Old World

Item: Old World
Rating: 82
Author: VaporLens

Last updated: 2026-01-24

Summary

Strategic depth and high replayability
Innovative orders system enhances gameplay
Polished UI with quality-of-life improvements
High complexity and steep learning curve
Performance and optimization issues present
Poor AI design and cheating frustrate players

Emotions

Frustration19%Satisfaction14%Excitement11%Appreciation10%Disappointment8%

Sample precision
Helpful reviews: 65%
Unhelpful reviews: 35%
Protest reviews: 0%

82%
Helpful reviews with positive sentiment
18%
Helpful reviews with negative sentiment

Positive points: 1285
Negative points: 503
Gameplay points: 1233
Perf. points: 61
Rec. points: 133
Misc points: 15

Point	Description	Importance
Strategic Depth and Replayability Description The game offers significant strategic depth with meaningful decisions, a broad scope of play, and high replayability. Players praise its 'just one more turn' appeal and the variety of leaders, families, and events that keep each playthrough unique. Importance 99%	The game offers significant strategic depth with meaningful decisions, a broad scope of play, and high replayability. Players praise its 'just one more turn' appeal and the variety of leaders, families, and events that keep each playthrough unique.	99%
Innovative Orders System Description The Orders system is frequently highlighted as a genius design that forces strategic prioritization and reduces micromanagement. It adds a layer of tactical depth by limiting actions per turn and creating meaningful trade-offs. Importance 61%	The Orders system is frequently highlighted as a genius design that forces strategic prioritization and reduces micromanagement. It adds a layer of tactical depth by limiting actions per turn and creating meaningful trade-offs.	61%
Polished UI and Quality of Life Description The user interface is intuitive, customizable, and packed with quality-of-life features like nested tooltips, an undo button, and turn scrubbing. These elements enhance accessibility and reduce frustration. Importance 59%	The user interface is intuitive, customizable, and packed with quality-of-life features like nested tooltips, an undo button, and turn scrubbing. These elements enhance accessibility and reduce frustration.	59%
Historical Setting and Immersion Description The game’s focus on the ancient/classical Mediterranean setting is praised for its historical accuracy, attention to detail, and immersive atmosphere. The limited timeframe and rich narrative elements create a unique and engaging experience. Importance 55%	The game’s focus on the ancient/classical Mediterranean setting is praised for its historical accuracy, attention to detail, and immersive atmosphere. The limited timeframe and rich narrative elements create a unique and engaging experience.	55%
Flexible Victory Conditions Description The victory point and ambitions system, along with flexible victory conditions, make endgames tense and engaging. Players appreciate the variety of paths to victory, including non-combat options. Importance 54%	The victory point and ambitions system, along with flexible victory conditions, make endgames tense and engaging. Players appreciate the variety of paths to victory, including non-combat options.	54%
High Production Values Description The game features beautiful visuals, a Grammy-nominated soundtrack, and high-quality voice work. The art style, music, and sound effects enhance immersion and fit the ancient setting perfectly. Importance 47%	The game features beautiful visuals, a Grammy-nominated soundtrack, and high-quality voice work. The art style, music, and sound effects enhance immersion and fit the ancient setting perfectly.	47%
Character and Dynasty Mechanics Description The addition of mortal rulers, unique traits, and dynasty management (inspired by Crusader Kings) adds political depth and emergent storytelling. Players enjoy the dynamic interactions and consequences of character-driven events. Importance 43%	The addition of mortal rulers, unique traits, and dynasty management (inspired by Crusader Kings) adds political depth and emergent storytelling. Players enjoy the dynamic interactions and consequences of character-driven events.	43%
Unique Blend of Genres Description The game successfully combines elements of 4X strategy (Civilization) and RPG/dynasty management (Crusader Kings). This fusion creates a fresh and immersive experience with a focus on historical depth and narrative-driven gameplay. Importance 26%	The game successfully combines elements of 4X strategy (Civilization) and RPG/dynasty management (Crusader Kings). This fusion creates a fresh and immersive experience with a focus on historical depth and narrative-driven gameplay.	26%
Strong Developer Support Description The developers are actively engaged with the community, providing frequent updates, balance patches, and meaningful DLCs. This ongoing support ensures the game remains fresh and well-balanced. Importance 24%	The developers are actively engaged with the community, providing frequent updates, balance patches, and meaningful DLCs. This ongoing support ensures the game remains fresh and well-balanced.	24%
Balanced and Fair Gameplay Description The game is well-balanced, with mechanics that reward strategic thinking and punish poor decisions. Features like limited city sites, realistic diplomacy, and manageable discontent contribute to a fair and engaging experience. Importance 21%	The game is well-balanced, with mechanics that reward strategic thinking and punish poor decisions. Features like limited city sites, realistic diplomacy, and manageable discontent contribute to a fair and engaging experience.	21%
Event-Driven Narrative Description The event system, including randomized and modded events, adds replayability and narrative depth. These events create memorable stories and dynamic gameplay experiences, often tied to character relationships. Importance 19%	The event system, including randomized and modded events, adds replayability and narrative depth. These events create memorable stories and dynamic gameplay experiences, often tied to character relationships.	19%
Modding and Customization Description Strong modding support and customization options (e.g., maps, events, nations) add significant replayability. The community-driven content keeps the game fresh and engaging over time. Importance 13%	Strong modding support and customization options (e.g., maps, events, nations) add significant replayability. The community-driven content keeps the game fresh and engaging over time.	13%
Tech and Resource Innovation Description The tech card system and resource management (e.g., growth, civics, training) add strategic depth and replayability. These systems force players to adapt and make meaningful choices without relying on a rigid tech tree. Importance 10%	The tech card system and resource management (e.g., growth, civics, training) add strategic depth and replayability. These systems force players to adapt and make meaningful choices without relying on a rigid tech tree.	10%
Non-Mandatory DLCs Description The base game is complete and enjoyable on its own, with DLCs adding optional content that enhances but does not gate the experience. Players appreciate the affordability and value of the expansions. Importance 7%	The base game is complete and enjoyable on its own, with DLCs adding optional content that enhances but does not gate the experience. Players appreciate the affordability and value of the expansions.	7%

Old World

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