Imperial

Imperial (2006) is a strategy war game like Risk. However, you play international investors, rather than political leaders, who control the countries. By choosing how to invest your funds you gain control of the politics of the six imperial nations. The twist is that you win by having the most money rather than the most control, which means sometimes getting two countries you own to fight each other makes economic sense.

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Play involves performing actions to erect factories, build fleets, and deploy armies in the countries you control. You can move your forces around the map to gain geographical advantage or engage other nations (Austria-Hungary, Italy, France, Great Britain, the German Empire, and Russia) in combat. As you make decisions you work to expand your territory, wage war, levy taxes and collect the proceeds.

Unlike other war games, the focus is not on combat strategy but on the real power at work here, commerce. Reflecting on this, there are no dice to roll to see outcomes. Instead, the player with the most capital and influence controls the outcome. It creates a shifting cycle of strategic alliances and conflicts with the aim of generating wealth for those involved.

The result is a varied strategy game without the luck of dice or cards. By combining aspects of Risk and Monopoly it deftly uncovers the motivations and decisions that arise when money and wealth are in control of politics.

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Our examiner, Andy Robertson, first checked Imperial 22 months ago. It was re-examined by Jo Robertson and updated 14 months ago.