In the wake of the Star Union’s fall, 6 factions pursue survival, conquest, and the establishment of a new space order upon the ashes of the Star Union. Planetfall’s story is set in the aftermath of a space cataclysm that destroyed the space faring empire, the Star Union, and making FTL travel all but impossible. It takes the 4X strategy genre forward with the implementation of several unique and thematic mechanics. At its core, it is a 4X strategy game in the same vein as Proxy Studios’ Warhammer 40000 Gladius: Relics of War however, it is much more than just another game focused on resource exploitation and endless combat. The best way to conceptualize Age of Wonders: Planetfall is to think of it as a mix of Endless Legend, Civilization, Heroes of Might and Magic, and XCOM. Giving my mind enough time to marinate on all that the game had to offer, all the while reading the handy in-game encyclopedia, the Imperial Archives, helped me understand that what Triumph Studios included in the game was thematically and mechanically genius. The new aesthetic and science-fiction setting definitely put me off as the last time I looked at Age of Wonders in 2014 it was a strong outing as a 4X strategy game in the same vein as the Heroes of Might and Magic series of games. My initial thoughts on Age of Wonders: Planetfall were mixed as I worked through the short tutorial and my first game as there was so much data to take in. Putting the game down to write this, I find myself thinking about all the game has to offer in strategic and tactical options and how best to optimize my next strategy, or which faction to try next and how that faction will inform my playstyle. Or at least at the local board game or comic book store poring over the brand new releases of graphic novels and game rule books. While exploring what this game had to offer I could not stop thinking that as a strategy, tactics, and science-fiction fan that I was the kid that got stuck in the candy store.

Age of Wonders: Planetfall really is a game about wonderment and deep thought.

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