While most city builders and RPGs keep the action firmly planted on terra firma, here’s a charming new Steam release that combines both genres and takes things skyward. Airborne Empire has just launched in early access, and it’s certainly one of the most novel settlement building games I’ve seen in a while.
Airborne Empire takes place in a world where people used to build and live in floating cities, only for a faction of ruthless aerial pirates to cause terror and claim the skies as their own. For years, it’s been too dangerous to leave the ground, but in this open-world RPG you’ll be the one to break the cycle.
Fans of city building games and management games will immediately be drawn to the core component of Airborne Empire, which is constructing and maintaining your own settlement in the sky. Not only do you have to overcome the typical constraints of resources, manpower, and knowledge, but because you’re up high, you also have to manufacture engines for lift and propulsion. Before you can build lots of heavy buildings and expand your settlement, you’ll need to increase your lift so that you don’t plummet to the ground, and propulsion devices will help you navigate the skies. Symmetry is also key – you must keep your weight balanced on each side so that you can keep flying straight and true.
As you pass over the world below, you’ll find resource deposits and NPCs on the ground that will be willing to help you in your fightback against the pirates. If you nail your dialog choices or complete side quests for those below, they’ll reward you with new technologies, such as building types or weapons.
As your settlement grows in size, so too does your population – those cannons aren’t going to man themselves, after all. Your inhabitants will need accommodation and other amenities to keep them happy and motivated. You’ve also got a lot of survival systems to keep track of too, including light (due to Airborne Empire’s day-night cycle), injuries, sickness, and fires.
Your biggest threat is, of course, the pirates that terrorize the skies. Aerial combat will require you to have enough maneuverability, defenses, and attacking firepower to fend off pirates and stay aloft.
Aerial Empire is out right now on Steam, and for the next couple of weeks until Monday, January 27, you can grab the game with a 10% discount. To add it to your library, or learn more about it, head on over to its store page here.
There are also loads of other amazing open-world games and survival games on PC right now that can test your exploration skills and resourcefulness.
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