Welcome to the world of rats, mice, cockroaches, and lizards in Ratten Reich, a new real-time strategy game from indie game studio, Metal Alder. Using steampunk and dieselpunk technologies, our anthropomorphic (that means they have human characteristics!) adversaries are locked in relentless war. Who will triumph? That’s for you to decide.
Metal Alder have incorporated the best real-time strategy elements into Ratten Reich. Players will command anything from a small squad to an entire division across environments from the smoky, industrial cities of the Ratten Reich to the swampy marshlands of the Eastern Continent. You’re invited to dive into an engaging campaign in a unique and bloody universe.
Welcome to the Ratten Reich
The setting of Ratten Reich is surprisingly complex; for a game about rodents, reptiles and insects killing each other. The game is deeply rooted in a history of political intrigue, societal upheaval, and technological advancements. Two centuries before the start of the game, the Rat Empire emerged from a collection of duchies, principalities and free cities on the central continent. The mouse kingdoms, living on island states surrounding the continent had great influence over a rat population beset by wars, hunger, disease and strife.
A militaristic leader from a prominent rat duchy rose to prominence, uniting all of rat-dom under a single banner. By building alliances this rat ushered in an era of enlightenment. Great reforms and rapid development transformed the scattered duchies into a formidable empire. Agricultural and industrial occurred leading to a local industrial revolution which saw the emergence of factories processing food for supply the empire.
Local militias were restructured into a formidable army, and an alliance with the Empire of the Rising Sun, strengthened its military and economic capabilities.
Friends and allies of the Rat Empire, the Sun Empire is an island nation of agama lizards with a strong naval focus. They have used their close diplomatic and military ties with the Rat Empire to modernise their military and maintain their dominance of the seas.
Rivals of the Sun Empire, the monitor lizards of the Red Dragon have suffered six years of civil war and famine. Failure to build and produce modern weapons has lead to the Red Dragon begrudgingly seeking alliances. They have enlisted the mice in their struggle against the agama lizards.
The Free Mouse Republic is an unwieldly coalition of 38 countries dominated by the powerful Franx and Angul. There are internal political struggles and social issues, including poverty, lack of healthcare, and high crime rates. Despite challenges, the FMR has become a formidable power in the world. Their extensive navy has allowed them to dominate trade, yet they are challenged for navel supremacy by the Sun Empire. As a multi-national union the FMR can call upon a wide variety of units and weapons for their million troop army.
The Tsar Empire of Roaches is the final faction of Ratten Reich. This nation of cockroaches have developed a society deeply embedded in industrial and mechanical innovation. Their natural chitinous armour grants them significant protection in battle. The constant threat of revolution has shaped the Tsar Empire into a resilient and adaptive force. Self-appointed defenders of the downtrodden, the cockroaches excel in mechanical and industrial fields.
If you haven’t worked it out yet, the factions in Ratten Reich are based on real-world nations from the Great Wars which blighted the first half of the 20th century. The rats are Germany. The mice are the allies; Franx/France and Angul/England. The agama lizards are Japan and the monitor lizards represent China. Russia is represented by the cockroaches. As lore design goes, it’s clear that a lot of effort has been poured into Ratten Reich.
Gameplay
Its why we’re here, right? You can have the most incredible setting but if the mechanics are not up to it, people just ain’t gonna play. So let’s explore what to expect in Ratten Reich.
The team at Metal Alder are aiming to provide a comprehensive real-time strategy experience. The campaign mode will feature a detailed narrative adding narrative to your battles. You’ll lead your chosen faction (it’s the rats, right?) through a series of missions; each with complex strategic objectives, resource management, and tactical combat. Each mission is designed to expand on the narrative storyline, providing insights into the motivations and histories on the belligerents. In the initial early access release, anticipated for 9th August 2024, the Rat Empire, Free Mouse Republic and Empire of the Rising Sun will have introductory campaigns. Campaigns for the Red Dragons and Tsarist Empire of Roaches will arrive later in the early access journey.
Skirmish mode is anticipated to be added Q2 2025, allowing players to engage in quick, standalone battles against AI opponents. This is an ideal sandbox for testing out different strategies and unit combinations. You will be able to customise settings of skirmish matches to experience alternative maps, difficulty levels and enemy types.
Ratten Reich is being developed to be deeply immersive. Players will discover cover mechanics and fully destructive environments. The game takes place across multiple diverse biomes, including urban environments, marshlands, and deserts. Marshlands will make movement difficult, whilst the desert landscapes are ideal for vehicular combat with limited cover. The urban locales of the central continent feature heavily fortified military bases and intense street-to-street fighting. Players can demolish buildings, create new pathways, or remove enemy cover by targeting structures. There is an air of realism seeping into your rodent wars.
At the start of the early access phase players will have access to a wide variety of units, each with specific roles and abilities. Effective management is a must, with the right tool required for different jobs. Light infantry will scout enemy positions and heavy tanks (coming later) will be necessary for frontal assaults on enemy defensive emplacements. The game also includes detailed unit-specific cards that provide comprehensive information for each unit.
Units are ‘non-standard’, with extensive customisation options offered for upgrading weapons and equipment. Unit effectiveness is improved through improvements to existing equipment or by investing in new technologies.
Tactical combat is heavily emphasized in Ratten Reich, with players being required to make strategic decisions in real time. Unit placement for maximum effectiveness, combined arms assaults and responding to enemy incursions are basic requirements. Players can use fortifications, artillery support, and air reconnaissance to turn the tide of battle in their favour.
Overall, anticipate a realistic experience. Gore, blood, and destruction to emphasise the brutal nature of conflict. The steampunk and dieselpunk aesthetic further enhances the grim and gritty feel of the game, immersing players in the harsh realities of warfare.
Early Access
Ratten Reich launches on Steam Early Access on August 9th 2024. Players can try the game whilst it’s still in development. This provides the developers with valuable feedback from the community to refine the development direction. The Early Access version includes multiple campaign levels, providing several hours of gameplay and a deep dive into the story. Players will get a taste of the game’s strategic depth, with several different unit types available. As the Early Access phase progresses, Metal Alder plan to introduce new mechanics and features. The end of 2024 will see enhancements to the first campaigns and an expansion of AI capabilities. Early next year we’ll get AI skirmish mode and the addition of unique vehicles. Towards the end of 2025 expect to see vehicle customisation and a DLC covering the Roach Empire. There is no word yet on whether this DLC will be free or paid.
Here’s a full roadmap:
Compelling lore, strategic depth, and engaging gameplay mechanics, all set in a steampunk and dieselpunk universe sounds like a recipe for greatness. Add Ratten Reich to your Wishlist on Steam and consider supporting Metal Alder by getting involved in the Early Access phase of Ratten Reich. You can also drop by their Discord server if that’s your bag.
Ratten Reich: Whatever it Takes.
