GameWiki
GET YOUR BEARINGS
About Empires of the Undergrowth
Empires of the Undergrowth puts you in charge of an ant colony, where you must grow a sprawling nest, manage a hierarchy, and protect the queen. From digging hex‑based tunnels to directing warriors, every decision ripples through the colony’s survival.
The game blends real‑time strategy with simulation, offering varied ant species, pheromone‑driven task groups, and both underground and surface battles. A narrative‑driven campaign adds a laboratory experiment and documentary missions that reward long‑term evolution of your ants.
01 / THE GUIDE
Nest Management
Your colony begins in a central chamber with the queen, where workers expand the nest into interconnected store rooms, nurseries, and hallways.
They excavate a hex‑grid of soil and bedrock, gather food, and tend eggs, keeping the ant economy alive and growing.
- Observe how expanding tunnels affect travel time for workers.
- Balance building new chambers with maintaining existing ones to avoid bottlenecks.
02 / THE GUIDE
Ant Species and Combat Roles
Each ant species brings unique weapons and tactics, shaping how battles unfold across the battlefield.
Trap‑jaw ants excel in melee leaps, leafcutter majors draw fire for allies, and wood ants can launch formic‑acid artillery at range.
- Match enemy type with a species that counters its strength.
- Mix melee and ranged ants to cover both close and distant threats.
03 / THE GUIDE
Pheromone Group Specialisation
Multiple nurseries can be linked to distinct pheromone groups, each receiving orders via markers and adjustable engagement rules.
Groups may be set to collect food, join combat, or perform both, allowing dynamic shifts as the colony’s needs change.
- Use dedicated foraging groups when food stores run low.
- Switch combat groups to escort duties if workers face heavy enemy fire.
04 / THE GUIDE
Overground Foraging and Threats
Beyond the nest, ants can harvest seeds, nectar, fungus, other insects, and even amphibians, each offering distinct nutritional benefits.
However, surface predators such as ladybugs and nocturnal creatures pose threats that must be weighed against the potential food gain.
- Scout a food source first to gauge enemy presence.
- Prioritize low‑risk items like seeds when the colony is starving.
05 / THE GUIDE
Narrative‑Driven Campaign Mode
The game includes a narrative‑driven campaign that follows a lab experiment with the Formica ereptor gene‑thief ants alongside a documentary series.
Success in documentary missions grants resources to upgrade a persistent lab colony, letting players evolve ants to suit their preferred playstyle.
- Focus on documentary missions early to build a resource buffer.
- Experiment with different species in the lab to discover effective combat combos.
COMMUNITY
Player discussion