Realpolitiks 3: Earth and Beyond
Release Date: October 22, 2024 Early Access
Strategy, science fiction, economic, RTS, Polish, politics, grand strategy, singleplayer
Steam
The third installment of the grand strategy series. Realpolitiks 3: Earth and Beyond provides us with the option to lead the country of our choosing, planning its development. This time we can expand beyond Earth and colonize other planets and moons thanks to a space program.
Realpolitiks 3: Earth and Beyond is the third installment of the grand strategy type series, launched in 2017. The game was developed by the Polish studio Jujubee, which has been overseeing the development of the series from the beginning.
Gameplay
In Realpolitiks 3: Earth and Beyond the game takes place on a political map of the world presented from a bird's eye view. We always start by choosing one of the modern countries we want to lead. We can become the leader of one of the current superpowers in the game, but we can just as well lead one of the poorer countries to victory, such as Zimbabwe.
After choosing the nation that interests us, all that remains is to plunge into the whirl of political intrigues. While playing, all issues related to the functioning of the country rest on our shoulders. We can act in the spirit of democracy, however eight other political systems have also been implemented in the game. For example, if we dream of a monarchy, we can introduce such a system in our country.
During the game we primarily have to decide what to invest our national funds in - social and construction programs, economic development, technology, or even espionage activities or the war industry. In addition to this, we issue various orders to our officials, as well as release powerful executive decrees. We are not forced to rule alone, because we have a cabinet of ministers at our disposal and we can choose them on our own. Caution should be exercised with the latter, as our ministers may represent different parties, and therefore - often conflicting interests, which will need to be taken care of.
The game also allows us to decide on the affiliation to one of the existing military alliances (like NATO or BRICS) or economic ones (headed by the European Union), or to create our own. We are also allowed to pursue an isolationist policy and stay away from world politics, or start acting less openly, quietly helping other countries in development or influencing their politics (and consequently - making them our puppet states).
Our leader character evolves along with the country they manage, which is reflected in their growing statistics and skills. We can expand the sphere of influence of our country to other celestial bodies in the solar system. After achieving the appropriate level of development, we can start a space program and begin colonizing other planets and moons.
Of course, politics is not always easy, and the expansion of our country does not go unnoticed by others. Other countries may try to thwart our plans in various ways, among which there is no shortage of even armed conflicts. For the latter, a new combat system - Frontlines - was introduced, and the issuing of orders to aircraft and ships was redesigned. The risk of upcoming war makes it worthwhile to think in advance about the proper placement of generals and officers.
Videos and Screens
[1:01] Realpolitiks 3: Earth and Beyond Realpolitiks 3 Earth and Beyond - Announcement Trailer
The main pros of the game
- Political and Economic Depth: Many players appreciate the game's political and economic systems, noting that they feel more fleshed out compared to previous iterations.
- Potential for Improvement: The early access status allows for player feedback, and many users express optimism about future updates and improvements.
- Diverse Gameplay Options: Players enjoy the variety of political paths available, allowing for a range of play styles and strategies.
- Engaging Mechanics: Features like the dynamic interaction between political leaders and ministries, as well as the simplified war mechanics, receive positive mentions.
- Ambitious Vision: The game aims to simulate global politics with a wide range of playable countries, which many users find appealing.
The main cons of the game
- Bugs and Technical Issues: Numerous users report bugs, glitches, and a lack of polish, which detracts from the gameplay experience.
- Poor User Interface (UI): The UI is frequently criticized for being confusing, poorly designed, and lacking essential information, making navigation frustrating.
- Randomized Mechanics: The randomness in government and leader selection is seen as problematic, leading to unrealistic representations of political landscapes.
- Underwhelming Mechanics: Some mechanics, such as the research trees and economic systems, are described as lacking depth or being poorly implemented.
- Visual Presentation: The use of AI-generated art and the overall aesthetic of the game are considered off-putting by some players.
The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users
- Detailed Country Representation: Players express a desire for more accurate representations of countries, including their political systems, cultures, and demographics.
- Improved Explanation of Mechanics: Many reviews highlight the need for better tutorials, tooltips, and in-game explanations to help players understand complex systems.
- Customization Options: Users want more options for customizing governments and leaders at the start of the game rather than relying on random generation.
- Enhanced Diplomacy Systems: There are calls for more depth in diplomatic interactions, including clearer trade and cooperation mechanics.
- Additional Content: Suggestions include expanding on the game's features, such as more detailed economic systems, technology trees, and regional events.
Summary
- Overall, while Realpolitiks 3: Earth and Beyond shows promise and has a solid foundation, it currently suffers from various issues that need addressing to fully realize its potential.
Summary generated on:
Realpolitiks 3: Earth and Beyond Summary
Game Series: Realpolitiks
Platforms:
PC / Windows
Developer: Jujubee
Publisher: Fulqrum Games / 1C Entertainment
Age restrictions: none
Realpolitiks 3: Earth and Beyond System Requirements
PC / Windows
Minimum: Intel Core i5-9600K / AMD Ryzen 5 3600X, 16 GB RAM, graphic card 6 GB GeForce RTX 2060 / 8 GB Radeon RX 5700 XT, 6 GB HDD, Windows 10 64-bit
Recommended: Intel Core i5-12400 / AMD Ryzen 5 5600X, 16 GB RAM, graphic card 8 GB GeForce RTX 3060 / Radeon RX 6600 XT, 6 GB HDD, Windows 11 64-bit