Ascendance

Ascendance is a real-time strategy game that puts you in command of a space-faring civilisation in a blend of RTS, 4X, and grand strategy gameplay. Traverse a vast and seamless galaxy, delve into a rich civilisation simulation, and engage in intense real-time space battles.

Civilisations are complex and detailed, with sprawling governments, powerful militaries, exploratory space agencies, ruthless corporations, and engaging political systems – all driven by a multitude of characters. A civilisation is the sum of all of these parts, yet with all of their agendas they also may hinder your goals or even threaten unity of the civilisation itself!

Your role is to guide your civilisation as it explores and expands into the cosmos, and if necessary, shield it from threats both external and from within.

SHIP COMBAT

Lead your fleets using real-time strategy mechanics in dynamic, physics-based combat that emphasises sensors, tactical positioning, engagement ranges, and ship designs. Weapons accurately track targets with predictive aiming, and every projectile is individually simulated. Location-based damage can disable ship systems and weapons, and the danger of any single hit makes for intense combat.

HUGE GALAXIES

Embark on a cosmic odyssey across thousands of star systems, each providing numerous planets and moons to explore and colonise. Along your journey you may discover other civilisations, some far more ancient, and some yet to take the leap into space. If you'd prefer a more intimate game, you can also play in a single star system, as systems can feature dozens of planets, moons, and thousands of asteroids - perfect for a slower-than-light only game!

DEEP ECONOMY

Oversee a deep economic simulation driven by supply and demand, featuring location-based production and consumption, busy market exchanges, and numerous freighters delivering the many resources and goods where needed. Factories within colonies, mines, and certain types of stations may all produce resources and goods, all owned by organisations and employing local workers.

INTERNAL POLITICS

Navigate the ever-shifting dynamics of political parties, influential individuals, vested business interests, and the opinion of the masses, all ardently pursuing their own agendas. Strive to strike a delicate balance, wielding your influence to command the legislative assembly, enact laws that align with your vision, or shape public opinion to your advantage during pivotal elections. For those who dare, the path to authoritarian rule beckons, as you gradually centralise power under your firm control.

OPTIONS GALORE

Scenarios, highly customisable game settings, and planned modding support will all allow the player to customise the game to how they want to play. Galaxies can be abundant with life and civilisations, or empty, civilisations can start united or fractured into multiple nations, faster-than-light travel can be adjusted or disabled completely, you can play in a single star system or a massive galaxy. The choice is yours!

ACCESSIBILITY

The game will be deep but is aimed to be as accessible as possible, with great attention paid to making mechanics intuitive, and presenting a clean UI for the player.

FEATURES

• A massive game world, whether it be a single star system, or a galaxy of thousands of star systems.

• The ability to play as a government, corporation, or a ship captain.

• Complex civilisations made of governments, corporations, militaries, space agencies, and characters.

• Deep economic and political simulation, including legislative votes, public elections, physical goods being produced and transported where needed.

• Nuanced diplomacy, allowing cold wars, limited wars, complex trade deals, and spheres of influence.

• Bring mystery back to space!

• In-depth ship combat with physically-simulated weapons and projectiles, ship systems, and damage modelling.

• Highly customisable to create different types of play-throughs, such interplanetary or interstellar starts, starting as a united civilisation or just one of multiple nations, technology limitations such as no faster-than-light, starting in an empty galaxy or one with many expansive empires.

• An emphasis on accessibility, designed to be picked up and played, with automation and clean UI.

• Strong modding support.