The long-running strategy series Age of Wonders is headed to space. Announced at Paradox Con this weekend, Age of Wonders: Planetfall will add a sci-fi twist to games that have typically been fantastical.
Rather than carve out your own galactic empire as in spacefaring 4Xs such as Stellaris, it sounds like the new AoW will leave you planetbound. Someone else’s galactic empire has fallen, and it’s up to you to lead your people out of their dark age and into a bright new future. You’ll explore planetary ruins and unravel the history of your former oppressors, and meet other surviving factions for peaceful or violent relations. Tech research, empire building, diplomacy and all that good stuff are, naturally, guaranteed.
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Triumph Studios, who made all the previous Age of Wonders games, will be leading development. Thus this is the first partnership between Triumph and Paradox Interactive, as Paradox PR manager Jesse Henning explained to media on Friday.
“Age of Wonders: Planetfall is an Age of Wonders game with a sci-fi setting,” says Henning. “Triumph, of course, have been the ones working on it. It’s got everything you would want out of an Age of Wonders game, but it’s space.”
Besides the typical world overview, the series’ turn-based tactical battle map will also return with destructible environments. You’ll also be able to customise your units’ weaponry, and create your own unique House. There are several victory types, including conquest, diplomacy, and doomsday technologies.
“We’re thrilled to finally announce our latest endeavor alongside Paradox,” says Triumph CEO Lennart Sas. “Age of Wonders: Planetfall is roughly three years into development, running on a new generation of our multi-platform Creator Engine. While the setting is new, we’re confident that Age of Wonders fans will feel right at home exploring the remnants of the Star Union. Our aim is to make a game that greatly expands upon its predecessors, and still employs the core principles that made Age of Wonders such a success.”
Age of Wonders: Planetfall is slated for release in 2019. Here’s the announce trailer for you to enjoy: