Age of Darkness: Final Stand Review – An Ambitious, Challenging RTS With Flaws

by Luis January 20, 2025

The dark fantasy genre has long been fertile ground for real-time strategy (RTS) games, but few titles embrace the theme as thoroughly as Age of Darkness: Final Stand. Developed by PlaySide Studios, this game seeks to combine traditional RTS mechanics with survival gameplay, wrapping it in a grim, atmospheric package. While the game succeeds in delivering a unique and often engaging experience, it’s held back by some notable flaws that prevent it from fully realizing its potential, even after its full 1.0 release.

Age of Darkness: Final Stand Review – An Ambitious, Challenging RTS With Flaws

Set in a bleak world overrun by monstrous horrors known as the Nightmares, Age of Darkness tasks players with building and defending a base amidst near-constant threats. The setting is richly atmospheric, with foggy landscapes, glowing enemy hordes, and a haunting soundtrack that underscores the game’s tension. The titular “Final Stand” is a recurring theme as players struggle to withstand increasingly overwhelming waves of enemies during the game’s signature “Death Nights.”

The visuals are striking, with detailed environments and impressive lighting effects that bring the darkness to life. However, the art design, while evocative, can occasionally feel repetitive due to the limited variety of environments and enemy types.

The core gameplay loop involves resource management, base building, and tactical combat. Players must gather essential resources like wood, stone, and gold to construct buildings, recruit units, and research upgrades. Meanwhile, they must constantly prepare for the looming Death Nights, where hundreds of Nightmares swarm their base in a chaotic and thrilling spectacle.

A standout feature of Age of Darkness is its hero system. Players can control powerful heroes with unique abilities that can turn the tide of battle. These heroes add an extra layer of strategy, as players must decide how to best utilize their skills while keeping them alive. The inclusion of multiple heroes with distinct playstyles enhances replayability and strategic depth.

The game’s survival mechanics, particularly the Death Nights, are both its most exciting and punishing aspect. The intensity of these events provides a genuine sense of accomplishment when players successfully fend off the onslaught. However, they also expose some of the game’s flaws. While RTS veterans might relish the challenge, newcomers or casual players may find some of the campaign’s timed missions and sudden spikes in difficulty overwhelming. The Death Nights, in particular, demand meticulous preparation and leave little room for error, which can be frustrating for players still mastering the mechanics.

Adding to this frustration is the game’s often-clunky pathfinding and AI. Units sometimes struggle to navigate terrain efficiently, leading to unnecessary losses during critical moments. For a game that places such a heavy emphasis on precise strategy, these AI issues can be a significant detriment to the overall experience.

The campaign mode, while serviceable, feels slower-paced compared to the survival mode. The narrative is sparse, offering little in the way of character development or world-building. While this minimalism might align with the game’s bleak tone, it leaves the campaign feeling somewhat hollow. Missions often boil down to variations of “gather resources, build defenses, and survive,” which can grow repetitive over time.

Players seeking a more dynamic and engaging story might find themselves disappointed. That said, the campaign does provide a good introduction to the game’s mechanics and can serve as a stepping stone to the more challenging survival mode.

Age of Darkness: Final Stand is an ambitious RTS that delivers a unique blend of survival and strategy in a hauntingly atmospheric setting. Its core mechanics and standout moments, like the intense Death Nights, showcase the potential for greatness. However, the game’s steep learning curve, AI shortcomings, and underwhelming campaign hold it back from reaching its full potential.

For experienced RTS players seeking a challenging and immersive experience, Age of Darkness offers plenty to enjoy. Its dark aesthetic and survival elements set it apart from other games in the genre. However, casual players or those new to RTS games may find the game’s difficulty and flaws too daunting to overlook.

RATING: 3.5 out of 5 stars

With further refinement—particularly in AI behavior, mission pacing, and narrative development—Age of Darkness: Final Stand could evolve into a standout title in the RTS genre. As it stands, it’s a game worth trying for those willing to embrace its challenges and imperfections.

Age of Darkness: Final Stand’s 1.0 was released for PC on January 15th, 2025.
Disclosure: I received a free review copy of this product from https://www.game.press