Bonaparte Preview – A Steampunk French Revolution

Bonaparte Preview - A Steampunk French Revolution

As a history enthusiast with a particular fondness for revolutionary periods and a soft spot for alternative histories, I can’t help but be intrigued by Bonaparte. The blend of historical accuracy, steampunk aesthetics, and strategic gameplay is an intoxicating mix that promises to transport players to a world where Napoleon Bonaparte might have been accompanied by colossal mechs.


Bonaparte is a highly anticipated grand strategy game and the first release by Studio Imugi, a team of Canadian gaming veterans who prioritize storytelling and social relevance in their designs. While it’s evident that Bonaparte is an alternate history strategy game, as suggested by its steampunk mechs and other unconventional technology, the creative director, Jongwoo Kim, emphasizes a strong focus on historical accuracy. Interestingly, Kim has a background in history, with a special interest in global revolutions that left lasting marks throughout history.

In essence, “Bonaparte” is a narrative-focused, tactical grand strategy game similar to “Crusader Kings,” with strategic battles reminiscent of the combat system in “Fire Emblem.” Players will engage in army training, territorial conquest via turn-based tactical combat, and maneuver through historical political scenarios. Before its official release, Game Rant had a sneak peek at the game mechanics presented by Jongwoo Kim, offering a glimpse into how the game operates.

Bonaparte Is All About Impactful Choices

In the game titled “Bonaparte”, users don’t command Napoleon himself, but instead choose between Celine or Cesare Bonaparte – fictional characters that enable players to craft their unique personas within the French Revolution. Throughout the game, players encounter crucial decisions that can shape their journey, such as aiding the revolutionaries during the storming of the Bastille or supporting the monarchy, which could have significant consequences. Players will also face choices between rival revolutionary factions further into the game. Given these branching storylines, it seems that “Bonaparte” offers promising replay value with its three main narrative routes.

Of course, the grand strategy component comes with plenty of its own decision-making with economic, military, and political strategy all at play. Elections are held periodically where players can propose reforms that might help them achieve certain goals, such as gaining favor with their base, which might make recruiting additional soldiers easier. Players can also negotiate with the other factions and convince them to vote for certain reforms or other mutually beneficial arrangements. That said, Kim notes that Bonaparte is largely a military-focused game, and players probably shouldn’t expect to achieve a religious or cultural victory as in games like Civilization. Territory in Bonaparte is still primarily won through tactical battles.

Bonaparte’s Tactical Combat Has Some Solid Ideas

Bonaparte Preview - A Steampunk French Revolution

In the game Bonaparte, strategic encounters occur on a hexagonal battlefield. Players must monitor each unit’s vitality, as it influences their overall battle prowess, and manage the morale system. The morale system in Bonaparte functions similarly to a secondary health bar, with higher morale levels boosting hit and dodge chances. Kim notes that this system allows underdog forces to emerge victorious through sheer determination, breaking the spirit of stronger opponents to create a more balanced environment. Units usually possess unique abilities that can enhance morale or deal extra damage in specific scenarios, and players must consider placement and flanking positions. Kim refers to the combat as being somewhat like rock-paper-scissors, where infantry overpower cavalry, cavalry counteract artillery, and artillery dominates infantry.

As a gamer, stepping into the boots of the heroic figures in Bonaparte, I find myself at the helm of towering steampunk behemoths that rule the battlefield with an iron fist. These colossal machines are more than just brute force; they can shift the balance of any engagement. Unlike regular units, these mechs don’t grow weaker with damage, but instead, they overheat when pushed too hard or sustained damage is taken. This heat management system adds a layer of strategy to gameplay, forcing me to think carefully about when and how I deploy my mechanical titans, rather than relying on them as a one-size-fits-all solution.

So far, Bonaparte looks like a promising entry to the strategy genre, and its dedication to having a less overwhelming mix of systems should make it more accessible than many games in the genre. For players interested in alternative history and action-focused turn-based strategy, Bonaparte should offer at least three solid playthroughs lasting between 10 and 20 hours.

Bonaparte is currently in development and is expected to enter Early Access in early 2025 on PC.

Read More

2024-08-23 18:44