Pharaoh (and expansion pack Cleopatra: Queen of the Nile) took the Caesar real-time strategy games to Ancient Egypt. It's a strategy game where you make decisions about a particular city and scenario. The combination of planning and real historical setting makes it stand out from similar games.

You play as a low-ranked citizen and work your way up to become the Pharaoh. This rise to power starts in the Predynastic Period and ends in the New Kingdom. Along the way it charts many of the achievements of Egypt, including the construction of capital cities (like Men-Nefer), monuments (Stepped Pyramid of Saqqara). You also take on other ancient empires and battle the Civil War of the Middle Kingdom.

Play involves making strategic decisions about resources and land. You take on a range of challenges, both peaceful and militaristic. Although you can't always take on non-violent missions, you can usually choose between heavy military and minimal military action. Still, even the non-military missions may require you to dispatch troops to the aid of cities in the empire.