Say Hello to a New Steam RPG That Channels Disco Elysium and Leans Into Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2’s Immersive Vibe
One of the biggest hardships in the gaming industry is discoverability, with 40–50 games releasing every single day on Steam in 2023 (as reported by Kotaku). This number has no doubt remained strong in the years since, if not increased even more so. Not only does this influx harm developers who just want players to even see their game, but it can harm players because it means their next favorite game may be buried under tons of others. One Steam game that should be on your radar, especially if you enjoy the emphasis on immersion in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 and the storytelling method of Disco Elysium, is Bladesong.
Bladesong releases into early access on Steam come January 22, billing itself as the “ultimate swordmaking game.” Players will have freedom to make whatever sword they want, including realistic swords from the east and west, as well as venturing into high fantasy weapons should they so choose. This gameplay, however, is wrapped around a narrative taking place in Eren Keep. In the world of Bladesong, life continues in a post-apocalyptic world, kept safe only by the walls of Eren Keep and the iron fist of the Masked King.
Players will be able to work their forge all they want in Creative Mode, but as part of its campaign, players will be tasked with creating a variety of weaponry. In doing so, they’ll make allies among Eren Keep, such as the Crows or Scholars, and potentially draw the attention, or ire, of the Masked King. They’ll also find themselves embroiled in the mystery of the former blacksmith, who mysteriously disappeared prior to the player taking on the role.
Bladesong’s Features at a Glance
- Early Access Release: January 22
- Craft Any Style of Sword You Wish
- Improve and Master Your Trade in a Fantasy World
- Uncover Mysteries and Secrets Hidden Throughout Sanctuary
Bladesong is developed by SUN AND SERPENT Creations and published by Mythwright, which previously published games like Terratech and Thronefall.
Why Early Access?
With the Bladesong Early Access release, we want to finally give you access to the swordmaking tools we have been building and testing over the past years in Bladesong’s Creative Mode. With your help, we want to hone these tools further, and at the same time flesh out the Story Mode gameplay and craft the remaining chapters of Bladesong’s ambitious narrative.
Bladesong’s Weaponsmithing Has a Touch of KCD2’s Realism With Greater Reach and Fantasy
Fantasy and realism in gameplay go hand-in-hand with Bladesong. Using a freeform bladeshaping and modular building system, players will be able to create whatever weapons they prefer. It can be east or west, historical or fantastical, or even futuristic, but every part of this crafting system is up to the player. They can customize every detail, craft every piece of it, and adorn the weapon as they wish, thanks to its library of sword parts and engavings. There’s plenty of material to ensure every order (in campaign mode) or creation (in creative mode) is unique, ranging from basics like leather and metal to advanced like obsidian and ivory.
As players advance in Campaign Mode, they’ll be able to expand their collection of sword parts. They’ll also be able to share creations, take part in community challenges, and otherwise feel like a smith in the real world. All the while, they’ll have to life the life of a smith in Bladesong. Commissions will come from warriors, nobles, mercenaries, and more, each one having specific needs. Players will have to balance a weapon’s damage and parry ratings, curve blades, carve engravings, acquire rare materials, and keep up with the demand of their forge. In fact, they may even need to hire underlings to keep up with said demand.
According to the developer, you may enjoy Bladesong if you enjoy the following games:
- Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
- Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord
- Baldur’s Gate 3
- The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
- Hellish Quart
- Half Sword
- Blade and Sorcery
- PC Building Simulator
- Potion Craft
- Disco Elysium
- Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
- Total War: MEDIEVAL II
- Dungeons & Dragons
- Pathfinder
Bladesong’s Story Delivery May Not Have the Depth of Disco Elysium, But It Has the Same Freedom
Bladesong‘s crafting gameplay could be enough for some players, even some developers, but the world of Bladesong is rich and story delivery matters as well. Disco Elysium is highly-rated on Metacritic for, among other things, its varied dialogue options and how its protagonist Harry Du Bois can interact with the world. To be clear, Bladesong may not have that depth, but the freedom and delivery are similar.
The story will unfold through long-text readings that explore the world of Eren Keep. Players will be able to visit the Citadel Square or locations such as The Den, a local tavern, which are all beautifully illustrated in the game. There, players may find some short-lived peace, ready-to-fight allies, or unique opportunities, depending on how they engage with the story. For example, the below screenshot shows the player assessing the clientele of The Den and approaching the bar to find a Crow fighting with the barkeep. They’ll learn more about the world and interact with it with a high level of freedom, comparable to Disco Elysium, if not exactly with that depth. The protagonist is more stable than Harry, it seems.
Bladesong Releases in Early Access Soon
Of course, comparisons can only go so far. How well Bladesong lives up to the freedom of Disco Elysium, nails the vibe of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, holds up to all its inspiration, and delivers something uniquely itself remains to be seen, but players will get a first taste on January 22. On top of that, early access sounds exactly like what Bladesong needs. Its developers will be able to continue to refine all of this, and more, based on the feedback of the community. In other words, Bladesong will become a better sword thanks to how all its players forge it.