Eversiege: untold ages – a genre mashup that somehow works?

Forget tired genre conventions. SpainPlay's latest deep dive, EverSiege: Untold Ages, is a brazen attempt to Frankenstein together elements of MOBAs, RTS games, and roguelites. And against all odds, the result is surprisingly compelling, though not without its rough edges.

A siege in reverse: the core concept

The game flips the script on the traditional siege. Instead of defending a city, you're tasked with reversing one – pushing back against a powerful sorcerer who's reduced civilization to a single bastion, Bastion. After a lengthy Early Access period, version 1.0 has landed, solidifying a unique gameplay loop that blends League of Legends-style hero combat, Warcraft 3-esque real-time strategy, and the persistent progression of a roguelite. The ambition is clear, and the execution, while imperfect, is intriguing.

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Wargears, essences, and a week to save the world

EverSiege drops you into a fantasy world with a clear objective: defeat the sorcerer and then hunt down his various incarnations across time. You begin by selecting a 'Wargear,' essentially a hero, each with basic abilities. Don't expect groundbreaking hero designs here; they fall into familiar archetypes – the tank, the archer, the stealthy assassin. From there, you choose two 'essences,' granting additional powers and skills to customize your build. The sheer number of options—80 artifacts, potions, and relics—allows for significant build diversity, and the cooperative online mode for up to three players amplifies this potential.

The game operates on a strict, ticking clock: a week. Each day brings increasingly powerful enemy waves, demanding constant vigilance and strategic tower placement. Resource management is key; investing in Bastion’s defenses and troop upgrades is just as crucial as leveling up your hero. The game even asks you which control style—MOBA or RTS—you prefer, recognizing the hybrid nature of its gameplay.

Potential hampered by technical roughness

While EverSiege largely succeeds in weaving its disparate elements into a cohesive whole, technical shortcomings and a lack of polish hold it back. Loading times are punishingly long, and optimization could be improved. Moreover, finding online co-op partners proves difficult. The experience feels incomplete, as though it needed more time in the oven to fully bake. That said, the core mechanics are captivating, and the sheer novelty of reversing a siege is genuinely epic.

The game's difficulty curve also presents challenges. Optional events, while tempting, often prove detrimental due to the relentless pace. Enemies, even smaller ones, can feel overly resilient, and the sheer volume of waves can become monotonous. Yet, despite these flaws, the game's addictive loop shines through—the constant discovery of new builds, the strategic tower placement, and the desperate fight against a looming deadline all combine to create a compelling experience.

The real potential of EverSiege: Untold Ages lies in its ambitious concept. It’s a bold experiment, and one that, despite its flaws, demonstrates the possibility of forging something truly unique from seemingly incompatible genres. At a reasonable price of €14.99 on Steam, it’s a gamble worth taking – just be prepared for a game that feels like a promising foundation rather than a polished masterpiece. The real test will be whether the developers can address these issues and deliver on the game’s undeniable potential.