Summary
Stray Kite Studios has announced Wartorn, a real-time strategy roguelite boasting destructible environments, challenging moral choices, and a striking painterly aesthetic. Launching in early access on Steam and the Epic Games Store in Spring 2025.
Wartorn is the debut original title from Stray Kite Studios, a team of industry veterans with credits on major projects like BioShock, Borderlands, and Age of Empires. Founded in 2025, the Dallas-based studio (approximately 30 employees) previously developed the standalone Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep: A Wonderlands One-Shot Adventure and numerous creative maps for Fortnite.
Wartorn follows two elven sisters on a perilous journey to reunite with their family. This epic quest will test their mettle through challenging battles and morally ambiguous choices.
Wartorn's Chaotic Gameplay
Wartorn's fantasy world is deeply fractured and chaotic, presenting constant challenges for the player. This chaos extends to the game's physics-driven environmental destruction, ensuring each playthrough is unique and unpredictable. The game explores themes of finding purpose amidst chaos, with co-founder and creative director Paul Hellquist stating, "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."
Difficult Choices and Dynamic Combat
Between battles, players face difficult decisions—choosing who to save, who to feed—adding to the story-driven roguelite experience and shaping each playthrough. Combat offers similar freedom, with a dynamic magic system allowing players to combine fire, water, and lightning elements for creative and situational advantages (e.g., shocking enemies in water, igniting tar-covered foes).
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 roguelite progression system allows upgrades to carry over between runs, making subsequent attempts easier. The game's painterly aesthetic enhances the dramatic setting. For maximum accessibility, players can slow down the action and issue precise commands, offering control amidst the chaos. The game is slated for early access release on Steam and the Epic Games Store in Spring 2025.
