Millennia Review

Game: Millennia
Genre: 4X Strategy, Simulation
System: Steam (Windows)
Developers | Publishers: C Prompt Games | Paradox Interactive
Controller Support: No
Price: US $39.99 | UK £34.99 | EU € 39,99
Release Date: March 26th, 2024

Review code used, with many thanks to Johnny Atom PR.

Developed by C Prompt Games and Paradox Interactive, Millennia is a 4X strategy game that will take you through 10,000 years of Earth’s history.

Millennia may look like Civilization VI, Humankind, and Old World, with its hex-based tiles and fog covering the map, it would give you the impression that it’s just another clone of the games I’ve previously mentioned. However, Millennia has some creative mechanics that will distinguish it from the competition. To spice things up, there are alternative history twists as you play through Millennia.

Long-time readers of LadiesGamers will know that I have covered several strategy games over the years. Having played the demo build of Millennia released as part of Steam’s Next Fest, I was impressed by what I saw in the demo, so reviewing the full game has been great fun.

Choose Your Playstyle in Millennia

A strategic view from the game 'Age of Stone', depicting a primitive settlement named Kaifeng. It's the first turn in the year 10000 BCE, with the user interface showing various options like Research, Culture, and Government, which is currently set to Tribal. The central area of the screen shows the highlighted region of Kaifeng surrounded by a blue boundary, with a population indicator and a resource counter displaying '17'. On the right side, the game menu provides tabs for Regions and Armies, indicating that Kaifeng is growing and there are two armies present. The minimap in the lower right corner shows the explored territory in this region. Clouds cover unexplored areas, suggesting a fog of war mechanic. The visual design has a historical feel, aligning with the game's ancient civilization theme. Published on: LadiesGamers — Kaifeng

When you begin a game of Millennia, you can choose the option to have a Quick Play, where the game picks your opponents and starting bonuses. You can also tailor the gameplay by choosing how many opponents you want on the map and bonuses that match your play style.

In my case, I went with quick play for my first game, and then Kaifeng appeared surrounded by white fluffy clouds. The early turns involved exploring nearby tiles with warriors and scouts to discover villages. These villages can be absorbed, offering a choice between rewards, potential vassal cities, or rival empires.

Ages in Millennia

A pivotal moment in 'Age of Stone' where the player transitions into the 'Age of Bronze', as indicated by the central pop-up. The notification "We have entered a new Age!" accompanies an idyllic painting of a Bronze Age settlement, symbolizing the advancement. The pop-up also features icons representing a handshake (possibly indicating diplomacy or alliances), a warrior's helmet (suggesting military development), and pottery (denoting cultural or technological progress). In the background, the game's map is partly obscured by clouds, with visible areas showing a landscape of forests, rivers, and a named location, "Erzurum," under a flag. Players are prompted to 'ENTER AGE', likely to confirm and embrace the new advancements available in this era of the game. Published on: LadiesGamers. — Age of Bronze

From the Stone Age to the Bronze Age and beyond, you’ll experience many different ages in each playthrough. The unique thing is that history isn’t set in stone in Millennia, so your path through each Age isn’t fixed, and it can deviate a lot from what’s in textbooks.

As a new age begins, it opens up opportunities for you and every nation to explore different technologies, construct new buildings, and engage in new trade. For instance, during the Bronze Age, you could prioritise religion, governance, or production, like mining and shipbuilding.

After completing several research projects, you can choose the next Age to progress to, typically the Age of Iron. However, by achieving optional objectives, you might enter the Age of Heroes or the Age of Blood through warfare.

In this screenshot from a game set in the year 1280 AD, a critical event titled 'Chaos: Ruins' has occurred, described in a dramatic pop-up. It details the dilapidation of the monuments of the Ottoman Empire, fallen into disrepair and reduced to rubble due to neglect. The player is presented with a choice: to accept the current state of ruins or to pay 450 currency units for some form of mitigation. The main game interface shows 'Age of Iron' with various domain stats like Research, Culture, and Government. Named locations such as Antakya and Ankara are visible on the map, along with terrain and military unit markers, suggesting a grand strategy game where historical accuracy and empire management are key elements. Fog covers unexplored regions of the map, and the overall interface is dense with information, reflecting the game's complexity. Published on: LadiesGamers. — Crisis

This period, known as the Crisis Age, leads to much darker times until history can be restored by advancing to the next Age. More crises await, such as the Age of Ignorance, marked by anti-technology sentiments, or the Age of Plague. Unlucky for me, I’ve seen the Age of Plague during my playthroughs as I neglected my citizens and built a huge army instead, there is a fine line you must thread between production and protecting your nation. However, moving into an alternative Age isn’t all bad; for example, the farms that you can build during the Age of Plague can give you some serious food buffs for a good period of time.

The Ages add a pretty big advantage, especially if you are first in line to move to the next Age, as you’re able to pick what comes next and determine what positive or negative effects everyone will face through the subsequent turns and other nations will have to try and catch up with you.

I like the Age system in Millennia. It allows the gameplay to change. Granted, that is only sometimes for the better when it’s a Chaos age, but it does mix the gameplay up and keep it interesting. So, each game of Millennia you play will be different from the last game you played.

Explore, Expand, Exploit, and Exterminate

In this 'Age of Iron' game screenshot, we're presented with the research interface, detailing various technological advancements a player can unlock. The top of the screen features the title 'RESEARCH' with a vivid illustration of ancient construction, hinting at the technological focus of the game.The main panel shows a technology tree with different paths such as 'SMELTING', 'HORSES', 'CONSTRUCTION', and 'ARTS', each with a progress indicator and associated costs. 'INFRASTRUCTURE' is currently being researched, as indicated by the glowing border. To the right, future ages are teased, such as 'AGE OF PLAGUE' and 'AGE OF MONUMENTS', each with lock icons, suggesting more advanced technologies are available once the player meets certain conditions. The 'AGE OF KINGS' is listed as the next historical period, with its own set of requirements. The interface is clear and structured, providing players with a roadmap of their civilization's technological development and the challenges that lie ahead, including potential crises such as plagues. Published on: LadiesGamers. — Age of Iron Technology

As you manage your initial city, it’s crucial to expand your territory, helped along by the Domains you gain; you start with a Tribal Government, simple Warfare, and Exploration Domains, and more are added as you progress in the game. As you accumulate cultural points, one strategic move is to establish additional settlements nearby, which will strengthen the borders of your nation and grant access to valuable local resources.

For coastal regions, founding a settlement enables fishing and shipbuilding, offering a strategic advantage. Then, for landlocked nations, settling near fertile land for farming and hunting opportunities is a priority. Additionally, to make the best of the resources, you can utilise farms and plantations to provide food for your citizens.

Furthermore, each settlement requires infrastructure development through various buildings. A technology tree allows you to build more productive buildings, forming a chain of goods which can be used to trade with other nations on the map. Of course, laying the groundwork for more advanced industries is a consideration for the later stages of Millennia.

National Spirits and Diplomacy

A snapshot from 'Age of Bronze' displays the 'National Spirits' selection interface, where players can assign powerful bonuses to their civilization. It's turn 26 in the year 4500 BCE, and the screen is part of a larger strategy game UI that includes research, culture, and government information.The 'National Spirits' are categorized into domains such as Exploration, Warfare, Engineering, and Diplomacy, each with unique attributes like 'Ancient Seafarers', 'Raiders', 'God-King Dynasty', and 'Olympians'. These spirits confer various bonuses and are depicted with character icons, reflecting the specialization of the nation's spirit. A description for 'God-King Dynasty' reveals that it has not been selected yet, hinting at an in-game mechanic where the first nation to choose a spirit gains extra benefits. This encourages strategic selection based on the player's game progress and goals. On the right, a sidebar provides information on the player's regions, vassals, and armies, with details such as prosperity and army size. The overall interface is complex, suggesting a deep level of strategy in managing and advancing a civilization. Published on: LadiesGamers. — Pick a National Spirit

Once you progress further in Millennia, you can choose a National Spirit. National Spirits will become available as you advance through the Ages, and you can see from the screenshot above that you can have Warriors and Raiders as special warfare units or Olympians to enhance your diplomacy, for example.

Diplomacy in Millennia is a bit of a letdown. You can send gifts, propose open borders, and so on. However, diplomacy is carried out on a flat screen with just the nation’s flags on it. It lacks character and makes you feel like you are just pressing buttons. I’d have liked to have a more in-depth diplomacy screen. Even adding a nation’s character to it would have been better than a flag.

Combat and Barbarians

This screenshot from 'Age of Kings' captures the strategic gameplay during the 'Battle of Chengdu' in the year 1779 AD. China, represented by a flag with three stars, is initiating an attack on a Barbarian Tribe, denoted by a ram skull emblem. Both sides show an 'Attack Adjustment' and 'Defense Adjustment' set at +0%, implying an even match without terrain or morale modifiers.The main visual features a 3D battlefield with two opposing forces: China's soldiers in formation facing a handful of barbarian cavalry. The left side of the screen displays China's 17th Army with an array of unit cards, possibly indicating troop types or battalions available for this conflict. The user interface suggests a turn-based strategy game where players must manage resources, research, and cultural development while engaging in warfare. The 'Next' button on the bottom right suggests the player can proceed with the battle or the turn. The interface is neatly organized, with the central area reserved for the animated battle scene, enhancing the game's immersive experience. Published on: LadiesGamers. — The combat screen is pretty basic, but it works

In Millennia, the combat mechanics are kind of unique in the way you can move your units around the map. You can merge units on one tile to make much bigger armies. There is also a morale system for each unit, but it mainly makes units stop fighting without adding much, so I’m not sure I like it. As you play, you can grow your armies by adding more units. Some units can even level up to become leaders, giving buffs to their armies.

Barbarians can also have a warlord, which is their version of a leader. I understand that the barbarian warlord is a strong unit, but one barbarian warlord can take out an entire army, so I think they might be slightly overpowered.

This image from a game titled 'Revolutionary China' displays a vibrant, strategic map view. We see a detailed landscape with the city of Nanjing highlighted, displaying its strength level of 80 and an icon suggesting it may be under siege or in a state of defense. Various units are positioned around the map, with numbers likely representing their strength or numbers.A river snakes through the landscape, with infrastructure like bridges depicted. The terrain varies from lush greenery to rugged mountains, indicating a diverse geographical setting. The UI elements such as city names, unit strength indicators, and faction emblems suggest an intricate strategy game where positioning and unit management are crucial. The visual style is rich and detailed, with a mix of historical and possibly futuristic elements given the title 'Revolutionary China' and the modern look of the units near Louyang. The game appears to involve managing the growth and defense of cities, mobilizing armies, and navigating diplomatic challenges. Published on: LadiesGamers. — Units protecting my nation

When your units engage in combat, you don’t see your units on the tiles on the map; instead, a combat screen pops up. When I played the demo of Millennia, I didn’t particularly like the combat screen. I would have preferred to see the action happen on the map; however, after spending more time with the game for this review, the combat screen has grown on me. Still, like the Diplomacy screen, I’d have liked to see more action, but all the relevant information is on the screen, so you can see what is happening.

Visuals, Music and a Few Niggles

In this strategic map from a game, we observe a sprawling overview of various territories with the label "BRAZIL" prominently displayed in the upper left corner, suggesting that the player might be controlling Brazil or perhaps it is a scenario within the game.We see a network of cities like Tenochtitlan and Tepaca, each with its own defensive rating and connected by trade routes or roads. The map is marked with symbols for different resources and improvements, and the blue boundary lines likely represent the control or influence area of the player's nation. The landscape is a mix of mountains, forests, and rivers, with the coloration of the map suggesting different biomes or perhaps the impact of seasons or environmental conditions. The interface around the map includes additional data and options for the player, indicative of a complex strategy game involving city management, resource allocation, and territorial expansion. Published on: LadiesGamers. — During the Age of Plague, the map changed colour

Graphically speaking, Millennia is a good-looking game, though it won’t blow your socks off with AAA graphics. But then, this is an indie game, so you wouldn’t expect it to look like a triple-A title, and for a 4X strategy game, it looks pretty good. The music is as you would expect for a grand strategy game: majestic at times and quite relaxing to listen to as you conquer the map.

I do feel that certain aspects of the UI aren’t large enough, and the pop-up tool tips’ text could be larger, as the writing is tiny. This can make resource and city management harder than it needs to be, and I couldn’t find anything in the game settings to increase the size of the UI. However, I did get used to the UI and the text size the more I played the game, and by then, I didn’t need to read them.

At the beginning of playing Millennia, it ran fine on my laptop. However, I did notice some slowdown as the nations got much larger as I panned across the map.

In the version of the game I played for this review, multiplayer wasn’t available. However, for players who like to play against friends, local and online hotseat multiplayer will be available at launch.

Runs on the Steam Deck

Millennia does run well on the Steam Deck, though I wouldn’t advise playing it on the Deck until you get used to the UI and know what the tooltip says; naturally enough, with a smaller screen, the text is minute.

This image depicts a complex management screen from 'Age of Renaissance', where we see the city of Ankara on turn 283 in the year 1842 AD. The city, detailed in a 3D view, is surrounded by various terrains and appears to be growing, with a region level of 8.On the UI, we see different domain stats like Government, Exploration, Warfare, Engineering, and Diplomacy. The left panel offers a broad selection of buildings and improvements that can be constructed, each with its own cost indicated, suggesting that this is part of city or civilization development gameplay. The right side of the screen lists regions under the player's control, like Erzurum and Baghdad, along with their growth levels and resources. Armies and navies are also shown, with specific units such as the 88th Army and 59th Navy, indicating military aspects to the game. A mini-map in the bottom right gives a strategic overview of explored territories and their control. The overall design implies a deep strategy game with elements of city building, resource management, and military strategy set in the Renaissance era. Players seem to be tasked with leading their nation through complex decisions that impact growth, conflict, and diplomacy. Published on: LadiesGamers. — Make improvements on the tiles for resources

Conclusion – A Grand Strategy

There are a lot of mechanics to discuss in Millennia, and there is too much to put into a review of the game. However, there is plenty of depth on offer in Millennia which is sure to please any long-time fan of this genre, and it also doesn’t overwhelm you with options thrown at you all at once. I found Millennia to be a refreshing strategy game that is enjoyable to play, and I can see myself playing it for a good while to come.

Final Verdict: I Like it a Lot