Deal | Unusual RTS with 94% positive reviews drops to just $7.50 from $30 on Steam

Empires of the Undergrowth comes from developer Slug Disco and publisher Hooded Horse, which some players may recognize from games such as Manor Lords and Nova Roma – both of which are also currently on sale at a 35% discount. The ant-themed RTS has even reached a new all-time low: A 75% discount brings the regular price down from around $30 to just $7.50. According to SteamDB, that's almost $1.50 less than during the previous sale.

The game revolves around building and maintaining an ant colony. Underground, players dig tunnels, establish brood chambers and stockpile food. To grow, the colony needs food and other resources – and those are found on the surface, where spiders, frogs, crabs, rival ant colonies and other dangers await. In the campaign, scientists observe the ant colony in a laboratory and control it using pheromone trails. In classic RTS fashion, players send out their ant armies, gather food, expand into new territories and defend the colony against all kinds of predators.

Empires of the Undergrowth doesn't have a Metacritic score yet, but it has been reviewed by outlets including Hooked Games, which awarded it 9.5 out of 10 points. The ants reportedly struggle with pathfinding at times, which can be particularly frustrating because they can't be controlled individually. However, the core concept has been very well received. The game's considerable strategic depth has earned particular praise, while the campaign is also said to offer plenty of variety. There is no multiplayer mode, though. On Steam, players have submitted around 19,000 reviews so far, with an impressive 94% positive rating. Steam Deck compatibility is listed as "Playable."

The trailer offers a look at the gameplay:

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