Shogun’s Empire: Hex Commander
I enjoy the relative simplicity of this game. Basically comes down to how effectively you can utilize counters (spears vs cavalry, swords vs spears, guns against samurai, samurai against ashigaru, etc.) Gets repetitive after playing through several campaigns, so replay value is limited.
– Real player with 83.7 hrs in game
Read More: Best Turn-Based Strategy Indie Games.
~~Cannot save games without cloud save. I cannot recommend a game that requires online saves and will not save locally.
Other than not being able to save games without cloud save this game is a nice light turn base.~~
I was mistaken, thanks to Homenetgames for responding. Once you start the game up again and select the region you have an in-progress game in it will let you continue where you left off.
I recommend this game if you’re interested in a casual turn based strategy. I think I’ll have many hours of enjoyment (usually while multitasking).
– Real player with 32.1 hrs in game
苏维埃模拟器 Soviet Simulator
Game Contents
Note：Contents in screenshots are in the development, especially numerical values.
-
Make USSR Great Again！
-
Play as the high authority of USSR from Dec 30, 1922. Nobody knows USSR better than you! Control USSR’s Policies, economy, industry, military, diplomatics affairs. Can you plant the red flag on Reichstag?
-
It’s not a realtime game like Paradox games. It’s turn-based. You can deal with affairs at the end of every month.
-
Plan the industry schedule according to the requirement of people. Product consumer goods, infrastructure, T-34? It’s up to you.
-
Plan the import and export schedule. You can import foods to satisfy people’s need, or export military goods to other countries in war.
-
Scheme the Five-Years Plan. Every five years you can determine the way USSR’s industry structure goes forwards.
-
Strike Fascism! Knowing the real world history, can you prepare Operation Barbarossa well?
-
A war system dominated by ground force, supported by airforce, meanwhile navy withstands the trade routes.
-
Natural science, engineering and social science technology trees.
-
Can you avoid the mistakes USSR made in history, even though they may the best choices at that situation?
Game Features
-
Events in game are mostly real events in history. There may also be magic alternative history event. (Trotsky is coming back!)
-
Content based on fully textual research.
-
Include lots of capitalism jokes.
-
You can listen to Soviet military music and classic music with the radio on the desk.
Best Election Simulator In Russia!
Who is your admiral general communist oligarch in the bright Russia of the future?
-
Putin? And his aquadisco, pouring Novichok on everyone in the neighborhood?
-
Or Lukashenka and a gang of security officials?
-
Navalny and his swarm of drones and protesters?
-
Or Trump on a posh aircraft carrier and his highly mobile rednecks on pickup trucks?
-
Or with unique mechanics completely out of control George Floyd and his hordes of activists?
Explore and dominate on a generated map
-
Loot and spend on strategically important buildings, or just buy a golden toilet brush for your luxury pirate yacht.
-
Each faction has its own line of development, so bring women and electoral votes to the yacht to get new opportunities, glorious pirate!
For example, a couple of votes of friendly fellow citizens and Trump is already airstrikes enemies and bombing cities.
However, it is even easier for Putin: carry two women and you have a great personal bunker.
Unique cell mechanics
At the start of the game, all cells are closed like a card back.
Open them and get unexpected turns.
-
Maybe it will be a nuclear rocket?
-
Or garages with a gop-stop?
Unit characteristics
Each unit earns experience in the course of the game, whether it is killing, women, or collecting votes.
In the future, the player distributes points for new characteristics in the improvement tree.
Some traits can be obtained by examining undiscovered cells. For example, a university has a chance to give a “Red diploma”, which gives + 0.001% to damage.
But the characteristics are not always SUCH POSITIVE! A unit that has been imprisoned has a 50% chance of receiving the “Buggered” debuff.
Find cards and strengthen the regime
Examples of cards:
-
“Legalization Of Prostitution”: 5% chance each turn that 3 random units will gain the characteristic “Prostitute” and start generating income when attacking.
-
“Nepotism”: First and permanent income from oil + 100%.
-
“Gopota Government Support”: 5% chance every turn that 2 loyal riot policemen will appear near the city.
-
“A Feast In Time Of Plague”: 5% chance each turn that 1 random unit will become a cannibal and start supplying food to the city with each kill.
Beware of the indigenous people!
So, the traffic police inspector will bankrupt the rednecks in pickup trucks, which have a movement range of two cells.
And the gopota, when attacking, has a chance to take away a weapon or object, including the NUCLEAR!
Do not forget that it is possible to subdue these crooks by priests and oligarchs. By the way, send juggernaut bears to attack with RPG and nuke!
Combine faction, regime and cards wisely
For example, Putin’s milestones such as “Bunker”, “Resetting Presidential Terms”, and “Coronation”, which provide good bonuses, go well with the “Clone Sovereign” upgrade of the Monarchy regime.
Read More: Best Turn-Based Strategy 4X Games.
Lawgivers II
The sequel to Lawgivers is in the works!! Join our communities and contribute to one of the most ambitious political simulation game!
Lawgivers II is a political sandbox game which offers multiple ways to experience the process of ruling and approving bills. Start your political adventure from the very bottom and perhaps lead your nation one day to become the most influential in the world.
World
The game comes with a world map featuring the most well-known nations and up to two levels of administrative subdivisions. Players will have comfortable filters to display population, relations, gdp growth, election outcomes by districs, etc.
Parliament
Enter the parliament/congress with your lawmakers to approve or abolish laws in a much expanded and realistic way. Elect the speaker of the house to watch over parliamentary democracy and set up committees for personalized laws. Request a secret vote, or ask for impeachment. Many graphs will assist players with their choice.
Government
Run for the highest seat in presidential and semi-presidential republics or become the prime minister in parliamentary republics. Form a government alone or with a coalition of party and try to survive motions of no confidence. Bypass the parliament if necessary to satisfy your needs but be prepared to face the consequences.
Laws
Personalize and approve laws like never before. With constitutional amendments you can control the workflow of the most important institutions of the country. Players will enjoy total freedom of choosing whether to insert a bill in constitution or just approve it as an ordinary law.
Lawmakers
In Lawgivers II all lawmakers will have their own opinion about laws and way to rule. If there are to many points of view in a party, some politicians might leave it or found another one. Check out their personal history and be sure to have their trust.
Organisations and Lobbies
Organisations and Lobbies might achieve a lot of influence in your country. Ask them for support by hiring one of their gentlemen or try to practice honest and clean politics.
War & Trade
Raise your influence over the world and secure important resources for your country. Corrupt other parties in poorer countries or organise “legal” referendums to annect other regions. Enter war with other nations in order to reach economic and political supremacy.
Multiplayer
Join with your friends in a coalition to form the government, rr simply stay in opposition and get ready for your first chance to grab power. (The multiplayer will be available at a later development stage)
Mods
The game will come with Steamworks support. Modders will be able to add new countries, laws, events, resources, ideologies and more content just with a simple text editor. The appearance of lawmakers will be completely cutomizable too so you can draw and import your favourite politicians.
Star Dynasties
Infinite potential, incredible progress.
I started playing this game during the indiecade demo mid-2020, and the evolution this game has been through in just one year is massive.
Pros:
-
Dev very responsive to Player Feedback
-
Lots of Character Drama
-
Interesting Events (Expeditions specially)
-
Interesting Systems (Secrets, Justice, Gatherings, Favors and Negotiation)
-
Powerful Modding Tool (Seriously, one could create a full DLC-worthy experience with it)
– Real player with 996.3 hrs in game
Addendum
Have changed review to - Would recommend.*
Only about a third of my gamer friends are big head enough to truly enjoy this game, but I know they will enjoy it immensely. I can see this one sinking hundreds if not thousands of hours into, and I’m already hopeful they go series with it.
I have a great deal of hope, if only because of how quickly the developers are acting on feedback and making solid changes. Meaningful save files now exist. There’s still a lot going on, so I’m not yet done with this review, but the nature and flow of the game are starting to make more sense.
– Real player with 122.9 hrs in game
The Commission 1920: Organized Crime Grand Strategy
My previous review still applies…times 1000
I don’t care if this game takes forever to win!
I am the boss of a crime family!
What I say goes!
DO NOT come into my territory!
I AM “Scarface” Al Capone, Frank “The Enforcer” Nitti, Bumpy Johnson, Dutch Schultz, Lucky Luciano, Bugsy Siegel, Meyer Lansky, James Cagney & Humphrey Bogart in “The Roaring Twenties”, Edward G Robinson in “Little Caesar”, Vito Corleone, Sonny Corleone, Michael Corleone, the guy who cut off the horses head and somehow got it up the stairs and under the sheets without waking anyone or leaving a blood trail and everyone else rolled into one!
– Real player with 52.4 hrs in game
To give this little gem a thumbs up was kind of a margin call. I do love Mafia games and grand strategy games and this one made it into my heart but there are a number of things that could and should be improved.
But let´s go with the PRO´s first:
PROs:
-) Easy to understand the game mechanics and therefore you can play right away and have fun
-) nice graphics and funny nicknames of the mobsters
-) Many different traits that can give you benefits for your rackets and therefore allow different approaches to grow your family operations (such as mobsters with specialisation or neighbourhoods that prefer a certain racket like gambling or upgrades after you have a number of the same rackets running etc…)
– Real player with 42.5 hrs in game
I Am Your President
Congratulations, Mr. President, you have just won the elections! Now the lives of seven billion people depend on your decision, world leaders reckon with you, industry kingpins have to follow your orders, and you have the whole army at your beck and call. No pressure. Take it slowly. It’s not like you can be impeached, die during the nuclear bombing or in assassination. Not like that at all.
So, as we have completed the formalities, let’s talk about your new prerogatives:
Personalize your political views and create the presidency which America – or you - need.
Wisely choose your advisors and cabinet members. Hire and fire on a daily basis.
Every decision matters – choose your way of ruling and embrace consequences!
Make friends or enemies. Talk your way out of difficult situations.
Use social media and read the news – maybe this time they wrote something nice.
Provide sustainable development, or simply watch your country fall into chaos.
Try to survive as the President. If an impeachment occurs, you must start the entire presidential term again!
Be sure to wishlist the game to be notified when it is released.
You are the Commander in Chief of the army and it is entirely up to you if you want to conquer the world, or abstain from violence. Remember – whether you send a group of soldiers on a secret mission or start a regular war – people will be watching your actions closely. Journalists, other politicians and leaders, justices, even common voters, they will all react to the situation.
Use special agents, steal technology, assassinate inconvenient leaders, move troops, send nukes or try to maintain status quo – all of these action can be performed right from your office. What will you choose – peace or war? Make no mistake, the fate of the world rests on your shoulders.
How should you respond – jokingly, seriously or ironically? Different options can help you make allies, but also enrage your previous supporters. Be careful with words and make sure that you don’t neglect any of the prominent groups or important people… or do and deal with the problems later.
Follow the narrative and react to events. Talk to your advisors, receive visitors and make decisions. There are no wrong answers… unless there are? Check for yourself and repeat the game if you fail – new dialogues await your discovery, so don’t worry about repetitiveness. After all, America was not build in one day.
Every encounter has its effects, some of which can be really long-raged, so wait patiently and hope for the best. Your citizens surely will.
An excellent entry in social media can be the key to a great popularity among the public or a nail in the coffin for a careless person. Your actions have impact on the world and even the most innocent post can ruin someone’s career!
Use the most well-known social media platform - Screecher. Screech about your plans, attitude, call somebody names or maybe praise the voters. It is entirely up to you how you want to come across in the internet – as funny, empathetic, factual or maybe weird? Being the president you have a will and a power to create your own image and write schreeches to your liking. But remember - there are always going to be responses from other users. Prepare for a public backlash!
Touch people’s hearts with your writing abilities. Create the most compelling speeches and statements to achieve your goals. Want to calm the enraged strikers? Show the party that you’re the most efficient president? Raise everyone’s spirit at the state funeral? All of these can be done with a proper composition. Receive the title of the most charismatic leader ever!…
…or fail and make things even worse by being tactless. But hey, at least you had some fun writing about that salad you’d eaten in the Supreme Court!
No teddy bears allowed. Everyone must stay at home from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. You cannot say a bad word about president. See? This is the real power.
Create executive orders that will change people’s lives. Throw your weight around when it comes to guaranteeing the rigid rules or put the freedom of the Americans first. Reject the acts that don’t appeal to you and check what will happen then. Outline new borders of democracy with your abilities, but remember – no one is untouchable.
YOUR REGIME STARTS NOW
You wish to start a war or maybe make peace? Take care of the poorest or support capitalists? Advocate for gun rights or stand against them? Support cats or maybe increase the dogs population? Everything is possible!
Why, you may ask?
Because you are President of the Goddamn United States of America, that’s why.
Jey’s Empire
Great game! Very complex, tons of weird ways to get from A to B, and very funny under the very serious veneer. I saved America from the Red Menace by making a child cry. The only Steam achievement I’ve ever been proud of!
– Real player with 75.5 hrs in game
The dev is a really cool dude, I’ve helped him out with a few projects. The Discord server is also good and I’d recommend his other games like Cold War 2, Cauldrons of War - Barbarossa, and Cat Fu MI.
– Real player with 25.1 hrs in game
Sigma Theory: Global Cold War
Sigma Theory is a good niche product that was incorrectly exposed to the public. Yes indeed, it is a turn-based strategy game about spies, but it is far from Phantom Doctrine or any other action-packed tactical title. Jeez, in the very old “Spy vs Spy” game was much more direct action! Sigma Theory is text-based. It is a board game by the set of rules and overall dynamics. Think of Battlestar Galactica, think of Monopoly. In the realm of video games, think of The Witcher Adventure Game or maybe Plague Inc: Evolved , in a way.
– Real player with 94.1 hrs in game
This game is a dream come true for me. I’ve always been a fan of the spy genre (video games, tabletop games, tv shows, movies, board games, card games), I think Sid Meyers Cover Action is one of the best espionage games ever made; with Invisible Inc and Phantom Doctrine coming in at close second; totally different games but they mange to make you feel like you’re a real intelligence officer on the job. Now there is a new spy game in town and I have to say this game is the type of spy game I’ve been looking for, for years! Ever since I played Streets of Chaos (it’s a game where you run a criminal origination. You send out gang members to do crime all over a fictional city) and another hidden gem called Black Closet (in the game you’re like the president of boarding school, and you send out your team to investigate students; to avoid scandals from destroying the school). I thought to myself, both of these games have great micromanagement mechanics and they’re not very graphic heavy, it would be great to have a spy game that played a lot like those 2 games, and now that game is here!
– Real player with 55.0 hrs in game
The Political Machine 2020
I played a few rounds of this game, some multiplayer, some singleplayer. Overall, I really enjoyed this game for what it was worth. The game is charming, in a humorous way. I really enjoyed the ideology system, and how it influences and reshapes the race depending on candidates are in on the race. My friend and I made some custom candidates, did stupid matchups, and we had a lot of fun just pushing the ideologies to their limit. Some of the ideologies, like fascism or giant meteorism, just end up shooting you in the foot, and its amusing to see races devolve into stupid fights between two godawful candidates.
– Real player with 25.8 hrs in game
This game needs a LOT of work, and with it now being over six months from launch I doubt that’s happening. It seems more time and resources were put into releasing the “Founding Fathers DLC” then going back and finishing their original broken product.
Perhaps the most glaring issue is that this product seems to have been made purely off some designers intuitive bias rather than any actual polling data. Universal healthcare and universal basic income are unpopular with “independents” but “Build the Wall” is. It also lists Trump’s intelligence as “smart” while Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s intelligence as dim, despite placing second in the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair while in High School, being bilingual, and graduating cum laude from Boston University with a bachelors in both international relations and economics. Meanwhile the geniuses that built the game have the same issue “farm subsidies” listed twice in the policy management tab, as well as a few spelling errors.
– Real player with 17.7 hrs in game