Swordhaven is an old-school cRPG inspired by classics such as Baldur's Gate, Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura and Gothic, combining modern quality-of-life features with a strong focus on player freedom, complex roleplaying, and a deep, lore-rich story set in a low-magic world reminiscent of 17th-century Earth.
Shipbound and travelling to Nova Drakonia, a mysterious, dinosaur-infested frontier of the Empire, you soon find your journey is anything but ordinary. A chance encounter with a fellow passenger entrusts you with a mysterious, possibly arcane artefact, gradually turning your mundane voyage into an exploration of your world's hidden past and leading you towards decisions that may shape its future.
Swordhaven's setting is crafted with meticulous attention to detail and realism, weaving a rich tapestry of lore that gives the world a truly lived-in feel.
From the sprawling politics of the colonisation-driven Empire to the local rivalries of nobles, clergy, and restless natives; from centuries of forgotten history to intricate religions and cults; from unique cultures to elusive races long thought to be myth; and from otherworldly plots to secrets yet undiscovered... everything awaits you, if you choose to seek it.
What makes Swordhaven unique, beyond its world-building, are the systems we've honed over ten years of indie RPG development.
The classless roleplaying system gives every stat and skill a meaningful niche, allowing for limitless character builds. Extra treasure and hidden secrets reward the observant; dialogue and lore favour the clever; intimidation and brute force empower warriors; and rogues have countless opportunities to bluff, steal... and more.
The battle system can seamlessly switch between classic turn-based strategy and dynamic real-time with pause, letting you play your way. Over a hundred weapon techniques, both readily available and hidden, as well as hundreds of weapons, armours, and unique artifacts provide for an astonishing number of builds.
The world features hundreds of original NPCs, each with their own portrait and extensive branching conversations written with wit, style, and personality.
The party system lets you recruit colourful companions, each with their own dialogues, skills, and personalities, ensuring they have something to say about most of what you do. Make poor choices, and some may even leave your side!
Craft weapons, potions, armour, and more, or hunt for rare recipes hidden across the world. Hundreds of weapons, pieces of armour, and other items await creation by you or your handy companion.
The UI blends classic design with modern customisation and attention to detail. Every item, from legendary artefacts to mundane gear, features hand-painted icons and lore-rich descriptions.
Explore countless mechanics: dig, mine, brew, craft, learn from books, roleplay through storybook-style text encounters, battle savage monsters, study combat techniques, discover artefacts, sneak, pickpocket, pick locks, and more... enough to keep you on your toes for 85+ hours of gameplay.
The world is vast, varied, and non-linear. Forge your own paths across the continent, explore the frontier city of Swordhaven, lose yourself in the wilds, delve into ancient dungeons, or open gateways to strange dimensions; all without ever feeling constrained by plot rails. There are dozens of distinct locations to discover and explore!
Adventure calleth, and Nova Drakonia awaits!
Venture forth and see it for yourself.
We shall expect you on these yellow sands…
