Ten years in the making, newly announced indie game Brighter Shores will bring a cozy, relaxing atmosphere to the world of MMORPGs. Boasting the instantly recognisable style of game designer Andrew Gower, Brighter Shores promises a smoother, more enjoyable take on the genre thanks to the studio’s brand new Fenforge engine.

True to its name, Brighter Shores is designed to whisk players away to an enchanting world, providing a relaxing respite from daily life. Finding themselves in the peaceful coastal town of Hopeport, players initially take on the role of a town guard. Their role as protector, however, soon expands far beyond the town walls as they learn of a greater threat across the fantastical world of Adothria. Both new and old MMORPG fans are bound to fall in love with the abundance of quirky characters, fascinating foes and captivating locations they’ll encounter on this heroic adventure. 

Breaking from the traditional classes of mage, rogue and warrior, Brighter Shores players will be called upon to choose from three new options: Cryoknight, Hammermage or Guardian. While players will revel in the nostalgia of the diorama art style, they can expect a number of new and exciting twists on the genre. Learn a diverse range of professions, such as Fisher, Forager, Chef, Woodcutter, Miner, Alchemist, Stonemason, Merchant, Blacksmith, and many more!

After months of anticipation, it’s time to answer the call to adventure!

Andrew Gower and his new studio Fen Research are as tickled as a tangled hairbeast to announce that Brighter Shores is now available on Steam Early Access.

Many hours of gameplay will be available starting today, at no cost. Devoted Brighter Shores fans will also be able to make use of a paid premium pass, offering even more locations to discover, with pricing options starting at £4.99 a month.

Discussing the launch, Andrew said: “We’re releasing this game into early access now, as I’ve been longing to share our creation for years. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve created and couldn’t stand waiting any longer! Expect it to improve rapidly over the coming months as we continue to work on it.”

Brighter Shores also features an innovative episode system. Each episode of the main storyline unlocks a distinct new area with new professions, equipment, and side quests. Many items and abilities will be exclusively useful within an individual area, creating lots of design space for Fen Research to create meaningful updates without rendering existing gameplay obsolete. Andrew expects to continue releasing new Brighter Shores episodes for many years to come.

Opposed to the onslaught of microtransactions in modern MMOs and free-to-play games, the studio has remained dedicated to providing hours upon hours of content for free. The game will be constantly expanding, with new content being released in an episodic format. Each episode features its own unique side quests, professions and lands, as well as advancing the central story.

An all-inclusive premium pass will also be available for those seeking extra quests, adventures and stories, with regular updates planned beyond Brighter Shores’ release later this year.

Brighter Shores will be free-to-play on PC/Mac (Steam) in Q3 2024.