Though it may not be making waves, Age of Wonders: Planetfall developers haven't stopped producing high-quality content for their phenomenal 4X, with the all-new race of Planetfall Shakarn reptiles being their latest feat. It was only recently that Planetfall: Invasions DLC launched, and we're still chewing some of its more complex additions. However! The new faction - Shakarn - is hardly an unknown at this point.

For the purpose of today's article, we've decided to describe why Shakarn are as interesting to us as they are! We'll also be going over Invasions DLC's full feature set to try and help you decide if it's a good fit for you. There's actually a whole lot of ground to cover here, so let's get to it!

Learn about:

• Planetfall Shakarn playable race
• Therian NPC race
• Invasions DLC features
• Invasions DLC vs Revelations DLC

What are the Planetfall Shakarn reptiles?

It goes without saying that Planetfall Shakarn are the most exciting addition of the Invasions DLC. Shakarn are not like other races. Though their vicious-looking exterior might suggest otherwise, they're as far from being a brutish warrior species as one gets. According to what lore we have on Shakarn, their plans for the invasion of local Star Union space originally had to be postponed because they underestimated the baseline races. However, the Shakarn are nothing if not scheming. Using their advanced infiltration tech and misinformation campaigns, they stayed hidden until the time was right for them to strike. As you may have guessed by now - that time has come.

These lizardmen employ a wide variety of non-standard weapons in warfare. Subterfuge is the name of the game, and holo-disguises are barely scratching the surface or their full capabilities. Players opting for Shakarn will have the opportunity to deploy a wide variety of information weapons. Whether it's pure disinfo or outright propaganda, the Shakarn are quite adept at using it all. The vicious lizardmen will easily cause unrest in opposing encampments and cities, and use this to their advantage when their combatants finally arrive.

If you're worried about the Shakarn's direct combat might, we're happy to say that there's no need for concern. Though, the new Voidbringer Invasions might make for a problematic development in the endgame.

Are there two new Races in Age of Wonders: Planetfall - Invasions?

With most of the Invasions DLC's promotive materials focusing on Shakarn, it was very easy to miss the fact that there are, in fact, two new alien races in this expansion. Therians are sophisticated combatants who have forced the evolution's hand by fusing their DNA with that of various animals. They're sadly not a playable race, but they will greatly enhance your NPC interaction experience. They also stand as in direct opposition to Shakarn, being mammalian and all.

It's also worth pointing out that Therians aren't technically alien, either. This curious faction was borne of human experimentation gone wrong (or right, depending on your stance). As you'd expect, they come with a variety of anthropomorphized animal warriors, which will make a certain subset of gamers very, very happy.

Are the Therians that different from the Shakarn?

Yes, for reasons that are both obvious and implied. Firstly, it's important to mention that the Therians are not a playable race. They'll pop up from time to time as an NPC faction, and it'll be up to each player to choose whether they'll play nice with them, or face them in combat. Therians are a mighty enemy, keep in mind, and it just so happens that their relative weak point comes from infiltration abilities. Shakarn will have ready access to tools required to deal with Therians if they so desire. More affable races might instead wish to enlist their help. In the end, it'll be up to each player to build up their own "Civ", and Therians are there to make things more interesting!

What makes Planetfall Invasions worth buying?

New races are all well and good, but that's not the only thing the Invasions DLC adds to the mix. In fact, if it's gameplay features you're most interested in, you're going to love what Invasions has to offer! From unique world events all the way to late-game challenges, there's much to enjoy in Planetfall - Invasions!

New features? What are they?

World Events are the obvious choice for discussion! Featuring 20 unique environmental catastrophes, the Invasions DLC will keep you on your toes no matter how your match might be progressing. Some of the World Events we've seen so far include pirate uprisings and solar flares. There are earthquakes and more exotic problems to contend with, too. You might come across an orbital weapons cache for a small boost to your combat prowess. However, you might also come face-to-face with cosmic disasters. Only time will tell! One thing's for sure, though: World Events alone change up the dynamic enough to freshen things up.

There are also a few new Campaign missions to play through, as well as the exciting new Conquered Worlds multiplayer mode. Here, one player starts with a massive empire, while others must work together to topple them. A very, very interesting asymmetrical multiplayer take on 4X gameplay!

Finally, there are the Voidbringer Invasions to contend with. We mentioned those before, so let us explain!

What are Voidbringer Invasions, again?

Voidbringer Invasions are the second exciting feature included in the Invasions DLC, and it may well be our favorite of the bunch. After your colony has already surpassed the better portion of your opposition, and you've already established your rule on the planet, you'll come face-to-face with Voidbringers. These trans-dimensional invaders will throw entire legions of mind-warped soldiers your way, and lest you become their thrall, you'll have to complete a set of generated objectives to fight them off.

Here's the kicker, though: if you don't feel like doing that, or if you just can't fight the Voidbringers off, you can join them! Simply submit to the Voidbringers' will and conquer the map in their name. It's a fascinating new twist on classic Planetfall gameplay, and we're happy to say it brings an interesting dimension to those late-game challenges we already have experience with!

Is the Planetfall Invasions DLC better than the Revelations DLC?

Now, for the obvious comparison. Invasions vs Revelations - which is better? The honest answer is - neither. And either! Though they're similar far as the sheer size and amount of content goes, whether they're more interested in one or the other will depend on your own gaming dispositions. As you can tell from our summary of Invasions above, the main draw of this expansion is subterfuge and disinformation warfare. That's what Planetfall Shakarn are all about. On the other hand, Revelations' very own Heritor are religious zealots who will settle for nothing less than absolute control with their entropic weaponry.

Revelations DLC's unique feature are Anomalous Sites, which add traps and enemies to the mix. Combined with Invasions' World Events, they will make for a far more dynamic gameplay experience than baseline Planetfall could afford. If you're really keen on only choosing one or the other, pick according to playable races! That should set you on the right path.

What's next for Age of Wonders: Planetfall?

We've always been pretty vocal about us being big fans of Planetfall. It's a great game, and with two major expansion packs already out, it's only getting better with time. Hell, the Season Pass format of content releases is working great for other 4X devs, too, so we wouldn't be all that surprised if devs were to announce a second Season Pass for Age of Wonders: Planetfall down the line. There's one more DLC coming in Fall 2020, so we'll have to wait and see.

If you'd like to get started with one of the most interesting strategy games we've ever played, check out our deals below! Don't forget to apply the 'COMMUNITY2GAME' promo code in the cart page, as that'll net you a cool 10% off the asking price. Have fun!

• Age of Wonders: Planetfall
• Revelations DLC
• Invasions DLC