About This Demo

Empires are systems of power, and Her Imperial Majesty has entrusted you to with building one. Do not disappoint her.

In How Empires Work you manage the development of a state, from local lordships to enormous networks of trade and conquest. Discover systems of taxation, trade, colonization, labour and more. As your state grows, unlock automation features that turn repeated actions into complex interlocking institutions. Build the economic and political machinery of empire, then employ your aristocracy to manage the bureaucracy that keeps it running.

Explore and expand across a hand-painted world that comes alive with flows of capital, commodities, and armies. Employ both diplomatic influence and conquest to bring new lands into your imperial system.

As your empire develops the game changes around you, and new approaches are required to stand the test of history. You will have to deal with internal troubles, rival powers, and - regrettably - the French. Grow your economy, expand your influence, and watch your decisions compound into a grand imperial structure.

If you master the game you might even learn How Empires Work.

This Demo Features:

• Incremental gameplay starting with the humble click of a button, expanding into the management of an Early Modern state

• The entire beginning of the game, featuring a major island to grow across

• Use your aristocracy to automate tasks, relying on a burgeoning bureaucracy to develop

• Numerous features and systems to discover (even in the demo!)

• Numbers going up! (The imperial core player will not have to deal with accountability)