xpansions tend to fall into two categories: Those that enlarge the original game by adding content in the form of new maps, missions, weapons, and such; and those that alter the gameplay by introducing new concepts and mechanisms. The best ones, though, are the expansions that do both. Thrones & Patriots is an excellent example of this third type – it’s the kind of add-on that brooks no argument as to whether fans of the original should get it immediately.

Thrones & Patriots has the obvious improvements in spades. Six nations (each with a very distinct flavor and unique units) and four Conquer the World scenarios add enough replay value to justify this purchase by themselves. The new campaigns are awesome, and trim down the scale of the Conquer the World mode into digestible chunks. Taking over Europe as Napoleon or the Mediterranean with Alexander is significantly less daunting than trying to overrun the entire globe.

As for changing the gameplay, the added Senate building and its attendant government advances integrate smoothly into the flow of play, and force players to make some interesting decisions over the course of developing their empires. Do you take Despotism for some killer military bonuses or go with Republic to kick-start your economy? Clearly, these choices have a large impact on the game, and picking the ones that complement your strategy the best is critical to your success.

Deepening the strategic possibilities is key to making a strategy title more fun, and T&P goes the extra mile to make sure that it delivers a more engaging experience than is possible without the expansion installed. Rise of Nations should be one of the essential pieces of any strategy gamer’s collection, and T&P is the figurative cherry on top of a flavorful gaming sundae.