Advanced Game Search
Empires of the Undergrowth: Exploding Ants

Empires of the Undergrowth: Exploding Ants

Released

Release Date: March 24, 2025

Strategy, RTS, Indie Games, Animals, Singleplayer

The first expansion for the 2024 real-time strategy game. Empires of the Undergrowth: Exploding Ants expands the original game with one new species of ants and one new species of termites. The DLC features new units, capable of exploding and covering their enemies with toxic sludge.

8.7

Steam

Rate It!
Ratings
[0:55] - Trailer #1 Videos: 1
Screenshot Images: 9
Screenshot
Screenshot
Screenshot

Empires of the Undergrowth: Exploding Ants is the first expansion to the RTS titled Empires of the Undergrowth, which left early access in June 2024 (where it first spent 6.5 years). The DLC was developed by the authors of the original, namely the Slug Disco Studios team.

New features in the expansion

The biggest novelty introduced in Empires of the Undergrowth: Exploding Ants are two new species - one for termites and one for ants.

Autothysis

As the title of the add-on suggests, the distinctive feature of the new species is the ability to explode. We are talking about so-called autothysis, which involves triggering a chain reaction by their glands, leading to an explosion and dousing the target with toxic secretion. In this way, they dedicate their lives to protect the colony from attackers.

New ants

The add-on gives us access to three new types of ants originating from the Colobopsis explodens species. Among their representatives, the leading roles are played by soldiers capable of exploding and injuring, as well as temporarily slowing down enemies within the range of the explosion.

Read More

Platforms:

PC Windows

PC Windows

Developer: Slug Disco Studios

Publisher: Hooded Horse

Age restrictions: 12+

Game Series

[game title]

Base Game for Empires of the Undergrowth: Exploding Ants

Empires of the Undergrowth

Empires of the Undergrowth

Features

System Requirements

System Requirements for Empires of the Undergrowth: Exploding Ants Video Game:

PC Windows

PC / Windows

Minimum System Requirements:
Intel Core i5-760 / AMD Phenom II X4 965, 4 GB RAM, graphic card 1 GB GeForce GT 440 / Radeon HD 6750, 5 GB HDD, Windows 10 64-bit.

Recommended System Requirements:
Intel Core i5-2400 / AMD FX-8100, 8 GB RAM, graphic card 1 GB GeForce GTX 550 Ti / Radeon HD 7750, 5 GB HDD, Windows 10 64-bit.

Ratings

Game Ratings for Empires of the Undergrowth: Exploding Ants Video Game.

87%

STEAM Score

All Reviews: Very Positive (116)

STEAM
User Reviews Summary generated by AI

The main pros of the game

  • New Species and Mechanics: The introduction of exploding ants and termites adds unique gameplay elements and variety, allowing for strategic depth in combat and resource management.
  • Fun Gameplay: Many players find the new units enjoyable to use, particularly the termites, which are perceived as well-balanced and effective in gameplay.
  • Affordable Price: At around $5, the DLC is considered a good value for the amount of content it provides, especially for fans of the base game.
  • Graphical Improvements: The visual presentation of the new species and levels has received praise for its quality and appeal.

The main cons of the game

  • Lack of Content: Many users express disappointment with the limited content, citing only two new levels and feeling that they lack depth and innovation compared to previous levels.
  • Absence of Narration: The DLC levels do not feature the expected narration, which many players feel detracts from the experience and makes the levels feel empty.
  • Micromanagement Issues: The exploding ants require significant micromanagement, which some players find tedious and frustrating, especially given their high resource cost and fragility.
  • Unbalanced Levels: Players have noted that the new levels can feel unbalanced, with one being overly difficult and the other too easy, leading to a lack of satisfying challenge.

The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users

  • Achievements: Users noted the absence of new achievements associated with the DLC, which detracts from the sense of accomplishment.
  • Custom Game Integration: There is a desire for the new maps to be available in custom games, allowing for more varied gameplay options.
  • Expanded Story or Campaign Elements: Players expressed a wish for more narrative content and story-driven missions, similar to those found in the base game.
  • Enhanced Unit Mechanics: Suggestions include improvements to the mechanics of the exploding ants to make them less resource-intensive and more effective in combat.

Summary

  • Overall, while the "Exploding Ants" DLC has been well-received for its new species and enjoyable gameplay, it has also faced criticism for its limited content, lack of depth in levels, and absence of narrative elements, leading to a mixed reception among players.

Summary generated on: