Renowned Explorers: International Society

Renowned Explorers: International Society is a turn-based strategy adventure game set in a stylized 19th-century world where players lead expeditions to become history’s most celebrated explorer by assembling a team of uniquely skilled adventurers, overcoming challenges, and outmaneuvering a persistent rival across diverse global locations. Developed by Abbey Games and inspired by adventure tropes like Indiana Jones and FTL’s strategic depth, the game emphasizes team composition, tactical encounters, and accumulating Renowned Explorers Points through exploration and diplomacy.

Renowned Explorers: International Society: A Masterclass in Whimsical Strategy

Introduction

In an era dominated by sprawling open worlds and cinematic spectacles, Renowned Explorers: International Society emerges as a beacon of indie ingenuity. Released on September 2, 2015, by Dutch studio Abbey Games (fresh off the critical success of Reus), this turn-based strategy adventure dares to be different. Set in a vibrant, fictionalized 19th century, it casts players as rival treasure hunters vying for global fame through expeditions to jungles, pyramids, and forgotten cities. Its legacy lies in its audacious fusion of tactical combat, RPG progression, and the revolutionary “Attitude-based Gameplay” system—a mechanic that redefines how conflicts are resolved. While not without its flaws, Renowned Explorers stands as a cult classic, celebrated for its depth, replayability, and infectious charm. This review deconstructs every facet of its design, revealing how a game about “insult-throwing contests and fluffy sheep” became a strategic tour de force.

Development History & Context

Abbey Games, founded in 2010 by Adriaan Jansen, carved a niche with Reus (2013), a god game where players nurtured planets. For Renowned Explorers, the team expanded to 152 developers, leveraging its in-house AbbeyCore engine to craft a more ambitious project. Inspired by adventure epics like Indiana Jones and classic roguelikes such as FTL: Faster Than Light, Jansen and his team aimed to capture the thrill of exploration while introducing novel tactical systems. The game was in development for over a year, with a beta launched in February 2015. Its release on Steam, macOS, and Linux coincided with a fertile period for indie strategy games (e.g., XCOM: Enemy Unknown’s resurgence), yet Renowned Explorers distinguished itself through its unique focus on narrative-driven encounters and reputation mechanics. Technologically, it eschewed 3D for a charming 2D diagonal-down perspective, ensuring accessibility while maintaining visual clarity. The result was a title that balanced accessibility with surprising strategic depth, perfectly aligned with the mid-2010s indie renaissance.

Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

Renowned Explorers thrives on its playful, anachronistic narrative. Players assume the role of an expedition leader assembling a trio of specialists from a roster of 20 diverse explorers (later expanded to 24 via DLC). Each character—such as the luchador Tommy or the icy scientist Bia Hekaton—possesses unique traits, skills, and backstories that influence gameplay. The overarching plot is simple yet compelling: compete against the perpetually sneering Frenchman Matthieux Rivaleux to become the world’s most “Renowned Explorer” by accumulating 2,000 Renown points. This is achieved by procuring legendary treasures (e.g., a Viking longship in the Scottish Highlands) and navigating procedurally generated expeditions.

The narrative unfolds through hundreds of text-based events and encounters, dynamically adapting to your team’s composition and reputation. For instance, a scientist might decipher ancient runes while a speaker charms suspicious locals. Dialogue is laced with dry humor, such as resolving a thug encounter via a Monty Python-esque “insult-throwing contest” where the loser flees “foaming at the mouth” (GameWatcher). Themes of legacy and consequence permeate the game: your choices—whether aggressive, diplomatic, or manipulative—shape your reputation, altering future interactions. Aggressive tactics might frighten villagers but yield gold, while friendly approaches foster alliances but reward less tangible benefits. This emphasis on narrative consequence elevates what could have been a simple treasure hunt into a meaningful journey of identity and impact.

Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

The genius of Renowned Explorers lies in its three-pronged gameplay loop: Preparation, Expedition, and Encounter.

1. Preparation (World Map): Between expeditions, players manage resources—Insight, Research, Gold, and Status—acquired during previous journeys. These fund gear upgrades (e.g., better spears for fighters), research (unlocking passive abilities), and hiring entourage members (providing passive bonuses). Cities like Berlin or Paris unlock new opportunities, creating a meta-layer of strategic planning. Resource scarcity (e.g., Supplies for movement) forces risky trade-offs: push toward the treasure or conserve resources for safer encounters?

2. Expedition (Locale Map): Players navigate a fog-of-war board-game-style grid to reach a primary objective (e.g., a pyramid). Each move consumes Supplies, with starvation incurring stat penalties. Random events (e.g., finding a cache of gold or triggering a wolf attack) and choices (e.g., aiding stranded explorers) create tension and replayability. The map’s procedural generation ensures no two expeditions feel identical, though some players noted repetitive event tropes later in playthroughs.

3. Encounter (Tactical Combat): This is the game’s centerpiece. Battles unfold on a Voronoi grid, where players command three explorers against AI-controlled locals. The “Attitude-based Gameplay” system is revolutionary: conflicts are resolved through three stances—Aggressive (melee/ranged attacks), Friendly (charms/compliments), or Devious (insults/taunts). Each stance operates like a rock-paper-scissors dynamic: Aggressive dominates Friendly, Friendly counters Devious, and Devious overcomes Aggressive. Successful actions shift the encounter’s “Mood,” granting tactical bonuses or penalties. Crucially, the outcome—whether victory, retreat, or conversion—depends on your team’s composition and the emotions you trigger (e.g., enraging an enemy to lower their attack). This encourages non-violent solutions, turning combat into a high-stakes psychological duel. With limited “Resolve” points (lives), permadeath in Adventure mode (a roguelike twist) heightens stakes, while Discovery mode offers flexibility for newcomers.

Character progression is deeply satisfying. Explorers level up, gaining skills like the Speaker’s “Compliment” (boosts mood) or the Fighter’s “Taunt” (inflicts fear). The synergy between crew members—e.g., a Scientist’s research boosting a Scout’s agility—adds layers of strategy. However, the UI, while functional, suffers from occasional clutter, and the game’s reliance on RNG for event outcomes can frustrate, especially during resource droughts.

World-Building, Art & Sound

Renowned Explorers’ world is a love letter to 19th-century adventure fiction, albeit with a cartoonish flair. Expeditions span 10 regions, from Egyptian deserts to Caribbean shores, each distinct in its art direction. The visuals use warm, saturated colors and expressive character sprites—think friendly voodoo apes or stern highlanders—to evoke a sense of wonder without grimness. The Voronoi grid battlescapes are artfully minimalist, focusing clarity on tactical positioning. Environments are rich with detail: crumbling temples, bustling ports, and dense jungles feel lived-in, even if procedurally generated.

Sound design reinforces the game’s whimsy. The soundtrack, composed by Joost van Dongen, is jaunty and upbeat, though it can become repetitive over long sessions. Sound effects—from the clink of gold coins to the thud of a taunt—are crisp and thematically appropriate. Voice acting is absent, but the text-based dialogue is delivered with personality, especially during encounters where your crew’s quirks shine (e.g., the luchador’s bravado). This cohesive audiovisual package creates an atmosphere that is both adventurous and inviting, making even a loss feel like part of a grand, quirky tale.

Reception & Legacy

Renowned Explorers launched to critical acclaim, holding an 84% average critic score on MobyGames (based on two reviews) and a “Very Positive” 91% on Steam (with 1,878 reviews). Critics lauded its innovation, with GameWatcher calling it “one of the best surprises of the year” and Quarter to Three praising its “thoroughly charming encounter system.” Players were equally enamored, citing its replayability and strategic depth, though some noted repetitive events and a steep learning curve. Metacritic’s user score was more mixed (6.4/10), citing technical quirks and RNG frustrations, but passionate fans defended it as a “hidden gem.”

The game’s legacy is cemented by its influence on indie strategy design. The “Attitude-based Gameplay” system predated similar narrative-driven mechanics in titles like Pathway (2019), demonstrating how player choice could redefine combat. Abbey Games supported it with two expansions: More to Explore (2016), adding new events and treasures, and The Emperor’s Challenge (2017), introducing a daily challenge mode. While its sales figures aren’t publicly disclosed, its cult status endures: it remains a staple on “best indie strategy” lists and is frequently cited for proving that tactical depth need not sacrifice accessibility or humor.

Conclusion

Renowned Explorers: International Society is more than a game; it’s a meticulously crafted love letter to adventure and strategy. Its fusion of roguelike structure, RPG progression, and revolutionary attitude-based combat creates an experience that is both endlessly replayable and deeply personal. While the occasional repetitive event and UI hiccups prevent perfection, these flaws pale against the game’s strengths: its vibrant world, strategic brilliance, and the sheer joy of outwitting rivals through wit or warfare. Abbey Games succeeded in capturing the essence of exploration—discovery, rivalry, and legacy—in a way few games have. For anyone seeking a title that challenges the mind and warms the heart, Renowned Explorers is not just recommended; it’s essential. It stands as a testament to the power of indie innovation, proving that the greatest adventures often begin with a single, bold idea.