Warlords

Warlords, designed by Steve Fawkner and first released in 1990 for MS-DOS, is one of the foundational titles in the turn-based strategy genre. It predates many of the classics that would come later. Set in the fantasy land of Illuria, the game blends traditional wargaming mechanics with a rich setting of knights, dragons, and ruined cities.

The player can choose one of eight factions, each with its own emblem, strengths, and territories. The objective is to conquer the land by capturing cities and defeating rival lords. Cities produce armies, which are used to explore the map, take over neutral or enemy holdings, and uncover hidden treasures in ruins or dungeons. One of the most engaging features of the game is the presence of heroes—special units that can gain artifacts and boost army strength. The turn-based nature allows for careful planning, and the fog-of-war style map keeps exploration relevant throughout the game.

On MS-DOS, Warlords offered crisp, colorful VGA graphics for the time, paired with a functional interface that made it accessible even to players new to strategy games. The Amiga version, released one year after, preserved the visual charm and added its signature sound design, giving it a slight edge in atmosphere. Both versions support multiplayer, with up to eight players alternating turns, either controlled by humans or the AI—making it ideal for long, tactical sessions among friends.

Warlords stands apart for its elegant simplicity and replayability. Unlike more complex games that followed, like Master of Magic or Heroes of Might and Magic, it doesn’t overwhelm the player with micromanagement. Instead, it focuses on conquest, exploration, and the careful deployment of limited resources.

Its influence is far-reaching. Warlords helped define the structure and pacing of fantasy strategy games. It spawned multiple sequels and introduced many to the concept of hotseat multiplayer long before online play was common. Steve Fawkner would later go on to create Warlords II, a more polished sequel that cemented the series' legacy, and eventually Puzzle Quest, which blended RPGs and puzzle mechanics in a new way. Warlords I was the only one released on the Amiga.

Warlords remains a landmark title that helped set the standard for fantasy strategy gaming in the early 90s, offering a mix of depth and accessibility that still appeals to fans of the genre today.