Emperor: Rise of the Middle Kingdom 2002

Is it still worth playing?

The development of a city in ancient China, from the Xia dynasty in 2033 BC to the Song and Jin dynasties in 1234 AD, is followed. It is a city building game released in 2002 for Windows, the sixth title in the City Building series, with a multiplayer option. The basic task in each mission is to maintain the city by keeping the people fed, healthy and safe from hazards. If food and basic goods and services are plentiful, the city eventually improves. The player manages trade and taxes to fund expansion and can make offerings to ancestral heroes. Offerings appease heroes who might otherwise inflict disasters, and a happy hero may visit and confer benefits. Rivals and enemies also need attention. Building a city up through the dynasties is a patient project that is still worth starting.