If you played city builders in the early 2000s, Impressions Games likely holds a special place in your gaming history. The studio's Caesar III, Pharaoh, and Zeus: Master of Olympus defined the genre with their supply chain mechanics and walker systems that forced players to think strategically about urban planning.

Now Triskell Interactive is drawing from that same well with Theos: Cities of Myth, a spiritual successor to Zeus rather than a direct remake. The studio previously worked on Pharaoh: A New Era, giving them experience with the classic formula. Publisher Dotemu revealed the game will launch on PC later this year, bringing Greek mythology back to the city-building genre.

The core gameplay remains faithful to Impressions titles: place buildings, manage supply chains, and watch NPCs called walkers deliver goods throughout your settlement. However, Theos introduces a significant change by letting players directly control walker routes instead of relying on the original's finicky AI pathing. This addresses a major frustration from the classics, though early builds suggest it adds considerable micromanagement.

My brief hands-on with the Athens campaign showed promise but revealed interface issues. Drawing routes manually often left districts underserved, and the art direction feels inconsistent - buildings match the classical aesthetic while NPCs look disconnected from the overall style. Despite these rough edges, there's genuine satisfaction in revisiting this proven formula, even if Theos doesn't innovate like recent genre entries such as Manor Lords.