Colonial Conquest

Colonial Conquest is a strategy game released in 1985 for the Apple II computer by Strategic Simulations, Inc. (SSI). The game puts players in control of one of six major world powers competing for global domination during the age of imperialism from 1880 to 1914.

Players start by choosing a country: Britain, Germany, France, USA, Japan, or Russia. Each nation begins with different strengths. Britain has the strongest navy, while Russia controls the most land. The goal is simple: conquer as much of the world as possible before time runs out.

The game uses a turn-based system where each turn represents one year. Players manage three main resources: money, armies, and fleets. Money comes from taxes and trade with controlled territories. You spend it to build new military units or improve your economy. The world map shows over 130 territories across all continents, displayed in simple but clear graphics typical of Apple II games.

During each turn, players make several decisions. First, you set your budget for military spending versus economic development. Then you move your armies and fleets around the map. When your forces meet enemy units or enter neutral territories, combat begins. Battles use a simple number system where stronger forces usually win, but luck plays a role too.

The game includes interesting historical features. Major events like the Spanish-American War or the Russo-Japanese War can happen at the right times. Native uprisings might occur in Africa or Asia, forcing you to send troops to maintain control. Technology advances throughout the game, making later military units stronger than earlier ones.

Colonial Conquest stands out for its educational value. While playing, students learn geography by memorizing where countries and colonies are located. The game also teaches basic economics through its trade and taxation systems. Players must balance short-term military needs against long-term economic growth.

The computer controls the other five powers, providing decent competition. The AI makes logical moves, attacking weak neighbors and defending important territories. Games typically last two to four hours, though you can save your progress on a floppy disk.

Critics praised Colonial Conquest for making complex strategy gaming accessible on home computers. Unlike many war games of the time that focused on single battles, this game captures the grand scale of empire building. Its simple graphics work well, using different colors and patterns to show which nation controls each territory.

The game later appeared on other computers including the Commodore 64 and Atari ST. These versions included small improvements but kept the same core gameplay. Colonial Conquest influenced later strategy games by showing that world conquest games could work on home computers, paving the way for titles like Civilization.