Lords of Conquest

Lords of Conquest is a turn-based strategy game developed by Eon Software and published by Electronic Arts in 1986 for the Commodore 64. The same year, the Atari 8-bit and Apple II versions were released, and later it was ported to DOS and Atari ST. The game was designed as an accessible entry point into the grand strategy genre, offering simplified but engaging territorial conquest gameplay reminiscent of board games like Risk.

You control one of several competing factions vying for dominance across a fantasy world map. The core gameplay revolves around building armies, capturing territories, and managing resources to fund your expansion. Each turn allows you to move units, initiate battles, and construct new forces at controlled cities. The ultimate goal is achieving total conquest by eliminating all opposing factions.

The visual presentation is functional rather than spectacular, featuring a clear overhead map with distinct terrain types and easily identifiable unit markers. The C64's limited color palette is used effectively to differentiate between factions and terrain features. While the graphics lack detail, the interface remains clean and readable, making it easy to assess the strategic situation at a glance.

Combat resolution uses a simple but effective system where army strength and terrain advantages determine battle outcomes. Mountains and cities provide defensive bonuses, while larger armies generally defeat smaller ones. This straightforward approach keeps the focus on strategic positioning rather than complex tactical mechanics.

The game's greatest strength lies in its accessibility. The AI opponents provide reasonable challenges without requiring deep knowledge of military tactics or economic management. This makes it an ideal introduction to strategy gaming for newcomers. The multiplayer component represents the game's strongest feature, supporting up to six human players in hot-seat fashion. These sessions can become genuinely engaging affairs with alliances, betrayals, and dramatic last-minute reversals. The social dynamics of multiplayer gaming transform the simple mechanics into memorable experiences.