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) | – | 78 | 12 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 82% | 76 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 76 | 21 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 90% | 84 | 73 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Aug 28, 2026) · 11 reviews sampled · 73 total reviews in window · weighted 9.9 up / 0 down · computed 3h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (16)
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.
- 80
“Old World is a fantastic historical 4X strategy game that leverages its historical foundations to great effect. The need to anticipate that every action will have consequences, the power of diplomacy, and the family ties that play a crucial role here, it all comes together beautifully. However, you may encounter persistent performance issues and stuttering throughout the game. Sometimes, certain diplomatic events can even be a bit tedious, as you simply have to attend to them even when you’d rather be managing your own family and the affairs of your empire. For fans of the genre, the game offers exactly what you’d expect, and for newcomers, it provides a great experience and an introduction to the world of 4X strategy games.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Old World is a historical strategy game that blends the turn-based empire-building of Civilization with the character-driven dynastic management of Crusader Kings. Set exclusively in antiquity, the game introduces unique mechanics like limited city placement, card-based tech progression, and command points that restrict actions per turn, adding strategic depth. Players manage both their empire and royal family, making choices that shape the development of individual characters and the stability of the realm. While its innovations are notable, such as resource-driven building and specialist systems, it leans heavily on familiar genre conventions. A DLC campaign, Heroes of the Aegean, offers scripted historical scenarios. Despite lacking the bold freshness of Humankind, Old World is a solid and rewarding strategy experience, now more accessible with its arrival on Steam.”
read full review ↗ - 68
“Old World has its moments, but it's a very niche offering. I wouldn't recommend it to someone who isn't hardcore about 4X games because the learning curve is brutal. However, if you've played the rest and you're looking for something new, and especially if the overload of stats is something you find compelling, check out Old World. At the very least, you get to enjoy Christopher Tin's majestic soundtrack.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Old World is a 4X that unlike many titles of this genre doesn't try to just copy the biggest franchise of the genre and it is all the better for it that has made it a must play for the fans of this type of video games.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Playing Old World feels like you have an entire nation interacting deeply with other real civilizations covering a much smaller slice of history. It adds complexity and dimension to the 4X genre by taking the Civilization templet and adding to it to involve you in an epic story. I love it, as I enjoy the deep strategy it offers and the added relationship dynamics!”
read full review ↗ - 87
“A clever spiritual successor to Civilization full of both novelties and big ideas.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“If you've played a Civ game, and particularly the hex-based, one-unit-per-tile mode of the most recent series entries, then the early turns of Old World will feel very familiar.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Old World is a turn-based strategy game made by people who previously worked on games like Civilization. Old World mixes Civilization gameplay elements with Crusader Kings' story events and characters and creates a unique experience for the fans. The game has some issues in the UI, and its graphics are a little bit outdated. Also, it can be overwhelming for newcomers. All and All, It is a well-made strategy game that I can easily recommend to the genre's hardcore fans.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Old World is a smaller-scale 4X game than its Civilization forbearers but its new ideas add both interesting depth and intimidating complexity.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“A thoroughly integrated and refreshing mix of classic 4X turn-based strategy, role-playing elements and varied events.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“While the game has interesting concepts and ideas, some odd design choices and an atrocious tutorial hamper Old World's ambition.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“Old World: Heroes of the Aegean marks the game’s debut on Steam, and it rightfully earns a spot on many favourites lists. It is truly unlike most 4X games currently available, and adequately serves to raise an already high bar. While the game can do with a bit more tutorialisation, there are enough pop-ups and explanations for adventurers to being their journey. Immersion is a massive focal point and the inclusion of supremely detailed stories and scenarios truly levels up the experience beyond what even the developers may have intended. It truly is an exceptional title, one worthy of taking the title as the king of 4X games.”
read full review ↗
Gaming Professors
KonsoliFIN
Worth Playing
Bazimag
LadiesGamers.com
PC Gamer
AusGamers
Gamefa
IGN
Cultured Vultures
Vamers…and 4 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Old World News Roundup at the Hooded Horse August Publisher SaleAug 28, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Old World August 26th Test updateAug 26, 2026
- Old World August 19th Test updateAug 19, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Old World August UpdateAug 5, 2026
- Old World July 29th Test updateJul 29, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Old World July 22nd Test updateJul 22, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Old World July 15th Test updateJul 15, 2026
- Old World July 8th Test updateJul 9, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Old World News Roundup at the Hooded Horse Summer SaleJul 2, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Old World July UpdateJul 1, 2026
- Old World June 24th Test updateJun 24, 2026
- Old World Jun 17th Test updateJun 17, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Old World Jun 10th Test updateJun 10, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Old World June UpdateJun 3, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Old World May 27th Updated Test BuildMay 27, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Old World May 20th Updated Test BuildMay 20, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Old World May 14th Hotfix updateMay 14, 2026
- Old World May 13th Updated Test BuildMay 13, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Old World May Update: Crossbow buff, tech cost rebalance and Map SearchMay 6, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Old World April 29th Updated Test BuildApr 29, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Old World April 22nd Updated Test BuildApr 22, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Old World April 15th Updated Test BuildApr 17, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Old World April 3rd Hotfix updateApr 3, 2026
- Old World April 1st Updated Test BuildApr 1, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Old World March 25th Updated Test BuildMar 25, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Old World March 24th Hotfix updateMar 24, 2026
- Old World March 11th Updated Test BuildMar 11, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Old World March 4th Updated Test BuildMar 4, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Old World legacy branchMar 3, 2026
- Old World February 26th Hotfix updateFeb 26, 2026
- Old World February 25th Updated Test BuildFeb 25, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Old World February Update: Engine and rendering upgradeFeb 18, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Old World February 16th Updated Test BuildFeb 16, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Old World February 11th Updated Test BuildFeb 11, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Old World February 4th Updated Test BuildFeb 4, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Old World January 28th Updated Test BuildJan 28, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Old World January 22nd Updated Test BuildJan 22, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Old World January 14th Updated Test BuildJan 14, 2026significant · resets scoring window
…and 39 earlier patch announcements.