Empire of the Ants: PS5 Review

Developed by Tower Five
Published by Microids
Platform: PS5 

The idea that a game could be centred around ants seems a little bit insane.

And yet Tower Five's commitment to the bit for Empire of the Ants makes the game feel more real than would ever in truth be expected.

A very simple concept puts you in charge of an ant, tasked with various missions during its story mode. From examining terrain that has been left behind to finding missing family members after a termite attack, the game slowly incorporates you into that world, getting you more versed in the nuances of working within a colony.

The end result is an absorbing RTS that works as well as it looks visually.

From photorealistic edges to the ability to jump hundreds of metres high with just the press of a button, Empire of the Ants has a way of simply getting under your skin. It's thanks largely to the environments that you find yourself in - from tall trees to simple items like an abandoned pear or football, the game's sense of scale is never overwhelming but is always ready to take you in with welcomed arms.

But occasionally the game's lack of subtlety in controls gets in the way.

Jumping initially is hard to master unless you're willing to go a few metres away from your target. An inability to turn just a fraction of an edge to master a tricky jump is annoying as well - meaning you miss completely and have to start all over again.

The game's multiplayer offers some more thrills, but a lot of it is combat-based and while there's something similar to Lemmings-style sitting back and leaving them to it, Empire of the Ants' breezy gameplay makes it more fun than it should be.