History tends to be written by the victors, andstrategy gamesusually follow suit. Most titles set in the age of colonization put players in control of European powers expanding their empires. NovaMundi, released last month on October 12th, takes a boldly different approach by telling the story of the Muisca people as they face the reality of Spanish invasion in 16th century South America.
“In the game, you do not control the Spanish, you control the indigenous people,“explains Santiago Zapataof Slashware Interactive. “What you have to do is unite the different towns of the Muisca and make them put their differences aside to face off these invaders.” The game drops players into the Andean highlands where they lead a small band of explorers and warriors through landscapes that change with each newplaythrough.
Novamundi: Survival On A Living World
Unlike typical strategy games where players command vast armies and build sprawling empires, NovaMundi keeps things personal. Players guide a single group that needs to worry about basic survival while navigating dense jungles and frigid mountain passes. This focus on survival adds real weight to every decision. Disease can spread through the party, food supplies need constant attention, and getting lost is a serious danger without proper scouts. The local wildlife poses its own threats, jaguars and pumas prowl the jungles, ready to ambush unwary travelers. Eventhe weather plays a crucial role, with a full day-night cycle and weather systems that can help or hinder the expedition.
The game’s world feels alive thanks to Slashware’s deep expertise in procedural generation, an area where the studio has become so proficient they even provide consulting services to other developers. “All of our games as a studio have a strong element of procedural content generation,” Zapata notes. Instead of creating massive empty maps, their technology focuses on crafting dense, meaningful locations filled with opportunities for tactical combat and exploration.Every run brings fresh landscapes inspired by the actual geography of the Colombian Andes, from steamy jungles to unique high-altitude páramo ecosystems.
The combat in Novamundi takes inspiration from classics like Age of Empires but adds its own tactical depth. Players can pause at any time to give orders to their units (maximum of twelve), each equipped with distinct weapons and armor that create meaningful advantages against different enemy types. These aren’t just faceless troops either, each warrior is unique, and injuries take real time to heal. Death is permanent, adding stakes to every encounter.
Personally, I appreciate the commitment to cultural authenticity without sacrificing engaging gameplay.The development team worked with Muisca cultural experts and descendants, including José Manuel Gómez, to ensure accurate representation of the people and their settlements.Players can even pick up parts of the extinct Muisca language through natural gameplay, with hover-translations providing meaning during conversations with townspeople.
A Celebration Of Muisca Culture
The game doesn’t whitewash history either. The Muisca weren’t a unified people when the Spanish arrived, they faced internal divisions and conflicts with neighboring indigenous groups like the Panche and Muzo. Players need to navigate these political waters through a reputation system, completing tasks for different towns that range from making offerings at sacred mountain temples to defending settlements from rival factions.
Adding another layer of depth is the game’s integration of Muisca mythology. Players can venture into caves that serve as tears in reality, facing spiritual beings drawn from authentic folklore. Success in these supernatural encounters rewards players with blessings and magical weapons to aid in their struggle. It’s a clever way to incorporate cultural beliefs while adding gameplay variety.
A Unique Take On Strategy Gaming
For those who want to customize their experience, NovaMundi offers an interesting take on difficulty settings through its perk system. Instead of simple easy/medium/hard options, players can tweak specific aspects of the game. Want to remove disease mechanics? There’s a perk for that. Feeling brave enough to restrict yourself to certain unit types? That’s possible too. Some perks even let players recruit local wildlife like spectacled bears to join their cause.
After its full launch onSteam, NovaMundi stands as proof that there are still fresh stories to tell in the strategy genre. By focusing on the indigenous experience during a pivotal historical moment, it offers something genuinely different: a chance to explore a perspective rarely seen in gaming, backed by solid tactical gameplay and a commitment to cultural authenticity that never feels like it’s compromising either the history or the game design. For strategy fans looking for something beyond the usual empire-building fare, NovaMundi delivers a unique blend of tactical depth, survival mechanics, and cultural discovery that sets it apart from its peers.
