This Dark Fantasy Game With A 91 Metacritic Score Is Worth Checking Out On Xbox Game Pass

One of the best dark fantasy games in recent memory has been added to Game Pass, and you owe it to yourself to check it out. Game Pass is one of the best deals in the gaming space today: for a pretty reasonable monthly fee, you get access to a persistent library of Xbox and PC classics, alongside occasional new releases. Game Pass has played host to some of the year’s biggest games: from the highly-rated Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 to the delightfully nostalgic The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered, there’s really something for everyone on the service.

And, if you’re looking for another fantasy game to play, but are willing to try something different, Game Pass has got you covered, too. One of the best dark fantasy games of the decade to date was recently added to the service. It has a couple of unique twists on the genre’s typical gameplay and setting tropes that’ll make it feel fresh, even if you’ve already played every other dark fantasy title available on Game Pass – plus, generally irresistible gameplay and a killer soundtrack to boot. Here’s why you need to give Against the Storm a chance.

Against The Storm Was Recently Added To Game Pass

On Console & PC

Custom Image by Steven Garrard

Eremite Games’ 2023 strategy game Against the Storm was added to Xbox Game Pass last month, on June 26, after having been available on the PC tier for over a year. It’s currently playable on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S in the Ultimate and PC tiers.

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Against the Storm is essentially a city builder with a dark fantasy setting. You play as the Viceroy, an agent of the Scorched Queen, charged with conquering the wilderness that surrounds the Smoldering City and returning it to prosperity. The settlements you build will be inhabited by a variety of diverse fantasy races, and plagued by hostile attacks and destructive rain.

Even within the constraints of its genre, Against the Storm manages to set itself apart.

Like all city builders, Against the Storm will have you gather resources, manage the demands of a population, and adapt to the unique challenges of your setting – but even within the constraints of its genre, Against the Storm manages to set itself apart.

Why Against The Storm Is Worth Playing

Critic & Player Reviews Are Stellar

Against the Storm isn’t your run-of-the-mill city builder; with an aggregated score of 91 on Metacritic and Overwhelmingly Positive all-time reviews on Steam, it’s obviously beloved by players and critics alike. It has that addictive quality that the best strategy games all share: you’ll often find yourself insisting, “just one more turn,” only to look at the clock and realize three hours have gone by.

Don’t have Game Pass? Against the Storm is also part of Steam’s summer sale, and is currently available at a 50% discount for just $14.99 (as of the time of writing).

Part of the charm of Against the Storm is its roguelike elements. You won’t be playing on the same map over and over again; the world is different every time you start a new game. Perks, the effects of the Blightstorm, and settlers in your cities will also be determined randomly. In this unpredictable setting, things can change rapidly over the course of a single run, so you’ll constantly have to change your strategy in order to succeed.

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Other than that, though, Against the Storm is just a generally well-made game. It uses a simple, cartoonish art style that can be equal parts peaceful and foreboding. Its music is moody, and as temperate as the Blightstorm; it’ll change with the weather, keeping you immersed in its dark fantasy world. Plus, it’s just a great city builder with strategically deep and varied gameplay. If you like things like Civ and Cities Skylines, you’ll probably love Against the Storm – and since it’s now on Game Pass, you have nothing to lose by checking it out.

Source: Metacritic