Summary

Stray Kite Studios has announced Wartorn, a real-time strategy roguelite boasting destructible environments, challenging moral choices, and a striking painterly aesthetic. Launching in early access on Steam and the Epic Games Store in Spring 2025, Wartorn marks the studio's first original title.

Stray Kite Studios, founded in 2020 and based in Dallas, Texas, comprises roughly 30 industry veterans—former developers from BioShock, Borderlands, and Age of Empires—who previously delivered the standalone Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep: A Wonderlands One-Shot Adventure and numerous creative Fortnite maps.

Their debut original game, Wartorn, follows two elven sisters on a perilous journey to reunite with their family. This adventure will test them with difficult battles and morally ambiguous decisions.

Wartorn: Chaos Defined

Wartorn's fantasy world is deeply fractured and chaotic, presenting multifaceted challenges for the protagonists. This chaos extends to the game's physics-driven environmental destruction, ensuring each encounter unfolds uniquely. Thematically, Wartorn explores finding purpose amidst chaos. "We’ve poured our hearts into creating a game that not only entertains but also makes players think deeply about sacrifice, survival, and the bonds that unite us," explains Stray Kite Studios co-founder and creative director, Paul Hellquist.

Tough Choices in Wartorn

Between battles, players face difficult choices—deciding who to feed, who to save—adding depth to the story-driven roguelite experience and shaping each playthrough. Combat offers similar freedom, with a dynamic magic system allowing players to combine fire, water, and lightning elements. These spells interact uniquely and offer situational advantages, such as shocking enemies in water or igniting tar-covered foes.

We’ve poured our hearts into creating a game that not only entertains but also makes players think deeply about sacrifice, survival, and the bonds that unite us.

Wartorn's progression system features carry-over upgrades between runs, easing subsequent attempts. The painterly aesthetic enhances the game's dramatic setting. For maximum accessibility, players can slow down the action and issue precise commands, offering control amidst the chaos. Launching in early access on Steam and the Epic Games Store in Spring 2025, Wartorn promises a unique and challenging experience.