Three Nations One of the main features of "Alien Nations" is the interaction and confrontation of three completely different nations. The Pimmons are cute little fantasy creatures with magic powers. The Amazons are pretty humanoids and the Sajikis are ravenous insects.

Building a Civilisation ALIEN NATIONS is an exciting mixture of "God game" and real-time strategy game.
The player selects one nation and begins with a small main building. Around this building, he constructs houses and specialist buildings. Gradually, a booming microcosm will develop, growing into a town.
Raw materials have to be found. Newly-arrived inhabitants are trained in the schools as masons, wood-cutters, researchers, etc. They are then able to play their part in the growth and expansion of their nation.Research is undertaken so that new knowledge and capabilities make life easier and more secure.
One decisive phase in the life of a new nation is its first contact to the other nations. Can they live in peace, allowing profitable trade to develop? Or will it come to war and have the right preparations been made? Diplomacy plays a decisive role in this.

Research, Trade and Diplomacy Research plays an important role in ALIEN NATIONS. The inhabitants start only with very basic knowledge. Only by committing sufficient resources can decisive matters like combat units, ore mines, etc. be used. Research is expensive and time-consuming, but can provide a life-saving new technology at a decisive moment.
With an increasing rate of urban and military growth, it gets more and more difficult to finance this by taxes alone. The one certain way of filling the state's coffers again is to trade with other nations.However, this causes certain problems. For instance, the traders and the trading routes must be protected. Declaring war on one's best trading partner should only be done when the coffers are bursting full. Diplomats make sure that the traders get a good deal.
Above all, they help keep the peace with one's neighbours, should that be what is wanted.

Contact with other Nations The interaction with the other nations is full of variety.
Each nation can produce items that for the other nations can be highly desired and highly priced consumer goods. This presents the player with difficult decisions.
It might be a good time to go to war with another nation, but this nation happens to be the best trading partner. If it comes to war, this income is cut off. Even in times of peace, enough soldiers should be available to protect both the towns and trading routes. It is not always possible to tell when a peace treaty might be broken. All military units have an experience system. Well-trained or veteran units are more effective than similar inexperienced units.

The World This planet is not only inhabited by three nations, there are also wild animals.
These are a useful source of nutrition because a large nation cannot only be fed on fruit. Hunters help bring a more varied diet and healthy nutrition.. The choice of location of the towns plays an important role in the game. Raw materials need to be close at hand, but there aren't any on the plains. Towns built close to hills have easy access to raw materials, but cannot grow so easily.

Building and Professions
Over 80 different professions and over 70 buildings (most of which have to be discovered through research) give much variety to town-life. Almost every profession has to be learned in a school. All buildings except for houses have to be manned.

The Towns The bigger the towns get, the greater the demands of the inhabitants. Eventually, the inhabitants of a town with no tavern will become unhappy and as a consequence unproductive. Then it will not be long until a cheap tavern no longer satisfies their needs.
When they do have a tavern, they will be happy, but will spend part of their time in it. What happens when the archer on guard duty is enjoying himself in the tavern when the enemy attack?
If too many of the inhabitants are unemployed, then the first criminals will start wandering the street. The police have to restore law and order and reintegrate them into society.
The player has to ensure that his town is maintained and grows. He has to keep his nation motivated and provide sufficient food and raw materials. It is important to conduct research. Trade routes have to be expanded and a net of diplomatic contacts built. Towns and trade routes have to be defended, and the army trained and equipped for war.