A fast fantasy strategy game with real faction differences
Conquest of Elysium 5 is a quick turn based fantasy strategy game with a rogue-like streak. Each game starts you on a randomly generated map with a random set of rituals and combat spells, so no two playthroughs line up. You spend your turns expanding, collecting resources, learning new rituals and spells when you have the right resources and find the right locations, and pushing toward control of the map.
The core draw is that factions barely resemble each other. There are 24 factions, and the differences run deeper than a unique building or unit: different mechanics, different goals, different playstyles. A druid grows a forest and jungle empire to harvest ingredients for summoning creatures of the woods, with little need for mines. A dwarf cares only about mines, produces units at a set rate each turn, and leans hard on upgrading those units because replacing them is difficult. A Scourge Lord builds pyramids of power that drain life force from Elysium and channel it to him and his Heralds.
Playing with your group
The game supports online co-op, online PvP and Remote Play Together, so your group can either share one side or fight for the map. Local multiplayer and local co-op are also listed among the game's tags, along with asynchronous multiplayer for playing out turns on your own schedule.
Because the map, starting rituals and starting spells are randomized, each session in your group starts from a different position even if everyone picks the same faction. Factions bring their own rituals and goals into multiplayer, so what your opponent is trying to do may not match what you are doing at all.
Planes, events and things to expect before starting
Elysium has ten planes in total, and four of them are new in this version. The Infernal plane houses devils and demons: banishing a devil sends it back to inferno rather than killing it, and permanently killing a demon lord means storming inferno itself, which is extremely difficult. You will rarely visit these planes in person, but they keep running in the background and shape what happens elsewhere. The sky-realm above Elysium is another, where flying armies descend from the clouds to attack and retreat back upward if their losses get heavy. Beanstalks, rainbows and tall mountain spires let ground armies climb up there.
Other additions include boats and ports for reaching islands beyond the main continent, three new factions, new rituals and summons, new battle maps for fortifications, independent factions that fight each other, new monsters, and more random events. Those events range from bumper harvests and bandits to the gates of the underworld opening into Elysium, so there is plenty to deal with before you even meet an enemy faction. The game is also moddable, and singleplayer is an option if you want to learn the factions before facing your group.