Composer reveals strategy game Chronages where civilizations evolve from fire to technology in real time

On June 27, independent developer Andrei Bely officially revealed his new strategy game, Chronages. The title, which will arrive on PC via Steam, had an announcement video that details the systems and development trajectory of the project.

Chronages is a real-time strategy (RTS) game in which players guide civilizations through various eras. The objective is to make one of the cultures that appear on the map prosper. Over time, these societies diversify into multiple paths, such as mastering technology and machines, seeking natural magic, discovering alchemy or diving into a fantasy scenario with sword and sorcery. This developmental divergence culminates in unique confrontations, where, for example, flame-summoning sorcerers face troops equipped with grenades, or dragons are shot down by anti-aircraft missiles.

The player’s civilization journey begins in the Stone Age, with just a campfire. However, the game’s universe already housed other societies prior to the player’s emergence, and contact with them will inevitably generate interactions and possible conflicts. The map is structured in hexagons, and regions outside the player’s control remain shrouded in a fog of war, hiding their secrets. Sending units to explore these unexplored locations can reveal artifacts of great value.

Population management is a fundamental pillar for the progress of civilization. In Chronages, the training of a new soldier requires the designation of a citizen already existing in the territory for that role, indicating that military units do not appear instantly. The population grows progressively, but the decision on the allocation of resources and inhabitants to different occupations is up to the player. It is necessary to balance workers to collect resources, scientists for technological advances and strategists to strengthen the armed forces, without forgetting the management of the unemployed.

With the construction of buildings and infrastructure, the advancement of civilization and territorial expansion will inevitably lead to clashes with other cultures. At these moments, battles start automatically, taking place directly on the same map where civilization develops. Players take control of troops and heroes in combat. There are future plans to incorporate more detailed real-time combat features, such as the destruction of buildings during clashes and damage resulting from debris.

The progress of civilization does not follow a linear path, but unfolds into multiple ramifications. For example, starting from the Stone Age, it is possible to direct development towards the mastery of natural magic. Later, in the Bronze Age, one may choose to advance to a culture that explores the secrets of alchemy. However, the decision to follow one of these paths prevents access to other aspects of evolution, such as that of a mechanical civilization focused on factories. The choices made at each fork in development prove crucial to the fate of civilization.

Andrei Bely, the mastermind behind Chronages, has a solid career as a composer. Under the name Andrew Weiss, he released several albums on Spotify, where his creations conveyed a worldview using only sound, functioning as true wordless audiobooks. This prior experience is the great value bet, as Bely was inspired by it to create the game’s original soundtrack, promising a deep atmospheric immersion.

Andrei has dedicated the last six years to this project, and it has now reached a stage that allows its public release after an extensive period of work. Currently, the Stone Age and Bronze Age eras are finished, including their respective soundtracks. The expectation is that future developments will cover the medieval period and fantasy civilizations. The early release aims to share progress with the community and gather feedback. It will be intriguing to follow the evolution of this game, which, even after six years of dedication, still has many ambitious plans.