Command a settlement of ancient humans, guide them through the ages in their struggle for survival. Hunt, gather, craft tools, fight, research new techs and face the challenges the environment will throw at you.
As the leader of an ancient human settlement, you must carefully manage your population's needs, resources, and technological advancement to ensure their survival and growth over 10,000 years of history. Resource management is a core focus. You'll assign villagers to collect vital resources like food, wood, stone, and ore from the surrounding environment. Strategically planning resource collection areas and limiting the number of gatherers is crucial to avoid waste and maintain efficiency. As your settlement expands, you'll need to balance the demands of a growing population by producing adequate food, clothing, and other supplies.
The technology progression system allows you to research new tools, crafting abilities, and structures by reaching population and production milestones. This tech tree spans the Stone Age to the Iron Age, enabling your society to advance from basic hunter-gatherers to more complex agricultural and industrial civilizations. Carefully planning your technological development is key to supporting your expanding population.
Survival challenges test your management skills. Harsh winters, animal attacks, and raids from other settlements can threaten the stability of your village. Preparing for these events by stockpiling resources, building defenses, and training hunters and warriors is essential. Balancing expansion, resource gathering, and defensive preparations is an engaging strategic challenge.
The game's immersive simulation of ancient human life is a strong point. The visuals, audio, and attention to historical detail create a compelling sense of time and place. Watching your villagers perform their daily tasks, from hunting mammoths to constructing megalithic structures, contributes to the feeling of managing a living, breathing prehistoric settlement.
As your settlement develops over time, you'll often find yourself creating your own emergent narratives and stories. Events like famine, disease outbreaks, and successful raids generate memorable moments that you can reflect on. The open-ended nature of the gameplay allows for a high degree of player agency in shaping the unique history of your settlement.