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Pax Autocratica is an unusual blend of a colony simulator, a roguelite, and a first-person shooter. Developed by Multiverse, the game takes players to the Tyris system, where, following the death of the supreme ruler, a struggle for control of the region – now plunged into chaos – begins.
The player takes on the role of a military officer who arrives in Tyris as a representative of the “Father of the People.” His mission is to establish a foothold, expand the colony, and deal with nearby threats.
From a handful of survivors to a totalitarian state
The colony gets off to a modest start – all we have at our disposal is the IntelliExplorer A20 robot and the command centre building. The colony quickly expands to include new buildings and residents, who must be provided with food and rest, and assigned tasks such as resource extraction, production and research into new technologies.
At the same time, every citizen has their own needs, relationships, likes and dislikes. Residents form bonds, harbour grudges, and may be loyal to the authorities or begin to question their decisions. It is precisely these social dynamics that constitute one of the most interesting aspects of the game.
The authorities have a wide range of tools at their disposal. Society can be controlled through fear and propaganda, but a ‘softer’ approach is also possible, namely by ensuring citizens’ comfort and prosperity.
Colony is only half the battle
Pax Autocratica stands out in that the management of the state is not limited to the menu and the colony map. Players can personally take to the battlefield, fighting in first-person view alongside their soldiers.
The expeditions are structured as roguelites. Subsequent expeditions take you deeper and deeper into the Tyris system, and during combat you can acquire special cores that allow you to modify your weapons and your squad’s capabilities.
The clashes range from minor skirmishes to larger battles involving mechanised forces. However, the player is not a lone hero – they can issue orders to their soldiers and cooperate with allies.
An enemy may become a citizen
One of the most distinctive mechanics is the ability to capture enemies. Weakened soldiers can be taken from the battlefield and transported to the colony.
That is where the next stage of the struggle for power begins. Prisoners may be subjected to intimidation, indoctrination and a process of conversion. Ultimately, a former enemy may become a loyal member of society.
This is a mechanic that combines the military and colonial aspects: an opponent defeated on the battlefield does not necessarily have to disappear from history. They may return as a colonist, a role model for others, or yet another tool in the regime’s hands.
Key features of Pax Autocratica
- the construction and management of a totalitarian space colony,
- a system of citizens with their own needs, relationships and levels of loyalty,
- propaganda, surveillance, punishment, fear and prosperity as tools of control,
- first-person combat expeditions,
- a roguelite structure and the ability to customise weapons and your squad,
- commanding troops during combat,
- battles ranging from minor skirmishes to conflicts involving machinery,
- the ability to capture opponents and subject them to indoctrination,
- Colonial development and expansion in the Tyris system.
Pax Autocratica launched in Early Access on PC on 10 August 2026. The game is available on Steam, and a co-op mode is planned for after the Early Access period.
Multiverse therefore attempts to combine two very different experiences: calm, systematic management of society and direct, brutal FPS combat. The most interesting thing, however, is that both elements are interlinked – decisions made in the colony affect the people we later take into battle, whilst events on the battlefield can, in turn, alter the functioning of the entire regime.
