Desolation Tycoon cover
Desolation Tycoon screenshot
Genre: Strategy, Indie

Desolation Tycoon

High Strategy: Oradros is out!

If you enjoyed Desolation Tycoon, you might also enjoy our newest game. High Strategy: Oradros is a minimalist grand strategy game set in an original, low-fantasy world of hoplites and dinosaurs.

Find out more at the Steam page.

Demo for High Strategy: Oradros

If you liked Desolation Tycoon, you might also like our new game, which comes out in August. High Strategy: Oradros is a minimalist grand strategy set in an original low-fantasy world of hoplites and dinosaurs. A free demo is now available, which lets you play any of the 40 playable realms for up to 50 turns.

v1.1.2b

Fixes a situation where it was possible to skip the founding of a new town (and the associated picking of unlocks) by starting a new game before ending an existing character's career. Existing characters will not be affected, but as soon as their careers end, the game will try to catch up on any towns it previously skipped.

v1.1.2


  • Graphical overhaul for the overworld.
  • Sandstorms now have a visual effect.
  • "Climate of Optimism/Mistrust" town states now occur less frequently.
  • Various minor fixes.

v1.1.1


  • Added a "Larger Font" checkbox under Interface Settings.
  • Fixed a bug where it was possible for a town to have a glut and a shortage of the same item, at the same time.
  • Fixed a bug that would occasionally cause crash-to-desktop on entering a future town location.
  • Changed the spawning of excavations to be more consistently thematic.

v1.1.0b

Fixed a problem with fonts on smaller resolutions.

v1.1.0


  • The trade system is now slightly more dynamic, with individual commodities able to have local gluts and shortages.
  • Raising the abundance in a town too high can lead to you getting temporarily banned from that town.
  • You can now receive random events upon entering a town. Some are always available, while others happen in response to conditions that affect you. Each unlocked town also unlocks a new cultural festival that can happen in any town on the map.
  • Excavating ruins carries a small chance to recover useful ancient artifacts.
  • Towns can now also experience temporary states that increase or decrease the chance of getting an honest scheme outcome.
  • You can now drag the game window using a widget in the Settings->Resolution menu.

v1.0.3


  • The Traversing skill has been redesigned. Previously, it reduced the speed penalty from difficult terrain. Now, every 5 skill levels exempt one crew member from reducing your travel speed.
  • Towns now offer 4 different crew units if at least one new unit type has been unlocked. Previously, you had to unlock multiple units to get this. This change only takes effect after a new character is started.
  • The distribution of inherent NPC honesties has been slightly rebalanced. Fewer NPCs will now be equally honest and dishonest. This change only takes effect after a new character is started.
  • Picking the weakest course of action during a demonic encounter has a chance to reshuffle a character's personality.
  • Gameplay tips added to the main menu.

v1.0.2b Hotfix

Fixed a bug caused by the fixing of a previous bug, where newly unlocked units would not be available for hire. Unfortunately, the fix will only apply to characters started after this patch. Future patches will be spaced out a little more, to avoid such shenanigans.

v1.0.2


  • Middle mouse button can now be used to access the map.
  • Combat Ability icon has been replaced.
  • Skill gains while in town, during encounters, or while excavating will now be shown upon leaving.
  • Promising locations for new towns are now shown on the map, so long as the same character has visited the location before. Visits from the before the patch were not recorded.
  • If a new character's Scouting skill is sufficiently high, they will know about the location of one or two excavation locations from the start.
  • Schemes that grant progress for settling new towns have been buffed almost across the board.
  • Knowing experience from encounters has been slightly reduced.
  • A character that has visited all towns on the map will now gain a new trait that doubles the chance of gaining trophies from hostile encounters.
  • Fixed a bug where the names of unlocked units would stop showing up.