Empire of Sin

Empire of Sin is a character-driven strategy and management game that plunges players into the brutal, glamorous underworld of 1920s Prohibition-era Chicago. Developed by Romero Games and published by Paradox Interactive, the game challenges players to build, manage, and defend a vast criminal empire, with the ultimate goal of becoming the undisputed boss of the city by the time Prohibition ends in 1933.

The Boss and the Crew

The game begins by selecting one of 14 unique mob bosses, many of whom are based on real-life historical figures like Al Capone, Stephanie St. Clair, and Dean O’Banion. Each boss features unique passive abilities, special combat moves, and a distinct narrative path, adding significant replayability.

As the Boss, players must recruit a loyal crew of up to 16 underlings from a pool of over 60 potential gangsters. These crew members are not just fighters; they are full-fledged characters with their own personalities, loyalties, rivalries, and character traits that evolve over the course of the game. A close-knit crew might fall apart due to grief after a comrade's death, or a partnership may blossom into a romantic rivalry, impacting both their combat performance and management skills.

Management: Rackets and Riches

The heart of the empire is its criminal economy, which the player manages on a detailed, real-time map of Chicago:

• Establishing Rackets: The primary source of income comes from illegal rackets, which include speakeasies, casinos, brothels, and breweries. Players must conquer vacant or rival-held buildings and decide which racket to convert them into.

• Quality and Supply: Success requires business savvy. Players must manage the quality of the alcohol supplied to their speakeasies, balancing profit margins against neighborhood demand. Rackets can be upgraded for better security, higher profits, and reduced visibility to law enforcement.

• Diplomacy and Intrigue: Chicago is divided into rival gang territories. Players must engage in complex diplomacy with other bosses, attending sit-downs to negotiate alliances, trade, threats, or peace. These relationships are dynamic and can turn violent quickly, making careful management of trust essential.

Combat: Turn-Based Turf Wars

When diplomacy fails, the game shifts into a tactical turn-based combat system, reminiscent of games like XCOM.

• Tactical Shootouts: The Boss and their crew engage rivals on a grid-based battlefield. Players must strategically position their gangsters, utilizing cover and coordinating attacks to survive.

• Unique Boss Abilities: Each mob boss possesses unique combat abilities that can turn the tide of a shootout, such as Al Capone's powerful machine gun spray or Goldie Garneau's ability to boost team defense.

Empire of Sin successfully blends large-scale strategy, RPG-like character management, and tactical turn-based combat, offering a gritty, challenging simulation of life as a criminal kingpin in the Roaring Twenties.