If you love the likes of Civ, you’ll probably have a favorite strategy in mind: science, culture, faith, or maybe military might. But the most interesting choices come as those aspects start to interweave. Endless Legend 2 developer Amplitude Studios has just revealed the final faction we’ll have access to on day one, a group of “devout believers” known as the Tahuk, and they’re hitting all the right notes. Under its new home with indie publisher Hooded Horse, the long-awaited strategy sequel is finally about to arrive, and now Amplitude walks us through how this band of eager worshippers must balance on a delicate knife edge of science and faith if they’re to succeed on Saiadha.
I still hold the first Endless Legend alongside Civ 5 as a personal favorite, and it remains a standout on our best 4X games list, even a decade on. I’ve therefore naturally been looking forward to spending time with Endless Legend 2, especially as Civ 7 currently feels like Firaxis still needs a bit more time to cook and realize its full potential. My initial impressions from the opening hours were strong, and reinforced the feeling that its factions will be just as interestingly diverse as the original, but that build was missing two of the five groups that will be playable when early access begins.
Of the pair that I didn’t get to see, I know what to expect from the Last Lords, which are essentially an update to my favorite faction from the first Endless Legend. The Tahuks, however, might have just secured themselves the spot as my first-choice option to kick off with. Senior narrative and game designer Nitya Abdoul Carime explains how their “peculiar mix of faith and technology” will challenge their very understanding of the Endless.
“They hope their devotion will bring back the Sages, and watch the stars for signs of their return,” Carime says of Tahuk society. At the heart of their worship is an Endless relic known as the Sacred Oculum, a device capable of channeling your science production into various powerful abilities. You could employ it for positive means such as bathing your cities in ‘eternal sunshine’ to maximize productivity, use it to galvanize national faith, or equip it as a weapon capable of destroying vast stretches of land.
Of course, the environment of Saiadha is already shifting and swirling thanks to the Tidefall, a mechanic that causes the fantasy game’s maps to transform over the course of a playthrough as waters recede and uncover new paths, opportunities, and points of interest. These world-altering events, Carime notes, have the potential to “upset the delicate balance of power” in the ruling Tahuk council, and can even “change the way they see their faith in the Endless, and their technology.”
Your most zealous followers can be sent to act as missionaries in other empires, giving you access to potential intel and resources. The Tahuk can also build observatories on any mountain ridges. These have the ability to be upgraded into either a library to boost your economy, or a ‘sacred flame’ that essentially acts as a powerful defensive turret, capable of firing on any nearby enemy forces.
Militarily, the Tahuk act almost entirely at range, with only their Devotees stepping into melee combat. Their long-distance options vary from mobile archers to slower but more powerful artillery, and attacks from all Tahuk units cause their targets to be ‘illuminated.’ This buff grants your melee troops a defensive bonus during fights, while ranged attackers will deliver “even more devastating blows” to illuminated victims. You’re therefore encouraged to focus-fire your foes to exploit this tool as much as possible.
Endless Legend 2 launches into early access via Steam and the Microsoft Store on Monday September 22. It’ll also be available on PC Game Pass from day one.
If you’re on the hunt for more 4X options, we’ve picked out the best games like Civilization in 2025, along with a wider look at the best strategy games on PC right now.
Which faction will you be playing first? Let us know in the PCGamesN community Discord server. I was leaning towards the relative ‘normalcy’ of the Kin of Sheredyn, but the added twist the Tahuks bring to the table might have just won me over.
