Bonaparte: A Mechanized Revolution is an inspired take on history

One of the best things about Gamescom is when you see something that takes on a traditional genre, and goes completely wild with it. Such is the case with Bonaparte: A Mechanized Revolution, a turn-based strategy game that is both historic civics lesson, steampunk fantasy, and political simulator.

Set in an alternative history of France, you take the role of Napoleon Bonaparte as you rewrite history while navigating competing ideals and politics.

"It forces you to ask which side you fall on," says developer Jongwoo Kim as he showcases the demo. "Are you a revolutionary or monarchist? There isn't a clear right or wrong."

That isn't to say that Bonaparte sits on the fence. Instead, the game focuses on a narrow scope to deliver something that is far deeper than a traditional 4x4 strategy game. Says Kim: "We didn't want to focus on names and dates, but instead the human aspect of the experience."

Which is a fascinating prospect, as he simultaneously leads mechanized steam bots through the streets of Paris in an attack towards revolutionaries.

Alongside the strategic elements, which in the demo appear to be robust and smartly designed, Bonaparte stands out thanks to a thorough knowledge of history. This is a handsomely crafted and well-researched fantasy, where knowledge of the actual events helps to put things in context.

In a standout sequence, Bonaparte must negotiate a truce between monarchists and Bonapartists, which will directly affect the course of not just the campaign, but the history of France. It's a small incident, but one with a ripple effect you can feel coursing throughout the entire story.

It's from these moments that Bonaparte builds from, and based on the small taste that I got to see, it's a tantalizing prospect.

Bonaparte: A Mechanized Revolution arrives early 2025.