Pharaoh (video game)
| Company type | Video game |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | November 1999 |
| Founder | Impressions Games |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Pharaoh (video game) |
| Owner | Sierra Studios (distributor) |
| Parent | Impressions Games |
Pharaoh is an isometric city-building game that debuted in November 1999, created by Impressions Games and distributed by Sierra Studios for Microsoft Windows. Utilizing the same engine as Caesar III, it marks the first installment in Sierra's City Building series centered on ancient Egypt. Players are tasked with city planning and resource allocation, ensuring inhabitants have sufficient food, employment, healthcare, and protection from disasters and conflicts. The game was followed by an expansion titled Cleopatra: Queen of the Nile (Cleopatra), developed by BreakAway Games and released in 2000. In 2001, these two were packaged together under the name Pharaoh Gold. A modern remake, Pharaoh: A New Era, was launched in 2023 by Triskell Interactive and Dotemu.
Gameplay
Presented from a two-dimensional isometric viewpoint with fixed zoom and four 90-degree rotation options, Pharaoh features an interface reminiscent of Caesar III. Players interact through mouse controls and keyboard shortcuts to manage construction, receive notifications, access maps, consult advisers (Overseers), and view overlays that highlight city needs and housing requirements. The game integrates elements such as housing, religion, warfare, and commerce to authentically represent Ancient Egyptian life, including period-specific goods and services. Historical pharaohs are incorporated within the gameplay, alongside limited educational content about ancient customs. The in-game currency is the deben, despite the absence of a standardized metal currency historically. Although the gameplay has puzzle-like qualities, it follows Egypt’s historical timeline concerning monument building, conflicts, calamities, and rulership transitions.
Game modes
Players can select either campaign or free-build modes. The campaign mode guides players through constructing cities across various phases of Ancient Egyptian history—from nomadic encampments to majestic urban centers and monuments dedicated to different rulers—culminating in the player ascending to Pharaoh status. This mode spans five distinct historical eras (six when including Cleopatra), with initial missions serving as tutorials. Subsequent missions offer dual objectives—either peaceful development or military conquest—with only one objective required for mission completion.
Free-build mode provides approximately twelve standalone scenarios that can be played with either open-ended or specific goals. Additionally, a map editor allows users to design custom scenarios.
Gameplay elements
The game models Egyptian urban management with notable differences from Caesar III. Residential plots attract immigrant populations who construct and upgrade homes based on their access to necessary goods and services. Metrics such as Population, Prosperity, and Culture return from previous titles; however, Favor is replaced by "Kingdom," representing the Pharaoh’s assessment of player success. The Peace metric is substituted with "Monument," underscoring monument-building objectives outlined during mission briefings.
Agricultural advancements include floodplain farming along the Nile River and Irrigation Ditches to enhance soil fertility. Fishing takes place using Nile boats, while hunting is introduced through wildlife present on maps. Raw materials like clay (used for pottery), reeds (for papyrus production), and various stones support manufacturing and trade activities. Some maps necessitate importing rare resources to sustain production; exports generate vital income for the city.
The palace functions as the primary treasury facility, analogous to the Senate building in Caesar III. Fire prevention and law enforcement are managed by dedicated structures staffed by fire marshals/firehouses and constables/police stations respectively; Courthouses are also available. Monument construction represents a significant new gameplay element requiring specialized workers and materials; these projects demand considerable time investment.
Five deities influence various aspects of city life: Ra oversees kingdom affairs; Bast protects the home; Osiris governs agriculture; Ptah presides over industry; and Seth embodies warfare. Cities may worship one or multiple gods through shrines or temples. Satisfied gods bestow blessings upon the city, whereas displeased gods trigger disasters aligned with their domains—for example, Osiris affects the quality of Nile floods.
Military components are present but secondary, including infantry units, archers, and chariots defending against frequent assaults or supporting allied forces. Naval warfare is introduced with transport ships carrying troops and warships engaging enemy vessels.
Unlike Caesar III, Pharaoh omits features such as large bridges and crossing extensive water bodies beyond ferry crossings.
Critical reception
According to review aggregator GameRankings, Pharaoh garnered positive evaluations. Daniel Erickson from NextGen praised it as "a brilliant city builder" that skillfully combines pyramid construction with floodplain management strategies. Barry Brenesal of GamePro observed that although Pharaoh introduces little innovation beyond its distinctive soundtrack, it matches the strategic depth of Caesar III, focusing more on resource management than rapid action. GamePro awarded scores of 4/5 for graphics, controls, and enjoyment, with a 3.5/5 rating for sound quality.
The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences nominated Pharaoh for "Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction" at the 3rd Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, though the accolade ultimately went to Final Fantasy VIII.
Sales
In Germany, Pharaoh entered Media Control’s computer game sales charts at number four during late November 1999 and remained among top ranks for six weeks before concluding December at fifth place. It maintained strong sales into early 2000—ranking fifth in January and sixth in February. In April 2000, it received "Gold" certification from Verband der Unterhaltungssoftware Deutschland (VUD) for exceeding 100,000 units sold across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The title stayed within Media Control's top ten through August 2000 and remained in the top twenty until November—spanning thirteen months inside the top thirty.
Worldwide sales were robust; combined figures for Pharaoh alongside Caesar III surpassed one million copies by July 2000 according to MeriStation.
Expansion pack
An expansion called Cleopatra: Queen of the Nile, developed by BreakAway Games, extended the original game's campaign into the Hellenistic era of Egypt upon its release in 2000. Both titles are frequently sold together under the combined title Pharaoh and Cleopatra.
Reception
Cleopatra received "generally favorable reviews" on Metacritic. Barry Brenesal from GamePro praised its compelling simulation aspects, likening it favorably to SimCity 3000, but noting it offers richer character development and dynamic urban life. The expansion earned three separate 4/5 ratings for graphics, control responsiveness, and entertainment value from GamePro, along with a 3.5/5 score for audio.
Sequels
The next installment in Sierra’s City Building series was Zeus: Master of Olympus (2000), which shifted focus to Ancient Greece while preserving much of Pharaoh’’’s gameplay style with some modifications. The series revisited ancient Egypt in 2004 with Immortal Cities: Children of the Nile.
Remake
Announced in August 2020 by Triskell Interactive alongside Dotemu, a remake titled Pharaoh: A New Era was developed featuring rebuilt code optimized for current systems plus an updated user interface. This version includes campaigns from both the original game and its expansion pack Cleopatra: Queen of the Nile. The remake was officially released on February 15th, 2023.
Similar games
Titles such as Nebuchadnezzar (2021) and Builders of Egypt (2025) have drawn comparisons to Pharaoh due to their analogous gameplay mechanics centered on historical city-building themes.
Notes
References
External links
- Template:Moby game
- Template:Moby game
- Ozymandias, a modification project enhancing gameplay customization for Pharaoh