Get ready to dive into the chaos of the Middle Ages with Dark Ages: Heritage of Charlemagne. Here, you take control of a growing civilization, striving to dominate Western Europe in an epic struggle for power and influence. The game blends the ambition of 4X games (explore, expand, exploit, and exterminate) with the precision of Euro-style mechanics, resulting in an experience where long-term strategy is just as vital as brute force.

The standout feature is the action selection system: your markers remain on the board, and if you (or an opponent!) repeat the action, you can gain secondary bonuses. It's the kind of game that makes you wonder, 'If I do this now, am I giving my neighbor a chance to score a bonus?'. You'll manage resources to erect cities and fortifications, climb the hierarchy of noble titles, unlock new technologies, and train armies consisting of infantry, bowmen, and cavalry.

Each leader and region brings asymmetrical abilities, ensuring no two games are the same. And if you think the map is already large, Dark Ages was designed to be modular. There is a Central Europe version (Holy Roman Empire), and if you combine both boxes, the map expands to a colossal scale, allowing for games with 5 or more players. For those who prefer the solitude of command, the solo mode was designed by none other than Dávid Turczi, ensuring a challenge that lives up to the hype. With detailed miniatures of buildings and troops, the immersion is total as you attempt to leave your legacy marked in history.