There are few issues I really like greater than videogames and historical historical past. Builders make digital worlds that assist us climb by means of an open window into the previous, the place historic accuracy and inventive license mix to supply a residing, respiration approximation of a bygone period. No different medium can handle it and even real-world archaeological websites are only a reminiscence of their former selves. With the metropolis administration of Cities Skylines and the historic accuracy of Murderer’s Creed, Pompeii: The Legacy is an upcoming metropolis builder on the forefront of digital historical past. To study extra I chatted with Siscia Video games’ solo developer Zeljko Kos. Belief me, it is a recreation you might want to control.
What if Mount Vesuvius’ eruption in 79 AD left sufficient for us to rebuild? That’s the central thesis of Pompeii: The Legacy, because it duties you with commanding a household that governs town over a number of generations. Identical to with Cities Skylines, you might want to analysis and develop your metropolis, however this time you’ve obtained pure disasters and the philosophy of the Roman empire to cope with.
“I’ve at all times been fascinated by Roman historical past,” Kos tells me. “Pompeii, specifically, stood out due to its distinctive place in time. It was a metropolis frozen within the aftermath of Vesuvius’s eruption. The concept of rebuilding Pompeii after such a tragic occasion actually appealed to me as a metropolis constructing recreation idea.”
The Roman area in Pula, Croatia is near the place Kos lives, and the extremely well-preserved historical monument offered them with all of the inspiration they wanted. “The truth that I may contact the identical stones the gladiators touched throughout their battles intensified my want to make this recreation to the fullest.”
Identical to how what survives of Pompeii in the present day is a combination of two,000-year-old stone, persevering with excavation initiatives, and fashionable infrastructure, Kos has appeared to each the classics and fashionable hits of town constructing style for inspiration. Whereas I wish to name Pompeii: The Legacy an historical Cities Skylines, there’s a lot extra to it.
“There are a number of video games which have impressed me over time, particularly basic metropolis builders like Caesar 3, Caesar 4, and Pharaoh,” Kos explains. “I’ve at all times admired the stability between metropolis administration and historic context that these video games achieved. I’ve additionally been impressed by extra fashionable metropolis builders like Banished and Patron (which I used to be concerned in creating), the place useful resource administration and strategic decision-making are key.”
That’s greater than 20 years of style historical past baked into Pompeii: The Legacy, by no means thoughts the 2 millennia between us and the precise metropolis’s destruction. Whereas Pompeii was frozen in time after Vesuvius erupted, Kos’ recreation will maintain evolving. You are taking cost of 1 household throughout a number of generations, and similar to with the development of expertise in Civilization, in Pompeii: The Legacy you watch historical past unfold proper at your fingertips.
“As gamers progress by means of the sport, Pompeii will evolve throughout a number of generations,” Kos explains. “Town’s structure will change—there are a number of visually distinct ranges of homes that can evolve over time—the inhabitants will develop, and new challenges will emerge. Within the early levels of the sport, gamers will focus extra on communal points equivalent to safety and water provide, whereas later phases will shift towards extra philosophical and social considerations. A very fascinating interval will likely be when Marcus Aurelius involves energy, throughout which Stoicism could have an affect.”
“Gamers may also expertise shifts in Roman politics, commerce, and social dynamics, which is able to affect their metropolis’s growth. Every technology affords new alternatives and challenges, making the sport really feel like a residing, evolving world.”
So whereas most videogame worlds act like pictures, frozen in time regardless of your interactions, Pompeii is at all times shifting. It doesn’t matter what you obtain historical past marches on, and it’s as much as you to adapt town to make sure its survival. This goes for Mount Vesuvius too, as a result of as historical past’s taught us, 79 AD wasn’t the one eruption. So whilst you is perhaps accountable for town correct, there’s a sure 1,200-meter volcano which may have one thing to say about that.
“Vesuvius may also play a big position, appearing because the true ruler of Pompeii, able to inflicting immense harm to town and the participant with a single eruption,” Kos says. “Will probably be fascinating to see how gamers’ understanding and method to the mountain evolve as they try to develop their metropolis.”
Pompeii: The Legacy’s pure disasters would require you to behave swiftly, however different in-game occasions might be mitigated through cautious planning. Information of locust swarms and rebellions throughout the empire will likely be recognized properly upfront, however fires and eruptions are far more sudden. “Gamers can put money into analysis or infrastructure that can assist them higher put together for volcanic exercise or commerce disruptions. This stability retains gamers on their toes whereas nonetheless permitting them to plan for the longer term.”
Pure disasters aren’t the one risk although, as you’ll nonetheless should cope with different societies that desire a piece of Pompeii. “There will likely be RTS-style battles the place gamers can defend their metropolis or take part in Roman navy campaigns,” Kos explains. Pirates and revenge-seeking insurgent troopers will need town for themselves. There are even automated navy campaigns that your loved ones might want to go on, organized by the Emperor.
If you happen to’re in opposition to the violence and would reasonably give attention to the cityscape itself although, there’s additionally a peaceable mode with none of the fight. Then, if you wish to go a step additional and construct Pompeii “with out worrying about analysis, bonuses, or the story,” artistic mode provides you much more freedom.
There’s much more to find out about Pompeii: The Legacy forward of launch, however Kos already has loads deliberate. Between the evolving world, pure disasters, navy conquests, and a plethora of choices, this will likely be in contrast to any metropolis builder we’ve performed earlier than.
Siscia Video games has a first-look preview of Pompeii: The Legacy scheduled for December, with the launch deliberate for someday within the third quarter of 2025. You may wishlist the sport proper right here.
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