Polish Devs Claim "Best Design" Honor
At Indie Game Award 2024, the captivating city-builder Against the Storm
claimed the coveted "Best Design" honor. This roguelite colony
simulation, crafted by the Polish development team Eremite Games in
collaboration with publisher Hooded Horse, seamlessly blends dark
fantasy elements with addictive city-building gameplay. Since its
release, the game has not only maintained an overwhelmingly positive
reception on the STEAM but has also garnered playful remarks from
numerous fans, who jokingly suggest enabling the in-game "playtime
warning" feature is a must – a heartwarming reminder that hints at the
developers' confidence: Against the Storm is a game that will undoubtedly keep gamers hooked once they start playing!"
Dream Chasers ! Mobile Game Devs Boldly Pursue Indie Ambitions with Against the Storm
During Taipei Game Show 2024, the publisher Hooded Horse made a special
appearance to represent the developers in receiving the award. They also
shared the fascinating backstory of the team, praising Eremite Games
not only for their unwavering commitment to quality during development
but also for their dedication to addressing gamer feedback and
diligently improving pain points, even proactively investigating
negative reviews. Hooded Horse commended them as an exemplary team
offering exceptional "after-sales service."
Interestingly, Eremite Games was formed by a group of seasoned mobile
game developers who maintained close connections while pursuing their
respective careers in the industry. Despite their accomplishments, they
harbored a smoldering aspiration to develop an engaging PC game.
Determinedly turning their dream into action, in November 2019, team
member Michał penned the first line of code for Against the Storm,
officially marking Eremite Games' transition into full-time inde game
developer. The initial planning phase alone spanned nearly three years,
but their meticulous efforts paid off, successfully delivered a game
that the developers themselves yearned to play.
Intricate Design Fuels Long-Term Against the Storm Allure
As developers who are also avid players themselves, the Eremite Games
team understands that while city-building games are undoubtedly engaging
initially, gamers often find themselves drifting away after the first
2-3 hours, mirroring a relationship exiting the honeymoon phase when
challenges diminish and growth stagnates. Consequently, during
development, they relentlessly pursued a diverse array of gameplay
elements, seamlessly blending roguelike features into the experience.
Their goal was to sustain an enthralling, honeymoon-esque allure that
would captivate players’ long-term interest.
Despite the plethora of existing city-building titles on the market,
Eremite Games sought inspiration from their personal encounters with
Blizzard Entertainment games and classic hand-drawn Disney animations
during their formative years. This inspired them to forge a distinctive
dark fantasy art style, replete with vibrant colors, intricately
sculpted species, and imaginative objects. To maintain a harmonious
balance amidst the complexity, the team strived for the "perfect fusion
of familiarity and novelty." Whenever designing a new species, members
would first identify a core concept from various proposals and then
expand upon the artistic vision, gradually shaping the foundational
outlines encompassing culture, specialties, attire, and architecture.
They meticulously ensured each element resonated with the overarching
world, ultimately crafting the vast and visually captivating realm of Against the Storm.
"The team is truly elated by this experience!" Eremite Games emphasized
that the competition featured numerous exceptional contenders, making
their triumph with "Against the Storm" – a project that began
as a modest side endeavor – all the more remarkable in the face of such
fierce rivalry. To see their humble beginnings blossom into a mature,
widely beloved masterpiece, even clinching the prestigious "Best Game
Design" award, feels utterly surreal.
Looking ahead, the team reveals that during the game's early access
period, they maintained a cadence of releasing new content updates every
two weeks. However, following the 1.0 release, they plan to moderate
the pace slightly, though assuring that Against the Storm will
not be abandoned. On the contrary, Eremite Games is actively considering
supplementing the continuous free updates with their first paid DLC
offering. Tantalizingly, they hint, "This could potentially include
brandnew playable species, so players should stay tuned!"
Article by: Susan N.
