If you’re craving a city-building game with a darker edge, Against the Storm is worth a look—especially if you enjoy strategy games where survival is never guaranteed. Set in a grim fantasy world scarred by the Blightstorm, this roguelite-inspired city builder puts you in the role of the viceroy serving the Scorched Queen. Your mission is to push into dangerous wildlands, rebuild civilization one settlement at a time, and bring back valuable resources to strengthen the Smoldering City.
Unlike traditional city builders where you nurture one growing metropolis for hours on end, Against the Storm challenges you to manage multiple settlements across an expedition. Every new city is a fresh attempt to tame an unforgiving landscape, and every decision matters: what to build first, how to prioritize production, and which needs you can afford to address before the next calamity hits.
A big part of what makes the game stand out is its population. Your workforce isn’t just “citizens”—it’s a mix of fantasy species with different strengths and expectations. Humans, foxes, harpies, and lizards all bring unique traits to your settlements, and success often depends on how well you balance their demands while taking advantage of what they do best. Keeping everyone productive (and not miserable) quickly becomes as important as managing wood, food, and building materials.
The world itself is your constant enemy. Storms arrive regularly, damaging your cities and disrupting your plans. And when things go wrong, they can go very wrong—settlements can collapse, forcing you to restart your expedition. The twist is that you don’t lose everything: you keep previously earned resources, which adds a satisfying sense of long-term progression even when a run ends badly.
You’re also under pressure from the Scorched Queen, who expects steady results. Her requests push you to expand, improve, and prove your worth, and your reputation is always at stake. To keep replays from feeling identical, the game includes over 100 gameplay modifiers and offers six distinct biomes, giving you plenty of ways to change how each expedition unfolds.
Since launching on Steam on December 8, 2023, Against the Storm has earned a “Very Positive” reception, with 94% of 35,402 user reviews rated positively. Players frequently praise its approachable gameplay, strong art direction, and soundtrack. That said, it’s not designed to be an ultra-complex city builder, and progression can involve repeating familiar tasks. Some players have also reported bugs.
Right now, Against the Storm is available for $8.99 thanks to a 70% discount on Steam. The price is expected to return to $29.99 after March 26, 2026, and this same low price point was previously seen on December 18, 2025.
