Civilization goes to Hell, as brutal new strategy game gets free demo

pcgamesn.com:

Between Ara History Untold, Millennia, Cities Skylines 2, Civilization 7, and Total War Pharaoh, there are a lot of new strategy and management sims on the way. Solium Infernum seems different from all of them. A combination of Civ, Doom, and – according to its developer – a bit of Dark Souls, Solium casts you as one of several archfiends vying for control of the infernal throne after the sudden disappearance of Lucifer. Military might is important, but the key to victory in Solium is bureaucracy, politics, psychology, and manipulation. Imagine navigating the back-biting, gossiping, and fickle cliques of high school, but while simultaneously fighting a blood feud in the lowest reaches of damnation. After a lot of anticipation, we’ve finally had the chance to play Solium. Even better, you can, too, thanks to a huge new demo now available via Steam Next Fest.

Compared to most other strategy games, the decisions you make in Solium Infernum are fewer and further between. You aren’t moving dozens and dozens of units per turn, or navigating menus, tech trees, and an ever-complex economy. Developer League of Geeks wants to cut out the mindless busy work and make every choice, every tactic, and every psychological manoeuvre have meaning. You make fewer decisions, but they all carry much more weight.

I’ll give you an example. Playing as Andromalius, the androgynous, blond, and beautiful fallen angel consumed by narcissism, I click the ‘sanctum’ tab which takes me to my own private chamber, away from the demonic hordes who do my marshall bidding. Here, I decide I’ll use one of my moves this turn to ‘calculate a new plot.’ Andromalius scratches their chin, a devious smile falls upon their face, and we jump to the next turn.

Now,