Paradox Development Studio is embarking on a new journey, shifting its focus from historical and space conquests to a post-apocalyptic vision of North America. The recently unveiled title, Afterworld, invites players to lead a tribe of survivors as they navigate the remnants of a once-thriving continent. This announcement, which followed a leak, was officially revealed during Gamescom’s Opening Night Live, accompanied by a trailer that evokes the gritty aesthetics of both Fallout and Mad Max. However, true to Paradox’s innovative spirit, the game introduces unique elements, such as the Ancients—immortal leaders from before civilization’s collapse who now vie for control using forgotten technologies.
Exploration and Survival
In Afterworld, players will have the opportunity to choose their tribe’s origins, including a start reminiscent of Fallout, where they emerge from the safety of a bunker to face the challenges of the wasteland. The game emphasizes survival, requiring tribes to gather essential resources like food and water before they can begin to flourish. Unlike previous titles from Paradox, players will truly be starting from scratch, laying the groundwork for their new society.
As players progress, they will have the chance to either rebuild civilization or forge an entirely new path, establishing religions, enacting laws, and utilizing pre-collapse technology, including formidable constructs like the spider robot showcased in the trailer. The game also features convoys that enable players to create trading routes and supply lines, ensuring the sustainability of their burgeoning civilization. Should circumstances become dire, players can opt to abandon their settlements and migrate to new territories or embrace a nomadic lifestyle.
A Unique Tech Tree
What sets Afterworld apart is its exploration-driven approach to technology development. The game’s idea tree, akin to a tech tree, evolves based on the experiences of the tribe. Instead of presenting a static tree or a random selection of technologies, players will unlock new ideas through exploration. For instance, encountering a river will lead to the discovery of irrigation techniques, while meeting another tribe with an established religion will introduce the concept of organized religion.
Procedural generation adds an element of unpredictability to each playthrough. While the terrain remains constant, players will encounter varying tribes, resources, and challenges with each new game, ensuring that no two experiences are identical. Players can always expect to find that river and unlock irrigation, but other discoveries will be unique to each journey.
Creative Leadership
Leading the development of Afterworld is Dan Lind, who previously served as the game director for Hearts of Iron 4. The game draws inspiration from Paradox’s rich history of grand strategy titles, incorporating elements reminiscent of both Stellaris and Crusader Kings. While players will manage a tribe rather than an individual ruler, the game retains RPG-like features that promise to enrich the experience.
“Afterworld is Paradox’s first non-historical setting in a decade, and I can’t wait to see what stories our players will tell with it,” Lind expressed. “This is the first world we’ve gotten to build from scratch in a long time, and the first one we’ve had the pleasure of destroying before the game starts. The old world is still out there in fragments, waiting to be found. What comes after it is entirely up to the players.”
While many fans had anticipated a fantasy-themed game akin to Stellaris, the post-apocalyptic setting offers a fresh and intriguing backdrop for a grand strategy game. In the coming weeks, players can look forward to a preview that delves deeper into the mechanics and possibilities that Afterworld has to offer.
