Burntime is a post-apocalyptic strategy game by Austrian developer Max Designs otherwise known for Th!nk Cross, 1869, and Anno 1602. It is remarkable mainly for three reasons:
You play a single character in Burntime, but the goal is to dominate the map by occupying all the locations next to the five major settlements, which themselves cannot be occupied. To achieve this goal you have to recruit followers and be able to supply them with food and water. Food is obtained by hunting or setting traps. Traps and waterpumps are built by technicians from various junk. There is no money in the game, all bartering is item for item.
There were two different versions for the Amiga: AGA (same graphics as for PC) and ECS (slightly inferior). It is amusing, and rather telling for platform differences, that the Amiga reviewer liked the gameplay but hated the graphics, while the PC reviewer thought gameplay mediocre and the graphics the strong point of the game.
I found this map on the Internet. It shows all the locations, travel times, and the resources found. It is in German but shouldn't be all that difficult to figure out.
Of course any post-apocalyptic game can be considered similar, so I won't list those especially.
Gameplay is better than beauty, always has been - always will be, but the graphics (or lack thereof) have really let the game down. Apart from that though - a deeply engrossing post nuclear strategy game.
Gameplay is disappointingly simple, however, and many times it feels more like a dumbed-down RPG than a full blown strategy game. Still, attractive graphics, vast gameworld to explore, and hidden surprises in the game keep it from being completely boring. If you want a good survival simulation however, play Wilderness or Visions of the Aftermath in the Sim section instead. But if you are not too hung up on realism and want a solid strategic game that offers a unique premise, cross-genre gameplay elements, and even a 2-player competitive mode, Burntime may very well be your cup of tea.
When Max Design released this game in 1993, it had an innovative concept and a very uncommon thematic setting. The graphics are quite beautiful and the few sounds are also nice, despite a lack of sound effects. Alas, like 1869, which was also developed by Max Design earlier, the interface requires some habituation. The game is entirely controlled by mouse, with left-click for select, attack or talk to and right-click for menus, use, activate etc. That’s the reason for the rating of 4. I suggest you’ll just try out the different menus as some options are somewhat hidden and the whole controls are far too many to explain. Once you’re into it, the gameplay is very binding through its dark, post-apocalyptic background, although it lacks a little depth. But you will spend some hours with it, before getting bored.