Stray Kite Studios Unveils "Wartorn," a Real-Time Strategy Roguelite
Stray Kite Studios, a Dallas-based developer boasting industry veterans from titles like BioShock, Borderlands, and Age of Empires, has announced its debut original game: Wartorn. This real-time strategy roguelite, slated for a Spring 2025 Early Access launch on Steam and the Epic Games Store, promises destructible environments, impactful moral choices, and a distinctive painterly art style.
Wartorn tells the tale of two elven sisters striving for family reunification amidst a deeply fractured and chaotic fantasy world. Their journey will be fraught with challenging battles and morally ambiguous decisions, shaping a unique narrative experience with each playthrough.
Dynamic Destruction and Strategic Depth
The game's physics-driven environmental destruction is a key component, ensuring no two encounters are identical. This chaotic element, coupled with a flexible magic system allowing for dynamic elemental combinations (fire, water, lightning, etc.), offers players significant strategic freedom in combat. Spells interact uniquely with each other and the environment, adding layers of tactical depth. For instance, players can electrify enemies submerged in water or ignite tar-covered foes.
Difficult Choices and Meaningful Progression
Beyond combat, Wartorn presents players with difficult moral dilemmas, such as choosing who to save or feed in scarce situations. These choices directly impact the narrative, further enhancing the replayability of this story-driven roguelite. The game also features a traditional roguelite progression system, with upgrades carrying over between runs to ease subsequent attempts.
Accessible Gameplay with Stunning Visuals
To ensure maximum accessibility, Wartorn includes a feature to significantly slow down gameplay, allowing players to issue precise commands amidst the chaos. The game's painterly aesthetic enhances the dramatic setting, creating a visually compelling experience.
Co-founder and Creative Director Paul Hellquist states, "We’ve poured our hearts into creating a game that not only entertains but also makes players think deeply about sacrifice, survival, and the bonds that unite us." Wartorn's Early Access release is anticipated for Spring 2025 on Steam and the Epic Games Store.
