Against the Storm Review: The Roguelite City Builder Everyone Recommends
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Short answer: Against the Storm is one of the best-reviewed strategy games of recent years. It mixes a city builder with roguelite runs: you build a settlement, finish your goals before the Queen loses patience, then start fresh somewhere new. It holds a 91 on Metacritic and an Overwhelmingly Positive rating on Steam (95% of 19,301 English reviews). If you have ever finished a city builder and wished for a new challenge, this is an easy recommendation at $29.99.
What is Against the Storm?
Against the Storm is a dark fantasy city builder from Eremite Games, published by Hooded Horse. Endless rain covers the world, and as the Viceroy you send settlers out from the Smoldering City to build towns in the wilds. Each town is a short run: you meet its goals, earn rewards and use them to grow your capital between runs.
| Developer | Eremite Games |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Hooded Horse |
| Release | 8 December 2023 (Early Access from November 2022) |
| Platforms | Windows, also on consoles |
| Genre | City builder, roguelite |
| Critic scores | Metacritic 91, OpenCritic 89 |
| Steam rating | Overwhelmingly Positive (95% of 19,301 English reviews) |
| Price | $29.99 |
What players and critics love
A city builder that never gets stale
Because each settlement is a new run with a new map, new resources and new problems, you never fall into one perfect build order. Reviewers praise how the game forces you to adapt instead of repeating what worked last time.
Five species with their own needs
Humans, beavers, lizards, foxes and harpies all want different food, housing and services. Keeping a mixed town happy is the heart of the game.
Pressure that feels fair
The Queen’s impatience rises over time, and the storm season makes everything harder. Opening new glades in the forest can bring rewards or danger. It creates tension without feeling cruel.
Universal praise
PC Gamer scored it 91, Eurogamer gave it five stars, Destructoid gave it a 9 and Sports Illustrated a perfect 10. OpenCritic shows 91% of critics recommend it.
Biomes and progression
There are six biomes, each with its own rules and hazards. Between runs you spend what you earned on upgrades in the Smoldering City, which unlock new buildings and perks for future settlements. This long-term growth is what keeps players coming back for dozens of hours.
What to know before you buy
- Fully released since December 2023 and still supported.
- Expansions. Keepers of the Stone and Nightwatchers are each sold separately for $14.99. You do not need them to enjoy the base game.
- Runs, not one big city. If you love building one giant city over many hours, the short-run structure may feel different from what you expect.
Who should buy Against the Storm?
Buy it if you enjoy city builders and want something with more replay value than any classic sandbox. It is also a great entry point for roguelite fans who usually skip the genre. For a related challenge, see our Cataclismo review, or our Nova Roma review for a calmer city builder.
Sources
- Steam store page and user reviews for Against the Storm
- OpenCritic: Against the Storm
- PC Gamer: Against the Storm review
- Eurogamer: Against the Storm review
- Nexus store page for Against the Storm
Last checked against sources: 10 November 2026.
