But they can seem unreachable when your synapses are being melted from without rather than through overuse.
Most of the latter are various flavours of harvesting resources, which adds population to the nearest settlement.
It’s all pretty standard 4X, essentially, but it’s almost an ideal form of 4X.
WhereLegion Warpaced its complications, Polytopia largely removes them.
It distills the concept, but retains just enough detail and strategic options to still feel somewhat meaningful.
Best of all, though, is its pacing.
That’s never going to happen with Polytopia.
Well, maybe if you play the biggest maps.
Don’t play the biggest maps.
you could’t even continue with the score switched off after that.
But perhaps it would merely water it down.
For the most part, each civilisation is the same, except each starts with a different technology.
Every form of growth is paid for by stars, which are especially limited early on.
The randomised maps have a similar effect, as your research priorities will be altered by local terrain.
Similarly, the mountain-based bonuses it offers may not be worth it when you could go after sailing instead.
Combat itself is straightforward.
Tactics, meanwhile, is largely about working out your attack order.
Each unit counterattacks any attacker if it survives, barring natural exceptions like lacking a ranged response.
But there are wrinkles.
Every unit - every tile, in fact - looks excellent, too.
The art is lovely but very small, and I keep wanting to zoom in just a little more.
Cities growing taller as they level is rewarding, but adds to the obscuration.
Above all, Polytopia feels unstressful.
It’s other shortcoming is its somewhat limited variety.
The four DLC factions help here, adding some unique units and abilities and resulting new playstyles.
