Kenshi is a sandbox RPG with a strong emphasis on survival and base building. It's set in a harsh post-apocalyptic world and allows you complete freedom in forging your own story.

Is Kenshi suitable for new players to the genre?

Kenshi is known for its high difficulty and steep learning curve. It's not particularly beginner-friendly and might require a lot of patience and a deep understanding of its mechanics to succeed.

Does Kenshi have a central questline or story?

Kenshi does not have a central plot or fixed quests. The game is a pure sandbox, where you create your own objectives and write your story through your interactions with the world and the events that unfold within it.

Can you build bases and establish a town in Kenshi?

Yes, base building is a core part of Kenshi. You can establish your own settlement, research technologies, produce resources, grow food, and even set up your own trade. Be sure to choose a strategic location.

Kenshi

In short: Kenshi is a strategy game released in 2018 by Lo-Fi Games, available on PC. Our score: 9.0/10 (highly recommended).

Open-world squad survival RPG

{"title":"Kenshi","category":"strategy","year":2018,"developer":"Lo-Fi Games","shortdescription":"Open-world squad survival RPG","description":"Kenshi is a truly unique and uncompromising open-world squad survival RPG set in a brutal, unforgiving, post-post-apocalyptic desert wasteland. Unlike many games that handhold the player, Kenshi drops you into its vast, procedurally generated world with minimal guidance, forcing you to forge your own path, define your own goals, and ultimately, write your own story. You start as a solitary wanderer with nothing but the rags on your back, and from there, the possibilities are nearly limitless. Will you become a renowned warrior, a master craftsman, a notorious bandit, a shrewd trader, or perhaps even the leader of your own sprawling city? The choice, and the consequences, are entirely yours.\n\nGameplay in Kenshi is a delicate dance between survival, strategic planning, and emergent storytelling. You’ll manage a squad of characters, each with their own skills, stats, and personalities, as you explore a world teeming with hostile creatures, warring factions, and desperate survivors. Hunger is a constant threat, resources are scarce, and combat, when it inevitably arrives, is visceral and often brutal. Limb loss is permanent, and characters can be captured, enslaved, or worse. Success hinges on careful resource management, intelligent character development, tactical squad positioning in real-time combat, and a willingness to learn from…

Game details

Developer: Lo-Fi Games
Publisher: Lo-Fi Games
Release year: 2018
Platforms: PC
Category: strategy

Our review

Kenshi is a truly unique and ambitious open-world RPG/squad-based RTS hybrid with a focus on freedom and player-driven stories in a brutal post-apocalyptic world. Set in the world of Kenshi, a hostile and unforgiving planet, you start as a nobody and can become anything – a trader, a thief, a rebel, a farmer, a warlord, a hungry dog… the possibilities are nearly endless. The game excels in its simulation aspects, featuring a complex economy, detailed faction interactions, and a world that feels alive and reactive to your actions. Building up a base, researching technologies, and training your squad is incredibly rewarding, especially when you overcome the harsh challenges the world throws at you. However, Kenshi is not without its flaws. The user interface can be incredibly clunky and difficult to master, and the game’s performance can take a hit in heavily populated areas. The learning curve is also notoriously steep, demanding patience and perseverance from players. Despite these dr…

Pros

Incredible - freedom - and - player - agency.
Deep - and - rewarding - simulation - elements.
Vast - and - dangerous - open - world - to - explore.
Satisfying - progression - from - squad - Weakling - to - powerful - faction.

Cons

The UI can be quite unforgiving and takes a while to learn.
Performance can dip in -,large - settlements or -with -many -units.
The game has a steep learning curve.

FAQ

What is Kenshi?: Kenshi is a sandbox RPG with a strong emphasis on survival and base building. It's set in a harsh post-apocalyptic world and allows you complete freedom in forging your own story.
Is Kenshi suitable for new players to the genre?: Kenshi is known for its high difficulty and steep learning curve. It's not particularly beginner-friendly and might require a lot of patience and a deep understanding of its mechanics to succeed.
Does Kenshi have a central questline or story?: Kenshi does not have a central plot or fixed quests. The game is a pure sandbox, where you create your own objectives and write your story through your interactions with the world and the events that unfold within it.
Can you build bases and establish a town in Kenshi?: Yes, base building is a core part of Kenshi. You can establish your own settlement, research technologies, produce resources, grow food, and even set up your own trade. Be sure to choose a strategic location.

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Last updated: 01/04/2026