INTERVIEW: Tides of Annihilation Director On Creating a Balance in the Apocalypse

Tides of Annihilation is a game rooted in the end of the world. It’s a tale of the apocalypse, and it features our heroine, Gwendolyn, fighting otherworldly forces after the planet that we know and (kind of) love has come to a cataclysmic end. It’s stuff that entices a little existentialism, especially when you explore the game and uncover the memories left behind by those who came before.

However, despite the crushing despair of the human race having been blasted out of existence in Tides of Annihilation, there are some more lighthearted moments that make you feel as though not everything is at an end. There’s hope, because there’s humor. In China, I caught up with the developers from Eclipse Glow Games to work out why and how that balance was being struck.

The End of the World Isn’t All Bad

In Tides of Annihilation, you explore post-apocalyptic London, shredded by an ethereal force, split into alternate dimensions, and populated with fearsome, ferocious, and monstrous enemies. You are Gwen, a powerful figure with almighty control over incredible Knights, semi-corporeal constructs with devastating powers, and you’re the last human left in the world.

That daunting concept sounds harrowing enough, and it’s exacerbated by the remnants of civilization that you must pick through to piece together your legend.

However, when I sat down in Chengdu to play two hours of Tides of Annihilation, I noticed that a streak of humor was present in this game. Some lighthearted, chuckle-worthy moments crop up to dilute the distorted world around you, and I asked Eclipse Glow’s Ary Chen, Game Director and co-CEO, why that is:

Thank you for noticing those little touches—that is exactly the effect we were hoping for!

Although the game takes place in a post-apocalyptic setting, we don’t want players to feel tense or emotionally weighed down throughout the entire experience. Small moments of humor can provide breathing room and help vary the emotional rhythm as players progress through the story.

Our producer also has a fairly dry sense of humor, so some of that naturally found its way into the game. Over time, this contrast between the darker world and the lighter character moments became an organic part of the game’s identity.

The ‘little touches’ I noticed were scattered throughout the detritus of this ruined world. For instance, the jovial relationship between Gwendolyn and (what I assume must be) her ward, Niniene, a young girl who can transform into a bird at the drop of a hat.

Another example is ‘Mercury’, a bizarre being embodied by two snake-like hands and arms that slither eerily around, slapping at each other and representing a serious amount of sass and emotion without even having a face. Mercury runs the in-game store, but also seems to offer Gwen some guidance at times when navigating the post-apocalyptic landscape of London.

There’s a stark juxtaposition when a big fight kicks off and things get intense, or when you’re digging through ruins and uncover bodies frozen in time that crumble into dust when you approach them. Or when you pick up an audio tape or a document left behind by the last dregs of the human race, some years before.

The comparison concept runs into the game’s difficulty grading, too. I found great pleasure in enjoying the game’s ‘story mode’ difficulty tier, which allowed me to experience a fair challenge while simultaneously smashing every objective laid before me.

Again, it’s all about balance, as Ary Chen explained:

Our goal is to strike a balance between accessibility and depth. Tides of Annihilation is not a Soulslike, so we don’t want players to approach it with that specific expectation.

The combat system is designed to be approachable but difficult to master. Players should be able to perform stylish and satisfying actions relatively quickly, but fully mastering the mechanics, timing, and different Knight combinations offers a much higher skill ceiling for experienced players.

Ultimately, we want as many players as possible to find their own way to enjoy the game without sacrificing the depth that action-adventure game fans expect.

Not a Soulslike. I can’t tell you how happy that made me.

RELATED: Tides of Annihilation Full Preview

The team at Eclipse Glow Games is overjoyed with how the project is unfolding. I was one of the first people outside of the studio to play the game, and I absolutely loved every minute of my demo. Two years ago, I met with Eclipse Glow at Gamescom to learn about the game, then called Ghost of Fog, and to be introduced to Gwendolyn, who has continued to evolve in the months since:

At its heart, this is Gwendolyn’s heroic saga. We envisioned a protagonist who combines strength with grace and can fight shoulder to shoulder with her Knights. That idea is a core pillar of both the narrative and our combat design. We wanted Gwen to have a commanding presence—not simply through her appearance, but through her actions, personality, and role within the world.

Last month, it was announced that Jennifer English, the voice of Gwendolyn, was stepping down from the role. This concerned many fans of the beloved actor, and it left prospective fans of Tides to wonder who would fill those shoes. I asked Ary how the team handled this loss:

We were deeply saddened by Jennifer’s departure. We feel incredibly fortunate to have worked with her over the past few years, and it was a genuinely wonderful experience for the entire team.

We fully respect and support her decision to prioritize her health and well-being, and we’re sincerely grateful for the care, commitment, and talent she brought to Gwendolyn. Jennifer was also tremendously supportive throughout the transition. Together with other members of the voice cast, she helped us connect with and select an outstanding new actor for the role.

We believe Gwen’s core identity remains fully intact, while her new voice will continue to bring the character to life in a compelling way. From a development perspective, the transition has been carefully managed, and the project remains on schedule.

Tides of Annihilation doesn’t have a release date just yet, but you should keep your eyes open around Gamescom, as there are trailers in the pipeline and a playable experience available on the show floor, so it’s only a matter of time.

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