Play Hanse: Die Expedition Online

Hanse: Die Expedition is a business simulation and managerial strategy game released in 1994 for MS-DOS. It was developed and published by Ascon GmbH. The game places the player in the role of a merchant operating from the German port city of Lübeck during the 13th century.

Players begin with a ship and a small amount of capital, with the long-term objective of becoming the mayor of Lübeck. To achieve this, they must establish a trading network by opening stores in other cities around the Baltic Sea, such as Riga, Malmö, or Novgorod. Each city produces a specific commodity, like wool, furs, or honey, which the player buys to transport back to Lübeck for sale at fluctuating market prices. Proceeds are reinvested into the business, allowing for the purchase of additional ships from the local dockyard or for securing loans from the city's bank.

Gameplay extends beyond mere commerce to include family management and generational progression. Players can marry and have children, later hiring a teacher for their education. These children can be sent on expeditions to discover new cities, expanding the trade network. A key requirement is ensuring that at least one heir is present in Lübeck upon the player character's death, so they can inherit the business. The journey is occasionally interrupted by threats from pirates or rival nations, which trigger a separate combat sequence. In these encounters, players position their ship's cannons on a small strategic map to resolve an automatic battle. The game concludes after 250 simulated years, upon successfully becoming mayor of Lübeck, or if no heir is available to take over the trading enterprise.