Swedish indie developer Nodbrim Interactive has announced that Acaratus, its medieval steampunk tactical turn-based RPG, has launched on the Early Access stage, and is now available through Steam for PC. In Acaratus, players build mechanized battle suits and fight to free an enslaved population. After winning Sweden’s Game Concept Challenge for independent developers, Nodbrim Interactive have apparently secured funding to kick-start the development of Acaratus, where players’ strategic skills are put to the test in a beautiful, alternative Steampunk universe.
The development team is apparently delighted to see their hard work finally come to fruition. “Winning the Game Concept Challenge to make Acaratus a reality means so much to us as a team,” said Martin Kupski, Creative Director at Nodbrim Interactive. “We’ll continue to listen to what our steadily growing community wants in order to give them the truly unique strategy experience they deserve”.
In case you are new to Acaratus, it is a game set in a medieval steampunk world that challenges players with multiple layers of strategy, urging them to plan a few steps ahead. Players have to construct their own mecha units from highly customizable modular attachments and decide between ranged, melee, boosters and defensive parts. Weapons range from war hammers to longer ranged projectile-based weapons, such as cannons. Essentially, the game is like a mashup between Heroes of Might and Magic and Hearthstone.
Ability card decks are also used by players as attack, defence or skill boosts to support their unique play styles and help them succeed in deep tactical turn-based gameplay. Combat takes place in what looks to be a beautiful medieval steampunk setting with randomised maps, and players can also fight each other in the battle arenas.
We are told that Early Access will support both single and multiplayer modes. While single player mode will be limited only to skirmish, tutorial and a campaign teaser during Early Access, the full game launch will reportedly include an extensive campaign mode with a rich story and many more features that will be announced closer to the release date.
Interested? Acaratus is now available through Steam Early Access, priced at $24.99. Stay tuned for future updates here, or also check out the developer page for more info.
SOURCE: Press Release