Ardem Is Shaping Up to Be a Major New Survival RPG Ahead of 2026 Early Access

Techtive Games is preparing to enter the crowded survival genre with Ardem, an ambitious open world survival RPG currently targeting early access in 2026. Set in a world devastated by the fictional RHAB 14 virus, the game places players in a collapsed society where nature has reclaimed cities and survival depends on careful planning, exploration, and adaptation.

The game world spans a vast handcrafted map measuring 64 square kilometres, filled with abandoned towns, industrial ruins, forests, and hidden locations. Rather than relying on scripted storytelling, Ardem focuses on environmental narrative, encouraging players to piece together the world’s downfall through exploration while forging their own survival path.

Core gameplay revolves around deep survival systems. Players must manage hunger, thirst, body temperature, and environmental threats while scavenging for resources. Hunting wildlife, fishing, farming crops, and looting abandoned structures all play a role in long term survival, with each system designed to interconnect rather than function in isolation.

Base building is a major pillar of the experience. Players can construct shelters, fortify structures, and gradually expand safe zones using a wide range of functional and decorative building options. Power management is also central to progression, with electricity systems allowing players to restore lighting, operate devices, and establish reliable infrastructure using generators and renewable energy sources.

Vehicles add another layer of strategy, allowing survivors to repair and customise abandoned cars for exploration, transport, and hauling supplies across the dangerous landscape. Combat encounters feature hostile creatures shaped by the outbreak, alongside the unpredictable threat of other players in shared worlds.

Ardem supports solo play, cooperative sessions, and large scale multiplayer servers hosting up to 64 players. Server types include player versus environment, player versus player, and roleplay focused experiences, giving players flexibility in how they engage with the world and each other.

Currently in development with ongoing playtests, Ardem is being shaped heavily by player feedback as systems and visuals continue to evolve. With its large scale map, interconnected survival mechanics, and emphasis on player freedom, the game is positioning itself as a serious contender in the next wave of open world survival titles.