Players follow two elven sisters Yara and Elani as they journey to reunite their family. Along the way, they confront moral dilemmas and battle external and internal threats, all while utilizing elemental and physics-based systems in their desperate quest for survival. 

Set in a fantasy realm torn apart by extremism and the unraveling of ancient bonds, Wartorn follows an extended family as they fight to reunite and survive. Players will make tough decisions, from choosing who gets fed to deciding which lives can be saved, all while confronting the moral quandaries of violence and sacrifice.

Wartorn features a systemic, emergent gameplay system using the elements of fire, water, tar, plant, and lightning. Strategically choose your squads to master the elements and environment against hordes of enemies. Water extinguishes fire, tar amplifies fire, electricity crackles across the ranks in wet conditions, and water can heal plant-based units. And that’s just scratching the surface!

Build out your Caravan by recruiting squads of fantasy creatures including goblins, elves, demons, treefolk, (and more!) as you travel the world. Each squad adds new strategic options to your caravan through their different characteristics and unique abilities. Mix and match what squads you bring into battle to truly master a run. Battlefield positioning, squad combos, and skillful usage of abilities can win the day, but be careful, losses cost you morale, and if your caravan loses hope it’s game over.

Stray Kite Studios launched Wartorn in Early Access, available on Steam and Epic Games Store at $29.99. A special launch week discount is also available where the game can be purchased for $19.99 from now until June 24.

“What an incredible journey it’s been. From our team’s initial brainstorming about ways to innovate in the tactics genre, to now, years later, finally launching our debut title in early access,” said Paul Hellquist, Creative Director and Co-founder of Stray Kite Studios. “This is one of the most personal games I’ve worked on in my decades-long career. When Shovaen Patel and I first formed Stray Kite Studios, our goal was to deliver games that players have never seen before, which push the boundaries of what the medium is capable of. Wartorn is our first major step towards that goal, providing an original blend of genres that combines storytelling, strategy, and ‘slow-time’ combat into a fresh, new experience.” 

“Wartorn in Early Access is intended to provide players with a rich experience that feels good, is highly replayable, and features a high level of polish from the start - including fully voiced characters, an original musical score, and deep upgrades and systems. The player may reach certain points in Wartorn where it is clear that additional content is coming, but should not feel intrusive.”

“The Early access version of Wartorn is intended to launch with a polished experience and a wide range of Units, Squad Upgrades, Hero Upgrades, Family members, Biomes, Maps, events, and quests. As we move toward 1.0 we plan to refine, polish, and implement community feedback, along with added higher-tier units, bosses, squad upgrades, hero upgrades, biomes, maps, events, quests, and of course.. the true ending to the story.”

Key Features:

• Dynamic Combat: Wartorn’s dynamic combat system lets you harness elemental forces like fire, water, and lightning, which interact in exciting ways to create unique tactical opportunities. Ignite tar to engulf enemies, amplify electric shocks with water, or douse flames to shift the tide of battle. 
• Destructible Environments: The game’s physics-driven destruction ensures that no two encounters play out the same, adding layers of depth and unpredictability to every skirmish. 
• Unique Progression System: The roguelite progression system rewards players for perseverance, offering heirlooms, hero upgrades, and new abilities that carry forward with each run. 
• Beautiful Aesthetic: Wartorn’s world is visually compelling, with heroes, enemy mobs, and its magical lands rendered with incredible attention to detail. The painterly aesthetic adds a gorgeous layer to the experience, even during moments of brutality and tragedy. 
• Slow Down Time: With the slow-time feature, even the most complex scenarios are accessible, allowing players to pause the chaos and issue precise commands, adapting gameplay to suit their pace. 

Wartorn is in development for PC (Steam/Epic Games Store).