Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 67 | 5 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 80% | 74 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 73% | 69 | 4 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 11 reviews sampled · 7 total reviews in window · weighted 6.7 up / 2.5 down · computed 3h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (17)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 65
“Oriental Empires is worth taking a look into if you're a fan of 4X strategy games or Eastern Asia in general. Although the combat and UI can be confusing at times, there is a lot more to this game!”
read full review ↗ - 50
“The translation of history into a video game is one of the best parts of the game. The units, groups and terrain are all very accurate to Chinese history. While many of the elements look great on the surface, there simply isn't enough depth to any of the systems to feel like a true 4X. The largest failing is the combat system with a randomness that destroys strategy. It all feels rushed and unpolished. While there is something that could be great under it, it is not ready yet.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“An innovative strategy title with very good production values, Oriental Empires definitely warrants the attention of anyone mildly interested in Chinese history.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Oriental Empires is a very well made strategy game that allows you to get through a campaign in a few hours instead of having saves that span days, though that is an option as well if you wish. Despite its smaller scope focusing on Ancient China instead of the globe, the stakes actually feel higher due to the limited resources and high number of factions fighting for them. While some of the systems require a lot of getting used to Oriental Empires is well worth persevering with.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Grand scale warfare, peasant revolts, the challenge of constructing an Empire to last multiple ages. Oriental Empires captures the magnificent rise of Ancient China.”
read full review ↗ - 72
“A perfectly good 4X game with an innovative combat system that feels a bit bland when framed against the richness of its setting.”
read full review ↗ - 45
“Oriental Empires lacks in content on all levels and thus removes the player's ability to experience and explore an interesting time period. If you enjoy the 4x genre, it's a possible interest, but it's otherwise uninspired.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“So we come to the fun payload. It's sort of lacking. We've played games like this before, many of them really excellent and with depth and character. Oriental Empires certainly looks nice and has a classical Chinese feel that helps it along its way, but once you're through the surface, it's a lacklustre 4X without a great deal to set it apart from the pack. Much of the time, Oriental Empires feels like playing a game of Total War where you auto-conclude all of the battles, but with a penchant for very slightly unfair and unavoidable disasters.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Oriental Empires doesn't exactly break any ground in the strategy genre, and its sometimes insufficient tutorials can be frustrating at times. That said, it gets the basics right and is fairly cheaper than some of its contemporaries, making it an ideal game for the gamer on a budget or for the strategy gamer looking for something new to check out.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Oriental Empires is a great looking and playing historic grand strategy game. While it derives, it also refines and makes a name for its self.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“Oriental Empires offeres more than enough to keep long time strategy fans happy. It looks great and does try one or two new things that don't turn out as well as they could, lacking the depth and variety to push it into being a great game.”
read full review ↗ - 72
“Overall, I can easily say this game is a really good game and it deserves a chance. As a huge fan of turn-based strategy games, I can easily see that they did a great job designing it. Oriental Empires offers a balanced mixture of all the main features that we love about well known strategy games. The visuals, the sound effects and a couple of issues with the combat system might be annoying from time to time though. If you're a fan of turn-based strategy games and if the idea of the Eastern culture in a game like this attracts you, this game is your game. However, if you expect a game with high-end visuals and fast-paced action features, well, you know the answer.”
read full review ↗
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Patch history
- Update 22 December 2021Dec 22, 2021
- Update: December 20Dec 20, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- Update: November 23Nov 23, 2018
- Scenario Editor Update Out Now!Aug 31, 2018
- Map Editor Now Supports Steam Workshop!Feb 26, 2018significant · resets scoring window
- December 20th - Santa brings a Map Editor!Dec 20, 2017
- December 20th - Santa brings a Map Editor!Dec 20, 2017significant · resets scoring window
- Update 4 December 2017Dec 4, 2017
- Update 4 December 2017Dec 4, 2017significant · resets scoring window
- Battle AI UpdateOct 9, 2017
- Battle AI UpdateOct 9, 2017
- Update 22 September 2017Sep 22, 2017
- Update 22 September 2017Sep 22, 2017significant · resets scoring window
- Oriental Empires Release Update!Sep 14, 2017
- Oriental Empires Release Update!Sep 14, 2017significant · resets scoring window
- Oriental Empires - Combat UpdateMay 24, 2017significant · resets scoring window
- Oriental Empires - Combat UpdateMay 24, 2017significant · resets scoring window
- Diplomacy Update Now Live!Feb 27, 2017
- Diplomacy Update Now Live!Feb 27, 2017significant · resets scoring window
- Update December 13: Chinese LocalizationDec 13, 2016
- Update December 13: Chinese LocalizationDec 13, 2016
- Update 24 Nov 2016Nov 24, 2016
- Update 24 Nov 2016Nov 24, 2016
- Major Patch ReleasedOct 20, 2016significant · resets scoring window
- Major Patch ReleasedOct 20, 2016significant · resets scoring window
- New Update Now Available!Oct 5, 2016significant · resets scoring window
- New Update Now Available!Oct 5, 2016significant · resets scoring window