Review: Bonaparte – A Mechanized Revolution explained to parents

Bonaparte – A Mechanized Revolution is a turn-based strategy game that deftly merges alternative history, politics, and tactical combat. The game is developedby the Quebec independent studio Studio Imugi and isavailable in Early Access since May 21, 2025, on PC via Steam. Bonaparte – A Mechanized Revolution invites players to rewrite the French Revolution as Céline or César Bonaparte, a young military officer leading a revolutionary movement in a declining monarchy.

The plot takes place in an alternative France where the monarchy is collapsing and ideologies are clashing. Players must side with the Jacobin, Moderate, or Royalist factions, influencing the fate of the country. The game incorporates historical figures such as Robespierre, Lafayette, and Danton, offering an immersion into the political tensions of the time of the French Revolution. What we mean by alternative history is that though largely inspired by the events, dates, and actors of the French Revolution, the story remains original and allows itself deviations according to the player’s choices. Fictional characters and the use of mechanical colossi also embellish the story.

The gameplay is divided into two complementary parts. On the one hand, thepolitical strategy leads the player to manage territories, influence social classes (masses, bourgeoisie, nobility) and take legislative decisions that affect the outcome of the revolution. On the other hand, the component of theturn-based tactical combats presentsbattles mixing traditional infantry and Colossi, giant mechs. Each unit has strengths and weaknesses, requiring careful strategic planning.

The Colossi are giant mechs powered by steam and phlogiston, piloted by the main characters. These large units have high hit points, but their thermal management is crucial. Each action increases their heat, and too much can lead to internal damage. The player must therefore use these war machines strategically, balancing attacks and venting to maximize their effectiveness without overheating them

Battles take place on hexagonal maps, where each unit has health and morale stats. Morale acts as a secondary health bar: high morale improves attack and dodge chances, while low morale can lead to lapses or retreats. The player must therefore manage not only the health points, but also the psychological state of their troops. The player can also take advantage of the low morale of the opposing troops by convincing them to surrender, for example.

The combat system is inspired by the rock-paper-scissors dynamic: infantry is effective against cavalry, cavalry against artillery, and artillery against infantry. Flanking attacks allow you to hit the enemy without retaliation and inflict increased damage. The game features a diverse range of units, each with a specific role on the battlefield. The Colossi, the Militia, the Light Infantry, the Line Infantry, the Cavalry (Hussars) and the Artillery make up the army at the player’s disposal, which must be used wisely by displaying strategy.

Throughout the game, the player must also manage the production of resources, the spread of their territory, their relations with allies, the approval of the people, and the political events that occur periodically, such as the signing of a treaty, an invitation from King Louis XVI, etc. The player must also keep an eye on the terror gauge, which fills up with fighting, propaganda and other disruptive elements, and leads to popular uprisings and coups. Considering the amount of information to juggle and the strategy required to make such decisions, the game is suitable for a teenage audience, or at least a mature one.