Old World

Old World

Released May 2022

Old World is a revolutionary new historical strategy game where you lead your dynasty over generations of rule against rival kings and queens. Wage massive wars, manage your court, and build a dynasty — or watch your empire crumble to dust. What legacy will you leave behind?

82% positive · 6,953 reviews
Not yet
Released, but still in active development
High confidence
Active Development
Not yet
Released, but still in active development
High confidence
Active Development

Where to buy

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Evaluation

Old World launched on May 18, 2022 and has been under sustained, active development ever since. Mohawk Games has shipped six paid DLC expansions over the game's lifetime: Heroes of the Aegean (May 19, 2022), The Sacred and The Profane (January 16, 2023), Pharaohs of the Nile (October 4, 2023), Wonders and Dynasties (January 11, 2024), Behind the Throne (May 28, 2024), Wrath of Gods (March 3, 2025), and most recently Empires of the Indus (March 30, 2026). This establishes a clear and consistent pattern of major paid content releases roughly every 6–12 months across more than four years of post-launch support. Beyond the major DLC releases, Mohawk Games has maintained an exceptionally active monthly update schedule. The news scan shows 16 feature patches among the 49 posts reviewed, with substantive updates as recent as August 5, 2026 — just 8 days before today. These patches introduce meaningful gameplay changes: rebalanced combat systems, new UI tools like Map Search and tech tree search, AI improvements, engine upgrades, and expanded modding support — well beyond routine maintenance. No specific future DLC has been formally announced, and all currently listed DLC has shipped. However, given the unbroken pattern of major DLC releases every 6–12 months (with the most recent arriving on March 30, 2026 — approximately 4.5 months ago) and the ongoing monthly feature patches continuing through August 5, 2026, the game is clearly in active, healthy development with no signals of winding down.
Evidence
August 2026 feature patch (version 1.0.84365) released with new gameplay options, AI improvements, UI additions including modset functionality and Map Search enhancements, and numerous bug fixes — the most recent developer communication.
news post · Aug 5, 2026 source development ongoing
high
Empires of the Indus DLC launched, adding three new playable nations, new tribe (The Huns), two new religions, four new Wonders, a new vegetation type, 200+ events, and new map scripts — the most recent major content release.
news post · Mar 30, 2026 source content shipped
high

Content

7 of 7 released · no outstanding content

Media

Details

Developer
Publisher
Hooded Horse
Achievements
408
Platform
Windows, macOS, Linux
Controller
—
Steam Deck
Playable
Players
Single-player · Multiplayer · Co-op · PvP · Local/Split Screen

About this game

Old World is a historical strategy game where you lead your empire through multiple generations, building a grand legacy to last beyond your own years. This is an era of great leaders, from the revered to the feared. Which will you be?

Marry for politics, raise your heirs, and manage your relationship with the families of your kingdom. In the fast and furious world of kings and queens, family matters.

  • Each of the 7 kingdoms has four noble families that provide various benefits when put in charge of your cities.

  • Manage family ties through events, actions, and marriages to keep them happy and reap additional benefits. Upset them, or make them too powerful, and you risk their ire.

  • Maintain a strong family unit, or distract yourself with more illicit adventures.

The world is full of great characters with distinct personalities, strengths, and weaknesses. Use them to forge your kingdom, defend your borders, and build ties with other leaders.

  • Seek out and recruit famed warriors, philosophers, builders, and more. Have them tutor your children, lead your armies, and further your reign.

  • Different personality archetypes allow your court members to perform different tasks in similar roles. Find the right combinations to take full advantage of governors, diplomats, spymasters, and even your spouse.

  • Characters develop new personalities and traits over time, growing old, gaining experience, and finally falling ill and passing away, leaving room for the next generation.

Unsettled tribes, barbarian marauders, and remnants of previous cultures are all waiting in the vast unexplored wilderness.

  • Discover artifacts and great heroes of the past at ruins scattered across the map.

  • Experience over 3,000 unique events inspired by history and mythology.

  • Contact with foreign dignitaries triggers event chains, stories, and courtroom drama.

  • Pursue ambitions and legacies related to conquest, development, faith, and more.

  • Historically inspired scenarios, weekly challenge games, and a choice between randomly generated and handcrafted maps to explore. Lead Carthage to victory as Hannibal in the Punic Wars, hold your own against Barbarian Hordes, or compete against other players in tackling fictional scenarios.

Why do things the way they've always been done? Old World brings a new take to key elements of the 4X strategy genre:

  • Go beyond the traditional resources. Buildings are made of wood and stone, not "industry." Population doesn't grow off "food" alone.

  • Orders are a resource shared across your realm. Instead of moving every unit once per turn, each unit can be moved multiple times until fatigued or Orders are depleted.

  • Technological advancement is not predetermined. Randomization helps keep technology trees feeling fresh with each new playthrough.

  • Quality of life improvements, such as the ability to undo mistaken commands and nested tooltips, ensure you're always making informed decisions.

  • Play with friends in countless multiplayer modes — from hotseat, to asynchronous, to cloud play.

  • Experience a Grammy-nominated soundtrack blending Arabic music with contemporary influences.

  • Mods further open up infinite options for new worlds, empires, and dynasties — inspired by our real world, and by works of fiction as well.

Last evaluated Aug 13, 2026
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