Empires of the Undergrowth

Empires of the Undergrowth is a real-time strategy game set in the world of ants. Players manage a colony starting from a queen’s chamber, directing workers to dig through hex-based soil and bedrock, construct nurseries and storerooms, and gather food from a variety of sources found above and below ground. Different biomes present distinct threats and opportunities, including other insects, arachnids, amphibians and crustaceans, each requiring different tactical approaches.

Combat and colony management are handled through pheromone groups, which allow players to assign ants to nurseries and control their behaviour using pheromone markers and rules of engagement. Ants can be tasked with gathering food, fighting, or both, and orders can be adjusted during play to respond to changing circumstances such as food shortages or enemy incursions. The game features multiple playable ant species, including trap-jaw ants, leafcutter ants and wood ants, each with unique combat abilities and evolutionary paths that can be combined for tactical effect.

The game includes classic skirmish modes against AI opponents, seasonal challenges, and a narrative-driven campaign centred on a laboratory experiment involving Formica ereptor ants, interspersed with documentary-style missions exploring real ant species and their habitats. Progress in these documentary missions provides resources used to upgrade a persistent lab colony throughout the campaign.