Shadow Empire

Shadow Empire is a turn-based 4X wargame in which you rule a small nation on a devastated planet and seek to reconquer it. Set in an alien universe, the game combines military campaigns with diplomacy, procedural generation and role-playing systems. You manage the budget, build the economy and infrastructure, and recruit governors, commanders and other leaders while responding to pressures from the population, ruling class and outside factions.

A planet to reclaim

Each game generates a planet with its own terrain, climate and resources, following rules of astrobiology. Its features can include rainfall, deserts, snow, glaciers, lava streams, forests, mountain chains, rivers, different forms of alien life, and biohazard and respiratory hazard levels. You prospect for water, metals, rare metals, oil and radioactive materials, and can scavenge the ruins of fallen empires for rare artifacts.

Rule and manage

You recruit leaders as zone governors, council directors, army commanders or advisors. They can have more than 40 skills and gain Leader feats that augment their statistics. You must balance the expectations of the population and ruling class; poor management can bring discontent, strikes, corruption or rebellion. Events, leaders’ demands and external pressures from factions such as cults and crime syndicates can force difficult choices.

You can establish political systems such as parliaments, senates and politburos. These bodies evolve during play and vote on laws, with results that can affect the empire’s direction. Stratagems let you respond to crises or create opportunities for growth; more than 200 are available, including procedural Stratagems. They are plans and sequences of actions that can handle many micromanagement tasks or help you react to unexpected situations.

Diplomacy and espionage

You negotiate with neighboring factions. Minor regimes can be coerced into becoming vassals, while pacts and deals with major regimes can support peaceful coexistence. You can also use spies to manipulate other regimes’ politics and uncover their military forces.

Research and forces

Technology, formations and units have separate discovery systems, with research paths that vary from game to game. You can discover more than 100 fields of technology, starting from a low level as your nation emerges from a galactic collapse. Advanced research can unlock ICBMs, laser guns, atomic missile launchers, walkers and shield-generators.

You can design more than 30 unit types, including light tanks, walkers, missile launchers and aircraft. Choose component parts such as guns and engines, set loadouts, and balance speed and armor to build the land and air forces your nation needs. The game includes over 100 formation types, including Infantry regiments, Siege Battalions and Tank Divisions.

Combat is resolved at an operational level. Its outcome depends on readiness, morale, supply, experience, entrenchment, terrain, reconnaissance, rivers, weapon and armor technologies, concentric attacks, leader skills and posture Stratagems. You must plan campaigns and manage forces across the available unit types and formations.

Supply and transport

A realistic supply chain has direct consequences for your forces: a shortage of ammunition can prevent them from attacking or defending, while running out of food can have even more serious effects. You can extend the logistical network with roads, railways, truck stations, maglev stations and supply base assets. Transport helicopters and cargo planes can establish air bridges to support invasions or deliver supplies to isolated positions.