Towers of Aghasba Preview: Crafting a Custom World

Towers of Aghasba Preview: Crafting a Custom World

As a seasoned gamer with decades of experience under my belt, let me tell you, I’ve never been this excited about an upcoming release like Towers of Aghasba. The sheer amount of customization and exploration possibilities in this game is mind-blowing! Climbing anywhere on the map, even trees and animals? Now that’s a feature I never knew I needed but can’t live without now.


The Game of Aghasba Towers is an upcoming open-world fantasy title, featuring a sandbox style where players can express their creativity by constructing ecosystems and civilizations across its vast island landscape. Additionally, it provides ample opportunities for freedom in how one spends their time within the game. Players may engage in hunting with various weapons and tools, traverse the environment using climbing skills and a glider reminiscent of Link’s in Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and visit friends’ islands at their leisurely pace.

Recently, Game Rant had a sneak peek at the gameplay mechanics of Towers of Aghasba during a hands-off preview, led by Dreamlit Games’ CEO Khang Le. He discussed various aspects of the game, including how players will primarily spend their time, the diverse systems available, and the extensive customization options. Additionally, he hinted at what gamers can anticipate in terms of post-release content.

Towers of Aghasba Dev Talks Mechanics, Systems, and Premise

Towers of Aghasba Preview: Crafting a Custom World

The initial scenes of “Towers of Aghasba” find our hero stranded on a shore alongside his tribal group, the Shimu. Interestingly, the Shimu abandoned the island long ago, but a new generation has recently come back. However, they soon realize that the once fertile land is now barren. To help players grasp the various game mechanics, there’s an extensive tutorial phase at the start, as explained by Le. He likens it to the tutorial in “Animal Crossing,” ensuring players aren’t overwhelmed and can gradually learn about the different systems without being overloaded too quickly.

Unlike other survival/crafting games, this one starts you off on an island with scarce resources. To kickstart nature, you’ll need to venture out, plant seeds, and watch as the world comes alive. As time passes and the island’s ecosystems grow, resources will become more abundant, depending on your choices. The map is expansive, taking around 30 minutes in real-time to fully explore. You have the freedom to plant trees wherever you wish, and this can significantly alter the landscape. Le wants players to understand that they have a vast, blank canvas to shape and build upon as they please, with roughly one-third to four-tenths of the island available for planting and cultivation.

Player Choice is Key in Towers of Aghasba

Towers of Aghasba Preview: Crafting a Custom World

In “Towers of Aghasba,” the decisions made by the player will significantly impact their gameplay, determining the types of forests and wildlife within each region. You’ll be able to build and manage three distinct ecosystems, each with unique vegetation and creatures to cultivate or harvest. Additionally, players can opt for hunting or helping animals, sometimes even providing aid when they are injured, which results in valuable rewards like crafting materials. Striking a balance between hunting and caring for nature will guarantee a smooth and organic game progression. Players can also employ their bow for fishing, an enjoyable pastime that provides fish for various cooking recipes to sustain the protagonist or other animals. In total, there are more than 70 distinct types of fish to discover.

As a game enthusiast delving into this captivating world, my primary objective is to revive the enchanting allure of the island by rebuilding its civilization. The landscape presents three distinct types of towns that mirror the island’s ecosystems. Just like the flora and fauna, I have the freedom to position my settlements anywhere on the map. Among the choices are a Citadel, a farming town, and a mining town, each offering unique advantages.

Exploration in Towers of Aghasba

Towers of Aghasba Preview: Crafting a Custom World

In the game “Towers of Aghasba”, the player has an extraordinary ability to traverse virtually any location in the game world, much like in “Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom”. This freedom extends to climbing mountains, trees, and even some large creatures. Initially, a significant portion of the map is covered by something known as Withered Land, making up about 70% of the total area. This terrain serves as an initial barrier to player progression, as they must transform this barren, hazardous region into a basic biome before proceeding further.

As players start to tidy up the island, zones filled with withered vegetation grow harder, and foes become increasingly powerful. To overcome these adversaries, players need to use not just their bow but also craft other weapons. Defeating enemies and uncovering shrines will assist in cleaning the land. Furthermore, Le mentioned that while exploring the world, players can come across relics that help fill in the game’s backstory. Gathering artifacts and relics out in the wild unlocks them within a museum built by the player, which, as Le pointed out, offers a more engaging experience compared to a menu or journal.

Towers of Aghasba Won’t Have Deep Story, Will Encourage Multiplayer Teamwork

Towers of Aghasba Preview: Crafting a Custom World

According to the tale of Tower of Aghasba, Le mentioned that the storyline has a relaxed intensity, enabling players to enjoy a laid-back gaming experience devoid of the tension typically associated with high-stakes situations like saving the world, as Le put it.

The game takes advantage of the haptic feedback feature in the PS5 DualSense controller to create a more immersive experience. For instance, simulating the sensation of drawing a bowstring feels realistic. Additionally, Le showed that moving the camera around on the shoreline creates sound effects of water flowing with the tide, which changes depending on the camera’s position. Lastly, Le hinted at a game system where players can gain or lose currency based on their decisions, adding an interesting layer to gameplay.

In the game “Towers of Aghasba,” collaboration and social interaction will be strongly emphasized, offering rewards for teamwork. Each player can invite up to four companions to their island, where they can engage in cooperative activities such as fishing, hunting, or simply exploring the host’s island. Depending on the decisions made by each player, they may encounter unique creatures and wildlife on other islands. The game’s developers plan to expand upon these and many other features with an extensive amount of post-launch content, aiming for a 1.0 release. Our presentation highlighted the expansive scope and ambition of “Towers of Aghasba,” and if they can deliver on this vision at launch, fans of this genre should be in store for a fantastic experience.

Towers of Aghasba launches in early access for PC and PS5 on November 19.

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2024-10-23 15:06