Against the Storm is a captivating fusion of city-building strategy, survival challenges, and rogue-lite elements, offering a unique and dynamically evolving experience.

In short, you try to build settlements and either get the necessary resolve from it's citizens to be considered a "successful" settlement or you take too long and the queen becomes impatient, thus considering the settlement failed. Then, you either try again if you failed or you move on to the next settlement if you won. Your goal is to try to "chain" successful settlements on the world map to explore further and reach its limits, but after a set amount of years, the world map resets (and changes) and you need to start from the centre again.

Each play-through presents a fresh and unpredictable challenge, with procedurally generated maps and a myriad of random events that keep players on their toes. The combination of strategic city planning and the ever-changing environmental conditions creates a thrilling sense of uncertainty, making every decision impactful and every victory hard-fought.

The rogue-lite aspect extends to the progression system. As your tribe faces the perils of each map, you'll unlock new technologies and abilities that persist between the so-called "cycles". However, the road to success is fraught with challenges, and failure means starting anew. This blend of permanence and impermanence adds a layer of strategic depth and replayability, allowing and encouraging you to experiment with different approaches in each run.

While the rogue-lite elements contribute to the game's appeal, they may not be everyone's cup of tea. Some players might find the unpredictability and potential setbacks frustrating, especially if they prefer a more linear progression. However, for those who enjoy the challenge of adapting to the unknown, Against the Storm provides a rewarding and dynamic experience. The Warcraft-like visuals give the game a distinctive charm and the music and sounds are very good. Especially the sound effects can help you navigate whats happening in your settlement as it grows bigger and more complex, making it harder to keep track of everything.

The game has found a good sweet spot between being challenging but fair, complex but easy to understand, and random but fun. If you like city-building or rogue-lites, give it a try. If you like both, it's a must-play!