Transarctica

Transarctica, also known as Arctic Baron in the US, is a post-apocalyptic strategy game developed by French studio Silmarils and released in 1993. Loosely inspired by Georges-Jean Arnaud’s science fiction series *La Compagnie des Glaces*, the game offers a chilling vision of the future: Earth has been plunged into a permanent ice age after climate weapons were used in a global conflict. The remnants of humanity survive aboard massive armored steam trains that traverse frozen wastelands.

The game was designed by André Rocques, co-founder of Silmarils, studio famous for Ishar: Legend of the Fortress. You play as the commander of the Transarctica, a rebel train on a mission to break the monopoly of the Viking Union, a powerful corporation that controls the railways and hoards coal — the only remaining energy source. The gameplay is split between managing your train's cars, trading with isolated outposts, exploring derelict cities, rescuing survivors, and engaging in combat with enemy trains.

The management aspect involves customizing the train with various cars, including those for weapons, coal storage, prisoner transport, food supplies, and even mammoth stables (used as beasts of burden). Coal plays a central role — it powers everything and must be carefully rationed. Battles occur on horizontal side-scrolling maps where trains move in real time and deploy infantry or fire artillery. These sequences are creative but often clunky and slow-paced.

Visually, the Amiga version impresses with its detailed hand-drawn backdrops and stylized interface, which evoke the aesthetic of European sci-fi illustration. However, the UI is frequently confusing, and many actions are far from intuitive without the manual. The audio is sparse and ambient, with minimalist music and sound effects that enhance the game’s eerie atmosphere but do little to energize the experience.

Transarctica received mixed reactions from critics, especially in Europe. It was praised for its originality and striking world-building, but criticized for its sluggish pacing, obscure controls, and lack of polish. Still, for many players, especially those familiar with the source material or drawn to narrative-heavy strategy titles, it became a cult classic.

While it never reached commercial success or mainstream popularity, Transarctica stands out as a bold and imaginative experiment. Its blend of dystopian storytelling, resource management, and tactical combat set it apart from other strategy games of its era.