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Global Domination

Last updated: January 10, 2026

Overview

Global Domination is a turn-based strategy game developed and published by Impressions Games in 1993 for DOS and Amiga platforms12. The game is modeled closely on the classic board game Risk, expanding upon that foundation with additional territories, unit types, intelligence operations, and unit obsolescence mechanics3. Set in a near-future world divided into five power nations fighting for complete planetary control, players employ tactics, spying, and diplomacy to achieve global conquest4.

Designed by Simon Bradbury and David Lester, Global Domination represents Impressions Games’ entry into the strategic conquest genre during the early 1990s1. The game was released under the alternate title “Stratagem” in the European market5. Despite mixed reception, contemporary reviewers praised it as “a simple, workmanlike, intermediate-level, conquer-the-world game that’s surprisingly enjoyable and addictive”3, while noting it served as “a great solitaire game with high replay value”6.

Story Summary

In the near-future, the world has become divided into five power nations engaged in a desperate struggle for complete control of the planet4. These superpowers marshal their forces, deploy intelligence operations, and wage diplomatic warfare in pursuit of total domination. The narrative premise establishes that smaller powers exist between these great nations, waiting to fall under the control of whichever superpower can assert dominance over their territories4.

The game employs a science fiction conceit wherein historical leaders have been cloned using advanced DNA retrieval techniques, allowing players to face off against legendary military strategists and conquerors from throughout human history8. These AI opponents include figures such as Julius Caesar, Napoleon Bonaparte, Queen Victoria, Otto von Bismarck, Abraham Lincoln, General Custer, Genghis Khan, and Henry V93. The ultimate goal, as the game’s description notes, is achieving peace—but only when you emerge as “the only one leader on the world”4.

Four distinct historical scenarios provide different starting configurations: 1914 (the eve of World War I), 1939 (the beginning of World War II), 1995 (contemporary setting), and a post-apocalyptic 2500 scenario that envisions humanity’s fractured future3. Each scenario alters the geopolitical landscape and available technologies, creating varied strategic challenges.

Gameplay

Interface and Controls

Global Domination utilizes a top-down graphical interface with keyboard and mouse input support7. The game presents a world map divided into numerous territories, significantly expanding upon the original Risk board game’s territory count3. Players interact through menus to manage their forces, conduct diplomacy, and order intelligence operations. The multiplayer functionality supports modem connections for remote play7.

Structure and Progression

The game offers three complexity levels to accommodate different player skill levels: Simple, Reduced, and Full8. Players can engage in matches with up to four human participants or compete against AI opponents representing the cloned historical leaders8.

Available Scenarios:

  • 1914: Pre-World War I configuration with period-appropriate technologies
  • 1939: World War II era starting positions
  • 1995: Contemporary geopolitical arrangement
  • 2500: Post-apocalyptic future scenario3

Puzzles and Mechanics

Unlike pure Risk, Global Domination incorporates multiple strategic systems beyond simple territorial conquest3. Players must manage various unit types with different capabilities and consider unit obsolescence as technology advances through different eras3. Intelligence operations allow for covert activities including espionage, sabotage, and information gathering about enemy positions and capabilities3.

Mini-game combat sequences resolve territorial battles, adding an action element to the strategic layer6. Revolution mechanics can trigger within controlled territories, forcing players to maintain stability in their conquered regions10. One reviewer described the experience as “a hybrid of Risk and Civilization,” indicating the game’s ambition to blend multiple strategy subgenres10.

Reception

Contemporary Reviews

Computer Gaming World’s Chuck Moss reviewed Global Domination in February 1994, giving the game a “Thumbs Up” recommendation3. Moss characterized it as “at once both a failure and a surprising success,” acknowledging the game’s limitations while praising its addictive qualities6. He specifically highlighted the single-player experience, calling it “a great solitaire game with high replay value”6.

The game received mixed assessments from various publications. Critics appreciated the expanded strategic depth compared to basic Risk adaptations but noted interface issues and control problems11. One contemporary review stated bluntly that “everything that could have went wrong with this game did,” pointing to scattered interfaces and unresponsive controls11.

Modern Assessment

Modern retrospectives continue to view Global Domination with mixed feelings. A MobyGames user review from PCGamer77 in March 2002 concluded that “Global Domination isn’t a terrible game, but it isn’t good either,” noting that “a laundry list of features does not a good wargame make”127. The same review revealed that while Hitler was advertised as an AI opponent, he was not included in the final game, suggesting the designers were concerned about political correctness12.

Home of the Underdogs (HOTUD) described Global Domination as “an awful multiplayer real-time game of world conquest that is bogged down by very confusing interface and boring display of bland statistics”10. However, other retrospective assessments have been more charitable, with one user comparing it favorably to “a hybrid of Risk and Civilization”10.

Aggregate Scores:

  • MobyGames Critics: 77% average7
  • Abandonware DOS: 3.80/5.001
  • MyAbandonware: 4.08/510

Development

Origins

Global Domination was developed by Impressions Games, a studio known for historical simulation and strategy titles1. The game emerged from a desire to create a more sophisticated version of Risk-style global conquest gameplay, incorporating elements from more complex wargames and civilization-building titles3. Designers Simon Bradbury and David Lester conceived the project to bridge the gap between casual board game adaptations and hardcore strategy simulations1.

Production

The development team at Impressions Games worked to expand the basic Risk formula with numerous additional systems3. The inclusion of cloned historical leaders as AI opponents required programming distinct personality traits and strategic tendencies for each character8. Christopher J. Denman composed the game’s music, creating original tracks including a memorable Select Players Screen theme that plays in 3/4 time signature, resembling a waltz9.

Development Credits:17

  • Designer: Simon Bradbury
  • Designer: David Lester
  • Composer: Christopher J. Denman

Technical Achievements

The game utilized the AIL / Miles Sound System engine for audio playback7. Music was rendered through OPL3 FM synthesis on Sound Blaster cards, providing period-appropriate audio quality9. The multiplayer implementation supported modem connections, allowing remote players to compete in an era before widespread internet gaming7.

Technical Specifications

DOS Version:7

  • Graphics: Top-down view, 256 colors
  • Input: Keyboard, Mouse
  • Multiplayer: Modem support
  • Media: 3.5” Floppy Disk

Archive Preservation:13

  • Format: Raw (.IMG)
  • Disks: 1 x 3.5” HD (1440kB)
  • Language: English
  • Status: Restored (requires LHA archiver for installation)

Version History

VersionDatePlatformNotes
1.01993DOSInitial US release1
1.01993AmigaInitial US release1
EU1993DOS/AmigaReleased as “Stratagem”5

Easter Eggs and Trivia

  • Hitler was advertised as an AI opponent in promotional materials but was ultimately excluded from the final game, likely due to political sensitivity concerns12
  • The Select Players Screen music is composed in 3/4 time, giving it a distinctive waltz-like quality that one blogger described as “so catchy I often find myself whistling the theme while I work”9
  • The game’s music was recorded and preserved through DOSBox emulation of OPL3 FM synthesis chips9
  • AI opponents include playable characters based on: Abraham Lincoln, Queen Victoria, Otto von Bismarck, Napoleon Bonaparte, “The Caveman,” General Custer, Julius Caesar, Genghis Khan, and Henry V9

Legacy

Sales and Commercial Impact

Global Domination achieved modest commercial success, maintaining enough interest to appear on abandonware sites and collector wishlists decades after release14. The game has been preserved through various abandonware archives and remains playable through DOSBox emulation210. Used copies have sold for approximately $15.00 in the secondary market12.

Collections

The game has not appeared in any official Sierra or Impressions compilations. However, it remains available through abandonware distribution sites including MyAbandonware10, Abandonware DOS1, and ClassicReload15. The Internet Archive maintains a playable browser version for preservation purposes413.

Fan Projects

Community interest in Global Domination has remained modest but persistent. The game has a dedicated wishlist page on GOG.com, where fans have requested an official re-release14. One fan noted creating the Wikipedia article for the game, expressing surprise years later upon rediscovering their contribution: “And I can’t believe that the wikipedia article there was created by yours truly - mind blown (I actually forgot about ever creating it)“14.

  • Game Manual: Original user manual included with Commodore Amiga release, detailing game mechanics, scenarios, and AI opponent personalities8

Critical Perspective

Global Domination occupies an interesting position in strategy gaming history as an ambitious but flawed attempt to evolve the Risk formula. The game’s designers clearly understood the limitations of pure territorial conquest gameplay and attempted to address them through additional systems including intelligence operations, unit variety, and technological progression3. However, the execution proved inconsistent, with interface problems undermining the strategic depth1112.

The inclusion of historical leaders as AI opponents anticipated later games that would similarly blend historical figures with strategic gameplay. The game’s mixed reception reflects the challenges of adapting beloved board games to digital formats—a challenge that would persist through numerous Risk adaptations in subsequent decades. Despite its shortcomings, Global Domination’s “surprisingly enjoyable and addictive” qualities3 earned it a dedicated cult following among strategy enthusiasts.

Several other games share the “Global Domination” title or concept, including:

  • Global Domination (1998/2000) – A real-time strategy game developed by Psygnosis, featuring Missile Command-style gameplay with a spinning globe interface. Received poor reviews (GameSpot: 3.9/10, IGN: 3.6/10)1617
  • Risk: Global Domination (2003) – Console adaptation by Cyberlore Studios for PlayStation 2, Xbox, and GameCube, published by Atari18
  • Risk: Global Domination (2015-present) – Mobile and PC adaptation by SMG Studio, featuring cross-platform multiplayer19

This article focuses specifically on the 1993 Impressions Games title.

Downloads

Purchase / Digital Stores

Download / Preservation

Manuals & Extras

References

Footnotes

  1. Abandonware DOS – Global Domination – release dates, developers, publishers, designers, platforms, ratings ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12 ↩13

  2. Internet Archive – DOS Version – release dates, platforms, game description ↩ ↩2

  3. Wikipedia – Global Domination – gameplay mechanics, scenarios, AI opponents, reception ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12 ↩13 ↩14

  4. Internet Archive – Game Description – story premise, gameplay goals ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  5. GameFAQs – Global Domination (1993) – alternate title “Stratagem,” release regions ↩ ↩2

  6. HandWiki – Global Domination – Chuck Moss review quotes, reception analysis ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  7. MobyGames – Global Domination – engine, technical specs, credits, ratings ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9

  8. Games Database – Manual – game manual content, complexity levels, cloned leaders ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  9. Choicest Games – VGM Analysis – composer Christopher J. Denman, music analysis, playable characters ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  10. MyAbandonware – Global Domination – user reviews, HOTUD quote, ratings ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7

  11. SquakeNet – Global Domination – critical reception, interface issues ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  12. MobyGames User Review – PCGamer77 – Hitler exclusion trivia, review quotes ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5

  13. Internet Archive – IBM PC Preservation – technical specifications, restoration status ↩ ↩2

  14. GOG.com Dreamlist – community interest, Wikipedia creation note ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  15. ClassicReload – Global Domination – preservation availability ↩

  16. GameSpot Review – 1998/2000 Version – Psygnosis version review ↩

  17. IGN Review – 1999 Version – Psygnosis version review ↩

  18. GameFAQs – Risk: Global Domination (PS2) – 2003 console version details ↩

  19. 3rd-Strike Review – SMG Studio mobile version ↩

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