Tentworks Interactive has pulled back the curtain on its latest project, Becoming Pablo, with a first-look trailer showcasing a bold new strategy sim set against the backdrop of the late 20th century drug trade.
Blending city-building systems, real-time strategy elements, and resource management, Becoming Pablo puts players in control of a growing cartel operation. The twist? Building an empire is only half the battle — keeping it intact is where the real challenge begins.
Power Built on Strategy, Not Chaos
Set between the 1970s and 1990s, the game explores the shadowy underworld of international narcotics operations. Players expand their reach across multiple regions, managing logistics networks, production chains, and territorial disputes while navigating a world fueled by ambition and betrayal.
Rather than focusing on spectacle, the experience leans into calculated decision-making. According to CEO and Founder Jay Basani, the design philosophy centers on the quiet tension of leadership — the negotiations, alliances, and strategic plays that determine whether an empire thrives or collapses.
Building a Criminal Network From the Ground Up
At its core, Becoming Pablo is about control. You’ll establish operational hubs, production facilities, transportation routes, and defensive systems to support a rapidly growing enterprise. Every expansion brings opportunity — and risk.
Territories can be seized through tactical, turn-based encounters that emphasize positioning and planning over brute force. Meanwhile, rival factions and law enforcement agencies are constantly applying pressure, forcing players to think several moves ahead.
Key Features
- Strategy Above All – Manipulate politics, forge alliances, gather leverage, and outthink your opponents to grow your influence.
- Territorial Expansion – Engage in tactical, board game-inspired battles to claim valuable new regions.
- Operational Management – Construct and optimize facilities, supply lines, and infrastructure to sustain your empire.
- Defensive Planning – Strengthen your holdings against external threats through careful fortification and resource allocation.
- Inspired by History – Encounter characters and events influenced by real-world criminal empires, adding weight and context to the unfolding drama.
Becoming Pablo aims to deliver a layered strategy experience where every move carries consequences. If you’re ready to test your tactical instincts in a high-stakes underworld simulation, this is one empire-builder that demands careful planning.
Will you rise to power — or watch your empire unravel from within?