Shardpunk: Verminfall, an upcoming turn-based strategy and steampunk RPG from developer Clockwork Pile and publisher Retrovibe will officially launch on April 13th, 2023. It will be available on PC via GOG and Steam, where users can wishlist the game today. You can watch the full release date trailer on the official Retrovibe YouTube channel here:
Shardpunk: Verminfall makes a strong impression with its premise, which really reinforces the overall feeling of rugged survival, and that includes the mood of its settings.
The environments feel beaten down and neglected without actually looking stale. Smaller details like worn posters and piles of garbage really give the sense that vermin have occupied the in-game world. It also allows for natural obstacles that will lead to more strategic movement. The grime just drips off the screen, and it’s something that players will immediately want to escape.
There’s also a contrast with the steampunk characters, who don’t quite feel like they belong in that world and deserve to flee. Even with pixel art, the weapons and outfits have incredible style. Shardpunk: Verminfall‘s official Steam page also notes that players’ weaponry and tech will require mending and cooling.
It’s one of many smaller mechanics that should help Shardpunk: Verminfall compete with similar titles. For example, today’s trailer shows how players will even need to manage stress levels. These mechanics all have synergy, so the sensation that everything is literally falling apart is omnipresent and threatening.
While the main crew has a promising variety of skills in the new trailer, it’d be nice to see enemies that could rival that. There’s a simple emphasis on hordes, and that could potentially become redundant if the titular vermin don’t evolve in some way. But either way, it seems that Shardpunk: Verminfall could stand apart in this saturated genre.
You can read more about Shardpunk: Verminfall, Clockwork Pile, and other upcoming indies by checking out the rest of our news section.
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