Guide to Playing Risk World Domination Online
What is this section about?

The purpose of this section is to provide independent reviews on computer and online Risk games. As always, each computer game has its pros and cons. Each game tries to accomodate certain needs and as a result it is slightly biased on certain features.

You as a player, may find one incredibly enjoyable, while you may not care about a feature provided by another game. Over the years, online Risk games have evolved dramatically. In addition, each online game has tried to be slightly different from the original classic Risk (perhaps for legal reasons). This has led to a wide range of variations and styles that is difficult to comprehend before getting engaged in the game itself.

As Risk fans, we are grateful that developers are continuing their efforts on enhancing these games, so that we can have yet another game and enjoy the trill of winning.

The purpose:
Hence, this section serves two purposes:
  1. Discovery of new online Risk games as they are introduced into the market.
  2. Evaluation of these games based on their functionality, popularity, style of play, originality and so on.
A number of links and reviews are provided below for the current popular games. These reviews are independent of the software publishers.

What you can do?
You, as a Risk fan, are invited to comment and review the online Risk games listed here. In particular those who are frequent users of these games are welcome to provide their insight.

Submit links for online Risk Games
In addition you can also submit new links on Risk games and your reviews. Upon approval, the review will be added to the site for the community's consideration.

The links here are listed in no particular way.
The Best online Risk Game...
The following survey attempt to identify the best games in different categories. The survey is held periodically to accommodate new entrants.
Risk Game Online Review & Free Downloads

Current Articles

Lux Delux

Unofficial Games

Article Rating:::: 44 Ratings :::: Wednesday, March 7, 2007
 

Website: http://sillysoft.net/lux/

Platform/Requirements: Windows, Mac OS X and Linux

Download Free Online demo of Lux 

Lux deluxe Screenshot

Review: This is a Risk game that you can play against human players online, or against AI. It is a dedicated software written in Java. The turn times are typically short, sometimes in the order of 30 seconds! This introduces a higher pace and can be stressful at times, though equally thrilling.

The game can consist of a mixture of AI and human players. AI entities can be upgraded from a pool of available AI options. You can also program AI entities yourself through the supplied Software Development Kit.

There is a large and active Risk community who seem to be quite addicted to this game. Online Risk is very effective in exercising your tactical muscles. Short turn times make you focus on fast execution of your moves. You may not have enough time to think statistically on a turn by turn basis. However, over time you will get more experienced and will know what you should do in different situations, just like chess.

Nevertheless, there is always a strong need for strategy throughout the game and it is critical to get that right. The game also provides a chat box. Since the turns are quite short, the chat box is usually used as a real-time communication device. Players can negotiate, chat, declare war or simply swear as the game progresses. This encourages players to solve matters with words and not just game play. It is also used by some to intimidate other players. All in all, it makes playing Risk more realistic and enjoyable. Certain players don't like alliances and deal-making. However, those who do can easily benefit from this feature.

Although the chat box is very useful, the feel of it is still not the same as playing the board game with friends or family. Verbal diplomacy is far more effective and easier to carry out. Maybe one day, we can have this feature as well and will find enough players who like to use it.

Meanwhile, just play and conquer in silence ... This game is very enjoyable and addictive. Overall, this is perhaps one of the best independent unofficial Risk games out there. A free demo is available from the site and I highly encourage you to try it.

P.S. Dustin Sacks kindly gave me access to the software for review purposes and I have been very impressed with the results. Ease of use, and the large number of active players encouraged me to carry out some of my research on this game. I presented the results in my Risk Strategies book. As the saying is, keep up the good work.



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Comments

1060 West Addison   By 1060 West Addison @ Saturday, August 18, 2007 3:43 PM
A great game.. well worth the money.. I've gotten my investment, and then some, out of it for sure.. Lux has a very active, diverse and vocal community. Some very strong personalities.. (sometimes for the good, sometimes not, just like all online communities)... Take some time to review the forums and wiki.. and take some time and play the AIs (especially Nef and Reaper, two AIs developed by players/members of the community) before jumping head first into the chaotic "raw whoring" that comes every weekend (rankings are weekly ;-) competition can sometimes get heated.. some rub each other the wrong way.. ) ... Take some time and play many of the great maps developed by other players... The Castle, Hex, and Tanks maps are personal favs of mine :-) Find some of the "Old School" Luxers and watch.. have fun in the chat.. jump in and play.. Learn terminology like Bots 1st (some include not allowing the AI to hold income as part of that) Burning, and farming (sometimes called eieio). Terms such as asshat and unguided n00b missile should be self explanatory ;-) Have fun.

BewareLux   By BewareLux @ Wednesday, August 22, 2007 6:40 PM
Just a note for those of you who may have been wondering why Lux Delux has suddenly jumped so high in the rankings...

This is because a user in the Lux Forum has posted a link, requesting all users of Lux to vote for it. (http://sillysoft.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=11856)

Maybe you believe this is OK, maybe it is, but it does rather skew the results in favour of Lux and against the superior Conquer Club.

However, if you are considering the mistake of actually downloading (or even worse, paying for) Lux Delux, consider first that the game is extraordinarily buggy and routinely hacked.

Conquer Club is by far a better bet. Don't be fooled by the gerrymandering instigated on the Lux Forums to skew this vote!

Also, bear in mind that the Lux Forums are hideously over-moderrated. Players are routinely banned for no real reason from the forums; rules are made-up, discarded, enforced or ignored dependent on the whim of the administrators. They even have a topic on their forum where players can denounce felow players and have them banned from the game itself if they don't like their style of play (http://sillysoft.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=11517). Totally stalinesque... Something to consider if you're going to pay $40 for the game... if other people don't like how you play/ behave, you can actually be banned from the game hence loosing your money!

Avoid like the plague!

1060 West Addison   By 1060 West Addison @ Thursday, August 23, 2007 1:22 AM
ROFLMHWPCAO


Ok Beware... You seem like such a well balanced impartial person too, lol.


Lux Maniac   By Lux Maniac @ Friday, August 24, 2007 8:43 AM
sounds like a disgruntled luxer who got banned.
While many might disagree with Dustin Sacks open homosexuallity and/or his use of recreational drugs. Remember, he is from Canada where it is perfectly legal. Lux is great fun!

Lux_bans_players   By Lux_bans_players @ Thursday, July 3, 2008 4:49 PM
WARNING

LUX BANS PLAYERS

The Lux Nerds complain EVERY time someone attacks them "Im telling Dustin to ban you".

In other words, if you are an agressive player and like to pop-income you will get banned because you "ruined their game".

Lux will take your money and then ban you for no other reason then the way you play.

BEWARE.

trinkett   By trinkett @ Monday, November 9, 2009 11:36 AM
Lux is the best online risk game ...its brilliant and has great players to test your wits against .
i've played for 3 years and loved the different maps and challenges that lux delux throws up .
i've also met some great characters that play regulary

i suggest you buy this game its well worth the money.

when i 1st started it was very competitive and sometimes quite fiery .
Be careful with your language when playing u could get banned .
And once that happens u will be tarnished as a troublemaker .

unfortunatly i was banned permanantly due to what i consider bad luck and my aggressive style of play .
i swore a few times and was caught and than was deemed a troublesome character after that , even tho i cleaned up my act it was too late .
You see every thing you do in this game is recorded ..
so try to behave and your'll have a great time in lux ....
well worth the money and time .......

great game dustin sacks .....

the trinkster ........

Dustin   By Dustin @ Monday, October 4, 2010 9:32 PM
Hello internet, I am the chief administrator of Lux Delux. There's been a lot of slander on this post against me. That's because we don't tolerate abusive players in our online community. Trying to keep it fun and friendly! Please come say hi in our forums and see Luxtopia for yourself.


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