Reign: Conflict of Nations

The black death, famine, and feudalism. This historical game spans the Middle Ages in Eastern Europe. Play as Poland, Lithuania, Sweden, or Russia and build a powerful economy, leverage diplomacy and espionage, convert the populace to your religion, amass knowledge for technological advances, and, of course, wage war. A dense game for the strategy fans out there.

If you're in the mood for epic strategy spanning centuries, then Reign: Conflict of Nations might just be the ideal choice. As you lead a powerful nation from the Dark Ages through to the Renaissance, this game serves up total immersion where every one of your decisions will shape the progress of history.

We liked how the game spans three centuries of European history (from 1350 to 1650): an era marked by the Black Death and endless wars in Western Europe, as new empires emerged in the east. You'll be playing as one of 26 Eastern European factions, and stewarding their economic development in the midst of the Dark Ages.

Our favourite part? In Reign, you don't just manage, you carve out your own place in history. Your choices can alter the fate of the world, and the game's magic lies in choosing your nation and seeing it evolve over the centuries.

The game boasts an impressive variety of playable nations, each with its own unique characteristics. From the Holy Roman Empire to the Ottoman Empire, there is a huge variety of strategic choices in play. This means that just choosing your nation is an integral part of your strategy.

In Reign, diplomacy can be as powerful as military might, so make discerning use of alliances and treaties to consolidate your position and avoid costly conflicts.

A robust economy, though, underpins your power. Make sure that you manage your resources properly, invest in economic infrastructure, and maintain stable finances so that you can fund your ambitions.
And remember to pick a good path through the technology tree to unlock strategic advantages. A well-equipped army and technological advances might just swing the scale in your favour.

Our advice? Take your time. Reign: Conflict of Nations isn't a game for the impatient. The tutorial is basic and you'll need to learn a lot of the game's mechanics for yourself. This is a dense, complex game, but the reward of a deep strategic experience makes it all worth it.

So, immerse yourself in the complex challenge of managing a medieval nation, and savour the satisfaction of seeing your empire prosper thanks to your enlightened strategic decisions. Patience is key, but the prize is worth it.