You can define your own weird religion in Reus dev's new god game Godhood
Descending in 2019.
Abbey Games, the studio behind Reus and the excellent turn-based globe-trotting adventure Renowned Explorers, has unveiled its new strategy game Godhood.
In Godhood, players take on the guise of a new deity, and start out by defining the religion that they'd like to usher into an unsuspecting world - whether it be one that embraces peace, love, lust, war, honour, cannibalism, witchcraft, or any number of increasingly unconventional ideologies, judging by the game's new teaser trailer.
That's pretty much all the information that the trailer does offer, however, aside from a pleasing introductory glimpse at Godhood's classic isometric perspective and its rather lovely hand-drawn art style. Thankfully, there's a slightly more detailed, and promising, overview of the game's core features to be found on its developer's website.
As with other familiar god games, your burgeoning band of followers aren't controlled directly; instead, you guide them from afar, selecting the things that drive them, their virtues and vices, the rituals they enact, and the monuments they build to honour you - and the best followers might grow into powerful disciples that will pass on their faith to future generations.
You won't just need to worry about your own followers, though. Rival deities and religions exist throughout the ancient world, all vying for power and influence - and you'll need to face them and their followers in ritual combat known as Sacraments. "Your disciples will need to prove their faith through the use of awe, persuasion or brute force", explains Abbey Games.
According to the developer, Godhood is powered by a "deep simulation system", featuring "dozens of different combinations of religious dogmas". That suggests plenty of room for experimentation as you tailor your people's belief systems, but structure is brought to the experience via a central storyline "filled with battles, rituals and challenging quests".
Godhood certainly sounds and looks promising, and is particularly welcome given the relative dearth of god games in recent times. It helps too that Abbey Games has a strong track record for bringing its often unconventional ideas to life - so it'll be worth keeping an eye on Godhood as its anticipated 2019 release date approaches.