Launching later this month on Nintendo Switch is Anthill, a strategy game from the studio behind the wonderful SteamWorld franchise.
Anthill originally launched back in 2011, appearing on smartphones and tablets via Android and iOS. The whole thing is actually based on the real-world behaviour of ants; players must direct their forces by drawing pheromone trailers to different destinations, guiding streams of units as you aim to protect your hill form waves of enemy bugs. You can see the trailer above.
The Switch version will include the original game, all previous DLC, and a brand new soundtrack. Here's a feature list:
- Eat what you kill: Slay a bug with your soldiers, then direct your workers to bring back the carcass for dinner. Yum!
- Surgical strikes: Direct bomber ants to perform air raids through hordes of bugs. Satisfaction guaranteed!
- Upgrades: Buy permanent upgrades for your troops! Turn your bombers into carpet bombers, inspire courage in your workers, and make your soldiers more brutal. Boo-ya!
- Dedicated to handheld play: The intuitive touch controls are perfect for the Nintendo Switch screen. Feel it!
Interestingly, the game will remain handheld-only via touch input, meaning you won't be able to play this one on the TV. Still, it works out as pretty perfect timing for those of you who have picked up a Switch Lite recently.
It'll be launching on 24th October and will be available for €9.99/$9.99. Image & Form tells us that it comes with "many hours of gameplay, six campaigns and two separate endless modes".
Excited to check this one out on Switch? Have you played it before on other platforms? Tell us below.
Comments 22
Looks like a fun way to kill some time
I loved this game and played through this and the DLC on my phone!
I really hope they do a sequel or more DLC on switch, would love to play more.
Does anyone remember Battle Bugs from the DOS days?
Scrolled past it in the coming soon section, completely forgetting it was an Image & Form game. It's the only one of their games that I haven't played yet so I'll definitely download it and give it a go. Handheld only is fine as that's how I play 99.9% of the time anyway.
They were hinting at this for the last few months... I was hoping they were insinuating at a port of SteamWorld Tower Defense. But hope springs eternal!
I love Image & Form and have played all their games. I do not play a lot of handheld, though, so I will wait see reviews and read more.
I hope no actual bugs were harmed in the making of this game.
Can't blame them for porting a mobile game to the Switch, the system is actually pretty suited for playing them, and it'll be a little extra revenue for them hopefully.
Just waiting on that physical version of Steamworld Quest now.
SimAnts is still the best.
Is it impossible to add regular controls?!
More Image & Form goodness? Sign me in!
Is this similar to Pikmin?
@sketchturner the concept is the same, however it is with trail-based tower defense. This means the units walk along a line or trail and then attack enemies near the line (with the exception of bomber ants). Afterwards, you send ants to retrieve the fallen enemy.
...I miss Sim Ant. lol
What about the first SteamWorld game, Tower Defense?
I asked the developers five years ago on Twitter why they didn’t bring it to Wii U, but didn’t receive a good answer. Now, with four SteamWorld games on Switch, now is most certainly the time to bring the first game to a console that has all the others in the series!
Nice! This was a fun time waster
Touch screen only seems like a big mistake for the Switch.
@TuxDC why?
@Krambo42 I think it greatly limits potential customers. People that enjoy playing Docked on the big screen are out of luck. Of the handheld players, a percentage don't like mobile focused touch controls and another percentage that don't want finger smudges on the screen. Lastly, it speaks to the level of effort of the port, if they just rip and ship it from mobile as is without controller support.
@TuxDC Eh, I don't know. I haven't played the game, so I could be wrong, but it seems to me that this is a game meant to be played with a touch screen. People are always talking about how "the point" of the Switch is that you can play games on your TV or on the go, but I think that what is just as important as that is the flexibility to play games that can't be played on other consoles. Games like Severed, Voez (I know they added controller controls, but those are dumb) and now Anthill. Couldn't be done on PS4 or XB1, and I think it's cool we can play them on Switch.
Of course, if the game COULD be played with a controller and they just decided not to bother, that's different. But I have a feeling it just wouldn't be possible, or at least, not as fun with this game.
Second Galaxy on Switch please!
This is what I was afraid of when they announced the switch lite.
@HolyGeez: you have made my YEAR for also remembering that sweet, sweet game! I was just a wee lad then, but probably dumped 40+ hours on that chess-like gem! Ah...Damn, good times!
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