The Battle of Polytopia

If you’re looking for a polished and good introduction to 4X games, The Battle of Polytopia is more than worth it. If you, like me, weren’t sure how The Battle of Polytopia would play with a controller, download the free demo to see how you find the UI. The developers have done a good job with the scaling across docked and handheld, and having full touchscreen support for handheld meant I had a much easier time moving to Switch.

This is a fun, punchy title that scratches that 4X itch. It may not bring much new to the table, but it clearly designed by veteran developers with a good eye for what makes the genre work. As a simple exercise in strategy, it provides just enough complexity to be worth learning, but never takes things too far. It's bright and cheery aesthetic makes for some easy, casual play that you can come back to time and time again.

The Battle of Polytopia’s streamlining of 4X strategy makes things accessible, but also limits the kind of variability that makes campaigns enjoyable across multiple plays.

The Battle of Polytopia offers simple and straightforward gameplay mechanics that are easy to grasp. This makes it a great choice for anyone who is new to the 4X gaming genre and looking for a relaxed introduction. While the lack of distinct personalities for the different leaders makes the game feel a bit bland–with no extra incentive to attack anyone who isn't nearby–the art and music are enjoyable, if somewhat simple. That said, for those who have already delved deeply into this type of game, it may not hold their attention for long.

Despite this issue we’d recommend this for any Switch players looking for a new strategy title – it’s well presented and can be endlessly addictive. You just may want to quickly check it out on your smartphone before taking the plunge on this iteration.