Genghis Khan (video game)

Genghis Khan

Company type	Video game
Industry	Video games
Founded	1987
Founder	Koei
Products	Turn-based strategy video game

Genghis Khan, initially released under a different title, is a 1987 turn-based strategy video game created and distributed by Koei. Its first platform was the NEC PC-9801, with subsequent versions launched for MSX, Sharp X68000 (1988), DOS and NES (1990), as well as Amiga (1990). This installment represents the second entry in the series, following the 1985 release Aoki Ōkami to Shiroki Mejika, which was available on PC-88, PC-98, and MSX systems.

Plot

In this game, players take on the role of either Genghis Khan or one of his adversaries. They must navigate political strategies such as arranging marriages to form alliances, assigning relatives to governmental positions, and commanding military operations. The primary goal is to expand dominion across the Old World, spanning regions from England all the way to Japan, by recruiting and training armed forces.

Gameplay

Two distinct gameplay modes are provided: Mongol Conquest and World Conquest.

The Mongol Conquest mode begins in 1175 A.D. and is designed for solo play. It centers on managing Lord Temujin, requiring players to balance economic management with military preparedness to increase territorial control.

In contrast, World Conquest, starting in 1206 A.D., accommodates one to four participants. Each player selects a historical leader—Genghis Khan (Mongols), Alexios III Angelos (Byzantine Empire), Richard (England), or Yoritomo (Japan). Leader attributes and those of their heirs are assigned randomly, with opportunities to reroll for better stats. Gameplay proceeds through turns involving Eurasian nations; during each turn, players can perform three actions such as training troops, acquiring supplies, conscripting soldiers, engaging in diplomacy, or initiating combat. Seasonal changes influence factors like soldier wages, agricultural yields, and food allocation, adding layers of strategic resource management.

Reception

In 1989, Computer Gaming World recognized Genghis Khan as "the toughest, most satisfying, and richest historical simulation yet." A 1990 evaluation awarded it four out of five stars, while a 1993 review assigned three stars. In Compute!, Orson Scott Card commented that the gameplay was less captivating than that of Romance, though another reviewer from the same magazine described it as an "excellent" leadership simulation demanding careful resource evaluation. In 2008, Armağan Yavuz, co-founder of Turkish studio TaleWorlds, acknowledged Koei's Genghis Khan as an inspiration behind their acclaimed Mount & Blade franchise.

External links

• Genghis Khan at GameFAQs