Deal | Challenging 4X strategy game with a dynasty focus for under $4 on Steam

Old World brings the familiar 4X formula back to the ancient era, setting itself apart from the genre heavyweight Civilization through its more focused historical timeframe. Players step into the role of a ruler, founding a dynasty and guiding their empire across generations. Politics, warfare, and family management are tightly interwoven – marriages must be arranged, heirs educated, and personal ambitions pursued. Choices often have long-lasting consequences, reaching far beyond the reign of a single leader.

While Old World sticks to turn-based gameplay, it introduces a standout feature: the Orders system. Each turn, players have a limited number of orders, and every action – whether moving a military unit or constructing a building – uses one up. This creates a strong need to prioritize, forcing rulers to carefully balance military campaigns, political moves, and territorial development. The number of available orders is not fixed. It is influenced by factors such as legitimacy, government type, and technological progress. As a result, a respected and capable ruler can lead their empire far more efficiently than a contested or weak one.

Old World also takes a unique approach to research. Instead of being arranged in a fixed tech tree, technologies are unlocked through a randomized, card-based system. Players choose from several options, can deliberately reject certain techs, and steer their progress in a more strategic direction. Battles unfold directly on the world map, where unit types and tactical positioning ultimately determine the outcome of each encounter.

Old World has received mostly positive feedback. The German gaming site TestingBuddies gave it a solid 8 out of 10, highlighting its challenging gameplay, engaging dynasty mechanics, and the innovative Orders system. The atmospheric soundtrack and randomized research mechanics also earned praise. Criticism focused on the somewhat plain visuals and a user interface that can feel cluttered at times. The game’s complexity, driven by its many interwoven systems, presents a steep learning curve – something strategy veterans will likely appreciate, but which may overwhelm newcomers to the 4X genre.

The game currently holds a Metascore of 80 on Metacritic, alongside a slightly lower User Score of 7.3. The Steam community response is also largely positive, with 82% of nearly 5,800 user reviews recommending the title.

90% discount on Steam

Old World was developed by the US-based studio Mohawk Games, founded by former Civilization lead designer Soren Johnson, and published by Hooded Horse. The strategy game launched in May 2022 and normally sells for around $40 on Steam. However, a 90% discount drops the price to just under $4 until January 22. According to SteamDB, the game has only been this cheap once before – during the Steam Autumn Sale in 2025. In most other sales, the maximum discount was typically 75%. On the Steam Deck (available on Amazon at around $695), Old World is rated as “Playable” and should run well on the go with some minor tweaks.

Disclaimer: Notebookcheck is not responsible for price changes carried out by retailers. The discounted price or deal mentioned in this item was available at the time of writing and may be subject to time restrictions and/or limited unit availability.