Fight giant War of the Worlds -style aliens invading Finland during a Winter in the 90's. Build an army of local townspeople in this chaotic semi-autobattler roguelike. Navigate through different biomes to obliterate the aliens from cosmic dimensions.
Arrival: Zero Earth stands out from the crowded roguelike genre by letting players command an entire army of Finnish townspeople to fend off an alien invasion. This strategic element adds depth, as you must carefully position and coordinate your units to effectively combat the extraterrestrial threats.
The game's semi-autobattler mechanics strike a nice balance between player agency and automated actions. Your units will automatically attack enemies within range, but you retain control over their movement, positioning, and ability to lure enemies into advantageous positions. This allows you to focus on high-level strategy without getting bogged down in micromanagement.
Between runs, you can unlock new unit types, items, and abilities to enhance your arsenal. This progression system encourages you to keep playing and experimenting with different strategies, as you work towards unlocking the full roster of powerful units and devastating abilities. The sense of growth and expansion feels rewarding, complementing the game's already engaging moment-to-moment gameplay.
As the alien hordes grow in size and strength, the gameplay escalates into a frenzied bullet-hell experience. Explosions, projectiles, and debris fill the screen, creating a sense of chaos and tension as you frantically dodge and position your units. The game strikes a delicate balance, providing enough challenge to keep you on your toes without becoming overly overwhelming or frustrating.
One of the game's standout features is the ability to pause and resume runs at any time. This allows you to step away from the game and pick up where you left off, without losing your progress or hard-earned upgrades. This accessibility and flexibility is greatly appreciated, making the game an ideal experience for quick play sessions or longer, uninterrupted runs.