Roguelite city-builder Against the Storm is leaving early access with its 1.0 update coming on December 8, 2023. On top of the existing platforms (Steam, GOG, Epic Games Store), the game is also heading to PC Game Pass on the same day.
After being initially released just over a year ago on November 1, 2022, Against the Storm showcases almost every aspect of the early access program done right. Developer Eremite Games has pushed significant content updates and hotfixes on a regular fortnightly basis.
With the 1.0 update, Eremite is shipping a new hardcore game mode—Queen’s Hand—designed for those already familiar with the game’s existing mechanics. Featuring permadeath, Queen’s Hand will have you complete in a single cycle the most difficult task of the game: reforging the Adamantine Seal.
For those of you who want to keep things casual, Against the Storm has a lot to offer as well. It’s a perfect genre-mix, especially for city-building enthusiasts who are looking for a tight gameplay loop, meant to be played in short bursts. The cycles usually last an hour each, although that can go up a little if you are playing on the highest difficulty.
In the little time I had with the game (12 hours according to Steam), Against the Storm introduced new game mechanics at an easily digestible pace. The procedurally generated terrain and resources, coupled with five races with their varying degrees of efficiency, keep every subsequent run fresh. This solves the age-old problem with city-builders where once you figure out the initial puzzle of the optimal build choices, there’s not much else to ponder over.
In related news, Against the Storm’s publisher Hooded Horse also recently revealed the release date of their highly anticipated medieval city builder—Manor Lords. The game is planned to launch into its early access program on April 26, 2024. Manor Lords will be available on the PC Game Pass from day one.
