What Dominions 4 is
You play a Pretender God who rules a nation and wants to become the one true god, the Pantokrator. Before the game starts you decide what kind of god you are — an arch mage, a huge titan, a large monument — and each choice gives you different strengths. Your god also has a Dominion, an expression of your divine might and the faith of your followers, which spreads across your lands. If your Dominion dies, you die with it. Your Dominion also inspires your sacred warriors and gives them powers drawn from it.
The world draws on real history and myth rather than standard fantasy: vanir from old Norse myth, Aztecs, Romans, Israelites, Greeks, Shona and Kievan Rus are a few of the sources. You will not find the elves of conventional fantasy here.
Winning and losing
There are three ways to win and become the one true god: conquer your enemies' lands, extinguish their Dominion, or claim the Thrones of Ascension. Pretender Gods stand in your way, and you must defeat and destroy them to ascend.
Playing with a group
Dominions 4 supports team games. One player takes the role of supreme god while the other members of the team are his servants and loyal subjects. The lesser gods each rule their own nation, but the whole team shares the dominion of the supreme god. The game is turn-based, so a group can play at a measured pace. Remote Play Together is available.
Modding and depth
Dominions 4 is highly moddable: you can create your own monsters, spells and entire nations. A modding community has been active since Dominions 3, and this entry extends that capability further. The series has been running since 2002 and is tagged as difficult, so expect a steep learning curve before your dominion holds.