Dark fantasy city builder Against the Storm has won Best Design at the Indie Game Awards 2024. This follows heaps of praise from critics and gamers alike, with a 91 out of 100 Metacritic score and a consistent Overwhelmingly Positive rating on Steam, as well as a nomination for Strategy/Simulation Game of the Year at the 27th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards.
Against the Storm at the Taipei Game Show Indie Game Award 2024
At the Taipei Game Show 2024, Hooded Horse, the publisher, attended to accept an award on behalf of the developers. They shared the impressive backstory of Eremite Games, commending them for their dedication to making high-quality games and for actively addressing feedback from players, including negative reviews. Hooded Horse praised them as a standout team for their exceptional customer service, even after the sale. “The team is truly elated by this experience!” Eremite Games commented, making their triumph with “Against the Storm” all the more remarkable in the face of such rivalry.
What is Against the Storm About?
Against the Storm blends the city-building simulation genre with a rogue-like twist, ensuring that there are always new goals to reach. The world in Against the Storm has been beset by an ever-encroaching tempest known as the Blightstorm. The one refuge from the Blightstorm – the Smoldering City – is in constant need of supplies and resources, thus the Smoldering Queen sends out settlers and adventurers when the storm temporarily calms to acquire these materials. Players have limited time to create temporary settlements, collect resources, and reach boon-granting landmarks before the Blightstorm ravages the world again and destroys them. The player must, in typical city-builder fashion, players must carefully plan their city layout, balancing resource production, infrastructure development, and defensive measures. Different buildings serve various functions, such as gathering resources like wood, stone, and food, providing shelter for settlers, or researching new technologies to enhance the settlement’s capabilities. Permanent upgrades can be acquired through each “cycle,” including the addition of new citizens in the form of Beavers, Lizards, Foxes, and Harpies as well as new building types and campaign modifiers.
Exploration also plays a significant role in “Against the Storm.” Players can send expeditions into the unknown to discover new territories, gather valuable resources, and uncover secrets that may aid their civilization’s survival. However, venturing too far from the safety of the settlement poses risks, as settlers may encounter dangerous creatures or succumb to the elements.
Against the Storm was originally released on PC in October 2021, with a full release on December 8th, 2023. It was developed by Eremite Games and published by Hooded Horse, popularized by games like Clanfolk and Terra Invicta. Eremite Games was created by a team of mobile game developers who wanted to move into the PC market. They are now an indie game development studio known for innovative and immersive experiences. Eremite Games focuses on creating unique gameplay mechanics and captivating narratives that resonate with players, like the rogue-like city-building amalgamation in Against the Storm. Their titles often blend various genres and art styles, offering players fresh and engaging gaming experiences. Eremite Games is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of indie game development while maintaining a strong commitment to quality and creativity.
Watch the Taipei Game Show Indie Game Award 2024 winner announcements, including Against the Storm, on Youtube.
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