| Imperator: Rome | |
| Developer: | Paradox Development Studio |
| Publisher: | Paradox Interactive |
| Director: | Johan Andersson |
| Artist: | Fredrik Toll |
| Composer: | Jonatan Järpehag |
| Released: | 25 April 2019 |
| Engine: | Clausewitz Engine |
| Genre: | Grand strategy |
| Modes: | Single-player, multiplayer |
| Platforms: | Windows, macOS, Linux |
Imperator: Rome is a 2019 grand strategy wargame developed by Paradox Development Studio and published by Paradox Interactive. It is a spiritual successor to (2008). It received generally positive reviews from critics, however development and support for the game was suspended by May 2021.
The timeline of the game spans from to [1] and includes the period of the Wars of the Diadochi and the establishment of the Roman Empire. The map spans from the Iberian Peninsula to India.[2] As with previous games from Paradox, all of the nations in the game are playable. The game advertises a variety of features, including character management, diverse population, new battle tactics, military traditions, different governmental types, barbarians and rebellions, trade, and provincial improvement.
The game was developed by Paradox Development Studio and directed by Johan Andersson.[3] [4] Formally unveiled in May 2018, the game was released on 25 April 2019 for Windows, macOS, and Linux.[5] [6] Imperator: Rome focuses primarily on nations and empires, with a small focus on character management like the game set after it timewise, Crusader Kings III; Andersson hoped that Paradox could make a modern sequel to .[7] [8] As with recent Paradox Development Studio games, Imperator: Rome was built using the Clausewitz Engine, but with the addition of new software known as "Jomini" (named after 19th century general Antoine-Henri Jomini) that allows for easier and faster creation of mods.[9]
Development and support for the game was suspended by Paradox Interactive by May 2021.[10] In June 2022, Paradox announced that the game would receive no further updates unless it was acquired by another studio or there was a surge in demand for the game.[11]
On the anniversary of the game's launch in 2023, Imperator: Rome received a patch that is accessible through an open beta. However, it was stressed that this was not a revival of development on the game.[12]
In April 2024, Paradox released a new patch for the game.
| Name | Release Date | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Punic Wars | 3 December 2019 | The Punic Wars adds missions and flavor content to Rome and Carthage, particularly surrounding the Punic Wars. The 1.3 patch introduced the mission system for all nations.[13] [14] The Punic Wars was released free of charge following discontent relating to Paradox's DLC policy.[15] | |
| Magna Graecia | 31 March 2020 | Magna Graecia introduces new gameplay mechanics and missions for many Greek city-states such as Athens, Sparta, and Syracuse. The 1.4 patch overhauled the religious mechanics through pantheons and holy sites.[16] | |
| Epirus | 11 August 2020 | Epirus is a content pack that adds missions and flavor relating to the Greek state of Epirus during the period of Pyrrhus' rule.[17] | |
| Heirs of Alexander | 16 February 2021 | Heirs of Alexander adds content for the successor states of Alexander the Great's empire (known as the Diadochi) and gives the player the ability to build customized great wonders. The accompanying 2.0 patch introduced major reworking of politics, population, and military mechanics as well as an updated UI.[18] |
The game received "generally favorable reviews", according to review aggregator Metacritic.[19] IGN praised the game for its depth, "the amount of detailed, strategic stuff crammed into Imperator: Rome is equal parts impressive and daunting", while criticizing the game's user interface and tribal nations. The review also praised the game's political system, writing that the political warfare between people within nations is "a great driver of character interaction".[20] PC Gamer described the game as "uniting systems from the most recent games" while still being "more cohesive than a 'greatest hits' compilation".[21] Despite lower user ratings than they expected, the game's sales surpassed Paradox's expectations.[22]