Cataclismo
Build Lego-inspired fortresses by day, defend against Horrors by night.
Cataclismo is a real-time strategy game with tower defense elements, released in full on March 20, 2025, for Windows. Developed by Digital Sun and published by Hooded Horse, it entered early access in July 2024. The game takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where a magical cataclysm has spread a poisonous mist. During the day, players explore, gather resources, and build fortresses using a Lego-inspired system with over 100 building pieces that can be freely combined. Structures have their own stability rules, influenced by height and materials, and different environments add architectural challenges. Players also research technology to unlock new troop types and expand their strongholds with buildings, traps, and facilities, while managing oxygen to sustain their base.
At night, large hordes of mutating enemies called the Horrors attack the player's citadel, the command center. Units automatically fight nearby foes, but players must position them strategically. Defensive buildings slowly crumble when damaged and may collapse entirely, harming both allies and enemies. The game includes a campaign mode plus Creative, Survival, and Skirmish modes. Players can share their strongholds online via Steam Workshop.
Digital Sun, known for Moonlighter and The Mageseeker, developed Cataclismo. Lego heavily influenced the building system. The game features 13 traditional buildings, but players craft their own using smaller pieces. Early playtester feedback led to a system where decorations provide gameplay perks, ensuring effective buildings are also visually appealing. The art style draws from Romantic painters like Caspar David Friedrich, as well as Mike Mignola and Studio Ghibli, while the high-fantasy setting is inspired by Dark Souls. The RTS gameplay takes cues from Age of Empires II, Warcraft III, and They Are Billions.
Cataclismo was published by Hooded Horse after Digital Sun split with original publisher Humble Games, which announced the title in May 2023. A Kickstarter campaign launched in October 2023 reached its funding goal within a week. The game received "generally favorable" reviews on Metacritic.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Cataclismo
- Developer
- Digital Sun
- Publisher
- Hooded Horse
- Platforms
- Microsoft Windows
- Director
- Vicent Ramirez
- Artist
- David Aguado
- Engine
- Unity
- Released
- March 20, 2025
- Genre
- Real-time strategy
- Modes
- Single-player
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Cataclismo is set in a post-apocalyptic world where a magical cataclysm created a suffocating poison mist that has spread across the globe. During daytime, players explore and collect resources, construct fortresses and strongholds, and train various types of troops. The building system allows players to freely mix and match more than 100 building pieces to create towers, walls, and other defensive structures, with different environments and landscapes providing architectural challenges. Oxygen management is also important for maintaining a sustainable base. At night, the player's settlement is attacked by large hordes of mutating enemies known as the 'Horrors,' which seek to destroy the citadel, the player's stronghold command center. Units automatically attack nearby enemies, but players must guide them to strategic positions for tactical advantage. Defense buildings slowly crumble when damaged and may collapse completely, affecting both allies and enemies. The game features a campaign mode, as well as Creative, Survival, and Skirmish modes. Strongholds can be shared online through Steam Workshop.
Reader's Guide
Cataclismo is notable for its unique blend of real-time strategy and tower defense mechanics, with a building system heavily influenced by Lego. The game was developed by Digital Sun, the studio behind Moonlighter and The Mageseeker, and published by Hooded Horse after Digital Sun split with original publisher Humble Games. A Kickstarter campaign launched in October 2023 reached its target funding within a week. The game entered early access on July 22, 2024, and was fully released on March 20, 2025. It received 'generally favorable' reviews on Metacritic. The building system features 13 traditional buildings but allows players to craft structures using smaller pieces, each with its own stability rules; height and material choice affect sturdiness. Following playtester feedback, the developers ensured the most effective buildings were also aesthetically pleasing by implementing a system allowing decorations that provide gameplay perks. The art style was inspired by Romantic painters such as Caspar David Friedrich, as well as the works of Mike Mignola and Studio Ghibli, while the high-fantasy setting drew from Dark Souls. The RTS gameplay was inspired by Age of Empires II, Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos, and They Are Billions.
Did You Know?
- The building system was inspired by Lego.
- The game features more than 100 building pieces.
- Enemies called 'Horrors' attack at night.
- The art style was influenced by Caspar David Friedrich, Mike Mignola, and Studio Ghibli.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Cataclismo?
Cataclismo is a real-time strategy game with tower defense mechanics set in a post-apocalyptic world. It was developed by Digital Sun and published by Hooded Horse, with a full Windows release on March 20, 2025.
What is the core gameplay loop in Cataclismo?
Players spend daylight hours exploring the world, collecting resources, and constructing fortresses, then defend those structures against creatures called Horrors once night falls. The game blends base-building strategy with wave-based tower defense.
How does Cataclismo's building system work?
The game uses a Lego-inspired construction system featuring over 100 interchangeable building pieces that players can combine freely. Each structure must follow stability rules based on its height and the materials used, and different environments impose additional architectural constraints.
What is the world of Cataclismo like?
The game takes place after a magical cataclysm that unleashed a poisonous mist across the land, creating a post-apocalyptic setting. Players must survive by building and defending settlements in this hazardous environment.
More in Real-Time Strategy Games of the 2020s 1-19
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced