Info about Empires of the Undergrowth:

Official game description:
Forge your empire in the world of ants, building extensive nests and managing an intricate hierarchy in a way that puts the real-time strategy genre under the microscope. Control a variety of warrior ant species in intense battles, command your workers to build and supply an ever-expanding base, and protect your queen at all costs while navigating the unique threats and opportunities of the insect world.
Hundreds of warriors clash in a melee of gnashing mandibles as formic acid artillery fires overhead. Nightfall has come and the last of the workers are rushing back underground, dodging beetles to deliver food to the nest. The stockpile is empty, and without more, reinforcements will not hatch for the ongoing war between the duelling Empires of the Undergrowth.
*   Starting from a central room hosting your queen, order your workers to develop and optimise your nest – a vast network of store rooms, nurseries, and hallways. Dig through a hex-based maze of soil and bedrock, seeking food and fending off other underground dwellers.
*   Push beyond the confines of your nest to see what the world above has to offer – with seeds, nectar, fungus, other insects, and even amphibians on the menu, there's plenty to choose from, but each food source comes with its own strategic tradeoffs and challenges. Will you venture forth and fight off the ladybugs that eat and deplete your source of renewable honeydew drops, or do the surrounding nocturnal creatures present too much of a risk for your fledgling colony? Each decision you make has a ripple effect that can doom your colony if you aren’t quick to react to evolving circumstances.
*   Manage a multitude of species with different attack patterns, natural weapons, and evolutionary paths to tackle the particular dangers of your current biome. Nighttime sorties are at times essential as you look to secure food supplies, though unsuspecting ants might fall prey to the dangers that lurk after sundown. Come morning, you’ll find yourself competing with other ant colonies instead, entering enemy nests to attack their queens while defending your own. Prepare to operate and coordinate simultaneous war efforts across multiple underground and overground maps as your threats and opportunities change with each passing moment – there’s no single path to domination.
Workers scurry in from the surface. Few have returned, but they carry valuable sources of food that will help reinforce the front as a new wave of warriors pour forth from the nurseries, eagerly following the scent of pheromones that tell them where to go and what to do en route. They are the last bastion of the colony, born with a singular purpose – hold the line!
*   Design and organise multiple nurseries and assign them individual pheromone groups, with each pheromone group taking orders through the placement of pheromone markers, adjustable rules of engagement, and context. Learning to navigate the behaviours of your ants, as well as each species’ strengths and weaknesses, is integral to securing success.
*   Each pheromone group can be specialised on the fly, told to exclusively collect food, partake in combat, or do both – the right decision can turn the tide of battle. In desperate times, when the colony is starving and new eggs have stopped hatching as a result, will your warrior caste focus on gathering food at the risk of being picked off by aggressive enemies en route? Or will the soldiers divide into escort groups for your remaining workers, ensuring survivability at the cost of overall efficiency elsewhere? Don’t forget to keep at least some workers at the nest to dig, build, and maintain the placement of eggs, to ensure the survival of your ant economy.
*   Each species of ant presents its own set of strengths and weaknesses on the battlefield. In special game modes where multiple species can be raised in the same colony, your decision to raise and upgrade one or the other will completely change the way you do battle. Trap-jaw ants fight in melee, occasionally leaping back to replenish lost hitpoints. Leafcutter majors fulfil their natural role as protectors by drawing enemy aggression onto themselves to give allied ants an opportunity to flank, regroup, or escape. Wood ants can evolve to fire formic acid as long range artillery or in a more rapid, straight line. Find synergies between the multitude of natural strengths and weaknesses of each species, and prepare to defend against them when warring with rival colonies.
*   Your enemies are equally varied – apart from other ant colonies, you’ll engage in combat against arachnids, amphibians, crustaceans, and a wide variety of insect species. These powerful and often (comparatively) gigantic creatures present a unique threat to an unprepared colony, and only superior tactics can overcome them. An envelopment manoeuvre can circumvent the adult devil’s coach horse beetle's stunning spray, while tactically isolating and overwhelming hermit crabs one by one will bring their demise faster than they can hunker down to heal.
Victory is certain! Reinforcing troops arrive in the nick of time, fearless in the face of the horrifying abomination before them. Today the sadistic scientist has blended hermit crabs with scorpions into a terrifying new threat, but the colony has evolved wisely after experiencing such unnatural foes before. After a protracted battle the fearsome chimaera teeters on the brink of collapse, but a new foe arrives on the battlefield – piercing through the skies above, the hand of some strange being comes down to crush half the reinforcing troops, and from the great beyond the scientist lets forth an evil cackle. The tide has turned once more…
Apart from the classic RTS skirmishes against the AI and unique seasonal challenges, Empires of the Undergrowth also features a narrative-driven campaign mode. Follow the simultaneous progress of a lab experiment centred around the mysterious Formica ereptor gene-thief ants alongside a documentary series that explores the various species of ants in their natural biomes. Earn resources through successful documentary missions to upgrade your persistent lab colony and evolve according to your preferred playstyle as you put your ants through a multitude of brutal tests conducted in the name of ‘science’ – but not all is as it first seems…

Release date: Jun 7, 2024

Categories: Real-time Strategy, Base Building, Resource Management, Unit Management, Species Management, Campaign Mode, Story-driven Gameplay, Educational Simulation

Feature scans:
- MTX: score 30; verdict: Mixed feelings on DLC value with a desire for more content; summary: The reviews indicate a significant concern with the value and quality of the DLC content, with many users feeling that it should have been included in the base game or provided as a free update. However, there is also a strong desire among users for more DLC content, suggesting a willingness to pay for additional features and scenarios. The mixed feelings on the value of the DLC highlight the need for the developers to ensure that future DLCs are worth the price and provide substantial content.
- Wiki: score 50; verdict: Needs Improvement; summary: The game suffers from a lack of in-game explanations and a high dependency on external resources. Players find it difficult to understand game mechanics and often need to refer to external guides or wikis, which disrupts the gaming experience.
- Steam Deck: score 55; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The game offers a unique and challenging experience with managing an ant colony, which is well-received by many players. However, there are significant issues with game stability, save functionality, and controller support that detract from the overall experience. Despite these issues, the game runs well on the Steam Deck and has been praised for its performance on low-end hardware. The user interface and controls, while initially confusing, become more intuitive with time.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics: No data
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes: No data


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Diverse and realistic ant behaviors (weight 0.77): The game offers a variety of ant species, each with unique behaviors and mechanics. Players appreciate the realistic and detailed portrayal of ants, enhancing the gameplay experience.
- High praise for game quality (weight 0.61): Players consistently describe the game as incredible, high-quality, and entertaining. The graphics, soundtrack, and level design are frequently highlighted as standout features.
- Challenging and varied levels (weight 0.43): The game features challenging levels that require careful management and strategy. The variety in levels and objectives keeps the gameplay engaging.
- Unique RTS experience (weight 0.38): The game is praised as a unique and well-made RTS experience. It is suitable for both RTS fans and beginners, offering a fun spin on the genre.
- Educational and immersive (weight 0.37): The game introduces players to the world of ants and insects, offering educational aspects and immersive gameplay. It is suitable for insect enthusiasts and those interested in learning about ant species.
- Engaging story mode (weight 0.25): The game features an engaging story mode with a well-designed plot and interesting narrative. The narrator is also praised for being engaging.
- Enjoyable ant management (weight 0.25): Players find satisfaction in managing ant colonies, watching ants complete tasks, and seeing them develop and battle. The game is particularly enjoyable for ant enthusiasts.
- Beautiful and realistic graphics (weight 0.22): The graphics are consistently praised as beautiful, realistic, and pleasing. The artistic design and physics engine are highlighted as top-notch.
- Good value for price (weight 0.2): Players feel that the game is worth the price, offering a good price-to-quality ratio. It is considered a worthwhile purchase, even at full price.
- Variety in species and maps (weight 0.2): The game offers a huge variety of ant species, insects, and environments. This variety adds to the game's replayability and enjoyment.
- Different strategic choices (weight 0.2): The game provides different strategic choices for various ant types, each offering dramatically different gameplay. This adds to the game's depth and replayability.
- Easy to learn mechanics (weight 0.15): The game's mechanics are described as easy to use and not overwhelming. The controls are simple and easy to understand, making the game accessible.
- Worth trying (weight 0.14): The game is recommended as worth trying, with players describing it as genuinely entertaining and a good use of spare money.

Common complaints:
- No save or pause features (weight 0.58): The game lacks essential quality-of-life features such as the ability to save progress, pause, or use shortcuts. This includes no auto-save feature and limited save options, which frustrates players, especially during long missions.
- Difficult and frustrating achievements (weight 0.27): Achievements in the game are perceived as too difficult, tedious, and sometimes even unbearable. Players find achievement hunting repetitive and annoying, with some achievements being too challenging and time-consuming.
- Repetitive and long missions (weight 0.19): Missions in the game are often repetitive and can be quite long, leading to a sense of tedium. This repetitiveness, combined with the length of missions, can make the gameplay feel grindy and less engaging.
- Lack of multiplayer mode (weight 0.14): The game is exclusively single-player, lacking any multiplayer functionality. This absence of a multiplayer mode is a significant drawback for players who enjoy cooperative or competitive gameplay.
- AI needs improvement (weight 0.12): The AI in the game is seen as very simple and in need of improvement. Occasional AI behavior bugs and inconsistencies can detract from the overall gaming experience.
- High time investment required (weight 0.11): The game requires a lot of free time and a high time investment, which may not be suitable for all players. The long mission duration and the need for significant time commitment can be a drawback.
- Slow start and steep learning curve (weight 0.11): The game starts slow and has a steep learning curve for beginners. This can make it difficult for new players to get into the game and enjoy it from the start.
- Unit control issues (weight 0.11): There are issues with unit control, making it frustrating for players to manage their units effectively. These control issues can detract from the overall gaming experience.
- Short main storyline (weight 0.11): The main storyline of the game is considered too short by many players. The story ends quickly, leaving players wanting more content and a longer narrative experience.
- Clumsy combat controls (weight 0.11): The combat controls are perceived as too clumsy, making it difficult for players to execute precise actions. This issue, combined with high difficulty in some levels, can lead to frustration and boredom.
- Not a true strategy game (weight 0.08): The game is criticized for not being a real strategy game and having poorly designed RTS elements. This mismatch between expectations and reality can disappoint players looking for a genuine strategy experience.
- Puzzle-like gameplay elements (weight 0.07): The game includes puzzle-like gameplay elements, such as blind play and weirdly shaped pieces. These elements can add a unique challenge but may not appeal to all players.
- Lack of control finesse (weight 0.07): The game suffers from a lack of control finesse and micromanagement options. This can make it difficult for players to execute precise actions and strategies, leading to frustration.
- Poor optimization and performance (weight 0.07): The game has poor optimization, resulting in low frame rates even on low settings. This performance issue can significantly detract from the gaming experience.
- Game is unusually hard (weight 0.07): The game is considered unusually hard, which can be a turn-off for some players. The high difficulty level may not be suitable for all players, especially those looking for a more casual experience.
- Luck-based mechanics (weight 0.07): The game includes luck-based mechanics, leading to random outcomes. This reliance on luck can frustrate players who prefer skill-based gameplay.
- Buggy and glitchy (weight 0.07): The game is reported to be quite buggy and glitchy, which can disrupt the gaming experience. These technical issues need to be addressed to improve player satisfaction.
- Repetitive dialog (weight 0.06): Some dialog in the game gets repetitive, which can be annoying for players. The repetitive nature of the narrator's lines can detract from the overall experience.
- Lack of speed control (weight 0.06): The game lacks speed control options, which can be a drawback for players who want to adjust the game's pace to their preference.
- Limited playable ant species (weight 0.06): Players cannot play as certain ant species, such as Army Ants and trapjaw ants, which limits the variety and replayability of the game.
- New Game+ mode needs improvement (weight 0.06): The New Game+ mode is not as expected and needs improvements. Players have expressed dissatisfaction with the current implementation and suggest enhancements.
- Combat lacks depth (weight 0.06): The combat in the game lacks depth and deep strategy, which can make it feel shallow and less engaging for players looking for a more tactical experience.

Gameplay feedback:
- Diverse ant species and strategies (weight 0.83): The game offers a variety of ant species, each with unique abilities and behaviors. Players can manage and control different types of ants, adding complexity and strategic depth to the gameplay.
- Ant colony management (weight 0.74): Players can operate and expand their ant colonies, involving tasks such as building tunnels, collecting food, and coordinating worker ants. The game emphasizes realistic ant behaviors and colony survival.
- RTS gameplay mechanics (weight 0.33): The game incorporates real-time strategy elements, including resource management, colony battles, and strategic gameplay. Players can engage in various game modes and challenges.
- Story-driven campaign (weight 0.33): The game features a story-driven campaign with interesting missions and objectives. The campaign follows the development of an ant colony and offers diverse story levels.
- Strategic mission design (weight 0.25): Missions are designed around ant survival and strategic gameplay. Players must use different strategies and ant species to overcome challenges and objectives.
- Insect-themed gameplay (weight 0.21): The game is centered around insect-themed gameplay, particularly focusing on ants. It includes missions, unlockable ants, and battles against other insects, making it suitable for insect or ant enthusiasts.
- Multiple game modes (weight 0.19): The game offers various gameplay modes, including PvP, new game plus, tutorial, story, custom, and arcade modes. This variety adds replayability and caters to different player preferences.
- Difficulty settings (weight 0.16): Players can choose from different difficulty levels, allowing them to tailor the gameplay experience to their skill level. This feature enhances accessibility and challenge.
- Upgrade and customization system (weight 0.11): Players can upgrade their ants and customize their colonies, adding a layer of strategic planning and personalization to the gameplay.
- Similar to classic RTS games (weight 0.11): The game is compared to classic RTS games like Command & Conquer, featuring sandbox modes and custom levels. This similarity may appeal to fans of traditional RTS games.

Performance notes:
- Performance and Optimization Issues (weight 0.51): Many players report various performance issues, including FPS drops, game freezing, and crashing. These problems are particularly noticeable during large battles or when many units are on screen. Some players attribute these issues to the game being in early access.
- Positive Optimization Feedback (weight 0.29): Several players have praised the game's optimization, noting that it runs well even on weaker machines and does not excessively drain hardware resources. Some players report stable performance at high resolutions and settings.
- Graphics Quality Feedback (weight 0.19): Opinions on graphics quality vary, with some players reporting issues while others praise the game's visuals. Specific mentions include remastered scenes and updated textures, as well as optimized ant models and enemy details.
- MacOS Specific Issues (weight 0.11): Players on macOS have reported specific issues such as frequent crashing and pointer registration problems. These issues seem to be unique to macOS users.
- Control and Hardware Issues (weight 0.1): Some players have reported issues with mouse controls, making the game less enjoyable on PC. Additionally, there are mentions of hardware issues and save file corruption after crashes.
- Game Size and Requirements (weight 0.09): The game size is reported to be between 5-10 GB. Some players have mentioned specific hardware struggles, such as a disabled GPU or struggles on UHD settings.

Recommendations:
- Recommended for strategy game fans (weight 0.51): The game is highly recommended for fans of strategy games, including those who enjoy titles like Age of Empires and other RTS games.
- Worth buying, especially on sale (weight 0.31): The game is considered worth buying, particularly when it is on sale, offering good value for money.
- Hope for more content and updates (weight 0.26): Players express a desire for more content, updates, DLCs, and even a sequel, indicating a strong interest in the game's future development.
- Suggestions for gameplay improvements (weight 0.15): Suggestions include adding larger maps, better AI, more ant species, and additional interaction with the environment to enhance the gameplay experience.
- Multiplayer and co-op modes (weight 0.14): There is a demand for multiplayer and co-op modes, suggesting that players are interested in social and cooperative gameplay experiences.
- Customization and mod support (weight 0.13): Players appreciate the extensive customization options and workshop support for mod developers, allowing for a personalized gaming experience.
- Recommended for nature and wildlife enthusiasts (weight 0.11): The game is recommended for those who enjoy learning about nature and wildlife through gameplay, making it a unique blend of education and entertainment.
- High replayability and challenging (weight 0.08): The game offers high replayability and challenging gameplay, making it a compelling choice for players seeking a long-term gaming experience.
- Worth it for the campaign (weight 0.08): The game is recommended for its campaign alone, indicating that the single-player experience is compelling and enjoyable.
- Unique and innovative strategy game (weight 0.05): The game is praised for its unique and innovative approach to the strategy genre, making it a refreshing choice for players.

Other player notes:
- Multiplayer mode requested (weight 0.09): Several players have expressed a desire for a multiplayer mode to enhance the gaming experience.
- Custom map creation desired (weight 0.08): There is a desire among players for a feature that allows custom map creation.
- Arachnophobe mode suggested (weight 0.08): An option to change spiders to jellyfish or mushrooms for players with arachnophobia has been suggested.
- Regular updates requested (weight 0.05): Players have requested regular updates, specifically mentioning updates once or twice a month.
- Survival campaign mode wanted (weight 0.05): A survival campaign mode set in the wild has been suggested by players.
- Modding potential mentioned (weight 0.05): Players are looking forward to potential modding capabilities in future updates.
- More ant species requested (weight 0.05): Players have suggested adding more ant species to increase diversity in the game.
- Subtitle speed issue (weight 0.04): Italian subtitles are noted to be too fast, particularly for younger players.
- Trypophobia warning mentioned (weight 0.04): A warning for trypophobia has been mentioned by players.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.18): Players are frustrated by a variety of gameplay issues, including difficult levels and boss fights, high randomness (RNG), and repetitive missions. Technical problems such as lack of save options, bugs, and performance issues like FPS drops also contribute significantly to this frustration. Additionally, balance issues, punishing mission losses, and unit control problems exacerbate the overall challenging and sometimes tedious experience.
- Excitement (weight 0.17): Players are excited about the game's unique and engaging gameplay mechanics, which include a variety of ant species and dynamic interactions. The enjoyable storyline, impressive graphics, and soundtrack, along with the game's potential for future updates and expansions, also contribute to this excitement. The chaotic and fun nature of the game, combined with its educational aspects, makes it a standout experience.
- Joy (weight 0.16): Players experience joy from the game's fun and unique RTS gameplay, beautiful graphics, and engaging story. The variety of ants and customization options, along with the enjoyable narration and voice acting, add to the overall pleasant and addictive experience. Observing the colony grow and the detailed behaviors of the ants also bring a sense of satisfaction and entertainment.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.11): Players enjoy the game's unique mechanics, charming narrative, and engaging challenge levels. The immersive experience, combined with the game's simplicity and replayability, makes it a fun and addictive experience. The variety of ants and enemies, along with the interesting level design, contribute to the overall enjoyment.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.07): Players feel satisfied with the game's challenging scenarios, educational value, and detailed gameplay mechanics. The sense of achievement from completing difficult levels and observing ant behaviors, along with the game's great sound design and narrative, contribute to this satisfaction. The balanced difficulty and clear tips also enhance the overall rewarding experience.
- Appreciation (weight 0.06): Players appreciate the game's realistic survival challenges, varied ant species, and educational aspects. The unique touches by the developers, such as the beautiful depiction of amphibians and the high-quality translation, add to the overall appreciation. The game's unique audio experience and the detailed gameplay mechanics are also highly valued.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.05): Players feel nostalgic due to childhood memories associated with the game and its similarities to classic games like SimAnt. The music and the overall theme of the game evoke a sense of nostalgia, reminding players of their younger years and the joy they experienced playing similar games.
- Disappointment (weight 0.03): Players are disappointed by the lack of multiplayer options and the absence of certain expected features. The game's design and achievement system do not meet their expectations, leading to a sense of letdown. Additionally, the lack of replayability and depth in combat contributes to this disappointment.
- Surprise (weight 0.03): Players are pleasantly surprised by the game's unique and educational value. The unexpected enjoyment and the game's ability to make time fly quickly contribute to this surprise. The novel RTS gameplay and the surprising ending also add to the overall sense of surprise.
- Addiction (weight 0.02): Players find the gameplay highly enjoyable and engaging, leading to a sense of addiction. The game's mechanics and the variety of content keep players hooked, making it difficult to stop playing. The engaging nature of the game contributes to its addictive qualities.
- Love (weight 0.02): Players love the game due to its unique mechanics, engaging storyline, and the detailed animations of the ants. The game's ability to captivate players and the enjoyment derived from its various aspects contribute to this love. The game's soundtrack and the overall experience make it a favorite among players.
- Hopefulness (weight 0.01): Players are hopeful for additional features such as online multiplayer and an insect editor. The desire for more game modes and environmental factors contributes to this sense of hopefulness. Players look forward to future updates and expansions that could enhance the game's replayability and depth.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.01): Players are enthusiastic about the game's detailed representation of ecosystems and species. The long gameplay and the variety of achievements contribute to this enthusiasm. The game's ability to engage players and provide a rich experience fuels their excitement.
- Gratitude (weight 0.01): Players are grateful for the game and its updates, appreciating the developers' efforts. The game's impact and the continuous improvements made by the developers contribute to this sense of gratitude. Players value the game's unique features and the overall experience it provides.
- Excited (weight 0.01): Players are excited about the game's unique RTS mechanics and interesting combat. The game's ability to cater to nature enthusiasts and offer varied gameplay experiences contributes to this excitement. The engaging and dynamic nature of the game keeps players eagerly anticipating more content.
- Inspiration (weight 0): Players find the game inspiring due to its unique and educational aspects. The game's ability to spark creativity and interest in the natural world contributes to this sense of inspiration. The detailed and realistic depiction of ant behaviors and ecosystems motivates players to learn more.
- Admiration (weight 0): Players admire the game's final level, which is described as amazing. The unique and challenging aspects of the game, along with its impressive design, contribute to this admiration. The game's ability to captivate and engage players throughout the experience is highly regarded.
- Pleasure (weight 0): Players experience pleasure from the game's engaging and rewarding mechanics. The sense of achievement and the enjoyable gameplay loop contribute to this pleasure. The game's ability to provide a satisfying and entertaining experience keeps players coming back for more.
- Hooked (weight 0): Players are hooked by the game's engaging and addictive gameplay, particularly in missions like the Rainforest with Leaf Cutter ants. The unique mechanics and the variety of content keep players invested and eager to continue playing. The game's ability to captivate and entertain players contributes to its addictive nature.}