Old World — Empires of the Indus DLC Review: Ancient India Enters the 4X Arena

South Asia Finally Gets Its 4X Moment

Old World, the historical 4X from Mohawk Games — founded by Soren Johnson, lead designer of Civilization IV — has been refining its formula since May 2022. Each DLC expanded the map: Greece (Heroes of the Aegean), Egypt (Pharaohs of the Nile), ruling dynasties (Wonders & Dynasties), court intrigue (Behind the Throne). On March 30, 2026, Empires of the Indus crossed a new frontier: the Indian subcontinent and Central Asian steppes.

This is the game’s fifth DLC, priced at $19.99. And for the first time, Old World offers civilizations that few ancient 4X games have taken seriously.

Table of Contents

• The Four New Civilizations
• New Mechanics: Jungle, Religions, Resources
• Integration with the Core Game
• Verdict

The Four New Civilizations

Maurya: The Iron Empire. Chandragupta and Ashoka bring a focus tree centered on military dominance — fearsome war elephants that roll through enemy lines — but with a major political fork: you can found Buddhism as the game’s fifth world religion and transform a conquering empire into a power of peace. This pivot toward Ashoka’s dharma is the faction’s signature mechanic, and it works well both narratively and strategically.

Yuezhi: A nomadic people from the Central Asian steppes, the Yuezhi have a unique Vassalize Tribe mission that forces an alliance on any tribal nation weaker than them. The goal: recreate their historical rise toward the Kushan Empire under Kujula and Kanishka. Their mobility and coercive diplomacy make them complex to master — ideal for players who prefer indirect pressure.

Tamilakam: The most interesting faction in the pack. The DLC doesn’t give you a single ruler — it gives you the political balance between three rival families: Cholas, Cheras, and Pandyas. Maneuvering characters into positions of influence to favor one family echoes Crusader Kings in compact form. Their Elephant Archers and Javelin Elephants defend coastal borders distinctively.

Huns: A formidable tribal faction, the Huns are primarily a threat to other players rather than a satisfying solo experience. Their campaign arc is short, but Attila-linked events give them strong historical presence. In multiplayer, ignoring them is a mistake.

New Mechanics: Jungle, Religions, Resources {#new-mechanics}

Jungle terrain, a new vegetation type, creates zones of slowed movement and reduced visibility. Where temperate forests created predictable obstacles, jungle forces genuine logistical adaptation — large armies become vulnerable, light units more effective.

Hinduism joins the four existing religions. Buddhism, foundable only through the Maurya’s Ashoka branch, can then spread to other civilizations mid-game — a historically accurate soft power mechanic that rewards long-term thinking.

The four new rare resources — jade, silk, spices, and ebony — enrich the era’s trade routes without overhauling the existing economy. They integrate cleanly into the base game’s systems.

By the numbers: 200+ new events, 60 ambitions, 11 cognomens, 4 new wonders, 5 pre-built maps, and 3 new map scripts ranging from the full subcontinent to duel maps set in Bactria or the Indus Valley.

Integration with the Core Game {#integration}

The risk with any geographic DLC is the silo effect: new factions play well with each other but feel disconnected from the Mediterranean civilizations in the base game. Empires of the Indus partially avoids this.

Diplomatic interactions with Greeks, Persians, and Egyptians remain meaningful through trade routes and conquest. However, the DLC’s pre-built maps naturally isolate South Asia into its own sphere — historically accurate, but potentially limiting in multiplayer when not all participants own the DLC.

At time of writing, the DLC holds 93% positive reviews on Steam across 46 ratings. A convinced niche audience.

Verdict {#verdict}

For established Old World players, Empires of the Indus is worth the $20. Tamilakam’s rival family management and the Mauryan Buddhist arc deliver playthroughs structurally unlike anything the game offered before. This is not cosmetic content.

For newcomers, start with the base game. Launching a Yuezhi campaign without understanding the orders, dynasties, and ambitions system will be discouraging.

Old World remains that unique ancient 4X that blends CK3-style dynastic management with Civilization-depth strategy. This DLC enriches it without transforming it — and that’s exactly what it needed to do.

Further reading: our complete Old World guide covers base game mechanics, civilizations, and winning strategies.