Neverdark: Everything We Know

Remember EA Games’ The Saboteur, and how it tasked its players with returning color to a charcoal-imbued noir-like Paris? Well, as it turns out, there’s another game that’ll take a similar route—a RTS game called Neverdark, which will look to grant its users with the power to shape new worlds and rebuild a few bridges in the aftermath of a global blackout. It’ll feature all the familiar trimmings and tropes as a traditional real-time strategy game, but will also look to add political feuds and seasonal happenings to the blueprint, too.

So, what else is there to learn from this new RTS entry? Will there be a story to indulge in, or will it merely be the case of adding a few blotches of color to a monochrome canvas? Well, if you are planning on picking up the pieces of a fallen society, then be sure to read on for all the preliminary details. Here’s everything you need to know about Neverdark.

What Is Neverdark?

To give you a clearer idea of what it’s all about, Neverdark is a “pausable” real-time strategy game set in the aftermath of a worldwide blackout. As one of its last-remaining curators, it’ll be your job to orchestrate the next chapters in a book that’s not only torn to shreds, but in the hands of several other power-hungry factions. From Tokyo to Paris, and several other cities between, the journey will plant you in the hot seat of several fractured societies and have you rebuild from the shattered roots up.

Direct from the horse’s mouth: “Neverdark is a pausable RTS game which throws you into a post-apocalyptic world. Following a global blackout, society has collapsed, and it will be your goal to rebuild it.
You lead a group of survivors, and you will need to contend with other factions over the control of the city. Invest resources and expand your influence to take over the city, street by street. Neverdark is as much about politics and social evolution as it is about combat.”

Story

Neverdark casts its focus on the events that followed on from a global blackout—a catastrophic event that caused networks to collapse, governments to lose control, and the powers that be to succumb to mass hysteria. With the world engulfed in chaos and confusion, it will be up to you, as one of its survivors, to stitch the pieces back together—a goal that will take you from Paris to New York, Tokyo to the other side of the atlas and back. As one of the world’s final hopes for establishing the foundations for a new era, you will need to go way beyond the line of duty — even if it means going toe-to-toe with some of your biggest enemies and writing a few new commandments.

”A new world rose from the ashes of the old one,” the blurb elaborates. “Each survivor enclave had a different idea on how to shape their new society: bands of raiders, religious cults, biker gangs, idealistic democratic communes and organisations built around charismatic leaders. Cities were once again battlegrounds, but it was no longer for survival, it was now for domination.”

Gameplay

The creators describe Neverdark as a real-time strategy game, which means you’ll need to alternate between building facilities, managing resources, and of course, engaging in real-time combat with other rival factions, all of whom clutch onto the hopes of conquering the world and its many, many capital cities.

“In Neverdark you play in a fallen and ruined city,” the description adds. “It is in desperate need of being rebuilt, and it will be your task to adapt it to the harsh conditions with makeshift infrastructure. Each map takes the shape of a real, existing city: Paris, New York and Tokyo. You will find yourself leading your citizens and expanding across familiar streets, taking over existing buildings and repurposing them. Perhaps you might want to use the Louvre Museum as the seat of your Black Market, or it might be a good idea to grow your crops on Rooftop Farms in Brooklyn. Building placement needs to be strategic and thoughtful. Where they’re placed, and the consequences of that choice, rests entirely in your hands.”

Development

In case you missed out on the initial announcement several years ago, developer Simteract lifted the veil on Neverdark back in March 2019. Since then, the studio has remained relatively quiet on the project, and has only really teased a small amount of in-game screenshots and the odd sneak preview to outline some of its core gameplay features. In spite of this, the team has gone ahead and given the IP a 2024 launch window — so not all hope is lost, thankfully.

Trailer

Looking for a deeper dive into the history of Neverdark? You’re in luck, as its creators actually went on to release a sneak preview a fair ways back. You can check it out for yourself in the trailer embedded above.

Release Date, Platforms & Editions

Neverdark will be shaping up for a release on PC via Steam on June 27, 2024. At the time of writing, there hasn’t been any word on whether or not it’ll be heading over to Xbox, PlayStation, or Switch. If the game does manage to port its way over to consoles at some point in the foreseeable future, then news is likely to spread via its social handle here.

Looking to stay up to date with Simteract’s latest venture? If so, then be sure to check in with the team over on their official social handle for all the updates here. If, by chance, something does change ahead of its June release, then we’ll be sure to let you know all the details right here on gaming.net.

So, what’s your take? Will you be picking up a copy of Neverdark when it arrives on PC? Let us know your thoughts over on our socials here.