Ascent of Ashes

Ascent of Ashes

Early access since Jul 2025

A colony sim set in a post-apocalyptic dystopia. Build and defend your base. Manage your survivors. Engage raiders, aliens, Remnant soldiers and other factions in real-time-with-pause combat. Or use stealth to outwit them. Explore the massive world. Survive at all costs

69% positive · 308 reviews
Not yet
In early access, content still planned
High confidence
Content Planned
Not yet
In early access, content still planned
High confidence
Content Planned

Where to buy

Steam $14.99
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Evaluation

Ascent of Ashes entered Steam Early Access on July 25, 2025. It is a colony survival sim developed primarily by a solo developer with part-time artist support at Vivid Storm Interactive. The game's development history involved a turbulent publisher relationship: the studio partnered with Camlann Games, which twice defaulted on payments before the agreement was terminated in late 2024. The team secured independent funding to continue at a reduced budget, leading to some scope cuts for the initial release. Despite this, the game launched on schedule in July 2025. Since launch, the developer has maintained a consistent update cadence. Bug fix patches shipped in late July and early October 2025. Version 0.1.5 arrived on September 29, 2025 with UI improvements, a tutorial system, and new content. Monthly progress posts through October and November 2025 documented a major AI and animation system overhaul. The first major content update, version 0.2.0, shipped on September 25, 2026, delivering a completely reworked AI framework, a new animation system, run-and-gun combat mechanics, a new prone stance, overwatch commands, 30 new character traits, starting customization menus, mod support, and extensive UI improvements. The previous evaluation flagged a risk around the developer's planned relocation to another country in mid-to-late 2026. Version 0.2.0 shipped on September 25, 2026, indicating that development has continued productively through that period and the relocation concern has not materialized into a disruption. The developer's September 2026 post also references group AI behaviors being "reworked in preparation for more extensive additions in the future," signaling continued active development intent. Substantial content remains planned beyond v0.2.0. The developer's September 2025 roadmap post outlined upcoming work on expanded medical systems (missing limbs, prosthetics), stealth mechanics, consumable items, advanced enemy AI, weapon mods and artillery, a full overworld map, and expanded visitor and faction mechanics. A 1.0 release remains a long-term goal with no announced date.
Evidence
Version 0.2.0 released as the game's first major content update, delivering a reworked AI framework, animation system overhaul, run-and-gun combat, prone stance, overwatch mechanic, 30 new character traits, starting customization, mod support, and extensive UI improvements.
news post · Sep 25, 2026 source content shipped
high
Developer outlines roadmap beyond v0.2.0: expanded medical system with prosthetics, stealth, consumable items, advanced enemy AI, weapon mods, artillery, and a full overworld map.
news post · Sep 29, 2025 source content planned
high

Media

Details

Publisher
Vivid Storm Interactive
Achievements
—
Platform
Windows
Controller
—
Steam Deck
Playable
Players
Single-player

About this game

Build your survivors a base where they can rest and trade stories between adventures. Farm crops, tame alien beasts, incorporate salvaged technology and fortify your home against hostile intruders

Prevailing in combat will require more than just point-and-click. A detailed hit simulation and health system will mean that even non-lethal hits can render a survivor unable to go on. Suppressive fire might pin an enemy in place, but the ammunition used up may leave you ill-equipped to fight the next encounter effectively

It's a big world out there. To get around you will need better transportation than your legs can provide. One of the things setting Ascent of Ashes apart from other games of this genre is the ability to restore and drive vehicles.

Each survivor has their own unique personality and motivations. As colony leader it is up to you to find and recruit capable survivors to fill gaps in your roster against ever increasing challenges. Can you keep everyone happy, secure and motivated?

You will find yourself in an expansive, procedurally generated world filled with different biomes and points of interest. To survive the post-apocalypse you'll have to brave the pre-collapse ruins and the many dangers that they hold.

It's not enough to just have an in-depth combat system with a variety of mechanics. You also need opponents capable of using those mechanics to challenge you. Enemies will possess varying degrees of intelligence. Taking on a disorganized band of raiders will play very differently from fighting a squad of well-trained Remnant soldiers.

Combining the deep simulation of classic post-apocalyptical survival titles with the tactical challenge of classic real time and turn-based gems, the original creators of RimWorld's heralded Combat Extended mod present a fresh take on the colony sim genre that emphasizes exploration, tight balance and strategic gameplay.

Our team has its roots in mod-making and we've been fortunate to have been part of many great modding communities over the years. That's why with Ascent of Ashes, we want to give something back to those communities. We're building the game's engine from the ground up to be easily extendable, and thanks to our extensive experience in creating mods ourselves we know exactly what kind of support mod-makers need. Ascent of Ashes is a game developed by modders, for modders.

Last evaluated Oct 2, 2026
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