Paradox Announces Post-Apocalyptic Strategy Game Afterworld
At gamescom Opening Night Live 2026, broadcast on August 26, Paradox Interactive announced Afterworld, a new grand strategy game for PC via Steam. Developed by Paradox Development Studio, the in-house team behind the Crusader Kings and Europa Universalis series, Afterworld is set in a post-apocalyptic North America where players lead a settlement of survivors. The game begins with managing a small group, and players can choose from multiple origins, such as shelter dwellers emerging from nuclear shelters or fanatics seeking a goddess. Early goals center on survival: gathering food, water, and fuel. As players explore the ruins of the pre-collapse civilization, they rediscover lost technology and evolve their tech, while the terrain remains the same American continent but resource locations and groups change each playthrough. Players can trade, absorb, or plunder opposing groups, and as the settlement grows, they can establish laws and religion. Mutated humans exist, and how to treat them is the player's choice. Immortal ancients who lived before the collapse also appear, and confronting them is one of the game's goals. The game is directed by Dan Lind, previously director of Hearts of Iron IV. The release date is undecided, and the store page indicates Japanese display support is planned.