New Cycle
Release Date: January 18, 2024 Early Access
Strategy, science fiction, steampunk, economic, RTS, post-apocalypse, indie games, city builder, singleplayer
Steam
New Cycle is a city builder with survival elements inspired by Frostpunk and Anno. We play as the leader of a settlement, trying to survive after an apocalyptic disaster that destroyed the world's technology and turned the Earth inhospitable.
New Cycle is a cross between a real-time economic sim and a survival game inspired by Frostpunk and the Anno series. It's the debut game of Core Engage and was published by Daedalic Entertainment.
Plot
Just like Frostpunk, New Cycle tasks us with leading a dieselpunk settlement in a nearly inhospitable world, 43 years after the fall of human civilization, which came to be due to a solar flare. We must reunite humanity and help it reclaim the meaning of life, to ensure its survival and the survival of all life on Earth.
Mechanics
As befitting the genre, the game tasks us with managing a settlement and helping it survive in a hostile world. We must ensure access to resources by hunting, gathering, lumbering and trading with other tribes. Construction-wise, we have lots of freedom: we can build anywhere we want or divide the city into zones.
Like in Frostpunk, expansion will be no easy task. The world is ruined and dangerous, while chaotically changing seasons and weather can foil our plans at any time. We should also keep an eye on our people's moods, so they don't overthrow us in search of a better leader.
The larger our settlement is, the more problems we'll face, which requires efficient management and implementing laws. Over time we can also start annexing other tribes. On one hand, this grants us more influence, may help us with making valuable discoveries and ultimately rebuilding humanity. On the other hand, having more settlements complicates the game further, though management is simplified later on through advanced analytical tools and information panels.
Technical aspects
New Cycle runs on the Unity Engine and the Castle Game Engine.
Videos and Screens
[1:00] New Cycle New Cycle - Produce and Deliver Update Trailer
[4:51] New Cycle New Cycle - Early Access Launch Trailer
The main pros of the game
- Atmosphere and Graphics: The game features stunning visuals that effectively create a post-apocalyptic ambiance, enhancing immersion.
- Soundtrack: The music is well-composed and matches the game's theme, contributing to the overall experience.
- Intuitive UI: Users appreciate the easy-to-navigate user interface, which simplifies gameplay.
- Core Mechanics: The fundamental gameplay mechanics are easy to understand, making it accessible for newcomers while still offering depth for experienced players.
- Performance: Many players noted that the game runs smoothly without significant lag or crashes, even on lower-end hardware.
- Engaging Gameplay: The city-building and resource management elements provide a satisfying gameplay loop, keeping players engaged.
- Learning Curve: The game introduces concepts gradually, allowing players to adapt and learn as they progress.
The main cons of the game
- Unfinished State: Many reviews highlight that the game feels incomplete, with core mechanics needing more tuning and balancing.
- Gameplay Balance Issues: Users reported fluctuating food and power production, leading to shortages and frustrating gameplay experiences.
- Bugs and Glitches: Several players encountered visual bugs and technical issues, which detracted from immersion.
- Limited Replayability: Some users expressed that the game lacks depth and variety, making it feel repetitive after a while.
- Ineffective Logistics: Players criticized the transport systems (trains and trucks) as being mostly cosmetic and not functional, leading to logistical challenges.
The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users
- Improved Electricity Management: Many players requested a rework of the electricity system to make it more intuitive and manageable.
- More Complex Tech Tree: Users desire a more engaging and less linear tech tree, with more meaningful choices and consequences.
- Enhanced Trading System: The trading mechanics were seen as lacking depth and variety, with players wanting more options and a currency system.
- Mass Management Tools: Suggestions for mass upgrade and demolish tools to streamline gameplay were frequently mentioned.
- Detailed Metrics: Players expressed a need for clearer indicators regarding population needs (e.g., exact numbers of homeless citizens) and resource requirements.
- Expanded Gameplay Scenarios: Users requested more dynamic events and challenges to make the game feel less static and more engaging.
Summary
- Overall, while "New Cycle" shows potential with its engaging mechanics and atmosphere, many players feel it requires significant improvements and additional content to reach its full potential.
Summary generated on:
New Cycle Summary
Platforms:
PC / Windows
Developer: Core Engage
Publisher: Daedalic Entertainment
Age restrictions: 12+
New Cycle System Requirements
PC / Windows
Minimum: (30 fps / 1080p) Intel Core i5-4590 3.3 GHz / AMD FX-8320 3.5 GHz, 8 GB RAM, graphic card 3 GB GeForce GTX 960 / Radeon R9 280 or better, 8 GB HDD, Windows 10/11 64-bit
Recommended: (60 fps / 1080p) Intel Core i5-7400 3.0 GHz / AMD Ryzen 5 2600X 3.6 GHz, 16 GB RAM, graphic card 8 GB GeForce RTX 2060 Super / Radeon RX 5700 XT or better, 8 GB HDD, Windows 10/11 64-bit
New Cycle gets a new look with Unity 6. Changes are coming for the survival city builder, available in early access
New Cycle will soon undergo major modifications. Old players should be back in the game and new players now have a great excuse to start playing. Developers have ported the game to Unity 6 and are now redesigning some parts of the UI. The plans also include expanding the gameplay with new mechanics.
Sponsored Content
Zbigniew Woznicki
January 29, 2025
Frostpunk and Anno-Inspired Survival City Builder New Cycle Releases Today
In a few hours, New Cycle, dieselpunk-styled citybuilder strategy, will release on Steam.
video games
Adrian Werner
January 18, 2024
12-minute Gameplay From New Cycle, Promising Post-apo City Builder
Core Engage studio showed us in a long footage what the gameplay of New Cycle looks like. This post-apocalyptic city builder will soon hit early access on Steam.
video games
Maciej Gaffke
January 12, 2024
New Cycle Wants You to Build a Metropolis “Beyond Survival”
A new title addressed to fans of survival city-builders games will release early next year on January 18th 2024. This is the debut of an ambitious studio that wants to try and shake the genre up.
Sponsored Content
Konrad Sarzynski
December 1, 2023