Empire of the Ants, based on Bernard Werber’s novel, is a real-time strategy game that’s both visually stunning and fun to play. After our preview earlier this year, I got another chance to spend some time with the demo as part of the Steam Next Fest, and while it’s not the most complex RTS on the market, it definitely delivers a unique experience — controlling an ant colony as they navigate through a resource-scarce and hostile environment. The demo gives a solid introduction to the game’s mechanics, leaving me curious to see what the full version will bring.
Empire of the Ants is about guiding your ant forces through the wilderness, collecting resources, building up your nests, and engaging in combat with other insect factions. The control scheme is simple yet effective, making it easy to move your units around and manage your colony’s economy. You play as 103,683rd and everything takes place from their perspective. Anything an ant can do, you can do and more. 103,683rd has a freedom of movement unlike any other experience. You can climb plants, walk along logs, and hang upside down if that’s your bag. This perspective, whilst limited, is perfect for the setting. You’re an insect, not a god, so don’t expect a god-like view of the battlefield. This reduced oversight of the environment can mean it’s difficult to get your bearings, but this is where the mini-map comes in useful. You’ll never get lost as long as you keep one eye on your map location.
Each nest you happen upon needs to be captured by evicting the current tenants by force. It then serves as a hub where you can spawn and upgrade units, but resource management is key. You’ll be balancing food and wood as your currency for upgrades, defences, and spawning your next wave of soldiers.
When it comes to battles, you do not have direct control of your units but instead give them orders. A clever mechanic here is that you can only order your ant legions to a location you can see. You’ll be relying heavily on positioning to gain the upper hand in battles. Take up a position on high ground so you can see what’s happening, but don’t get too close. 103,683rd is not a warrior.
I loved watching two swarms of insects clash, with ants flying through the air as they shredded each other. The spectacle of these tiny battles was impressive, making each encounter feel lively. However, while the combat looks great, it can feel a bit limited in terms of scale. The demo restricts the number of units you can field at once, leaving me wanting a bit more variety and scope in how I managed my armies.
Visually, Empire of the Ants impresses with its attention to detail. It’s a long time since I played a game so beautiful. The graphics are crisp, and the way the game handles lighting and textures gives the environment a photorealistic feel. I was quite content to just wander around soaking in the atmosphere of the forest. From a visual perspective, Empire of the Ants is truly exceptional. The game runs well too despite the photorealism, even with multiple creatures on screen. At no point did I notice any frame drops. I could happily play Empire of the Ants for days, just to enjoy the spectacle of how it looks.
As for content, the 50-minute demo felt like a good teaser, but it left me wondering about the longevity of the game. I’m not personally interested in PvP modes, but for those who are, multiplayer might be a nice addition. I’d love to see some form of sandbox mode or extended campaign with more freedom to explore the game world and build up my colony. The prospect of only 25 hours of story gameplay also seems a bit on the short side for a game like this, especially considering the asking price of 40 euros.
I enjoyed my time with the demo and Empire of the Ants remains firmly wedged into my wishlist. It’s not without its limitations — a few balancing tweaks, perhaps larger armies, and deeper strategic elements would make it even more compelling. But if you’re into real-time strategy and want a fresh take on the genre, Empire of the Ants is worth keeping an eye on. Be prepared for a slower-paced, visually immersive, experience. This might just crawl its way into your favourite RTS games list, and it’s highly recommended that you try it out as part of the Steam Next Fest.
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