Worlds of Magic: Planar Conquest

Worlds of Magic is not bad, but it's also by no means a genre leader.

Elias leads the assault on the elemental planes, but is this a war worth waging?

As a huge fan of Civilization, and 4X strategy games like it, I'm always intrigued by new titles being released in that general vein...

Worlds of Magic: Planar Conquest mixes good old Heroes of Might & Magic along with Civilization. First game of 6 hours is quite telling of the game's engagement. It is not for everyone though. Worlds of Magic: Planar Conquest is cumbersome and buggy. You will be rewarded for being patient with the game, but most likely regret even playing.

The 4X genre is fresh on Xbox One, but Worlds of Magic: Planar Conquest offers a stale experience that can't be recommended to anyone.

On paper, Worlds of Magic: Planar Conquest looks like it could be interesting, and the character creation is actually pretty fun, but the game on the whole is a mess ruined by unnecessary complexity. Everything, from running towns, to figuring out which units are in an army, is weighed down by a messy interface. Battles, a core part of the experience, are simple and never fun. Despite drawing from a large collection of classic successful titles, this struggles with its own ideas, and does nothing but trip it up and never let the game hit any decent stride.

The graphics are really bright and vibrant, and gameplay is flawless once you get the hang of it. There is so much to do and learn that I just cannot do it justice in my Worlds of Magic: Planar Conquest review. There are hours and hours of fun to be had with this one thanks to all the freedom you’re given by the game.

Neither good nor inherently bad, Worlds of Magic: Planar Conquest occupies a comfortable place as an average game among the 4x strategy genre. There are some things to like about the title, but there is a noticeable lack of polish that holds the game back in the end.