Australian indie studio Shadow Council PTY has officially launched closed alpha testing for Afterglow, a post-apocalyptic sandbox MMORPG designed for mobile platforms. Set 77 years after a global nuclear war, the game places players in the role of refugees navigating a devastated American Southwest.
The first thing we can notice is that the game has a strong 1980s synthwave aesthetic which I like a lot. The game is described as a strategic turn-based combat with a semi-idle progression system. So, a a flexible experience tailored to busy players. It also emphasizes on player-driven economies, territory-based PvP, and non-violent gameplay options, all while avoiding pay-to-win mechanics.
Players can control up to three characters, assign tasks like scavenging or crafting, and log off while progress continues in the background. The game’s open world features mysterious artifacts, faction-based quests, and hidden caches that evolve based on player choices. It’s important to note that it plays in portrait format, which is never my first choice but makes a lot of sense for games with dialogue options and is seen quite a bit in RPGs with a retro vibes.
The closed alpha is currently live on Android and iOS, with sign-ups available via the official playtest form. Participants must agree to a non-disclosure agreement and follow the provided testing guide. While no release date has been confirmed, but Afterglow is expected to launch later in 2025. You can subscribe in their official website if want more news.
