Age of Mythology: Retold – the return of the strategy that conquered The Game Awards 2024

Civilization 5 is a virtual time machine for creating your own history of humanity. Imagine that you control the fate of an entire nation, from its birth in ancient times to the technological future. That is why Civilization 5 deservedly bears the title of one of the best turn-based strategies. The complete charm of the gameplay created by the genius of Sid Meier immerses you in a world where every decision determines the future of your civilization.

Why Civilization 5 is the standard of turn-based strategies

When it comes to the development of civilization, Civilization 5 remains an unrivaled example of historical strategy. Every element, from the discovery of technologies to the conclusion of diplomatic alliances, deeply immerses the user in the process of creating and expanding their empire. The project masterfully simulates the real historical process: from Columbus’ discovery of America to the invention of the Internet – everything is presented here in the form of game stages and discoveries.

Real historical events are reflected in the mechanics of the game. Here you can feel like an ancient Greek city that decided to develop democracy for the first time, or a Mongol seeking to conquer new territories. All this is presented in such a way that any user feels like a part of something grand. Famous doctrines – such as “Tradition” or “Will” – offer development paths similar to the historical doctrines of different civilizations, allowing you to choose which strategic course to follow. Each action affects the general course of history, which creates a feeling of genuine control over the fate of the nation.

Gameplay and mechanics of Civilization 5

A skillful combination of strategic thinking, diplomacy, and economics. The main gameplay is based on unique mechanics that allow you to immerse yourself in a session for a long. One of the key mechanics is the hexagon system. Unlike previous parts of the series, in Civilization 5 the map is divided into hexagons, which makes planning and placing cities more tactical.

The gameplay includes a well-thought-out system of cultural and scientific progress. Building wonders of the world, such as the Great Pyramid or the Great Wall of China, adds unique bonuses that can change the course of the game. You can choose your nation’s specialization – science, culture, or military might – and each of them will lead to victory in different ways. Scientific research will allow you to launch the first satellite, which will open the way to new technological achievements and bring you closer to victory through space.

Particular attention should be paid to the political branches: from autocracy to freedom – each opens up unique opportunities for the civilization, and the development of diplomacy allows you to form alliances, carry out intrigues, and even arrange trade embargoes against enemies. Politics in Civilization 5 is one of the most exciting parts of the session since every action has consequences.

Why Civilization 5 deserves a place on your PC

Unlike dynamic real-time strategies, which often require quick button mashing, Civilization 5 allows you to carefully consider each move. It is like a game of chess on a global level, where the participant decides the fate of an entire nation.

The project helps develop creative thinking. Each game requires a unique approach, taking into account various conditions – from the location of the starting position to the specifics of neighboring countries. Gradual planning and building long-term strategies allow you to feel real responsibility for each decision made.

Beginner’s Guide: How to Play and What to Expect

If you’re new to Civilization 5, don’t worry — it’s fairly easy to get the hang of the game, just follow a few basic guidelines. Start by exploring your surroundings. Exploration is the key to a successful start. The more territories you explore during your first few days, the better you’ll understand where it’s most profitable to find cities and what resources to use.

Key Territories and Resources:

1. Forests provide bonuses to production and can be cut down to speed up the construction of buildings. Jungles, in turn, provide a bonus to science when building a university, making them important for scientific development.
2. Coasts provide access to fish resources, increasing food growth and trade income. Placing cities near oceans also allows you to build harbors and ships, which increases your economic and military advantage.
3. Mountains. Cannot be used for construction, but cities near mountains gain access to the Observatory Wonder, which significantly increases scientific growth. Mountains are also a good natural defense, making it more difficult for enemy attacks.
4. Fertile plains are ideal for agriculture, providing high food yields, which contributes to rapid population growth in cities. Plains with access to rivers further increase production and income.
5. Strategic resources. Horses are needed to create cavalry units, which makes them extremely important in the early stages of the game. Iron provides the ability to create strong combat units such as swordsmen and catapults.
6. Rivers and lakes. Cities built near rivers receive a bonus to gold, which contributes to economic growth. Lakes can serve as a source of fresh water, increasing the yield of neighboring tiles.
7. Deserts. At the beginning of the game, desert territories may seem useless, but the Petra wonder of the world turns deserts into powerful economic zones, increasing production and income.

The second important step is choosing doctrines. In the early stages of the game, we recommend choosing Tradition to develop one powerful city or Will for rapid expansion. These branches will help you find a balance between economic and military power. Recommended Doctrines and Wonders of the World for a Successful Start:

1. Tradition. Good for developing one powerful city. Increases growth rate and strengthens infrastructure.
2. Will. Ideal for aggressive expansion. Allows you to find new cities faster and receive bonuses from developing territories.
3. Wonders of the World. The Pyramid speeds up construction, allowing you to build buildings and improvements faster. The Great Library provides free technology, which helps you get ahead of your rivals in the scientific race.

Diplomacy is an important factor. Learn to negotiate with your neighbors, but be prepared for the fact that peace will not always be strong. Conclude trade agreements to strengthen your economy, but keep your army ready – you never know when a former ally can become an enemy.

Conclusion

Civilization 5 is a virtual history simulation that allows users to feel like an empire builder. Here you can build cities, enter into alliances, and develop culture and science, and every step affects the fate of the entire world. Intrigue, strategy, and civilization development create a unique gaming space in which you can get lost for hours, creating your own story. This experience will definitely not leave you indifferent.

Strategy games on PC have long been a favorite genre for many gamers. They not only entertain, but also help develop analytical thinking, planning skills, and the ability to make quick decisions. This review contains the best online strategies that will give you a lot of exciting moments and help you improve your skills.

What are online strategies and why are they so popular?

Online strategies are a genre of computer games that focus on resource management and planning. They are divided into two main types: turn-based and real-time strategies. Players get the opportunity to fully realize their tactical ideas, manage armies, and develop strategies to defeat opponents. Success in these games depends on the ability to analyze the situation and make thoughtful decisions.

Turn-based strategies

Turn-based strategies involve thoughtful decision-making and careful planning of each action. In games like Civilization, players take turns building their empires and deciding how to use limited resources. Every action matters, and every move is a new challenge. This approach allows you to better understand the structure of the game, develop a unique style and get ahead of your opponents.

Real-time strategies

They offer a completely different experience – here you need to act quickly, control troops and make decisions right on the battlefield. A striking example is Starcraft, where every moment can change the outcome of the battle. In such games, success depends not only on the player’s plan, but also on the speed of reaction, which adds special dynamics and tension.

The best online strategies for PC: the choice of professionals and amateurs

Starcraft II remains one of the most popular strategies due to its deep mechanics and dynamic gameplay that requires strategic thinking and quick reactions.

Civilization VI offers players the opportunity to develop their civilization from ancient times to the present, making strategic decisions at each stage of development.

Age of Empires II is a classic game that combines elements of real time and strategy, allowing players to manage resources and armies to conquer territories.

Realm of Fantasy – Total War: Warhammer II combines elements of real-time strategy and turn-based management, allowing players to fight in grand battles in a fantasy world.

Company of Heroes 2 stands out for its realistic mechanics and emphasis on tactical battles, offering players a variety of scenarios on the Eastern Front of World War II.

Free online strategy games for PC

Many online games offer free versions with quality gameplay and the ability to engage in multiplayer battles and strategic planning, making them interesting for a wide audience. This is a great opportunity for those who want to try their hand at the genre without spending money.

Examples of free online strategies

Stronghold Kingdoms is one of the most popular free strategies, in which players can build and develop their castles, manage resources and participate in large-scale battles. Optimization allows this game to run on most computers, making it accessible to a wide audience.

Forge of Empires is another free game that offers the opportunity to develop your empire and participate in exciting battles, from ancient times to modern times.

Online strategies with a large number of players

Cooperative strategies become especially interesting when you can team up with other participants to achieve a common goal. They provide the opportunity to jointly manage armies and distribute roles, which makes the game process exciting.

Examples of cooperative strategies

Don’t Starve Together is a great game for cooperative survival, where players must work together to find resources, build shelters, and defend themselves from various threats. Cooperative gameplay adds a new level of interaction, as each team member contributes to the common cause.

Anno 1800 is a strategy game in which you can jointly develop industry, build cities, and explore new territories, creating alliances and distributing roles in the team.

Online strategies for weak PCs: accessibility without compromise

Not every gamer has a powerful computer. Fortunately, many online strategies for weak PCs cannot be interesting and exciting. Developers are increasingly creating games that do not require modern powerful devices, but at the same time offer deep and rich gameplay.

Command & Conquer: Remastered Collection is an excellent choice for those who want to enjoy the classics without the need to upgrade their hardware. Optimization allows the game to work even on weak devices, while maintaining exciting gameplay. Free online strategy games can also be a great option to try your hand at without spending extra money.

Among the free games, Stronghold Kingdoms can be noted, which offers large-scale battles and the ability to build and manage castles, even if the computer does not have high performance.

How to choose an online strategy game: advice from experts

The choice depends on personal preferences. Some players like long and thoughtful games, while others prefer dynamic battles and a quick change of events.

Turn-based strategies are suitable for those who like to plan and analyze every move. They allow you to fully enjoy the process, paying attention to every aspect of development.

Real-time strategies are for those who prefer quick decision-making and dynamic gameplay. This is an ideal choice for those who want to test their management skills and quick adaptation.

If you are interested in games with the ability to interact with other players, you should pay attention to online strategies with a large number of players, where you can compete or cooperate with people from all over the world. Games like Age of Empires IV and Stronghold Kingdoms offer the ability to form alliances, attack other players, and build your strategy with your allies. This adds a social element to the game and makes the process even more interesting.

Conclusions

Each online strategy game offers a unique experience, whether it’s the slow analysis in turn-based games or the dynamics of real-time battles. Now is the time to choose your game and have a lot of fun. Find one that challenges you and immerse yourself in the exciting world of planning and battles. Perhaps it is in it that your hidden talent as a great strategist will be revealed. Be ready to develop your skills, make difficult decisions and win victories that will bring real pleasure.