Waiting for Narmer in Predynastic Egypt

iOS, Android, PC, Mac •

I’ve mentioned my love of Ancient Egypt in the past, with some of my Favorite.Games.Ever being Pharaoh from Impressions and Children of the Nile from Tilted Mill (neither of which have been ported to Mac or mobile, sadly). I know I’m not alone, as Egyptian history continues to be a mainstay of movies, games, and books. While I’m happy that Tom Cruise is getting work, I’m not sure a CGI-filled action film is what I’m looking for. What I really want is the ability to live there, build and grow. There hasn’t been a good civ builder in Egypt since Children of the Nile, but Clarus Victoria is hoping to change that with their latest, Predynastic Egypt.

As you can probably figure out from the title, this game doesn’t cover the usual pyramid and monument building era of Ancient Egypt. This game starts at the dawn of civilization when agriculture is just being figured out, and will end when the first Pharaoh unites the Nile. I have to admit, I’m not as keen on this aspect of Egyptian society–give me huge monuments and temples to build–but beggars can’t be choosers, and I’ll take whatever empire builder I can get on my iPad.

From the little information I can find on their website, the game seems to be a standard empire builder. You’ll research technologies, deal with issues like plague, war, and drought, and spread your culture along the banks of the Nile. You’ll even build the ancient city of Hierakonpolis, accurate to what archeologists have discovered thus far. That’s the underlying theme of Predynastic Egypt. It’s not really a game, but a simulation of what actually happened 7000 years ago right down to the map and weather. How much input you’ll have into changing history remains to be seen.

Predynastic Egypt has been out on Steam for PC/Mac since last year and has garnered some decent reviews over there, so I’m not too worried. Even better, it will be making the jump to iOS and Android some time in 2017. When? Thoth only knows, but TouchArcade is saying this month.

• Predynastic Egypt for PC/Mac via Steam, $10

Hat tip: TouchArcade

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