Imperator: Rome

Alexander is dead, his generals are carving his conquests into rival kingdoms, and a republic on the Tiber is still fighting its neighbors for control of Italy. Imperator: Rome, the grand strategy game from Paradox Development Studio, sets you loose in this crowded classical Mediterranean, from the age of the Successor Empires to the foundation of the Roman Empire, and asks whether you can build something that outlasts the ambitious men and women who run it.

A Mediterranean Full of Rivals

The campaign opens in 304 BC on a map that stretches from Iberia to the edge of India, unfolding in real time with pause. You can steer Rome toward its famous destiny, but you are just as free to take up Carthage, a Greek city, a Celtic tribe or one of the great Successor Kingdoms and pull history in a completely different direction. The legends of the era shaped a continent, yet nothing about their success was guaranteed, and nothing about yours is either.

The Successor Kingdoms get extra attention through the Hellenistic World Flavor Pack, which adds new army models, new event chains and new art for the heirs of Alexander. The Digital Art Book and a set of wallpapers built from the game's loading screens round out the package with a closer look at how the game's ancient world was designed.

Characters Who Lead, Scheme and Rebel

Imperator: Rome is built around a living world of characters, each with skills and traits that change over time. They lead your nation, govern your provinces and command your armies and fleets, and talent and loyalty rarely arrive in the same person. The general who wins your wars may also win the devotion of the troops, and a disloyal governor or commander can turn against you and take an entire army along. Deciding who to trust with power, and how much of it, is the quiet heart of every campaign.

Govern a Republic, a Monarchy or a Tribe

Republic Power runs through the senate, and the senate has opinions of its own. Keeping its factions on side decides whether your plans pass smoothly or stall, and a magistrate who grows too popular can become as dangerous as any foreign enemy at the border. Monarchy A king rules from the court, but that court has to be held together. Powerful families, restless nobles and questions of succession all need careful handling if the crown is to pass safely to the next generation rather than fall apart in a crisis. Tribe A tribal chieftain answers to the clans, and their support is the foundation of your rule. Keeping the clan leaders content matters as much as any victory on the battlefield or any land you take from your neighbors, because a divided tribe cannot hold what it wins.

Populations, Provinces and Trade

Your realm is home to citizens, freemen, tribesmen and slaves, each with its own culture and religion. They fill your armies, your treasury and your colonies, and their satisfaction determines how well any of that works. Faith matters too, and keeping faith with your gods is as much a part of running a state as balancing the books.

• Trade goods: Every good provides a bonus to its home province. You can stockpile surplus goods to strengthen a region locally, or trade the excess away to spread the wealth around your realm and feed growth in provinces that lack it.
• Provincial improvement: Invest in buildings, roads and defenses to make your kingdom stronger and richer. Roads speed your armies along, fortifications slow an invader down, and well-chosen buildings turn a quiet backwater into a cornerstone of your economy.
• Barbarians and rebellions: Migrating barbarians may sack or settle your best land if your borders are weak, while unhappy populations and ambitious officials can tear a realm apart from the inside just as surely as any invading army.

Warfare Shaped by Culture

Before each battle you choose a tactic designed to counter the stratagems of your enemy, so reading an opponent matters as much as the size of your army. Each culture also wages war in its own way through military traditions: Romans and Celts follow different paths, unlocking unique bonuses, abilities and units that make every nation's armies feel distinct. Play alone or test your empire against other players in online multiplayer, and Steam Workshop support opens the game to the community's mods when you want a fresh take on the ancient world.

The legions are mustering and the senate is waiting for your answer. Choose your nation, gather your generals and find out whether your name will be remembered alongside Alexander, Hannibal and Caesar.