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Age of Wonders: Planetfall, revealed in May 2018, wasn’t initially met with universal acclaim from long-time fans of the Age of Wonders series. Known for its fantasy setting and turn-based tactical combat within the 4X genre, the community understandably expressed some disappointment at the shift towards a sci-fi setting reminiscent of Alpha Centauri and XCOM. However, given that Age of Wonders 3 also took time to win over fans after its 2014 release, perhaps a shake-up of Triumph Studios’ two-decade formula was overdue. Fortunately, the innovations in Planetfall are largely positive.

Age of Wonders: Planetfall

A Galactic Adventure

For newcomers, Planetfall’s core gameplay loop is familiar to the 4X genre: city/base building, research, exploration, diplomacy with various factions, military development, and combating hostile forces. Victory can be achieved through unification (peaceful planetary control), purification (reaching military milestones), or simply eliminating all other players. While retaining the 4X spirit, Planetfall introduces some exciting twists.

Movement on the hex-based world map is fluid and free-flowing, despite the traditional turn-based structure. The map is densely packed with points of interest, rivaling a CRPG. The main campaign guides players naturally, and the hero progression system will feel like home to fans of Amplitude Studios’ Endless series and Might & Magic.

Planetfall’s core gameplay loop is familiar to the 4X genre, but with exciting twists.

Sector Management and Dynamic Expansion

Each map boasts randomized terrain, environments, and features within a specific theme, divided into sectors. Sectors function as territory management zones, with biome types dictating resource yields and special landmarks offering significant advantages, such as generating two defensive units every two turns.

Age of Wonders: Planetfall

Capturing these landmarks requires more than just sending a colonizer; players must actively engage in combat, diplomacy, and strategic conquest. This dynamic makes early-game expansion far more engaging than in many other 4X titles, particularly as initial colony development demands less attention than exploration.

Choice and Consequence in a Sci-Fi World

A key highlight of Planetfall’s exploration is its emphasis on choice and consequence. Players face numerous decisions both within and outside the main storyline, presented with compelling “double-edged sword” scenarios. For instance, in the Vanguard campaign’s first mission, players can trade a secret technology to the Promethean faction, but this isn’t achieved through a simple dialogue box. Instead, they must locate and capture a hidden Promethean facility on the map.

Tactical Combat Prowess

Planetfall’s turn-based combat, while not groundbreaking, is highly effective. Five elemental damage types (Kinetic, Thermal, Arc, Biochemical, and Psionic) underpin most combat mechanics, from unit stats and weaponry to mods and secret technologies, creating dynamic engagements with the AI.

Age of Wonders: Planetfall

Features like cover and overwatch offer a familiar tactical layer, while the in-depth unit modding system allows for non-linear upgrades and interesting combinations of unit traits. Operations add another strategic dimension, enabling players to summon powerful mechs, deploy orbital bombardments, or inflict debilitating status effects.

A Universe Not Fully Explored

Despite its initial complexity, Planetfall’s campaign feels surprisingly short, spanning only 14 missions (or 13, excluding the Vanguard tutorial). The limited scope provides only superficial explanations for each faction’s backstory and motivations, which don’t differ significantly in terms of mechanics compared to Endless Legend or Space.

Age of Wonders: Planetfall

The narrative begins with the remnants of the Star Union and culminates in a conflict with neutral factions. However, the motivations of these factions remain unclear. Characters feel like museum tour guides, offering little opportunity for meaningful interaction or deeper understanding. The story concludes abruptly, leaving many plot threads unresolved.

Shallow City Management

Colony development also feels underdeveloped compared to exploration and combat. Cities have a limited number of building upgrades, and after around 20 turns, construction queues are primarily filled with military units.

Age of Wonders: Planetfall

While maps are large and diverse, the placement of elements like NPCs feels arbitrary. The presence of only one type of strategic resource, used solely for Operations, further diminishes the empire-building aspect.

Conclusion

Age of Wonders: Planetfall offers a compelling 4X experience with its dynamic exploration, engaging combat, and unique sector management. However, its short campaign, underdeveloped narrative, and shallow city management prevent it from reaching its full potential. Despite these shortcomings, Planetfall remains a worthwhile addition to the 4X genre, particularly for fans seeking a sci-fi twist on the classic formula.