Ashwalkers is a new black and white survival game that launched on Nintendo Switch recently. Is this portable post-apocalyptic game worth buying? Let’s find out!
You’re their last hope
Ashwalkers is a post-apocalyptic game set in a toxic world. You are part of the Citadel, a settlement that managed to survive under these harsh conditions. A major problem occurred when the air around the Citadel became toxic, endangering the 200,000 people who live inside the Citadel. In order to save humanity, a small squad sets off in search of the Dome of Domes, a mysterious location said to be able to house the last survivors safely. Of course, looking for such a place in a toxic world won’t come easy, the small squad will have to face different challenges during their adventure. What I like most about Ashwalkers is its stylized black and white visuals which really fit the story. The world of Ashwalkers isn’t a happy colorful one, you’re humanity’s last hope in a world that got stripped from all its colors due to the disaster. Playing the game in black and white really elevates that feeling and sets the right tone for a rather depressing atmosphere.
A true survival journey
Ashwalkers is a true survival journey, which means it won’t be for everyone due to its higher level of difficulty. If you’re new to the genre, I recommend paying attention during the tutorial as it will explain the basics without ever going into full details. The tutorial will learn you the basic controls and needs of your group but in order to survive, you’ll need to learn a lot on your own, often the hard way. During your search for the Dome of Domes, you’ll face a lot of dangerous situations as a group. Ranging from toxic air and scarce resources to encounters with others. If you want to stay alive, you’ll need to make sure you have enough food and warmth for the group to stay alive. If a member struggles to stay alive and you can’t find the resources in time, you’ll sadly lose one of your members, which will make things even more challenging since everyone in your little group has their own strengths and weaknesses. If three of your members die, it’s game over and you’ll need to restart from scratch, something that will certainly happen during your first attempt at surviving.
For a survival journey, the game goes rather deep and adds an extra element in the form of motivation and the overall spirit of the group. If the group isn’t motivated, they’ll function at a slower pace, making it a lot harder to complete certain tasks in time. In order to keep the morale as high as possible, you’ll need to make sure everyone is happy and has access to all the resources they need, a task that won’t come easy. If you managed to survive a run, you can always go for another one since the game has more than 30 different endings, all based on the decisions you make during your quest. Can you make it out alive and save the entire Citadel? It’s definitely worth a shot or two!
Conclusion:
Ashwalkers is a difficult yet rewarding survival game where you’ll need to learn a lot of different mechanics before you can survive as a group. It won’t be for everyone but if you’re willing to invest a couple of hours in the game, you’ll certainly get rewarded.
