Empires of the Undergrowth stands out as a real-time strategy simulation game where you take charge of an ant colony, blending base-building with tactical combat in a detailed insect world.
Gameplay
In this strategy simulation, you start with a queen in a central room and direct workers to excavate a hex-based network of tunnels, chambers, nurseries, and storage areas through soil and bedrock. Foraging above ground brings in resources like seeds, nectar, or other insects, each choice carrying risks from predators or rival colonies.
Combat revolves around commanding warrior ants via pheromone markers, which set rules of engagement and tasks like fighting or gathering. You assign groups to specialize in roles, adapting to threats such as starvation or enemy attacks. Different ant species offer unique abilities: trap-jaw ants handle melee with hitpoint recovery jumps, leafcutter majors draw aggression to protect allies, and wood ants provide ranged formic acid attacks.
Balancing nest expansion, resource management, and defense requires quick decisions, as threats shift between underground dwellers and surface creatures. Coordination across multiple maps adds layers to the strategy, demanding awareness of evolving conditions to keep the colony thriving.
Game Modes
The narrative-driven campaign mode weaves a story around a lab experiment with Formica ereptor gene-thief ants, paired with documentary-style missions that explore real ant species in their biomes. Success in these missions grants resources to upgrade your lab colony and evolve ants for challenging tests.
Skirmish mode delivers classic real-time strategy battles against AI opponents, focusing on colony domination through combat and expansion. Seasonal challenges introduce unique scenarios tied to environmental changes, testing adaptability in limited-time setups.
In special modes, you raise multiple ant species within one colony, altering battle tactics based on their combined strengths and evolutionary paths.
Ant Species and Tactics
Various ant types bring distinct mechanics to the forefront. Wood ants evolve for rapid or long-range acid shots, while trap-jaw ants excel in close-quarters fights with retreat options for healing. Leafcutter majors serve as tanks, pulling enemy focus to enable flanking maneuvers.
Enemies range from spiders and beetles to larger threats like amphibians and crustaceans, each requiring specific tactics like envelopment or isolation to defeat. Synergies between ant species help counter these foes, especially in mixed-colony setups where upgrades shift overall strategy.
Is It Worth Playing?
With Very Positive reviews on platforms like Steam, where 95% of over 10,000 English-language reviews praise it, Empires of the Undergrowth appeals to strategy fans who enjoy deep management and tactical depth. The game receives ongoing support, including UI improvements and content additions as recent as late 2025, keeping it fresh for returning players.
If you prefer real-time strategy with simulation elements focused on colony building and adaptive combat, this title offers substantial replay value through its modes and mechanics. Those seeking educational insights into ant behavior will find the documentary aspects engaging, though it may not suit players looking for fast-paced action without micromanagement.
