Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom

Strategy City Building Management Historic Government

You are transported back in time to when emperors reigned and China was the greatest and most resplendent power on earth. Epic in scope, Emperor spans seven dynasties and more than 3,000 years of Chinese history: from China's pre-imperial Xia dynasty circa 2100 BCE to the Mongol invasion of the Middle Kingdom under Genghis Khan in 1211 CE. As Emperor, you will build housing to attract immigrants to your new city. Then the city's workers and farmers, administrators and soldiers will be yours to command, and you will have the work force you need to build a provincial city into a great metropolis. At your bidding, legions of workers will toil to erect walls strong enough to keep the barbarians at bay. Under your banner, armies will march forth to do battle with the enemy. Trade and commerce will flourish and an army of tax collectors will collect the taxes that are due. Schools and clinics, palaces and gardens will embellish the city you have built and proclaim your benevolence to the world. [Sierra]

Rome: Total War

Strategy Real-Time Historic General

Rome: Total War is the next generation in epic strategy gaming from the critically acclaimed and award winning Total War brand. The aim of the game is to conquer, rule and manipulate the Roman Empire with the ultimate goal of being declared as the "Imperator" of Rome. Set in a time when the mighty Roman Empire emerged to conquer the known world against powerful enemies; when gladiators fought to a bloody death in the Coliseum; when Spartacus defied the might of the empire; when Hannibal led his invincible army and his war elephants across the Alps to strike fear into the very heart of Rome itself; and when Julius Caesar finally smashed the Barbarian Gauls. This was a time of brutal confrontation between civilisation and barbarism, and of civil war as the ancient world's only superpower turned on itself. A completely new Total War engine uses innovative technology and groundbreaking design to bring the world of ancient Rome to life to deliver the biggest and most cinematic battles ever seen in a videogame. So the battles in Rome: Total War maintain the epic scale that fans of Total War are used to, but now use high-detailed 3D polygonal troops and allows huge cities to be displayed on the battlefields. The result is truly spectacular. [Activision]

Europa Universalis III

Strategy General

Players can enjoy over 300 years of gameplay by starting at ANY date between 1453 and 1789. Nation building is flexible: decide your own form of government, the structure of your society, trade politics and much more. The great people and personalities of the past are on hand to support you. Take history in your hands and call personalities like Sir Isaac Newton, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart or René Descartes to your court. A lush topographic map in full 3D allows for a rich and complete world view, and contains more than 1700 provinces and sea zones. Lead any one of more than 250 countries that originally existed during the game’s extensive time span. Have more than a thousand historical leaders and over 4000 historical Monarchs at your disposal. Manage more than 100 individual unit troops to secure as much power as possible. Co-operative multiplayer mode allows several players to work together to control a single nation. Customize your game: Europa Universalis III gives you the chance to customize and mod practically anything your heart may desire. [Paradox]

Sol Survivor

Strategy Real-Time Sci-Fi General

Jump in to intense turret defense action with Sol Survivor! Build turrets to defend your colony and the innocent colonists within. Smash enemies with volleys of actively-controlled orbital support. Play with friends in co-operative and competitive multiplayer matches or test your mettle against our new Survival mode. [Cadenza]