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Watch trailer on Steam ↗SGS Imjin War
Strategy Game Studio · Published by Avalon Digital
Mostly Positive — 72% positive (36 reviews)
Last updated 28 Sept 2026
The Imjin War relates the story of one of the toughest conflict in the end of the 16th century, depicting the invasion of the Joseon kingdom of Korea by the Japanese, from 1592 to 1598.
£24.99
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Price history
Strategy · 2025 · More £15 - £30 games
Command armies and outmaneuver foes in SGS Imjin War, a 2025 strategy experience that brings the 16th-century Korean-Japanese conflict to life. Strategy Game Studio masterfully captures this historic struggle with intricate gameplay.
About this game
The Imjin War relates the story of one of the toughest conflict in the end of the 16th century, depicting the invasion of the Joseon kingdom of Korea by the Japanese, from 1592 to 1598 (end of second invasion). The Japanese must capture possibly the whole of the peninsula from their Busan foothold in the South. The Korean player must repel the invasion with the help of China…
The Grand Campaign scenario lasts up to 105 turns, each representing one week between May 1592 and April 1594. There are smaller scenarios covering parts of the 1592-1593 campaign, as well as a scenario on the second invasion of 1598.
One player represents the Samurai armies of Japan’s master Hideyoshi, the other has the Koreans, with Joseon Koreans and Ming Chinese forces. Both sides, depending on events and card play may possibly control the land units of the Manchu Jurchen tribes (green).
The Japanese have very numerous land forces at the start of the game, but their navy, although numerous, is weak and poorly led and their goal is to conquer all of Korea in order to reach – and conquer – China.
The Korean player must first hold desperately against the initial invasion and superior enemy troops, waiting for Chinese reinforcements, counting on local rebellion, and most of all his powerful navy to alter the course of events.
Keeping forces in supply and seizing the main towns will prove the decisive factor in winning this war.
The map represents the Korean peninsula, with its 7 most important historical provinces at the time. There are off-map boxes covering nearby areas in Manchuria, China and Japan, as well as many sea zones (and areas used for naval trade).
Both sides will handle thousands of land troops, hundred of warships (including the famous Turtle ships), irregular forces and various rebels and raiders.
The game has hundred of cards and events for weather, income, loyalty of populations, diplomacy, combat and sieges. Special detailed rounds of combat cover the specificities of that war, both at sea (gunfire broadsides, boarding) and on land (harassment by horse archers or guerrillas, firepower of arquebus and cannon, samurai ability in close combat, etc…).
Unit scale: regiments or equivalent, ships by squadrons of 1-6 units. Time scale: 1 turn = 1 week. Map scale: 1 region = 40 km².
The Japanese win the game if they conquer the whole of Korea and capture the Chinese provinces of Liaoning and Zhili. Their opponent wins if he expels the Japanese from the peninsula. In case of absence of decisive victory, accumulated victory points will determine the victor.
The game event cards allow full replay ability thanks to the numerous various situations that their create on the diplomatic, military, political or economical fields
Average Duration: 18h+
Favored Side: None
Most Difficult Side to Play: Koreans
System Requirements
Will my PC run this? →Minimum
- OS: Windows 10+
- Processor: 2.5 GHz Intel Dual Core
- Memory: 2 GB RAM
- Graphics: 512 MB NVIDIA GeForce 9600 or equivalent
- DirectX: Version 9.0
- Storage: 2 GB available space
- Sound Card: DirectX Compatible
- Additional Notes: Max 21:9 ratio on full screens. Use windowed mode on Xtra large monitors.
Recommended
- OS: Windows 10 or higher
- Processor: 2.5 GHz Intel Dual Core
- Memory: 4 GB RAM
- Graphics: 1024 MB DirectX 11 compatible
- DirectX: Version 11
- Storage: 4 GB available space
- Sound Card: DirectX 11+ Compatible
- Additional Notes: Max 21:9 ratio on full screens. Use windowed mode on Xtra large monitors.
Supported Languages
Latest news
Patch NotesOfficial
Ongoing Update - Mid June
With the first weeks of release past, and the first major update, we continue to follow-up players remarks and various comments on the game, improving it as they come.Today's changes:Data: some Korean characters names were poorly written and have been changed following players remarks (change)Data: Korean boats are properly name (no more 'Junks')Graphics: Kamons of 1st and 8th divisions were inverted (fix).Gameplay : mostly for play balance, mainly in the field of logisitcs and naval combat.unsupplied militias will suffer more hits and vanish more quicklyJapanese 1st and 2nd divisions will do more looting on their initial turns (turn 1-24), allowing them to recruit more supply unitssome of the large Bune ships have been strengthened (resitance and firepower)Japanese naval commanders re-assigned more accuratelyRead full article on Community Announcements (AvalonDigital)Patch NotesOfficial
SGS IMJIN WAR FIRST POST-RELEASE UPDATE
Based on continued playtest and initial remarks of our customers, we have prepared our first post-release update, with the following new elements or actions NEW CONTENT - Added many new units for Ming China, among which Guards for Beijing Frontier Troops Elite Arquebusier Grand General canon Culverine light field gun New Wei yuan pao gun-mortar Fujian heavy warship - Added new events such as Maritime Trade events (for both side) Firearms purchase (Joeson can purchase firearms troops only after Ming intervention FIXED, IMPROVED OR ALTERED CONTENT - Changed some data that prevent generals to properly command in battle - Changed combat values and/or life points of some units (Atakebune, Samurai Ashigarus, Ming Heavy Cavalry, some Jurchens) - Changed picture of general Li Rusong to better reflect his age at time of this war - Improved morale values of some units (e.g. Ming infantry morale increased by 1) - Overall revision and change of all leaders in the game (to give a better balance, for both sides) - Re-assigned one region that was wrongly in Chungcheong to Gyeongsang province. - Forbid some strange Jurchens units placement. - Full revision of the Chinese language version (proofread by native Chinese wargamer). Special thanks to our friend Wang Wenqi who, in addition to Chinese language proofreading, provided us good information on Ming China (and access to the book “A Dragon’s Head and a Serpent’s Tail” which gives a lot of verified points on Ming art of war).Read full article on Community Announcements (AvalonDigital)AnnouncementsOfficial
The bloodiest war in East Asia in the 16th century
Travel back to the late 16th century in East Asia to play the grand strategic struggle between the Japanese Samurais and Joseon Korean and Ming Chinese forces. You will find in the field and at sea, attempting to conquer new lands or defending your realms. Fight Historical Campaigns and scenarios, and choose the different starting points and key moments of the war. In this turn-based grand strategic simulation, you play the Japanese commanders attempting to cross (and conquer) Korea in order to capture China, or the initially surprised defenders trying to defend key cities and castles and block enemy advance until their superior navy cuts the supply lines. The game is a new grand production of the team that brought you SGS Korean War and SGS Taipings, and you will enjoy a similar gameplay and design, but with many more new features to faithfully render that famous conflict.Read full article on Community Announcements (AvalonDigital)
