Overview
At a glance
Is this game right for my group?
ABG editorial scores on a 1–5 scale.
Harder to teach
High replayability
Highly interactive
Scales well
Deep strategy
More strategic control
How it plays
How does it play?
Explore a shifting post-apocalyptic map, salvage scarce resources, develop your faction, and spread enough influence to rule the wastes.
Core mechanisms
Key systems that shape the decisions players make.
Tech Progression
Unlock or improve abilities by progressing through connected development paths.
Action Points
Spend a limited allowance of points across several possible actions each turn.
Map Addition
Expand the playable map by adding new tiles, regions, or spaces.
Hexagon Grid
Use a hexagonal map where each space connects evenly in six directions.
Read the full game description
Rise of the Wastelands is a strategic 4X game set after meteor impacts have shattered civilization. Each player leads an asymmetric faction outward from its capital, revealing a dynamically assembled hex map, founding outposts, recycling materials, constructing buildings and units, and climbing technology tracks. There are no fixed rounds: turns continue until an achievement ends the game. Victory comes from spreading at least five influence tokens among rival factions, so exploration, growth, conflict, and political pressure all feed the same race for dominance. A solo mode supports one-player campaigns across the wastes.
