Play Hanse: Die Expedition Online

Start with a rickety ship and a handful of coins, then haggle your way across medieval ports—until pirates force you into tense little naval skirmishes where every turn counts. Between deals, you're raising kids who'll either inherit your empire or bankrupt it.

Developer: Ascon GmbH

Released: 1994

File size: 3.9 MB

Game Overview

Hanse: Die Expedition came out in 1994 as part of the MS-DOS Classic Games series, developed by Ascon GmbH. It arrived during a time when strategy and trading simulations were gaining traction on PC, offering a mix of economic management and light adventure set against a historical backdrop.

You control a merchant captain aiming to build a trading empire across northern Europe. The core gameplay involves buying low and selling high in various ports, managing your ship's cargo and finances carefully. Key mechanics include navigating sea routes (sometimes encountering pirates, which leads to simple tactical combat), and making shrewd deals with town merchants to turn a profit. The pacing is deliberate, with an emphasis on planning and risk management rather than action. It feels like a thoughtful, slow-burn challenge where every decision carries weight.

Each game uses different controls, most DOS games use the keyboard arrows. Some will use the mouse , "Alt" ,"Enter" and "Space bar".