ARIDA: Backland's Awakening

Casual· Adventure· Female Protagonist· Exploration

Released Aug 2019

ARIDA: Backland's Awakening. A story of survival and adventure in the brazilian backlands. Face the drought to explore the more arid regions, gather resources and discover clues about the fate of the young Cícera.

88% positive · 792 reviews

Done

All announced content has been released

High confidence

Done

All announced content has been released

High confidence

Where to buy

Steam Updated 3 Oct 2026 Lowest $1.69 $3.39 −50% Green Man Gaming Steam key Updated 12 Oct 2026 $3.39

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Evaluation

ÁRIDA: Backland's Awakening launched on PC in August 2019 and has received a series of substantial content updates over the years: a "1 Year Edition" update in August 2020 (new quests, items, achievements), a "2 Year Edition" in 2021, a major "Definitive Edition" overhaul in October 2023 (two new regions, new game modes, a map, new items and mechanics), and a console launch for Switch and Xbox on November 22, 2024. The November 2024 post from the developer explicitly frames the console release as the culmination of the game's multiplatform journey — summarizing the full arc from PC (2019) through mobile (2022), Definitive Edition (2023), and consoles (2024). Since that console launch, every developer communication has been focused entirely on the sequel, ÁRIDA 2: Rise of the Brave. Posts from May 2025 through August 2026 cover ÁRIDA 2 gameplay reveals, feature announcements, a public demo (released June 27, 2026), and appearances at Gamescom LATAM and Gamescom Cologne 2026. The August 2026 Gamescom post describes ÁRIDA 2 as being in "the final stretch of development." None of these posts announce any new content, patches, or updates for the original game. The store description notes that this is "the first of three games" in a planned series, but that refers to the broader trilogy — the sequel's active development confirms the story is continuing via a new standalone title, not through additional content added to this one. There are no unreleased DLC listings, no announced updates for this game, and no developer statements promising future content for ÁRIDA: Backland's Awakening. The game is content-complete as of the November 2024 console launch.

Evidence

Developer announced Switch and Xbox versions launching November 22, 2024, describing this as completing the game's multiplatform saga. The post recaps the full content history (1 Year Edition, 2 Year Edition, Definitive Edition, mobile, and now consoles), framing it as a completed strategic journey.

news post · Nov 8, 2024 source development ending

high

Definitive Edition released, adding 2 new regions, 12 new items, 3 new game modes, a map, new mechanics, 5 new languages, and other improvements — the largest content update to the game.

news post · Oct 13, 2023 source content shipped

high

Media

Details

Developer

Aoca Game Lab

Publisher

Aoca Game Lab

Achievements

Platform

Windows, Linux

Controller

partial support

Steam Deck

Verified

Players

Single-player

Casual Adventure Female Protagonist Exploration Historical Nature Cartoon 3D Collectathon Emotional Story Rich Family Friendly Stylized Survival Indie

About this game

Face the effects of drought in this historical single-player game that blends elements of survival and adventure.

Equipped to venture out

To survive in ÁRIDA you will need some equipment. Use the machete and hoe for essential actions such as getting water, opening paths, or cutting a corn crop. But do not forget to have a handful of grindstones because blunt equipment is of no use!

Get ready with recipes

To live in the backlands you need to be wise. The fauna and flora are unusual, so try to learn the recipes available for crafting with the typical items of the region. Maybe one day you need to cross the backlands ...

Interact to survive

Hunger and thirst can be very cruel in the backlands during the drought. Ask for help for the elders of your village and solve their quests to get some water and food.

Explore to know

Explore the aridest regions to learn more about the backlands and find the resources you need to stay on your way. A full inventory is always a good idea!

Stories to learn

The Brazilian backlands is a special place, with many stories that would only happen there. Venture out to search for the collectible lost objects and find out more about the legends of the backlands.

The drought this time came much stronger and changed daily life here in the backlands. Many plantations were lost, animals died and families abandoned their homes. It is in this scenario that Cícera lives, a curious young girl who uses the advice of her grandfather and other villagers to learn how to survive and strengthen herself to face the drought and realize her greatest dream: exploring the backlands to reunite with her parents.

ÁRIDA: Backland's Awakening is the first of three games that will present Cicera's journey in the Brazilian backlands of the nineteenth century. Follow us to stay connected with all the news about ÁRIDA. Let´s build this story together! <3

We are an indie team of 6 developers from Brazil. We deeply believe in the expressive power of games. ÁRIDA: Backland's Awakening is our first game and it is an immense pleasure for us to share it with you all!