Empires of the Undergrowth (2024)

Empires of the Undergrowth (2024) invites players to forge a sprawling ant empire, fundamentally re-examining the real-time strategy genre through its unique lens. Beginning with a central queen, you'll meticulously excavate an intricate hex-based nest of store rooms, nurseries, and hallways, managing a complex hierarchy of workers and warriors. Decisions around food acquisition are critical, from balancing renewable resources against dangerous nocturnal foraging, to directing your diverse warrior castes via pheromone markers in intense skirmishes against rival colonies and a myriad of insectoid, arachnid, and amphibian threats. Hundreds of ants clash in a ballet of mandibles and formic acid artillery, where every choice, from tactical troop deployments to resource management, has ripple effects that can determine the colony's survival. This title earns its place among Slug Disco's best by offering profound strategic depth coupled with a compelling, innovative experience. Players manage a multitude of ant species, each boasting distinct attack patterns, natural weapons, and evolutionary paths, allowing for intricate tactical synergies against increasingly bizarre and powerful foes, including chimaeric creations. Beyond classic RTS skirmishes, a robust narrative campaign weaves together the simultaneous progress of a lab experiment involving gene-thief ants and a nature documentary series, providing context and unique challenges. Earning resources through documentary missions allows you to upgrade a persistent lab colony through brutal scientific tests, showcasing Slug Disco's commitment to pushing genre boundaries with detailed simulation, tactical combat, and a captivating story.