Imagine Earth Review (The Doctor)
I enjoy games based around a zombie apocalypse but I don't believe this is something that could happen. It just happens to be a great setting for a game.
I don't believe in aliens from outer space invading our planet but again, it makes for a great premise for a computer game.
Climate change? I honestly don't know enough to have a properly informed opinion on the matter but regardless, I still think it makes for a very cool premise for a space colonisation game. I'd describe myself as somewhat sceptical on the issue but the game doesn't offend me on any level and neither does it try to push a message. However, if you are deeply offended by any of this, well, you're not going to like this game because you are punished for polluting the planet.
With that out of the way, is it a good game? In my opinion, yes, it is. It's got a fair number of economy systems for you to manage as well as crafting, trading and diplomacy with your competitors. It's a bit like Offworld Trading Company with less focus on prices but more on the economy and managing the ecology of the planet you're on.
It's a pausable real time game with several speeds available. You can set up builds and plan while paused so you're not frantically clicking to keep up at all.
Graphically, it's a good looking game although it can be hard to locate certain buildings in your colonies once the game progresses. You build city districts, whether residential, parks, financial, medical, scientific or security which you can level up by having a certain number of adjacent district levels. You can research upgrades for all your structures to reduce their energy needs or to reduce the waste they produce, etc. You can also craft a wide variety of items at the workshop which will allow you to use some of the more advanced systems of the game such as surveying tiles for mineral deposits, blasting mountains or creating medicine.
Upgrade your city centre and your borders expand by another ring. Or you can build frontier stations which will expand your borders as well as add improvements to them for defending your colony. They level up too. Or you can just flat-out buy a new tile but be warned, such tiles can be taken over by a competitor when expanding their borders.
The campaign serves as a tutorial which introduces new concepts and technologies as it progresses. It does a good job of teaching you the skills you'll need to do well in the skirmish modes. There is a robust editor so that you can create a world to play on to your liking. you can choose which of several factions to play as, all of which have their own special 'powers' and there are also a number of worlds you can download from the Steam workshop so there's plenty of replayability once you have finished the campaign.
A word of warning though - don't play the game on easy or at least don't judge your experience on it. The easy setting is fine for learning but is too easy for a serious playthrough. Play it on HARD and you'll get a much more challenging experience.