RimWorld

RimWorld is a single-player survival and management simulation game. The story begins when a group of survivors crash-land on a remote planet at the edge of known space. The player assumes the role of an overseer, guiding the colonists as they struggle against hunger, hostile raids, wildlife, and the harsh environment. Each game unfolds as an emergent narrative shaped by the colonists’ personalities, skills, and the random events that disrupt their fragile community.

The core gameplay revolves around constructing and maintaining a functioning settlement. Colonists gather wood, steel, and stone to build shelters, workshops, power grids, and defenses. Food is secured through farming, hunting, and animal husbandry, and it must be stored, cooked, and rationed to avoid spoilage and starvation. Environmental systems like heating and cooling are essential for survival in harsh climates, while defensive structures such as traps and turrets help colonies withstand external threats.

Combat is tactical and takes place in real time with a pause option. Colonists may equip melee or ranged weapons, and their effectiveness is determined by skills, health, and morale. Injuries and illnesses must be treated in medical beds with proper supplies, and untreated wounds can result in permanent disabilities or death. Enemies range from raiders and pirates to mechanical units and dangerous wildlife. Sieges, kidnappings, and surprise assaults force players to balance offense, defense, and resource management.

Progression is achieved through research, which unlocks advanced technologies and enables colonists to craft better weapons, armor, and equipment. Colonists develop their abilities through use, and their skills cover a wide range of tasks including construction, medicine, social interaction, and intellectual pursuits. Colonists’ unique traits influence their behavior, such as pyromania, addiction, or pacifism, which can complicate survival and planning.

An AI storyteller controls the flow of events, providing both challenges and opportunities. Different storytellers such as Cassandra Classic, Phoebe Chillax, or Randy Random vary in pacing and difficulty. Events range from natural disasters to visiting traders and traveling caravans, shaping an emergent story that is unique to each playthrough. Colonists develop relationships, fall in love, form rivalries, and may experience emotional breakdowns if their needs for rest, recreation, or comfort are ignored.

Additional features include the ability to send out caravans to explore, trade, raid, or even move the entire colony. Animals can be tamed, bred, and trained for labor, defense, or companionship. Outsiders can be recruited to join the colony or captured as prisoners. The ultimate long term goal is often to construct a starship to escape the planet, though players may also choose to expand indefinitely and face continuous challenges.

RimWorld has also been adapted with the Console Edition that preserves the full mechanics of the PC version while reworking the interface for controllers with radial menus and streamlined inputs.