Deal | Civilization meets Crusader Kings: 4X strategy game drops from $40 to $4 on Steam

Anyone who finds Civilization too impersonal and Crusader Kings too focused on family politics may want to take a look at Old World. Released in 2022, the strategy game from Mohawk Games and Hooded Horse combines classic 4X empire-building with the personal fates of a ruling dynasty, without putting quite as much emphasis on family power struggles as Crusader Kings. Old World is currently 90% off on Steam once again, temporarily cutting the regular price from $40 to around $4 – matching its previous all-time low according to SteamDB.

Old World takes players back to antiquity, tasking them with building an empire and guiding its fortunes across multiple generations of rulers. The game features classic 4X elements: expanding cities, securing resources, researching technologies and fielding large armies against rival empires. At the same time, members of the ruling family grow older and eventually die. The future of the empire therefore also depends on political marriages, educating heirs and choosing suitable advisors. Along the way, Old World repeatedly confronts players with decisions that have a direct impact on personal relationships and diplomatic relations.

One distinctive feature is the orders system: Many actions draw from a shared, limited pool of orders. This means an important unit can, for example, be moved several times within a single turn while other troops have to wait. Available technologies are presented as cards, meaning the development of the empire can vary from one playthrough to the next. Old World can also be played on the Steam Deck.

In TestingBuddies' review, Old World received 8 out of 10 points. The reviewers praise the 4X title for its considerable strategic depth, engaging dynasty mechanics and flexible orders system. The downside is a steep learning curve: Many of its systems require some time to understand and can easily overwhelm newcomers to the genre. The interface can also be somewhat confusing at times. Another criticism is the rather dated graphics, although that may be easier to overlook in a strategy game. On Steam, Old World has nearly 7,000 reviews, 82% of which are positive.

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