Against the Storm Review (PC)

I just need to get another shipment to the queen to win but it’s a race against time. I opened up a few caches early on to make sure villagers had enough to eat and some luxuries to keep their spirits up. The problem is that I need one right now or another event that has a Loyalty choice. That, in turn, requires the opening of a new dangerous Glade.

I re-task my woodcutters and, after a few minutes, the cache is available for investigation. It sits next to a danger event that I choose to ignore. I also know my settlement is eating more than it produces. I have plenty of amber and some extra coats and bricks to sell but the trader might not be here in time. My thriving industrial sector means little right now. I’ve achieved all but one of my objectives, failing only to create a production chain for weapons.

But I only need to deliver the tools to the cache and then ship everything to the Scorched Queen. Two of my villagers are racing to do that, while the stormy season is getting nearer. Once it’s upon the settlement, everyone’s resolve plummets. Humans, lizards, and beavers are preparing to leave. All of that doesn’t matter, as, with 320 seconds left on the cache work timer, the Queen’s patience runs out and I fail the mission. Maybe I can unlock one upgrade to make my work easier for the next settlement.

Against the Storm is developed by Eremite Games and published by Hooded Horse. I played the game via Steam on the PC. The title combines a unique take on management with a rogue-lite progression structure.

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Players take on the role of a viceroy, which sounds more impressive than it is. Civilization was ravaged by a catastrophe known as the Blighstorm, with the Smoldering City, ruled by the Scorched Queen, the final refuge left standing. Gamers manage the crucial expeditions, the only way to supply resources for the city.

More details, about both the lore and mechanics of this fantasy universe, are offered via conversations with an aunt and via the descriptions of the many goods, buildings, and other gameplay elements. It’s a well-developed fantasy universe, with intriguing spins on familiar ideas. Each expedition also generates its own stories, created by the interesting interactions between location, villagers, dangers, opportunities, and, of course, game mechanics.

In Against the Storm, everything starts with wood chopping. On an overland map, players choose a location for their outpost, the initial villagers, and can use embarkation points to acquire limited starting resources. The action then moves to a procedurally generated map, where the expedition gets to a starting hearth and warehouse. Then it's time to cut down the wood needed to make sure the fire is never extinguished and to make sure all starting villagers have a place to sleep.

City building, and management are familiar. Secure resources, put down the buildings, extract, exploit, create value, satisfy villagers' basic needs, and find ways to expand constantly. Initial supplies only last for a short time, so food and shelter for all villagers become the priority. Soon, the Scorched Queen reveals the first three objectives players need to work towards, with more opening up as time passes.

Players can pick and choose, based on their strategies and available supplies. The Queen is impatient, so make sure to deliver as quickly as possible. For each completed objective, Her Majesty gives players their pick of a new building. Caravans with more villagers and supplies arrive at certain intervals and gamers also have to choose a cornerstone (essentially a synergy bonus) from time to time.

Against the Storm introduces extensive tweaks. The biggest innovation is the Glade system. Cut down trees to access new areas, which deliver extra resources but also resource caches, and events (including dangerous ones). Gamers need to choose solutions, based on their situation and available resources. They are often some of the toughest decisions I had to make in a management title.

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And everything changes with the seasons. Drizzle can have positive effects. It is a good idea to deal with dangerous events when the sun is shining. But the storm always comes, bringing extra negative effects as players develop their settlement and anger nature. Villagers lose resolve and gamers are tempted to use more fuel to keep their spirits high. When the storm passes, a new cornerstone can be chosen, while the Queen’s patience dwindles.

Against the Storm has more wrinkles. The fantasy races have unique needs and perform better in certain buildings. Traders allow players to get access to amber, rare resources, and more general bonuses. Depending on available buildings and resources, there are different paths to get higher-level goods. Still, there seem to never be enough planks or tools to go around.

Once a settlement succeeds or fails, players will be able to visit the Smoldering City, see what Deeds they might aim for, and then use resources to unlock permanent bonuses. It’s a solid rogue-inspired progression system that adds stakes to each attempt at settlement creation.

The entire experience is varied, engaging, and filled with interesting choices. The moments when everything is going well are rare, forcing players to constantly think ahead, envision a path to victory, and then find the best ways to get there. Failing repeatedly might frustrate some players but difficulty can be tweaked and every settlement that doesn’t succeed delivers precious lessons for future ones.

Against the Storm blends pastoral and apocalyptic vibes with its presentation and it works. It’s a pleasure to zoom in and watch villagers work, even if I tend to mostly keep an eye on the bigger settlements and play at 3x speed. The game is very good at giving players information about buildings, resources, and the connections between the two. The interface seems overtly complex at first but it’s easy to understand where all the important details are.

The sound design is not as impressive but complements the graphics well. I quickly learned to dread the thunderclap that announces the coming of a new storm season. It’s nice to hear the sounds of industry during the sunny moments. And the music, especially the tracks dominated by string instruments, underlines the themes of hard work and dread.

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The Good

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