mechanics. This reduces long-term engagement and replayability.
- Weak AI and poor teammate behavior (weight 0.08): The AI is criticized for making illogical decisions, cheating, or failing to provide meaningful opposition. Teammates may compete for territory or behave unpredictably, disrupting gameplay.
- Faction and class imbalances (weight 0.06): Certain factions or classes are significantly stronger or weaker than others, leading to unfair matchups and repetitive strategies. This undermines replayability and competitive play.

Gameplay feedback:
- High RNG and unpredictability (weight 0.72): Random events, procedural map generation, and chaotic enemy spawns (e.g., deer ambushes, demonic invasions) create unpredictable gameplay. This adds excitement but can frustrate players seeking consistency.
- Multi-plane exploration (weight 0.68): Players explore up to 10 distinct planes (e.g., Hell, Celestial, Underground), each with unique mechanics, factions, and challenges. This expands strategic depth and world-building.
- Auto-battle and indirect control (weight 0.67): Combat is resolved automatically, with players focusing on strategic positioning, army composition, and rituals rather than direct tactical control. This reduces micromanagement but limits player agency in battles.
- Procedural world generation (weight 0.67): Randomized maps, terrain, and resource distribution ensure no two playthroughs are identical. This enhances replayability but can lead to imbalanced or frustrating scenarios.
- Steep learning curve (weight 0.66): The game lacks tutorials and requires external guides due to its complex systems (e.g., rituals, faction mechanics). Early-game difficulty and punishing AI exacerbate the challenge for newcomers.
- Resource scarcity and attrition (weight 0.66): Limited resources, attrition mechanics, and punishing difficulty force players to adapt strategies. Managing morale, unit losses, and territorial control is critical for survival.
- Hero and unit management (weight 0.6): Players recruit and manage hero units with unique abilities, spells, and items. Army composition and hero progression are key to overcoming late-game challenges.
- UI and controls complexity (weight 0.58): The interface requires memorization (e.g., shortcuts like Shift-S) and lacks intuitive design. Players often struggle with navigation, tooltips, and managing multiple planes.
- Lack of diplomacy (weight 0.55): The game focuses on conquest and conflict, with minimal or no diplomacy systems. Players must rely on military strength and strategic maneuvering to dominate opponents.
- Dark humor and whimsy (weight 0.08): The game embraces absurdity with wacky factions (e.g., Cloud Lord, Kobold King), humorous deaths, and chaotic interactions (e.g., opening gates to Hell). This contrasts with its otherwise serious strategy mechanics.

Performance notes:
- Optimized for low-end hardware (weight 0.06): The game is praised for running well on low-spec devices, including hacked Nokia phones and the Steam Deck, as well as at high resolutions like 4K.
- Startup and display issues (weight 0.04): Players report black screens on startup and flickering menu screens, alongside compatibility problems with Mac hardware. Despite these issues, the game runs smoothly on low-end devices.
- Crashing and autosave failures (weight 0.03): Frequent game crashes, particularly when exiting the network menu, are compounded by a lack of autosave functionality, leading to frustration over lost progress.
- Networking and server problems (weight 0.01): Players experience networking issues due to non-peer-to-peer connections and poorly optimized servers, impacting online gameplay.

Recommendations:
- Highly recommended for strategy fans (weight 0.25): The game is frequently recommended for fans of turn-based strategy, rogue-likes, and deep lore, with many reviewers praising its strong worldbuilding and replayability. It is positioned as a top choice in its genre for these audiences.
- Recommended for niche audiences (weight 0.24): The game appeals to fans of old-school, esoteric, or technical strategy games, particularly those who enjoy indirect control, deep mechanics, or unique lore. It is less suited for players seeking polished graphics or casual experiences.
- Challenging but rewarding gameplay (weight 0.13): The game is praised for its depth, strategic variety, and high replayability due to random maps and faction diversity. However, it is also noted as unforgiving, requiring guides or tutorials for new players.
- Flaws acknowledged but overlooked (weight 0.12): While the game has notable flaws (e.g., balance issues, limited factions), many reviewers still recommend it for its unique strengths, particularly in multiplayer or deep strategy contexts.
- Best value at discounted price (weight 0.12): Many players suggest the game is worth its price only during sales (e.g., 50% off) or at lower price points. Some recommend waiting for a sale to maximize value.
- Mods and tutorials enhance experience (weight 0.11): Players recommend using mods (e.g., passive observers for learning) or watching tutorials to improve enjoyment, especially for first-time players. Specific factions or classes are suggested for beginners.
- Requests for expansions and improvements (weight 0.02): Players express desire for more classes, larger maps, or DLCs to expand the game’s content. Some suggest minor gameplay tweaks, such as additional movement points for certain classes.
- Social and storytelling appeal (weight 0.02): The game fosters social engagement, with players sharing it with friends or creating narratives through gameplay. Its depth and customization options enable unique storytelling experiences.

Other player notes:
- Indie hobbyist development (weight 0.03): Developed as a side project by two people, the game showcases a passion-driven approach to design. This may explain its niche appeal and unique mechanics, though it could also limit polish or scope.
- Unique narrator personality (weight 0.03): The game features a distinct narrator with a snooty scholar personality, offering political and scientific commentary. This creative choice adds depth to the eldritch horror theme and reflects the developers' personal touch.
- External strategy references (weight 0.03): The game references external books for strategy analysis, which may enhance depth for dedicated players but could alienate those seeking a self-contained experience.
- Multiplayer divides opinions (weight 0.01): Players are sharply divided on the multiplayer experience, with debates likely centering on balance, cooperation, or competitive elements. This suggests the feature is polarizing but significant to the game’s reception.
- High price accessibility concerns (weight 0.01): The game’s cost is a barrier for some players, who recommend trying it at a friend’s house first. This feedback highlights affordability as a potential issue for broader adoption.
- Wildlife as major challenge (weight 0.01): Wildlife is frequently cited as the most difficult enemy type, suggesting it plays a central role in gameplay mechanics or survival strategies. This may appeal to players seeking intense challenges.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.23): Players experience frustration primarily due to poor UI/UX design, including clunky controls, lack of keybinding customization, and unintuitive mechanics. Additionally, RNG-heavy gameplay, unbalanced difficulty, and game-breaking bugs (e.g., crashes, unexpected events) exacerbate the issue, often leading to significant setbacks or loss of progress.
- Excitement (weight 0.13): Excitement stems from the game's depth, emergent storytelling, and unpredictable scenarios, such as unique faction interactions, dramatic late-game events, and creative gameplay mechanics. Players also appreciate the variety of playstyles, replayability, and the sense of discovery in exploring new strategies or modded content.
- Amusement (weight 0.11): Amusement arises from the game's chaotic and humorous emergent gameplay, such as absurd battles (e.g., ants defeating Hades' legions), unexpected twists (e.g., wildlife taking over capitals), and self-deprecating humor about failures. Players enjoy the game's ability to create ridiculous yet engaging scenarios that defy conventional strategy game logic.
- Disappointment (weight 0.09): Disappointment is caused by unmet expectations, such as poor tutorials, outdated graphics, lack of meaningful updates, and repetitive or unbalanced gameplay. Players also express frustration with the game's pricing, lack of polish, and failure to deliver on its potential compared to other titles in the genre.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.08): Satisfaction comes from mastering the game's mechanics, overcoming challenges, and experiencing its depth and replayability. Players appreciate the unique faction playstyles, strategic customization, and the sense of accomplishment from victories, especially after prolonged effort or creative problem-solving.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.06): Enjoyment is derived from the game's engaging and unpredictable gameplay loop, including faction diversity, chaotic battles, and the thrill of exploration. Players also highlight the fun of discovering new strategies, modded content, and the overall sense of immersion in the game's world.
- Appreciation (weight 0.03): Players appreciate the game's depth, emergent storytelling, and modding support, which elevate the experience beyond traditional strategy games. The unique art style, immersive mechanics, and the developers' passion for creating a rich and dynamic world are also frequently praised.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.03): Nostalgia is evoked by the game's retro aesthetics, old-school design philosophy, and gameplay reminiscent of classic strategy or tabletop games. Players often compare it favorably to titles from their childhood, such as *Heroes of Might and Magic* or *Master of Magic*.
- Surprise (weight 0.03): Surprise is triggered by the game's unpredictable and often dramatic events, such as unexpected teleportations, sudden enemy invasions, or absurd outcomes (e.g., deer being more dangerous than demons). These moments defy player expectations and add to the game's chaotic charm.
- Admiration (weight 0.02): Admiration is directed toward the game's depth, art style, and worldbuilding, particularly its unique factions, modding support, and the sheer creativity of its mechanics. Players often describe it as a masterwork or a hidden gem in the strategy genre.
- Addiction (weight 0.02): The game's addictive quality stems from its 'just one more turn' appeal, emergent storytelling, and the constant desire to explore new strategies or overcome challenges. Players often describe their relationship with the game as compulsive, despite setbacks or frustrations.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.02): Enthusiasm is driven by the game's depth, replayability, and the sense of discovery it offers. Players often describe it as a hidden gem and express excitement about sharing their experiences or diving deeper into its mechanics, especially in multiplayer or modded playthroughs.
- Anger (weight 0.01): Anger arises from perceived unfairness, such as RNG-heavy mechanics, poor design choices (e.g., lack of tutorials), or technical issues like crashes and networking problems. Players also express frustration with the game's pricing and lack of value for money.
- Curiosity (weight 0.01): Curiosity is sparked by the game's depth, unique faction mechanics, and the potential for emergent storytelling. Players enjoy exploring the game's systems, discovering hidden interactions, and experimenting with modded content to uncover new possibilities.
- Anticipation (weight 0.01): Anticipation is fueled by excitement for future content, such as sequels, updates, or modded expansions. Players also look forward to diving deeper into the game's mechanics or exploring new strategies in subsequent playthroughs.
- Exhilaration (weight 0.01): Exhilaration comes from moments of mastery or unexpected triumph, such as pulling off a high-risk strategy, overcoming overwhelming odds, or experiencing the game's most dramatic and dynamic events. These moments often provide a dopamine rush and a sense of accomplishment.
- Love (weight 0.01): Players express love for the game's depth, uniqueness, and the sheer joy of its chaotic and unpredictable gameplay. The richness of its world, faction diversity, and emergent storytelling create a deeply engaging and immersive experience.
- Pride (weight 0.01): Pride is felt during moments of triumph, such as overcoming a seemingly impossible challenge, executing a brilliant strategy, or achieving a peak gameplay moment (e.g., soloing a powerful enemy force). These moments often feel like personal victories.
- Confusion (weight 0.01): Confusion arises from the game's lack of guidance, unintuitive mechanics, or poorly explained systems. Players often struggle with the steep learning curve, unclear tutorials, or design flaws that make the game feel incomprehensible at times.
- Approval (weight 0.01): Approval is given for the game's overall experience, particularly its faction asymmetry, depth, and replayability. Players often rate it highly despite its flaws, praising its unique take on the strategy genre and the enjoyment it provides.}