Paradox officially reveals Afterworld, its post-apocalyptic grand strategy game

Paradox Interactive has officially announced Afterworld, a post-apocalyptic grand strategy game from the Crusader Kings 3 and Hearts of Iron IV studio, following leaks earlier in the week. The announcement came August 25 at Gamescom with a story trailer, confirming the title that had surfaced via Paradox's own forum and a Discord server synopsis days earlier.

Afterworld casts players as wasteland tribes competing for control of a procedurally generated North America. Game director Dan Lind called it Paradox Development Studio's "first non-historical setting in a decade." Players pick an origin, prologue, and formative "Traumas" that shape starting resources, then roam a fog-of-war map divided into regions, relocating often in response to threats. Encounters with other tribes and ruins grant Ideas that unlock technology.

Eurogamer's hands-on preview described three starting origins: the Shelterborn vault dwellers for beginners, a wandering group of fanatics who worship an Ancient, and former wardens and prisoners for militaristic play. Paradox describes the game as "story rich," with objectives and discoveries carrying art and flavour text. Afterworld draws inspiration from survival and settlement building rather than Crusader Kings-style role-playing, and is due on PC via Steam with no release date set.