Against the Storm

Against the Storm is a well-designed, charming, enthralling roguelike city builder.

91%Game Brain Score

gameplay, graphics

grinding, monetization

95% User Score Based on 28,576 reviews

Critic Score 91%Based on 6 reviews

Platforms

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About

Against the Storm is a single player city builder game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Eremite Games and was released on June 21, 2021. It received very positive reviews from critics and overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

"Against the Storm" is a single-player strategy game with an intriguing story, where players build and upgrade settlements in one of the game's three biomes, Royal Woodlands, with a limited selection of building blueprints and perks. The goal is to test different strategies and progress up to the fourth level in the Smouldering City. The full game promises a variety of challenges, tough decisions, and unique mechanics, but the demo focuses on introducing players to the game's basics.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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95%

Audience ScoreBased on 28,576 reviews

gameplay1.9k positive mentions

grinding482 negative mentions

gameplay
5,588 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
63%
2%
The gameplay of "Against the Storm" is characterized by its innovative blend of city-building and roguelite mechanics, creating a highly addictive and engaging experience. Players build and manage settlements under time constraints while navigating a variety of random events and challenges, which keeps each run fresh and unique. The game gradually introduces new mechanics and difficulty levels, allowing for a satisfying learning curve and a sense of progression, although some players note that the gameplay can become repetitive over time.
- “The core mechanic of a series of settlements you only develop so far as to prove they can sustain themselves, while fighting against the rising impatience of the queen keeps things engaging and challenging, as opposed to the standard city builder style of a long, slow, constantly growing single city that can start to feel tedious and old.”
- “Something very satisfying about the gameplay loop of building, satisfying needs, exploring, overcoming challenges.”
- “The gameplay feels fresh even if you'd completed dozens of settlements as each round is a mix of positive and negative buffs which encourages you to try different strategies to achieve victory.”
- “The gameplay loop of management of your settlement, combined with the rogue-lite elements make this an extremely addictive game.”
- “The gameplay is a repetitive loop of surviving the timer with just enough randomization and luck to your choices to make the roguelite/like fun and challenging without being overly harsh.”
- “The gameplay loop was too repetitive and samey.”
graphics
1,952 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
47%
2%
The graphics of "Against the Storm" are widely praised for their charming art style, reminiscent of classic games like Warcraft 3, which evokes a sense of nostalgia among players. The visuals are described as vibrant and atmospheric, effectively complementing the game's mechanics and enhancing the overall experience, although some players note that the graphics can feel simplistic or cartoonish at times. Overall, the combination of beautiful graphics, engaging sound design, and a unique aesthetic contributes to a cozy yet challenging gameplay environment.
- “The world building is fun and the aesthetics and general feel have tons of personality, and meshes great with the game mechanics.”
- “The rainy setting and aesthetics makes for a very comfy game.”
- “The graphics are incredibly beautiful, the game mechanics challenging but not impossible, and no two games are alike with the landscape ever changing.”
- “The graphics are not good either, as they are very simplistic and slightly polygonal.”
- “Honestly, this game failed to convey any sort of aesthetic appreciation upon me, thus failed as an art form.”
- “The graphics could look better, but this is just my personal opinion that does not affect the gameplay in any way.”
story
1,630 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
79%
6%
The story in "Against the Storm" is minimal and often described as lacking depth, with many players noting that it feels more like a series of missions rather than a cohesive narrative. While there are elements of lore and environmental storytelling, the overarching plot is not a primary focus, leading to a gameplay experience that emphasizes strategy and resource management over narrative engagement. Players express a desire for a more developed storyline and character interactions to enhance the overall experience, but many still find the gameplay loop engaging despite the narrative shortcomings.
- “The story and the theme so well integrate the idea of rogue-like failure and re-endeavor.”
- “The depth, story, mechanics, and the layers of complexity truly shine in this game and give me a run for my money every day I fire up for a run.”
- “The missions are diverse enough to remain a challenge throughout and enough mission diversity and choice to cater to different play styles.”
- “There's not really a plot point, there is lore and a very helpful encyclopedia.”
- “There is no story to the game and no multiplayer, both of which the game desperately needs since the strategic depth and variety is so shallow.”
- “The narrative is almost non existent and you are kinda left wondering why you do things in this game, but an irrelevant story is better than a bad one.”
music
1,572 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
45%
2%
The music in "Against the Storm" is widely praised for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, enhancing the game's overall experience. Players appreciate the soothing and varied soundtrack, which complements the gameplay and setting, creating a calming yet engaging environment. While some note a desire for more variety, the music is generally regarded as a standout feature that contributes significantly to the game's charm and replayability.
- “The music is actually quite nice too; I never really like to listen to game music, so I'll turn it off or way down, but Against the Storm has music that really suits the gameplay and isn't overwhelming.”
- “The soundtrack fits in perfectly as background music that doesn't get annoying.”
- “The music is gorgeous and melancholy; it really helps to immerse you in your struggling little city.”
- “The music is so melancholic during the rain it gives you literal depression.”
- “The music gets boring pretty fast and there is no voice over or anyone talking at all.”
- “The colorful WC3-style artwork undermines the intended atmosphere and the dreary, monotone music and constant rain ambient gets very tiresome, very quickly.”
replayability
1,264 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
40%
1%
"Against the Storm" is widely praised for its exceptional replayability, attributed to its unique blend of city-building and roguelike elements. Players appreciate the dynamic challenges, procedural generation, and varied strategies required for each run, ensuring that no two games feel the same. The game's design encourages continuous engagement, making it a favorite for those who enjoy strategic gameplay with high replay value.
- “Absolutely amazing city builder with infinite replayability.”
- “Against the storm is a truly unique game that combines city-building with roguelike elements, offering endless replayability.”
- “The replayability is off the charts.”
- “A game like this hinges itself on replayability and it just doesn't deliver.”
- “Even in spite of its rogue-like concept, this game suffers a bit from a replayability problem.”
- “While the amount of the game systems might seem overwhelming at first, the initial bump of 'too much info' really is justified by the replayability the game achieves because of all the adjustments to various systems and variables that are present in each playthrough.”
atmosphere
536 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
65%
34%
1%
The atmosphere of "Against the Storm" is widely praised for its captivating blend of dark fantasy elements, immersive sound design, and beautiful art style, creating a unique and enchanting experience. Players appreciate the constant rain and stormy backdrop, which adds both tension and a cozy ambiance, making the game feel both relaxing and challenging. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as a harmonious mix of soothing music and engaging visuals that enhance the gameplay experience.
- “As a viceroy of the city, the dark stormy fantasy setting is incredibly atmospheric, and the pressure of the ever-looming storm keeps the pace tense along with the queen's patience running thin with every passing moment!”
- “The perpetual rain and dark clouds create an atmosphere that feels both oppressive and strangely mesmerizing.”
- “The atmosphere, the graphics, the design, and the music of this game all help build the experience, and everything is designed so well!”
- “The colorful WC3-style artwork undermines the intended atmosphere, and the dreary, monotone music and constant rain ambient gets very tiresome, very quickly.”
- “This game's atmosphere and story are betrayed by the fact that the gameplay is so mundane.”
- “The graphics are very detailed, the music, the flavor text on everything really sell the atmosphere of a hopeless, crumbling world.”
grinding
514 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
5%
94%
The reviews indicate a mixed perception of grinding in the game, with some players appreciating the balance between challenge and engagement, while others find it tedious and repetitive. Many highlight that the game effectively avoids the typical late-game grind of city builders by wrapping up runs before they become overwhelming, yet some still feel that the meta-progression and resource management can lead to excessive grinding. Overall, the experience varies significantly based on individual preferences for grinding and micromanagement.
- “They are constantly adding more to the game and progression feels challenging but not too grindy.”
- “The story is just enough to be interesting, but not tedious.”
- “This game is basically somebody asking, 'you know how a lot of people's favorite part of a city builder is the early game, when resources are tight and the micromanagement is important but not tedious?'”
- “It's unfortunate, but the game feels very grindy.”
- “The only negative I have about the game is that as you progress, it becomes increasingly tedious to micromanage everything.”
- “The whole progression is just a super slow process of drawing out the same formula into longer and longer and more tedious challenges.”
optimization
248 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
65%
6%
The game's optimization is generally praised, with many players noting smooth performance and a polished user interface, making it enjoyable for both casual and hardcore strategy fans. However, some users report performance issues, particularly on high-end PCs, and suggest that further optimization could enhance the experience, especially in late-game scenarios. Overall, it successfully avoids the tedium of traditional city builders by focusing on short, engaging runs rather than prolonged optimization.
- “Against the Storm is a very well balanced game with a streamlined UI, intuitive controls/functions, and smooth optimized performance.”
- “This game, for me, solves the problem inherent in city builders of goal setting and bogging down in some kind of optimization hell end game.”
- “The difficulty isn't in knowing how to optimize, it's in actually executing that optimization again and again.”
- “Banished is one of my favorite games ever but I never really play too far into mid-game because it just becomes optimization and beautification, and that's exactly when a settlement ends here, then you move on.”
- “Great game.. a lot of fun and I have high hopes for it, it's well worth the money, however it's very poorly optimized; I mean it literally broke my PC fan, it makes my fans spin so fast one of them now wobbles and rattles, it's the only game I have that does this, it also crashes on startup repeatedly and tells me there's a Unity playback issue or something like that.”
stability
94 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
Overall, the game's stability has received mixed feedback, with many players praising it as surprisingly polished and largely bug-free for an early access title. While some users reported minor glitches and occasional bugs, the majority noted that it runs smoothly on various platforms, including the Steam Deck, and expressed confidence in the developers' commitment to addressing any issues. Despite being in early access, many players feel it is more stable and complete than several fully released games.
- “It is artistically beautiful, stable, and bug free.”
- “Despite being early access, the game feels polished and bug free.”
- “The fact that this game is in early access is mind boggling; it's already more polished, in depth, bug free, good looking, and just straight up more fun than almost any released games I've played in the past couple of years.”
- “Also, it's very buggy; sometimes planks just disappear from your storage even if they have been created.”
- “Don't get me wrong, this game can be really buggy and crashes a lot, but it's an early access game, so hopefully these technical problems will be resolved.”
- “It's still buggy and lacking in a lot of features.”
emotional
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a complex emotional connection to the game, highlighting the immersive experience and the memories created while battling challenges alongside their villagers. While the transient nature of city-building may limit long-term attachment, the game's art, music, and attention to detail foster a heartfelt engagement, making victories feel rewarding and personal. Overall, the emotional depth and immersive storytelling elevate the gameplay, creating a unique bond with the virtual world.
- “Beyond the engaging gameplay alone, I think what really makes me emotionally invested in this game is how the experience of being inside of its fiction becomes so beautifully immersive.”
- “Frostpunk featured a combination of art, music, and ambience that was perfected to produce an emotional attachment to the survivors.”
- “For base building, you are slowly emotionally attached to the city you have spent 30-40 hours on.”
humor
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players finding it both hilarious and engaging, particularly through its quirky characters and amusing difficulty scaling. The lighthearted tone is complemented by funny sound effects and colorful art, making even challenging gameplay moments enjoyable. Overall, the game successfully blends humor with strategic elements, resulting in a fun and addictive experience.
- “ In conclusion, 'Against the Storm' is a hilariously challenging take on city building and survival.”
- “You can either chill and build your stuff or punish yourself crazy on higher difficulty levels to the point you will be laughing at every misfortune that happens, one after another.”
- “Your beavers are living the life of luxury, snacking merrily away on some jerky and laughing around the campfire.”
monetization
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
37%
55%
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the absence of predatory microtransactions and grind mechanics, while others criticize the lack of content and the presence of in-game purchases. Many users commend the indie studio for focusing on gameplay rather than monetization gimmicks, although some express disappointment over the game's perceived limitations and the aggressive advertising strategy. Overall, the game is seen as a refreshing alternative to typical monetization practices in the genre, but opinions vary on its execution and value.
- “No predatory monetization.”
- “This is a small indie studio that has created a wonderful game and is very committed to providing the best product they can, tailoring it to a truly personal player experience - no gimmicks, no systems focused on monetization or bloat; just centered on gameplay and shaped by players' preferences.”
- “No modern monetization tricks.”
- “Come on, this is a single player game without microtransactions, there's literally zero reason as to why players should be held and forced to grind before being able to progress further.”
- “Update: don't give your money to yet another greedy developer that only publishes microtransactions hidden behind a facade of grindfests.”
- “☐ It's free but loaded with microtransactions.”
character development
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Character development in the game is praised for its charming and whimsical design, with animations and events that blend lightheartedness with underlying themes of pressure and existential threat. The world-building and character aesthetics contribute to a captivating overall experience, enhancing player engagement with the narrative.
- “The environments, character design, and general look and feel of the game are lovely.”
- “Everything from the animations, character design, events, etc. exudes a type of tongue-in-cheek lightheartedness while contrasting it with light nudges of pressure and existential threat.”
- “I really like a lot of the character designs, world-building, the setting, and general look and feel of the game.”

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91%Critics’ scoreBased on 6 critic reviews

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35h Median play time

75h Average play time

12-92h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 344 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Against the Storm is a city builder game with fantasy theme.

Against the Storm is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Steam Deck and others.

On average players spend around 75 hours playing Against the Storm.

Against the Storm was released on June 21, 2021.

Against the Storm was developed by Eremite Games.

Against the Storm has received very positive reviews from players and very positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its grinding.

Against the Storm is a single player game.

Similar games include dotAGE, Super Fantasy Kingdom, Terraformers, Dome Keeper, The King is Watching and others.

Against the Storm

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