Empire of the Ants Reviews
Empire of the Ants offers an original and - surprisingly - moving story in a beautiful visual setting. It's a shame, however, that the game's technical condition is as thin as an ant's abdomen.
Review in Polish | Read full review
This iteration of Empire of the Ants is certainly an improvement over the original game released over 20 years ago. It looks absolutely gorgeous and has a fitting soundscape to boot. The lack of micromanagement makes it more accessible for most but alienates those looking for the next coming of SimAnt. The strategy elements and platforming are basic, but the game remains enjoyable in short bursts. As a whole, it's a good game that you'll only jump into if you want something that feels strategic without going too deep into what the genre offers.
‘Empire Of The Ants’ is a refreshing and innovative look into the RTS genre. It had me hooked every step of the way, even if the gameplay variety sagged a little towards the end. The beautiful atmosphere created by the graphics and sound had me glued to the screen.
There you have it folks, a barebones RTS with gorgeous graphics and clunky controls. Even with all the negatives, I would say I had fun with it for the most part. It was a change of pace from the usual games that I play and it wasn’t so bad that I had to walk away from it. It’s an alright time waster, not much more than that. It looks like it was supposed to have some longevity to it as it does have crossplay multiplayer but I didn’t touch on this before for the simple fact that I couldn’t actually play it. There are so few people picking the game up that I wasn’t able to get into any multiplayer matches. In short, it was fun for a couple hours, but I probably won’t come back to it.
I thought that Empire of The Ants was going to have a lot more gameplay centred around the building of the colony. Now, don’t get me wrong, commanding armies against other bugs/insects is fun. But when I think of ants, I think of them as an entire colony. The combat is fun and engaging, although slow, especially when units are moving to a location. However, the ant we play should also be more a part of the action and not just use buffs. I do like the movement of the controlled ant. As the story starts off simple, I definitely say keep playing and you’ll be pleasantly surprised. It becomes rather fun and interesting, and when it did, I was hooked. I was surprised to learn that Empire of The Ants was also based on the book, which I looked into further, and honestly, I was intrigued. I’m awarding Empire of The Ants the Thumb Culture Gold Award. It’s a good relaxing RTS.
“Empire of the Ants” is a solid strategy title, sadly, its narrative focused campaign drags on for far too long and adds unecessary platforming elements. Pick it up for the skirmishes against AI and to play with friends.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
I think that the best way I can describe Empire of the Ants is to compare it to a BBC biology documentary. Sure, it’s boring, but the presentation and delivery make the product feel more interesting than it really is. It’s a jaw-dropping gorgeous experience with an additional layer of scientific research and information to be delivered to whoever plays it.
“Empire of the Ants” takes the player into a breathtaking world powered by Unreal Engine 5, which captures the fascination of insect life in an impressive way. The gameplay offers a mixture of real-time strategy and platform elements, which provides variety. However, the pace of the battles feels a little sluggish and the AI of the enemies could be more sophisticated. The campaign provides a solid foundation for the game, but lacks in-depth characters and a compelling story. The repetitive tasks and slow pace of progress can slow down long-term motivation.
Review in German | Read full review
Empire of the Ants is a remake of a cult-classic original that tries to simplify the game mechanics and reinvent it for a more modern audience. The strategic depth of the game is reduced a lot, but it does allow for a more casual audience to be invested in it (even though it may not appeal to hardcore fans of the original game). The visuals look really well done and without significant performance issues (which is quite a standard to be held up in today’s games). The game is worth a play if you can afford to get it right now!
Empire of the Ants is recommended for offering an innovative RTS experience from a microscopic perspective, making it a unique game for those looking to explore the world of ants. With a solo campaign that shines for its atmosphere thanks to the excellent use of the Unreal Engine 5.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Empire of the Ants is a successful adaptation of the original by Bernard Werber and scores particularly well with its photorealistic presentation and sensitive gameplay. The mixture of RTS and platforming gameplay creates variety and challenges the player both tactically and in terms of skill. Anyone who has a soft spot for nature and likes to explore the world from a completely new perspective will get their money's worth with this game. The small weaknesses in the camera work and the simple menu design are noticeable, but do not detract significantly from the experience. For RTS fans looking for a new experience and anyone who wants to experience the microcosm up close, Empire of the Ants is an absolute recommendation. It combines strategy, nature and graphic beauty to create a unique experience that shows just how much life and drama can be found in the smallest of creatures.
Review in German | Read full review
Empire of the Ants is charming and detail-oriented, if a little empty on the inside. Aside from the immense atmosphere and graphical feats, however, the gameplay starts to become glaring the longer you play. The UI is cluttered and covers up most of the beautiful visuals.
Empire of the Ants looks great and, despite some texture issues, presents a visually impressive, convincingly insectoid world. This, alongside some fairly engaging RTS bug-on-bug battles, scratches a specific itch and makes for a unique game worth trying.
Empire of the Ants is a beautiful and ambitious ant adventure that illustrates the universe at our feet in fantastic quality. Beyond its insect simulator, however, the real-time strategy falls a little short. There is too little variety in the missions, the controls offer too few tactical options and are a little too confusing when building the nests. In addition, there are strange exploration missions that contribute little to the plot, but are more annoying than enriching with their game mechanics. At least there is a multiplayer mode, but this also suffers from a lack of variety in the armies.
Review in German | Read full review
Empire of the Ants isn't your typical RTS-game. Instead it's a wonderful looking experience, that drags you into the life of insects. Despite the great presentation, the game itself suffers from lackluster controls and camera-issues.
Review in German | Read full review
With its unique take on exploration and deep yet accessible combat mechanics, Empire of the Ants is a gripping masterpiece of an RTS that is wonderous to behold, making it one of 2024's greatest stand-outs.
While the graphics transport you to another world, the gameplay falls disappointingly short — leaving a taste in my mouth, I imagine, similar to how Ant-rid tastes to ants.
Empire of the Ants is not just an RTS but a true celebration of nature. The presentation, graphics and emotive music are nothing short of gorgeous, as is the gameplay (albeit simplified to be best handled via DualSense) which entertains, though lacking the depth that characterizes other exponents of the genre. Not to mention that it is really interesting to understand (by experiencing firsthand) the perspective of such tiny creatures doing anything to survive. It is a splendid example - in video game sauce - of how we too often take for granted what is outside our homes and how each of us should take a moment to appreciate the little things. Priced at €39.99, it is an experience we definitely feel like recommending!
Review in Italian | Read full review
Empire of the Ants is a welcome breath of fresh forest air in a genre that can always benefit from more nature-based simulators, and sets a well-earned standard for those looking to achieve a similar vision. The story is an enjoyable 20 or so hours inside a world that is fascinating to explore, and I think Bernard Werber would be proud of what Tower Five has accomplished.