Hex Empires: Grave Consequences Demo

Conquest games like Risk have the potential to keep players engaged for many hours, even if the rules are quite basic. Thanks to this simplicity, no two matches are ever the same, which is why it’s such fun to keep on experimenting with new tactics and strategies. On the other hand, diversity is always welcomed as well, and there are obviously many ways one can add some excitement to the formula.

Hex Empires: Grave Consequences is a turn-based strategy game that focuses on multiplayer confrontations, although it also includes a single player component. The underlying idea is quite simple, as are the gameplay mechanics, but you can still put a variety of interesting strategies into practice. A few unique elements are part of the package as well, thus making the experience a bit more volatile.

To begin with, you can choose between a few factions to play as, although the only difference is in their color on the map. There are a handful of different maps as well, and they each have a different layout you need to get accustomed with. In case you don’t feel like dealing with other people, a single player mode is included too, featuring tenacious A.I.s that can certainly provide you with a challenge.

The gameplay is incredibly simple, yet quite complex in some regards. You start with a capital and a handful of units, and you can acquire more troops by occupying other cities. Each city produces a certain number of units each turn, but there are special settlements as well. As such, factories provide you with tanks instead of regular infantry, while airports unlock your ability to perform air strikes against distant targets.

Nukes can be dropped on your enemies as well, although you need to watch out for the nuclear fallout that results from doing so. In order to eliminate a player from the game, all you have to do is occupy his capital. While this gimmick makes the matches pretty exciting, it’s also kind of a bummer to see your enemy just rushing past your other units to attack your capital.

In the end, Hex Empires: Grave Consequences still has a few imperfections that need to be ironed out, such as interface blunders and a few glitches here and there. However, this is definitely the kind of game to keep you occupied for hours.