Warsim: The Realm of Aslona (often called just Warsim) is a simulation management game where you rule a medieval fantasy kingdom. The twist is it's all depicted as text, through which you interact with your subjects and enemies, decide how you want to rule, and even fight opponents. The textual interface belies the complexity and detail behind the scenes, as you take control of every aspect of your reign.

You play the ruler of the realm of Aslona and control every minutia of your kingdom's governance, from the level of taxation to the laws surrounding who you can put in prison. Every action has a consequence, though. Take, for example, taxes; having lower taxes means you become more popular with your subjects but also have less money to spend in the taverns and on valuable items. There are also more comedic options available, like imprisoning everyone who tries to visit you for a bit of peace and quiet, but this course has its own drawbacks.

In addition to your own kingdom, there are other races and realms you can treat with or conquer. There are almost 100 million races to discover, each with unique traits, and over 60 trillion unique ASCII character designs. Alongside the management aspect, there are turn-based fights you can partake in, snail races to bet on, bards to listen to, and countless other activities to get involved in.

The result is a unique and highly involved game that uses its simple visual design to offer more activities, diversity, and possibilities than would be possible in a more realistic-looking game. Deciding on every part of your reign means you can spend countless hours experimenting with new and ambitious ways to play.