Age of Darkness: Final Stand transports players to the shadowy world of Ezenthor, perfectly embodying the grim tone of a survival strategy game. As the defender of humanity’s last stronghold, you face relentless assaults from the Nightmares, the game’s primary enemies, which come in various forms and sizes. Your mission is to endure their regular onslaughts while reclaiming the human world one step at a time. Ultimately, you must confront the final stand, a massive, climactic attack that will test your resolve to the fullest.
During the day, players gather resources, expand their bastion and recruit troops, including sturdy melee fighters, skilled archers and powerful siege units. They can also command heroic characters with unique abilities to turn the tide of battle. When night falls, the Nightmares launch massive waves of attacks that grow increasingly challenging with each passing night. A standout feature of Age of Darkness is its SwarmTech technology, capable of rendering tens of thousands of enemies on-screen simultaneously. In addition to the main mode, which culminates in the climactic final stand, players can test their endurance in a survival mode, where the sole goal is to hold off the relentless Nightmare onslaught for as long as possible.
Age of Darkness: Final Stand entered Early Access in October 2021 and has since garnered over 6,000 reviews, with 80% being positive. Players often criticize the campaign for requiring a lot of time while offering little reward. Many also find the gameplay repetitive, as dominant unit combinations overshadow alternative strategies. Despite these issues, the game currently leads Steam's "New and Trending" charts. To celebrate its full release on January 15, developer PlaySide is offering a generous 65% discount, reducing the price to approximately $9.79 from $27. This promotion runs until January 27.