Paradox’s latest grand strategy Afterworld wants you to survive and thrive in the post-apocalypse

Paradox Interactive has officially announced Afterworld, a grand strategy game set in a post-apocalyptic North America. The title marks Paradox Development Studio’s first original grand strategy setting in over a decade, following recent releases like Crusader Kings 3, Victoria 4, and Europa Universalis 5.

In Afterworld, players begin with a small group of survivors in a procedurally generated landscape filled with hazardous terrain and dangerous old-world ruins. The objective is to gradually expand this group into a continent-spanning empire by scavenging resources like food, water, and shelter, then slowly rediscovering pre-collapse civilization methods and technologies.

Drawing inspiration from properties like Fallout and Mad Max, Afterworld features several distinctive gameplay elements. One notable feature is the Ancients—immortal leaders who existed before civilization’s collapse and are now competing for dominance in the wasteland. The game also allows for varied playstyles, including the ability to establish unconventional societies such as cannibal cults.

The game was officially revealed during Gamescom’s Opening Night Live, following earlier leaks. Game director Dan Lind emphasized the significance of returning to original worldbuilding after a decade of historical grand strategy titles. While Afterworld borrows thematic elements from post-apocalyptic fiction, Paradox has incorporated its own unique mechanics and systems to differentiate the experience from existing franchises in the genre.

Paradox’s latest grand strategy Afterworld wants you to survive and thrive in the post-apocalypse

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