Early access on Steam is a double-edged sword: it can give us unforgettable games or leave others to languish in obscurity. Yet, developers like Door 407 have shown how the system can work by delivering Diplomacy is Not an Option, one of the most absurd and entertaining RTS games in recent memory. It’s a game that’s kept the core elements of the genre intact while offering an experience like no other.
Since its debut in early access, Diplomacy is Not an Option has earned widespread praise, and deservedly so. The game had its solid foundation from the start, featuring a gameplay loop where players manage a settlement, build defences, and ready their army for inevitable enemy waves. Though it might seem repetitive initially, the brilliance emerges as the enemy hordes grow larger, eventually overwhelming the map in a tidal wave of destruction. At a certain point, new waves arrive before the old ones are defeated, plunging the player’s kingdom into chaos. The title says it all: in this game, diplomacy wasn’t ever an option—it’s them or you.
Recently the developers have also announced in a trailer that the game will finally be leaving early access and not only that it will also feature a massive update to the campaign mode of the game. The trailer in question is only about 2 minutes long. But it perfectly gets across the main mechanics of the game while also using dry humour in the campaign portions of the game. Said campaign will see us take control of a King who has to fight back hordes of Bandits, Rebels, Undead, and Bugs. All the while using the power of Serfs, the medieval equivalent of unpaid interns to build majestic cities and countless defences.
The trailer also showed some new units and mechanics that are not available in early access right now. Some of these according to the developer will change the way we interact with the game completely. These include new updates to the AI, catchable enemy units like bugs, more defensive buildings, and a whole new Rebel campaign. Which will put us on the opposite side of the wall, and see us lead massive hordes to take down the King, and break the chains of Serfdom.
All in all, Diplomacy is Not an Option is a perfect blend of humour, strategy, and absurdity. Giving RTS fans the innovative game they have been wanting since AOE 2. And the new update which will go live on October 4th, 2024, is set to bring even more great additions to the game ensuring it takes its place among the all-time classics of the genre.
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