Surviving the Aftermath

Lore & Background

Surviving the Aftermath places players in a procedurally generated post-apocalyptic world where the specific disaster is configurable and influences difficulty. After establishing a settlement, colonists arrive, most of whom are automated, though some possess specialist skills and can be directly controlled. These specialists explore the map and scavenge for resources. Random events may trigger further disasters or force the player to make decisions. Over time, new technologies are unlocked, enabling the construction of new buildings.

The developers, the Finnish studio Iceflake, deliberately avoided what they considered clichéd post-apocalyptic tropes such as mutants and zombies. Three downloadable content expansions have been released: Shattered Hope introduces a mechanic where pieces of a shattered Moon fall to Earth; New Alliances adds diplomatic options when encountering other colonies; and Rebirth adds terraforming and a fungal infection that turns wildlife hostile.

Reader's Guide

Surviving the Aftermath received mixed reviews upon its full release. Early access previews in 2019 noted that the game 'mostly feels like a reskin of Surviving Mars' and that the content was thin at that time. PC Gamer called its design 'surprisingly conservative' compared to Surviving Mars but acknowledged it added twists to the standard city-building formula. By 2020, 4Players described it as having a less bleak atmosphere than Frostpunk and already a fun city-building game. Rock Paper Shotgun recommended it to fans of Fallout 4's settlement building, though the reviewer felt that releasing the game unannounced likely complicated development and community growth in a crowded field.

Post-release, Metacritic scores were mixed. Gamereactor (Finnish edition) called it not revolutionary but fun for players wanting more city-building focus than survival. NME described it as 'competent enough' but criticized a focus on quantity over quality and an uninspiring setting. PCGamesN praised its explorable world map and configurable events. GameStar faulted the game's replayability and story, though noted it starts off well. The game's legacy lies in its attempt to blend city-building with survival in a post-apocalyptic setting, while its expansions added variety through moon debris, diplomacy, and terraforming mechanics.

Did You Know?

• The nature of the apocalypse is configurable and affects game difficulty.
• The developers intentionally avoided clichés like mutants and zombies.
• Three DLCs have been released: Shattered Hope, New Alliances, and Rebirth.
• The game was announced for early access at PDXCON on October 19, 2019.