Paradox Development Studio, known for intricate grand strategy games that can be daunting for newcomers, is aiming to change that perception with its upcoming title, Afterworld. Inspired by survival and settlement-building games, Afterworld presents a post-apocalyptic North America where players guide a group of survivors from humble beginnings to a continental empire.
The game differentiates itself by drawing inspiration from survival and settlement building, offering a unique twist on the grand strategy formula. Players are tasked with leading a fledgling group of survivors through a hazardous North America, potentially utilizing ancient technology or fostering a civilization focused on the well-being of its people. The narrative is described as "story rich," with objectives, choices, and discoveries accompanied by art, story scraps, and flavor text, aiming to immerse players in an epic adventure.
Players begin by selecting one of three starting origins, each offering a distinct narrative flavor and encouraging specific playstyles. The Shelterborne are a balanced option for beginners, emerging after generations underground. Fanatics, a wandering group, lean into religious and ideological play, while former wardens and prisoners are geared towards more militaristic, war-focused players. Further customization is available through initial choices that shape the tribe's foundation, such as a focus on food frugality or a more grim inclination towards cannibalism in dire circumstances.
Gameplay begins with a clear objective: scouting the surrounding territory for a new home before the initial shelter's reactor fails. This involves directing a single unit, the Ranger, across procedurally generated provinces. As the Ranger explores, the fog of war lifts, revealing resource nodes and "mysteries." Resources include huntable animals or water sources, while mysteries can offer unique rewards or unlock new possibilities. Discovering a farm, for instance, might grant the ability to select riding, enhancing unit travel range and visibility on the map.
Afterworld introduces a system called "Ideas" to manage the influx of information and mechanics. Unlike other Paradox titles that present extensive terminology upfront, Afterworld hides key mechanics and their explanations until they are discovered through exploration. Game director Dan Lind explained that this dripfeed allows mechanics to be introduced alongside the unfolding lore, preventing player overwhelm. Finding a river, for example, might spark the "idea" of fishing, opening up related research options. Combinations of Ideas can also unlock new strategic avenues; encountering a forest, a buggy, and roads might pave the way for fast mobile warfare.
Diplomacy, for instance, requires generating "Survival Pride," Afterworld's form of experience, and establishing sufficient standing. This system of gated mechanics is designed to keep knowledge relevant to the player's current situation. Furthermore, Afterworld aims for a different rhythm than traditional grand strategy games, emphasizing mobility and the concept that permanence is not guaranteed. Players are encouraged to move, find better locations, and sometimes retreat from threats, creating a more dynamic experience.
Upon the Ranger completing the initial scouting mission and the shelter's reactor inevitably exploding, players gain access to a migratory unit to search for a new settlement location. The game presents province tiles with information on fertility and radiation levels, guiding players toward desirable areas. Upon settling, the first town is established, named by a random generator. This marks the player's first proper look at the sprawling "Ideas" screen, where new abilities are unlocked through encountering concepts in the game world. Initial research priorities often include establishing sustainable camp resources like wood gathering, scavenging, and plant domestication.
The game also features "Bands," which are groups of people within a tribe, each with core norms and customizable "Customs." These Customs can unlock upgrades affecting a band's values, influencing societal direction, especially when assigned to a council. Bands have health and motivation meters affected by access to essentials like food and water. As players expand and gain more resources, they may choose to focus on improving their bands' quality of life, which can increase Inspiration levels. Low Inspiration can lead to revolts or civil war, a significant threat in the hostile wasteland.
Early gameplay focuses on stabilization, ensuring sufficient resources and researching survival-oriented ideas. Once a camp is built, work groups can be assigned to gather resources. Encounters with other tribes, like the unfriendly group that stole meat but shared local knowledge, present opportunities for diplomacy, trade, or aggressive action. The game provides helpful overlays to highlight province fertility, radiation levels, and resource distribution. Decimated cities are noted as being rich in supplies for scavenging.
As players establish multiple towns, the map opens up, necessitating decisions about government, laws, and societal values, shifting the focus towards society-crafting. The game is set on a familiar yet altered version of North America, with established lore, factions, and a history spanning a century after a cataclysm. The geographical layout remains recognizable, but events like drained Great Lakes and scarred landscapes add unique post-apocalyptic elements. The procedural remixing of these elements ensures varied gameplay experiences.
Afterworld blends the familiar with the unfamiliar, catering to both historical strategy fans with deep research into people and areas, and those who enjoy speculative sci-fi elements seen in Stellaris. The game incorporates near-future speculative technologies like rail guns and nanites, influenced by the idea that major conflicts drive rapid technological advancement. Despite these advancements, the regular populace retains elements of normalcy, with a wide spread of technological effects.
Despite a brief hands-on period, Afterworld shows promise as a departure for Paradox. It balances new and old systems, featuring an enticing post-apocalyptic aesthetic and a light narrative touch. Crucially, it appears to maintain the depth and breadth of classic grand strategy titles while integrating design choices that make it more manageable and approachable. The game’s design suggests it may finally overcome the initial information overload that has hindered previous engagement with Paradox's grand strategy offerings, leaving the previewer eager to play more.