War may be hell and it may never change, but when waged in The Touhou Empires, at least there will only be winners. A winner. Singular. Ah, unless you play online, in which case there will be at least one loser. Anyway, gather those resources, assemble your army, and… wait, what’s this one even about?
Territorial conquest, or more specifically, the land of Gensokyo, in which the entire Touhou series takes place. If you’re anything like me, don’t worry, I had to look it up too. Watching the trailer below for The Touhou Empires did make me rather interested in Touhou as a whole, however, so chances are I’ll end up writing about another fan creation in the near future. But for now, war is knocking on the front door of more than 30(!) Touhou characters in preparation for battle across a 20-stage campaign. Or, well, it will be once the game is out at some point in 2024.
Much like classic genre entries, this too begins with the choosing of a faction, followed by resource gathering and base building, after which it’s off to the frontlines where might and magic are flexed in equal amounts, as far as the eye can see. Each faction even comes with its own pros and cons, like one having advantages in regards to defence construction while another can summon unique units – something that also carries over to military units. Whether it be cavalry, archers, or grimoires (wait, what?), each comes with a unique set of strengths and weaknesses, genuinely emphasizing the ‘strategy’ aspect of ‘RTS’.
If you ever feel a little competitive, fire up an online match with up to five other people in one of several different modes – including the ever-popular battle royale! Should cooperative play be more your cup of tea, then fear not, for playing on the same team is also an option. Take on the world with friends (or enemies) and conquer Gensokyo together. Show no mercy and maybe, just maybe, you’ll eventually emerge victorious, be it alone or with someone else along for the ride!
The Touhou Empires is scheduled for release on Steam in 2024.
