Camlann Games discusses the inspirations behind its cyberpunk strategy game Neural Dominion

Neural Dominion is an upcoming cyberpunk 4X strategy game from Camlann Games and GamesBond Studios, which is due to release in 2025. Set in the dark, crime-ridden city of Technograd, you’re tasked with beating other gangs to the top by doing anything and everything – and we’ve previewed it.

While Neural Dominion takes a lot of inspiration from established franchises, the game does a lot that’s different, too. Slava Heretz, the lead designer of the game, told SimpleGamer, “Typically turn-based 4X strategy has either auto-resolution of combat like Civilization, or a fully tactical battlescape like Age of Wonders or Endless Legend.”

“In Neural Dominion, the player has three options: [a] fully automated combat resolution, mostly automated ‘active time’ JRPG combat, [and] fully controlled turn-based combat. Having a cyberpunk setting also creates opportunities for unique [legal and illegal] economic development and unique gameplay elements” of which the game includes hacking, stealth, police, global powers, and more.

These differences are what set Neural Dominion apart from other, similar games, but Heretz stressed that the basic mechanics of a strategy title are still in the game, along with a few others. He recalled how 4X strategy classics like Sid Meir’s Civilization and Age of Wonders helped shape the game.

“Crime elements from games like City of Gangsters” Heretz also cited as inspiration, along with the “aesthetics and mood from many different cyberpunk-themed games, many turn-based ‘active time’ JRPGs like Final Fantasy and Honkai Star Rail. But the big original inspiration is a little-known retro game called Chaos Overlords. Neural Dominion has a more serious and obviously up-to-date vibe. But the core game elements are there.”

Creating a game filled with these unique gameplay elements and mechanics proved to be a challenge for Camlann Games and GamesBond Studios, but what seemed more difficult to the team was successfully implementing the cyberpunk theme.

Heretz said: “Creating the maps, units, and mods to fit the theme and setting was quite difficult. We looked at how successfully Age of Wonders: Planetfall fit these components into their vision of a deep sci-fi world. And modelled how we would bring our vision of that to the cyberpunk setting. It helped our team get aligned and be on the same page and get past some major early roadblocks.”

While development comes with a big set of challenges, that’s not all indie devs have to face. Heretz highlighted the promotion and funding of games as other difficulties, saying: “Access to funding and discoverability of their games. There’s a lot of competition out there. Both making a great game and bringing it to market successfully is a herculean feat for indie devs.”

Devs wondering what to do about it should reach out to Camlann for support. “We never shy away from shameless self-promotion, “Heretz added. “I’d really recommend getting in touch with us at Camlann. I’m always happy to have at least a conversation and suggest resources, even if the game is not a fit for us as a publisher.”

He then called on games media to do more to help the indie game industry, telling SimpleGamer, “Press and content creators can always improve on attracting new, relevant audiences and generally growing their audience base. We all wish there was less of a focus on AAA titles. But that’s not a realistic ask. So just being able to showcase more indie titles and normalising the indie gaming space would be a great step.”

Despite being in the midst of development on Neural Dominion, Heretz still found time to try out fellow indie games and happily listed his favourites from the last year. “Planet Crafter just released to 1.0. Fantastic game. I honestly have been really enjoying our sci-fi RPG Underspace a ton since its April release. Have over 300 hours in it and keep finding new things to explore and do.”

Neural Dominion launches on PC in early 2025.