Dust Front RTS is quite unlike anything I’ve seen before in the real-time strategy genre. Based on looks alone, it’s grimdark aesthetic would not feel out of place in the most Warhammer-y of Warhammer 40,000 settings. Dark, brooding, gritty, the game’s visual design immerses players in a world that feels both intensely oppressive and intricately detailed.
Ten Years in Development
In development for the past decade, Dust Front RTS is the passion project of Dmitry Charankо́v AKA RtsDimon. Dmitry’s background as a technical artist and freelancer graphics contractor is apparent in the game’s visuals. Battlefields are cloaked in shadows, with every corner of the map reflecting the aftermath of relentless warfare. The environment is characterized by jagged ruins, charred landscapes, and ominous skies, all contributing to a sense of pervasive desolation. This visual approach not only enhances the game’s mood but also reinforces the narrative of a planet ravaged by ceaseless conflict. Dust Front certainly looks the part, but let’s see if its gameplay and narrative depth can match the high standards set by its impressive and haunting visual design.
Dust Front’s solid gameplay mechanics will feel intimately familiar to fans of real-time strategy games. Players will construct bases, gather resources, build armies and then lead those armies into battle. Featuring an arsenal of tanks, infantry, aircraft and support units, the game emphasizes combined arms tactics, requiring players to strategically coordinate these diverse forces to achieve victory against their enemies. The game demands careful management of production, economy, and technological advancements in order to maintain a competitive edge, ensure a steady supply of resources, and continuously upgrade your military capabilities to meet the evolving challenges on the battlefield.
All Your Base Are Belong To Dust
Base building in Dust Front is a freeform affair, allowing players to create customized strongholds and intricate defensive networks that reflect their strategic preferences. You have the freedom to design and arrange structures as desired, restricted only by geography. Resource nodes are scattered across the procedurally generated maps, necessitating expansion and strategic positioning. Turtling, a common strategy in many RTS games, becomes a relic of the past as players are encouraged to venture out and secure vital resources to sustain their war efforts. Expansion is the name of the game.
Successful players will secure a broad logistical footprint, establishing multiple outposts and supply lines to maintain a steady flow of resources. This expanded presence boosts economic strength and provides strategic advantages, such as advanced warning of enemy movements and additional staging grounds for launching offensives.
Each base will include essential structures, including factories for vehicle production, refineries for processing minerals, barracks for training infantry, and storage facilities to safeguard resources. The placement and upgrade of these buildings are crucial to optimising efficiency and preparing for the demands of war. Defensive structures, such as turrets and walls, can be strategically placed to fortify key points and protect against enemy incursions.
Players must also consider the technological aspect of base building. Research facilities enable the development of advanced technologies and upgrades, enhancing units and unlocking new capabilities. This tech progression is vital for maintaining a competitive edge, as players will face increasingly sophisticated and powerful adversaries.
As the campaign progresses, bases can be expanded and fortified to adapt to changing circumstances and threats. Mobile base units and modular construction options allow for flexibility and dynamic responses to battlefield developments.
The game’s emphasis on base management and expansion creates a layered and engaging strategic experience. Balancing offence and defence, securing resources, and advancing technology are all integral to building a successful base and achieving victory in Dust Front’s unforgiving world. This intricate system of base building ensures that players are constantly challenged to think ahead, adapt their strategies, and innovate to stay ahead of their enemies.
How’s About That Procedural Generation Then?
Dust Front has classic real-time strategy foundations. Base building, resource harvesting, unit creations, expansion, base building. It’s a system we all know so well. Where it diverges from the standard formula is procedurally generated maps. Alongside generated battlefields, the game incorporates emergent narrative elements driven by player decision making. Territories produce random events such as merchants to trade with and mercenaries to recruit, influencing a faction’s path through Global War. Dust Front’s campaign is far from linear. Player choice dictates relations with other factions, influences territorial control and ultimately determines outcomes.
Wait, Did You Mention Global War?
Dust Front’s strategic depth is significantly enhanced by its Global War mode. The Global War campaign involves territory control, garrisons and simultaneous turn-based movement. This adds an additional layer of strategic gameplay beyond individual battles. Set on a war-torn planet, Dust Front’s backdrop is bleak. The environment reflects the devastating history, with resources scarce and ruins scattered across battlefields. Gameplay will be challenging to even the most hardcore RTS players. Mistakes will be punished but clever strategies can lead to victory against overwhelming odds. The post-apocalyptic setting and smart enemy AI create an environment that feels both alive and dangerous. With up to a dozen different endings, no two playthroughs will be the same, ensuring high replay value.
No Multiplayer
Dust Front is going solo. This is a conscious decision by a developer who wants to focus all of his efforts and energy on creating an immersive and complete campaign experience. This decision is a boost for those looking for a finely honed and crafted solo experience, but it may disappoint players looking for a co-op or competitive mode. On the surface this my seem like a controversial decision, but Dmitry has done his homework. Research points to the majority of real time strategy players thinking of themselves as casual players. About 80% of players are interested, primarily, in the single player aspect of games. We consider this group to be the silent majority. Its normally the vocal minority who capture the attention of game developers. Those who shout loudest often get what the ask for. The history of Stellaris, as an example, is one of balance patch after balance patch, typically at the bequest of a small cadre of competitive players. The solo players often feel the negative aftermath of such moves.
No multiplayer is actually an astute move by Dmitry Charankо́v. He can focus all of his time into the development of a game which will satisfy 80% of the available market and ignore the risks of upsetting a small minority of players who will – let’s face it – never be satisfied with game balance. Kudos, Dmitry.
Release Plans
Dust Front RTS is not currently in early access, demo form or available for preorder. However, players can follow development updates on Steam and join the official Discord server to stay informed about the release. Dmitry Charankо́v aims to launch Dust Front RTS on Steam within the next 1-2 years, depending on development progress.
For strategy gamers seeking bold experimentation and challenge reminiscent of classics like StarCraft, Dust Front RTS is an exciting proposition. Its blend of procedural generation, emergent narrative, strategic meta-campaign, and gritty RTS combat positions it as a potential standout in the genre. Watch Steam and Discord for launch updates and consider wishlisting to support this ambitious solo developer’s effort to push the RTS genre forward. If Dmitry’s vision comes to fruition, Dust Front RTS could become an instant hit among real-time strategy aficionados.
