Welcome to the Siege and the Sandfox
Cardboard Sword’s debut title, The Siege and the Sandfox, is now available on PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG, and Humble for $/€14.99. This distinctive 2D stealth Metroidvania combines fluid parkour platforming with atmospheric exploration, inviting players into the depths of an ancient desert city under siege.
In this richly crafted world, players must rely on stealth, agility, and smart decision-making to uncover a hidden threat threatening the kingdom. With no option to kill enemies, every encounter becomes a puzzle, demanding precise movement, strategic evasion, and the clever use of vertical space. Along the way, players will forge alliances, enhance their skills, and delve deep into palace halls and underground ruins.
Built using Unreal Engine, The Siege and the Sandfox showcase a warm and striking pixel art aesthetic. “We’ve created a uniquely rich pixel art style that feels warm and nostalgic, though distinctly our own,” said Olly Bennett, CEO of Cardboard Sword. “Our artists have hand-painted everything from frame-by-frame animations to normal maps on textures, and adding extra details, effects and finishing touches.”
The game reflects Cardboard Sword’s art-first approach, supported by bespoke tools and deep technical expertise. It delivers a fresh take on the Metroidvania genre—grounded in atmosphere and subtle storytelling rather than combat.
“Our priority for The Siege and the Sandfox was to create an evocative and meaningful 2D stealth game.” Bennett adds. “It’s been a huge challenge being restricted to those two dimensions, and especially without the ability to kill enemies; we’ve had to play with verticality and clever platforming abilities, to turn each encounter into essentially its own puzzle for players to solve. We cannot wait to see how they navigate through our parkour platformer, especially for our enthusiastic and supportive fans who have come along the development journey with us.”