Diplomacy Is Not an Option Now Has a Shareware Demo—Yes, Like the 90s

If you missed it last year, Diplomacy is Not an Option quietly exited Early Access and launched to solid reviews, especially from those who’d been following its development arc. And now, in a move that screams “we grew up in the 90s too,” developer Door 407 has released a full-on free shareware version of the game—just like the old days when Pizza Hut was still gamer cool.

So yes, you can now defend your weird little fantasy kingdom from absurdly large invading armies without spending a dime. And yes, vaporizing said invaders with a giant magic laser beam from the sky is totally a thing!

We’re already sold.

What Even Is This Game?

In case you’re new to the party, Diplomacy is Not an Option is a medieval-fantasy strategy builder where you construct and manage a fortress town, balance your economy, and fend off massive waves of enemies. We’re talking thousands of units on screen. Like Total War numbers, but with magic, physics-based destruction, and a body count that hits performance caps if your GPU isn’t ready.

It’s like Stronghold met They Are Billions, drank some red potion, and decided diplomacy was for cowards.

What’s in the Shareware Demo?

Here’s where it gets fun. The demo is a true throwback: a standalone shareware version that runs about three hours long, includes:

• Exclusive story missions acting as a prequel
  
• A stripped-down version of Endless Mode (which, yes, goes forever)
  
• All the core gameplay mechanics—build, fight, defend, blast stuff from orbit
  

The idea is simple: try before you buy. And if you don’t like it? No refund request needed—you didn’t pay anything to begin with. It’s a win-win for strategy fans and skeptical buyers alike.

Also, shoutout to anyone who remembers Pizza Hut CD-ROMs, because this kind of throwback demo energy is exactly that vibe. Respect.

Final Thoughts

If you’re the kind of gamer who loves mass-scale strategy, castle sieges, or just obliterating invading armies with magic nukes, this demo is worth a shot. It’s free, it’s fun, and it’ll give you a solid taste of what the full game brings to the table.

So if you’ve been on the fence about Diplomacy is Not an Option, this is your cue. Go build your town, watch it burn, and laser-beam some peasants for good measure.