As game development become♐s increasingly complex and it gets harder to squash every single bug, the idea of a perfect launch h🐟as turned into a rare beast. Because of this, I adore the Early Access model that's taken over PC gaming in recent years. Not only has it enabled smaller studios to create games they couldn't have otherwise created, but getting fans in on the ground floor means that developers have an unparalleled opportunity to foster a shared creative vision with players.

It's for this reason that I've been following the Early Access window for . I'm a sucker for city-builders that go above and beyond to get you involved with their world beyond juggling resource meters – in my eyes it's a big reason why Manor Lords and Frostpunk 2 found so much success in 2024 – and Endzone 2 gets this. Set in a post-apocalyptiℱc wasteland, you're not just expected to help a town scrape b✅y, but encouraged to chart the world yourself in search of loot and new locations to build settlements.

and seeing whether its Early Access stage is for you. That comes with the usual caveat that it's still in development, so perhaps hold your horses if you don't enjoy games as they're being worked on – personally, I've got so many Early Access games on the go right now that I'd be more shocked if something wasn't pre-launch. But if you're anything like me and can't resist the prospect of creating post-apocalyptic high society, I'd also suggest joining to have a say in how the game sha𓄧pes up. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to pick out a plot for the wasteland's hottest up-and-coming suburbia – see you there?