Imperator: Rome

 PC
User Score
5.0

Mixed or average reviews- based on 218 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 72 out of 218
  2. Mixed: 39 out of 218
  3. Negative: 107 out of 218

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  1. georgio
    Apr 26, 2019
    4
    Imperator: Rome is not a good game. I'd even go further and say that it combines all the bad aspects of Paradox games but offers nothing rewarding. For a new player the game will still seem complicated. You have all these things you need to learn about. You have to take care of 6 different resources. You need to manage research that works through complicated formula of over dozen variousImperator: Rome is not a good game. I'd even go further and say that it combines all the bad aspects of Paradox games but offers nothing rewarding. For a new player the game will still seem complicated. You have all these things you need to learn about. You have to take care of 6 different resources. You need to manage research that works through complicated formula of over dozen various additive and multiplicative modifiers. You will scratch your head trying to find out what "+5% of X efficiency" actually means.

    Except it does not mean anything really in this game as you can safely ignore majority of game mechanics introduced. Once you setup some basic things all you do is just wait for your resources to accumulate and use them to solve all your problems. I have to stress the word "wait". There are no meaningful decisions to make while you wait. Once you setup your trade and arrange your realm - which takes maybe around 10 minutes of gametime - you just wait. There is no meaningful diplomacy. Your ruler or your family does not matter, your generals and governors do not matter, your allies and enemies do not matter - because there is no meaningful interaction created around them. Even the random events and catastrophies are so uninspiring. All this makes for a very dull gameplay.

    If you are fan of strategic games and want to have better experience of Ancient Era on strategic level then go and buy Rome Total War 2 and install Divide et Impera mod. It is much better game even if you only play on strategic map and autoresolve. That is the testament of what Paradox prepared for players after almost 2 decades of creating Grand Strategy games.    … Expand
  2. emitbreaker
    May 14, 2019
    0
    I've played more than 140 hours as Rome, but this game is not readied yet, as most of Paradox's product used to be.

    Pops are just annoying system, and they didn't learn from their failure at Stellaris. You need mana to managing pops, but in the end, Rome and Latium will have more than 1000 pops, and you need to manage or control them one by one. It's just a nonsense. AI's are    I've played more than 140 hours as Rome, but this game is not readied yet, as most of Paradox's product used to be.

    Pops are just annoying system, and they didn't learn from their failure at Stellaris. You need mana to managing pops, but in the end, Rome and Latium will have more than 1000 pops, and you need to manage or control them one by one. It's just a nonsense.

    AI's are cheating. On what earth a nation cedes their land to their Revolts when the nation attacked by others? If you open another war to the revolts? Then the revolts exchange their land with its enemy, so that you cannot simply occupy lands at once.

    If you are expecting Europa Universalis 4 or Crusader Kings 2, remember that it took more than few years and DLCs with 300+ USD.    … Expand
  3. nikoparo03
    May 15, 2019
    0
    Orribile! Gioco incompleto, grezzo e, quindi, ingiocabile. Se già hai giochi paradox, non comprarlo, TE NE PENTIRAI! ti conviene aspettare 560,50€ di DLC, 7 anni, un big bang e la colonizzazione di Proxima Centauri e forse sarà giocabile e magari ci sarà qualche nuova meccanica(si, qualche nuova meccanica: finirà ci sono solo meccaniche o identiche al precedente titolo EU:Rome o meccanicheOrribile! Gioco incompleto, grezzo e, quindi, ingiocabile. Se già hai giochi paradox, non comprarlo, TE NE PENTIRAI! ti conviene aspettare 560,50€ di DLC, 7 anni, un big bang e la colonizzazione di Proxima Centauri e forse sarà giocabile e magari ci sarà qualche nuova meccanica(si, qualche nuova meccanica: finirà ci sono solo meccaniche o identiche al precedente titolo EU:Rome o meccaniche prese dai giochi BASE di EU4, CK2 e Vic2).… Expand
  4. IrishFella
    May 21, 2019
    3
    Trying to combine parts of your other games that are kept separate for a reason is stupid. Doing it this badly is criminal. Treating your fans like children makes you a c*nt
  5. Turbo823
    May 31, 2019
    0
    A barebones game at re-release of EU-Rome with broken mechanics and uninteresting factions. This game is obviously a platform for Paradox's DLC. The base game is uninteresting and boring. The AI is dumber than a rock.
  6. deathmachinept
    Jun 2, 2019
    0
    Paradox studious has been in a downfall trend when it comes to the quality, polishment and innovation of their games, Imperator represents the lowest bar yet.

    The game forsakes basic game design rules and builds a messy foundation of a game that seems to point to failure and an unsalvageable product. Technologies, decisions, army training, political decisions are done with single    Paradox studious has been in a downfall trend when it comes to the quality, polishment and innovation of their games, Imperator represents the lowest bar yet.

    The game forsakes basic game design rules and builds a messy foundation of a game that seems to point to failure and an unsalvageable product.

    Technologies, decisions, army training, political decisions are done with single clicks and immediate results there is no build up or strategy in choosing which direction to take or when to wait for x tech and declare war.

    You mop the map with your armies there is no combat strategy just move your army with more troops and attack the enemy.

    Characters and the consul play such a small role and come and go so fast that you can't build an attachment with them, if there is a complex logic behind them it's impossible to experience.

    The game has no redeeming qualities everything is bland and awful, total war rome 2004 is superior in every way to this game.

    Also shame on this fake reviews like from
    Destructoid, Gaming Nexus... they didn't even tried the game, no gamer could give a postive score to this pile of cookie clickers..

    Enough to say that after 3hours of giving the game a chance I had it uninstall.    … Expand
  7. MNCCritic
    Jun 4, 2019
    4
    Failing grade.

    The Good: The Hellenistic Period is a brilliant choice. Oh, and they used lots of pretty colors. The Bad: Let's keep it simple. I will use the same amount of effort they used in making this game. 1) A highly dumbed-down version of Europa Universalis. 2) More work than fun. The Ugly: The desire to maximize revenues through expansions couldn't be more obvious.    Failing grade.

    The Good: The Hellenistic Period is a brilliant choice. Oh, and they used lots of pretty colors.

    The Bad: Let's keep it simple. I will use the same amount of effort they used in making this game.
    1) A highly dumbed-down version of Europa Universalis.
    2) More work than fun.

    The Ugly: The desire to maximize revenues through expansions couldn't be more obvious. Paradox has INSULTED their fan base.

    Sad really. I will never trust this company again.    … Expand
  8. FjrodFish
    May 16, 2019
    1
    Is it just me, or is this game absolutely horrendous? I've tried several times to sit down and enjoy it. Oh, how I've tried. Ridiculous game-mechanics, the game failing to pause after hammering space thousands of times, shallow diplomacy with a lack of so many options and intricacies. You capture a province, then out of thin air, it becomes un-captured while you capture more, then someIs it just me, or is this game absolutely horrendous? I've tried several times to sit down and enjoy it. Oh, how I've tried. Ridiculous game-mechanics, the game failing to pause after hammering space thousands of times, shallow diplomacy with a lack of so many options and intricacies. You capture a province, then out of thin air, it becomes un-captured while you capture more, then some other nation that is at war with the nation you are at war with swoops in and captures the province next to your land, effectively separating you from the rest of the territory you are currently at war for control over. Crap diplomacy. Crap alliances. Crap defensive leagues. Just crap everything. As wide as an ocean yet as shallow as a puddle. Almost no unit variation. Crap trading system. Stupid tactics and strategy. ...grand strategy game? it has the representations of countries on the map, and of military units, but that's all. It looks intricate. Yet it's intricacies are deceptive and poorly executed. I re-load and re-load and re-load just to fight off the stupidity of the game to make some progress. Well. Screw that. I am done giving this game chances. It's horrendous.… Expand
  9. QZCritic
    May 18, 2019
    0
    Boring game ,on the late stage of game all countries have huge amount of many and manpower.
  10. LeandroB
    Aug 12, 2020
    3
    Update 1.5 is out now and i have to say that i tried...
    The release was a total mess, the game was bland and uninteresting, lacking all aspects. Much have changed since it, but over a year later and the game still have no soul.
    at the forums i read someone saying that the game was a "Complex Spreadsheet" and its totally true, there is a lot of micromanagement that changes absolutely    Update 1.5 is out now and i have to say that i tried...
    The release was a total mess, the game was bland and uninteresting, lacking all aspects. Much have changed since it, but over a year later and the game still have no soul.
    at the forums i read someone saying that the game was a "Complex Spreadsheet" and its totally true, there is a lot of micromanagement that changes absolutely nothing, the game is a big map painter and paint the map is the only thing you can do. I was hoping for it to get better and interesting, but i have now lost hope. Buy it on sale if you have to.    … Expand
  11. XBliss
    Apr 28, 2020
    4
    Hey, Europa Universalis fan and Ancient Rome geek here.
    Imperator: Rome is bad game for those who seek strategic game in ancient age with all of mechanics provided in this times. The game called "Imperator: Rome" must have well-developed mechanics of ancient Rome policy. Am I right? There's nothing near about it. Roman politics and political system had a special shade especially in    Hey, Europa Universalis fan and Ancient Rome geek here.
    Imperator: Rome is bad game for those who seek strategic game in ancient age with all of mechanics provided in this times. The game called "Imperator: Rome" must have well-developed mechanics of ancient Rome policy. Am I right? There's nothing near about it. Roman politics and political system had a special shade especially in ancient age (2 consuls, pretors, tribuns, internal political war between the aristocracy and the opposition etc.). But instead of everything, Rome has a state system (aristocratic republic) similar to all other republics represented in the game. Consuls are elected for five years (!), which does not comply with the Roman constitution of those times and a bunch of others things that do not match history.
    This game is a combination of all the mechanics from past games. Because of this, for example, the mechanics of characters imported from the Crusaders King are very circumcised and inferior.

    Question of other nations represented in the game is going to Paradox Interactive game developing strategy:
    As I say I am a Europa Universalis fan(2k+ hours played) and i have played other games from paradox(victoria, stellaris, crusader kings, hearts of iron) Developer has similar politic from game to game - release pre-alpha version of game calling it "1.0" and over the next years to refine their games by releasing huge patches and paid DLCs adding content to the game. I hate Paradox for this. I want to see all of content in the full game release instead of collecting the game in parts like LEGO.

    Maybe after 3 years this game will be playable and enjoyable but for now it's a dummy    … Expand
  12. PoshMafia
    May 29, 2019
    2
    I just want to thank all of the publish game journalist out their for their impeccably, undoubtedly, unarguably biased reviews. I hear the media event was really awesome last year. Money well spent to be sure. ;-)

    Also this game is a re-skin of old mechanics, out side of the world map. i know 10 man modding teams that could do this better and bring more compelling game play to the table.
  13. inkmmo
    Oct 23, 2019
    1
    Paradox lost it's creativity for making video games. This game is half Crusader Kings half Europa Universalis but it is such a bad mix that makes game boring. Player comes in wanting to play wanting to enjoy but game is old engine unsure what to do and player for the most time after patch 1.2 is emptying corpses from the government because they die too quickly. So then player hires 16 yearParadox lost it's creativity for making video games. This game is half Crusader Kings half Europa Universalis but it is such a bad mix that makes game boring. Player comes in wanting to play wanting to enjoy but game is old engine unsure what to do and player for the most time after patch 1.2 is emptying corpses from the government because they die too quickly. So then player hires 16 year old kids to run the state - it doesn't matter just not to be annoyed and game really annoys player with irrelevant stuff sucking out any potential to have fun.… Expand
  14. Meraco
    Apr 28, 2019
    1
    As predicted and posted in the steam forums, (before they started deleting every negative thread)

    The game is a shell, a DLC platform, which is the usual Paradox model used for games like Crusader Kings 2 and others.. Anyone who has CK2 can clearly see that they omitted content by design in order to add content later on with paid DLC's. I would not be surprised if they made at least    As predicted and posted in the steam forums, (before they started deleting every negative thread)

    The game is a shell, a DLC platform, which is the usual Paradox model used for games like Crusader Kings 2 and others.. Anyone who has CK2 can clearly see that they omitted content by design in order to add content later on with paid DLC's. I would not be surprised if they made at least $300.00 worth of DLCs over the course of the next couple years.

    The gameplay is shallow, empty and not very enjoyable after a few hours in game.

    Perhaps this will one day be a good game, but it will cost you to find out..    … Expand
  15. Talbis
    Apr 27, 2019
    3
    I have a love-hate relationship with Paradox. On one hand, I know they can make an amazing game, on the other hand... the base game or any future DLC might break the whole thing. And then there's the DLC issue, mainly the fact that most of the cool things come only as DLC. Take Crusader Kings II, the base game is fun and all, but the really good things are in DLC and there's a LOT of DLCI have a love-hate relationship with Paradox. On one hand, I know they can make an amazing game, on the other hand... the base game or any future DLC might break the whole thing. And then there's the DLC issue, mainly the fact that most of the cool things come only as DLC. Take Crusader Kings II, the base game is fun and all, but the really good things are in DLC and there's a LOT of DLC and it all costs a fortune. Don't believe me? Well, for the cost of a CK2 and all the DLC I could buy a good, used car... or pay my rent for three months. Yeah...
    Here's the point - Imperator: Rome doesn't feel like a finished game, more like a platform to sell DLC. Politics are a joke, trade basically doesn't exist, characters have no point to them, battles are illogical and based on dice rolls (like in Europa Universalis, but even worse due to the technology level)...
    This game looks like a complex military and politics grand strategy game with a multitude of resources to balance and micromanage... but truth be told all the mechanics in this game are shallow, dressed up to look impressive but for someone who played almost all of Paradox's games it won't take long to figure out that there's one resource you truly need... and that it's abundant.
    To say that I'm disappointed would be being kind, and I'm not kind. This game is blatantly filled with placeholder mechanics for their DLC to fix over time.
    Don't be me, wait, give it a few years...    … Expand
  16. metuonemo
    Apr 29, 2019
    4
    Unacceptable release for Paradox. I have almost 1000 hours in their various games, but this is an underwhelming and disappointing mess. As others have stated, you really don't need to pay attendtion to anything. Just give it in game time and you will win, you may or may not care. Ruling families? Who cares they are meaningless. They will most likely fix the issues that are involved inUnacceptable release for Paradox. I have almost 1000 hours in their various games, but this is an underwhelming and disappointing mess. As others have stated, you really don't need to pay attendtion to anything. Just give it in game time and you will win, you may or may not care. Ruling families? Who cares they are meaningless. They will most likely fix the issues that are involved in Imperator (like giving me a reason to play for more than an hour). However, that's not the point how did this make it out of beta? Paradox is now just like Bethesda, buyer beware.… Expand
  17. BastardWilliam
    May 6, 2019
    0
    Half-baked cookie with full price? Fine.
    Fans as voluntary debuggers? Fine.
    Mixed up game with no innovations? Fine.
    Irresponsible attitudes and censorship of comments? No.
    Prefer to be map-painting game than history-simulation game? No.
  18. redhott
    Apr 27, 2019
    4
    If you are wondering why Steam reviews are, currently, at 47 %, it is for gameplay and game mechanics reasons. It is not a bad game, only a bit average (at release) for a few good reasons. The game is a bit shallow. Paradox will likely fix it in 1 year, but it appears to be the worst game release of Paradox in a long time, for good reasons, actually. And Paradox is already addressing it,If you are wondering why Steam reviews are, currently, at 47 %, it is for gameplay and game mechanics reasons. It is not a bad game, only a bit average (at release) for a few good reasons. The game is a bit shallow. Paradox will likely fix it in 1 year, but it appears to be the worst game release of Paradox in a long time, for good reasons, actually. And Paradox is already addressing it, announcing new updates etc. Players complain about a complicated UI, not fun at conquest, lack of features that would make the character management and gameplay fun and less tedious, the tedious trade system, and many other things. As said, they will certainly fix it in 8-12 months but until then it is... kind of interesting how PC Gamer and other magazines rated the game so high when the actual players have reasonable doubts, that even Paradox addresses. I get the feeling that those journalists did not really play the game, which is a shame, or did not know the prequel Europa Univeralis: Rome, or other PDX titles such as EU4, CK2 or VIC2, who knows; certainly interesting though and good reminder that if thousands of players rate a new game so badly that there must good reasons for that. Fortunately, PDX is actually pretty good at addressing such issues and improving their games over time. 4/10 today, and 9/10 in 1 year, for sure.… Expand
  19. BustinJieber
    May 8, 2019
    0
    Imperator: Rome is not a game. It is a shallow, boring and very poorly optimized framework for selling small bits of a game, piecemeal (aka DLCs).

    Every nation plays the same, and that same is as barebones as it gets, with nothing to do, exceptionally dumb AI and our dear old friend mana, the magical fairy dust that instantly solves all your problems with a snap of the fingers. After    Imperator: Rome is not a game. It is a shallow, boring and very poorly optimized framework for selling small bits of a game, piecemeal (aka DLCs).

    Every nation plays the same, and that same is as barebones as it gets, with nothing to do, exceptionally dumb AI and our dear old friend mana, the magical fairy dust that instantly solves all your problems with a snap of the fingers. After all, who needs sensible mechanics that require planning and *strategy* in a Grand Strategy game?

    If you are looking for an interesting strategy game to play, look elsewhere. Perhaps, in 5-7 years and $300+ worth of DLCs Imperator: Rome will take its place among CK2, EU4 and Vicky 2, but right now it is such a low-effort cash grab that it's not even worth to scratch an itch for the antiquity.    … Expand
  20. SonOfPerdition
    Apr 29, 2019
    2
    Paradox pulled no punches calling the game the combination of such great titles as Crusader Kings 2, Europa Universalis 4, and Victoria 2, and while that certainly is true to some capacity, it is like they took ideas from those games stripped any complexity and fun from them and called their work done.

    There are a lot of people out there claiming that this game is a good base for future    Paradox pulled no punches calling the game the combination of such great titles as Crusader Kings 2, Europa Universalis 4, and Victoria 2, and while that certainly is true to some capacity, it is like they took ideas from those games stripped any complexity and fun from them and called their work done.

    There are a lot of people out there claiming that this game is a good base for future DLC that will expand on the concepts this game has, but that argument is worthless. This game is not worth the $40 Paradox is charging for it and that DLC is not with the $19.99 that it will cost when that content should be in the base game now.

    I don't want to rant on forever, though gods know I could, so the TL;DR of it is, Imperator: Rome is not a good game. It's a shell made to be as basic as possible so features to make it fun can be sold later on. There are better grand strategy games and better strategy games based in Rome, go buy one of those instead.    … Expand
  21. 0_Hattori_0
    May 7, 2019
    1
    Give it three years and $200-ish worth of dlc later, and it may be worth calling a full game. But in its current state, its a hollow handjob.

    The loyal community of modders to fix this train wreck will be the only reason ill go through cancer.
  22. MrSpoof
    Apr 27, 2019
    4
    This is not a fun strategy game. It manages to have one of the most overly-complex and labyrinth-like GUI's I've ever seen, yet for all its many many menus it never manages to give you the information you actually need in the context where you need it. And many of the games complex systems don't even seem to matter that much! This feels like a game with too many concepts mashed togetherThis is not a fun strategy game. It manages to have one of the most overly-complex and labyrinth-like GUI's I've ever seen, yet for all its many many menus it never manages to give you the information you actually need in the context where you need it. And many of the games complex systems don't even seem to matter that much! This feels like a game with too many concepts mashed together without much thought over how they interact.… Expand
  23. mcgregor4630
    Apr 29, 2019
    2
    Every reviewer that gave Imperator Rome a 70 or above deserves to be boycotted and viewed with suspicion for being bribed. The game is remarkably shallow and riddled with AI bugs that makes a medium to long term game tedious.
  24. santiagopm88
    May 2, 2019
    4
    Have you ever seen an adaptation of a board game that is released to cater to your younger siblings who couldn't handle the full game? That's how Imperator Rome feels to a Europa Universalis user. It is entirely war based, with the peace-time mechanics being a bore. Its mechanics are simplified and transaction based with little strategic uncertainty, making it feel at times more like aHave you ever seen an adaptation of a board game that is released to cater to your younger siblings who couldn't handle the full game? That's how Imperator Rome feels to a Europa Universalis user. It is entirely war based, with the peace-time mechanics being a bore. Its mechanics are simplified and transaction based with little strategic uncertainty, making it feel at times more like a trading game than a strategy one (you can move entire populations, convert them, culturally adapt them, make upgrade them from slaves to citizens and stabilize your empire all without unpausing the game if you have enough mana to transact with, which is not very compelling narrative). Paradox will doubtlessly improve it with DLC, but if you are a long time paradox fan, skip this one… Expand
  25. Ikarian123
    Apr 27, 2019
    3
    Harsh score, because Paradox Interactive is PARADOX INTERACTIVE. They should not release game in this state and call it full version.
    Imperator Rome is more like demo version of full game. Its hard to find positives.
    There are few: + Ancient Era timeline To this time, Ancient Era was present only in various mods, rather as regular part of game (except EU:R) + Many and very variable    Harsh score, because Paradox Interactive is PARADOX INTERACTIVE. They should not release game in this state and call it full version.
    Imperator Rome is more like demo version of full game. Its hard to find positives.
    There are few:
    + Ancient Era timeline
    To this time, Ancient Era was present only in various mods, rather as regular part of game (except EU:R)
    + Many and very variable mechanics
    Very wide spectre of mechanics (laws, ideas, religion, economy...)

    Negatives are worse:
    + Shallow
    Game have large variety of mechanics, but most of them are very shallow in present state (maybe in later updates and DLC it will be improved)
    + Waiting game
    If something is really frustrating and bothering, its waiting. Waiting. Waiting. You just sit, watching monitor, dont press any button, do not react on anything except few pop-ups and waiting to collecting finesses, diplomatic or military power etc.

    Summary: Paradox Interactive took numerous mechanics and systems of CK2, EU and Vic, did not improve them, mixed them in to Ancient Timeline and released it as "full" game. Score is very harsh, because Paradox Interactive is not some newcomers and because in various places, price of this game is really overshoot (game is worth about 20-30 euros, not about 30-50 euros). And because I love Ancient Rome, Roman Republic and Roman Empire, it was for me twice dissappointing.    … Expand
  26. buggy999
    Apr 27, 2019
    0
    I've waited for this games' release for months. Massive fan of Paradox games. Love CK2, EU4 and Stellaris! Sunk hundreds of hours into them. This game is just poor on so many levels.

    1. It's completely wooden / soulless. Hard to explain but 4-5 hours in and you'll understand. It's just boring, dry and unimaginative. Unlike with other Paradox titles you feel very little connection with    I've waited for this games' release for months. Massive fan of Paradox games. Love CK2, EU4 and Stellaris! Sunk hundreds of hours into them. This game is just poor on so many levels.

    1. It's completely wooden / soulless. Hard to explain but 4-5 hours in and you'll understand. It's just boring, dry and unimaginative. Unlike with other Paradox titles you feel very little connection with the game and characters / nations within.
    2. It runs terribly. I have an Alienware R13 and the performance of this game is horrendous.
    3. This cost me £45.99!!! Unfortunately I've played for 4 hours and so cannot get a refund from steam.

    Awful, awful game that I've just wasted near £50 on. No doubt it will be sorted over the next couple of years (at additional cost).

    IMO what they have done with IR is an absolute insult to their fan base. However, fanatically loyal fans / customers will go as far as actively defending it! If PDX want to release a "shell" of a game for next to nothing, say £9.99, then charge through the nose for DLC, then that is cool! They can't have it both ways though.

    It's a disgrace. "Stop buying PDX games then?" - That's precisely what I'll be doing or in the very least I'll never buy another PDX game on release-day.

    UPDATE: UNINSTALLED THIS ABSOLUTE GARBAGE.    … Expand
  27. FlexibleOrange
    Apr 27, 2019
    1
    the game is snapped, it is unplayable. At any speed you set it goes to slow down. The depth of the game is non-existent, the fighting is monotonous. There are no traditions, Rome has the same military tradition as Syracuse?! No special unit of course. The trading system is absent. This game is at least 20 steps behind the previous.
  28. bbonkers
    May 3, 2019
    0
    Nothing wrong that a few hundred dollars of DLC wont fix.

    Come back to this game in 5 years, its just a cash grab at the moment.
  29. Newheart
    May 2, 2019
    4
    Not ready, feels like the shell of a good game that needs lots more content. Too much RPG type elements and character decisions for my taste. Generic unit types. Has potential. Will be good in time, but not yet.
  30. Hosenmaus
    Apr 26, 2019
    0
    It is simply a rip-off. I know nearly all Paradox Games but this one has basically nothing to offer. It's in a very very early access status. The devs put no effort in it but try to sell it as fullprice.. For 15-20 Euro as early acces ok but not for 55 euro. They used a random facegenerator and even the imperators and everything else looks like the same. Just 4 Buildings (including aIt is simply a rip-off. I know nearly all Paradox Games but this one has basically nothing to offer. It's in a very very early access status. The devs put no effort in it but try to sell it as fullprice.. For 15-20 Euro as early acces ok but not for 55 euro. They used a random facegenerator and even the imperators and everything else looks like the same. Just 4 Buildings (including a defensive one..) No harbours, nothing. It has so much lack. It's not normal. If i would write dxown all the bugs and lack of content I would sit here for 30 minutes. Stay away...… Expand
  31. ourgekj
    Apr 26, 2019
    1
    Worst release since total war rome 2. the game is unplayable. Stuttering is breaking the game.
  32. Stellen
    Apr 27, 2019
    2
    This follows the route of Hearts of Iron 4; taking the fantastic and complex Hearts of Iron 3 and strips everything from it, leaving an incredibly shallow and bland version of Crusader Kings 2 and Europa Universalis 4 with Roman names. Don't even bother trying other nations or cultures, they all play exactly like Rome, with the same units, research options, Government, and gameplay, inThis follows the route of Hearts of Iron 4; taking the fantastic and complex Hearts of Iron 3 and strips everything from it, leaving an incredibly shallow and bland version of Crusader Kings 2 and Europa Universalis 4 with Roman names. Don't even bother trying other nations or cultures, they all play exactly like Rome, with the same units, research options, Government, and gameplay, in and out of combat.… Expand
  33. DirtyDeeds4Free
    May 2, 2019
    1
    This is a very poor game currently. If you played CK2 or EU4 you can easily see that in this state game is just a shallow platform for multi DLC which will entirely redesign a lot of game mechanics. So you can start this journey now...but it's really not worth it since you will be frustrated and replay it hundreds of time in future with hopefully better experience. Becuase it's anThis is a very poor game currently. If you played CK2 or EU4 you can easily see that in this state game is just a shallow platform for multi DLC which will entirely redesign a lot of game mechanics. So you can start this journey now...but it's really not worth it since you will be frustrated and replay it hundreds of time in future with hopefully better experience. Becuase it's an absolutely shamefull rip-off practice from Paradox even if the game deserves 3 or 4 I give it 1.… Expand
  34. Dodger
    Apr 25, 2019
    4
    This game feels like a copy paste from their previous games. The graphics are prettier and that's about it, everything else has been stripped away to the bare minimum and the performance is absolutely shocking for such a basic game. The worst thing of all though is that it's boring, incredibly so actually, quite literally nothing happens 99% of the time.

    Maybe pick this game up in a    This game feels like a copy paste from their previous games. The graphics are prettier and that's about it, everything else has been stripped away to the bare minimum and the performance is absolutely shocking for such a basic game. The worst thing of all though is that it's boring, incredibly so actually, quite literally nothing happens 99% of the time.

    Maybe pick this game up in a year or two after they've added all the planned DLC, for now avoid.

    Very disappointing as i have been a big paradox fan for years.    … Expand
  35. Jasniok
    Apr 25, 2019
    4
    Game is empty. When I play as Rome (tutorial) almost nothing happens. Sometime few not very interesting events (just agree/not agree). Characters have no spirit. World has no life. Ok, I have skipped tutorial and I had started new game. The same, unfortunatelly.
  36. RustyJames
    Apr 26, 2019
    4
    At least, devs should test it before release. Not fun and unplayable right now. Bad copy of EU4.
  37. BoredGamer42
    Apr 26, 2019
    0
    Flunks on Install.

    If you're a big fan of restrictive licensing agreements, spyware, data mining, third party account registration, and the promise of unpromising DLC in the future, look no further.

    Then look away, as it's kind of ugly. Paradox, clean up your act!
  38. tobivv
    Nov 26, 2019
    3
    The UI is hard to navigate, it takes a lot of time to execute desired actions. The game offers no interesting mechanics and is only about conquering with nothing else to do.
  39. Ghost1069
    Apr 19, 2020
    0
    Terrible game. I tried it with all the updates and DLCs and it is STILL, after more than a YEAR after launch and SEVERAL DLCs (the cost for everything is like 100€), pure **** I did not get ANY enjoyment from this game. And I have been played since EU II and HoI II; Victoria 2, EU IV and CK 2 are really good games (Stellaris is pretty good too), but this one... it just takes the worse fromTerrible game. I tried it with all the updates and DLCs and it is STILL, after more than a YEAR after launch and SEVERAL DLCs (the cost for everything is like 100€), pure **** I did not get ANY enjoyment from this game. And I have been played since EU II and HoI II; Victoria 2, EU IV and CK 2 are really good games (Stellaris is pretty good too), but this one... it just takes the worse from each one:

    - boring micromanagement from Victoria (with little to no reward for it other than it is necessary);

    - the arbitrary limits and variables ("political influence", "tyranny", etc.) that limit you for no reason (and prohibit you from emulating many things that historically happened);

    - the abstracted, rather shallow representation of pops;

    - diplomacy is bare bones,

    - battles and tactics, although interesting in paper, end up being just... boring.

    And I liked managing the hierarchy in HoI III, so I am not adverse to micromanagement, it´s just that this games throws a lot, seems complex and immersive... and ends up being shallow and boring paper-work. I just cannot believe there are people who would pay around a hundred bucks to play... this thing. I honestly think that many (most) of the reviews above 5 are either bots or paid reviewers.

    tl;dr: NOT RECOMMENDED    … Expand
  40. erfunfazli
    Aug 14, 2023
    4
    A copy paste from Paradox interactive bad games.
    There is nothing but some annoying details.

Awards & Rankings

52
#52 Most Discussed PC Game of 2019
38
#38 Most Shared PC Game of 2019

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 32 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 32
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 32
  3. Negative: 0 out of 32
  1. Softpedia
    Feb 16, 2021
    90
    Imperator: Rome is an example of how hard it can be to reconcile gameplay and history. On launch, the game failed to deliver the mix that players expected from Paradox. The Marius update, especially with the tweaks to warfare, is closer to the historical record while also offering gamers plenty of agency. Heirs of Alexander is a good paid expansion, even considered apart from the free update. The Diadochi wars are fascinating and complex. I played quite a bit as the Antigonids and I still have options to explore. The other successor kingdoms have the same amount of content. For anyone who exhausts the stories of the Diadochi, there's more to discover and more places to conquer when playing as Rome, Carthage, and the rest, making Imperator a joy to return to.
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  2. Riot Pixels
    Jul 9, 2019
    55
    Imperator attacks confused players with tons of buttons and information, but in reality it’s one of the most vapid and boring strategy games ever created by Paradox Interactive. The world map is very pretty, though.
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  3. PLAY! Zine
    Jul 8, 2019
    55
    Imperator: Rome is another showmanship of Paradox’s greed that is manifested through their DLC politics. In its core, it is a good game with some intuitive ideas that are resolved through a very interesting time period, but it falls short in almost all fields where its mechanics are clearly left unfinished for some DLCs to fulfil them.
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