
2025 marked the full release of Age of Darkness: Final Stand, which was my first game review for Firaxis this year. Reminiscent of They Are Billions, Age of Darkness: Final Stand is an engaging dark fantasy survival real-time strategy (RTS) with unique twists. Players find themselves in a bleak world overrun by ominous entities known as “Nightmares,” tasked with constructing and safeguarding humanity’s final strongholds against endless assaults. The game’s advanced “SwarmTech” technology allows for the simultaneous rendering of tens of thousands of enemies on screen, resulting in intense and visually striking “Death Nights” that test a player’s strategic skills. For me, the standout feature was its lengthy and strategically designed campaign, with enough surprises to keep players hooked from start to finish. Age of Darkness: Final Stand boasts straightforward yet enjoyable base-building mechanics, resource management, and a diverse cast of unique heroes. It provides a challenging single-player experience and eagerly awaited cooperative multiplayer mode.