Publisher Deck13 Spotlight and developers Nostalgic Realms and Whiskeybarrel Studios have announced old school-inspired open-world RPG Lair of the Leviathan for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC (Steam, GOG). It will launch in 2027.
Here is an overview of the game, via its store pages:
About
“Have you heard the tale of the Leviathan?” they all ask. From curious peasants on lonely goat trails to old sages around the hearth. Always the same question when you’re travelling through the world of Ormande.
The notice on the board is still fresh: “Adventurers wanted. Vanquish the Leviathan, and the Imperial Capital will reward you with riches and glory!”
Will you set out on this quest, or will you, like everyone else, back down and retreat to the safety of the tavern instead? The decision is yours alone. Write your own tale, adventurer.
Freedom to Explore
Journey to the vast expanse of the western frontier. The people here are used to adventurers from near and afar. Would-be heroes traveling through their small cottages and acting like the whole world owes them. Far from the capital, the lands are wild and untamed. Rogue duchies, rival kings and warlords fight amongst themselves, far from the Empire’s mighty armies. While it is a land of spectacular, rugged beauty, something dangerous stirs beneath the surface. War in the north remains a constant threat, while lawless bandits and terrifying monsters roam from crag to peak, just waiting for nightfall to raid the walls of a peaceful town.
What sounds rather unwelcoming is the perfect place for a brave soul like you. Form a group of hearty adventurers, ready to take on this world and maybe even do a little good (or deprive the unsuspecting peasant of their worldly goods, should the opportunity arise!). There are plenty of people, from townsfolk to traveling merchants, who might require a helping hand in exchange for a good coin or a key that points to the next big adventure.
Choose your path, explore the world by your own rules. Don’t let the main story dictate your path – feel free to write your own adventure. Just like in the classics of this Genre. But keep in mind that some dungeons may present dangerous challenges for your party, which you aren’t yet equipped to handle…
Overcome Your Enemies, Turn by Turn
In Lair of the Leviathan you will face many restless enemies during your adventure. From goblins and slimes lurking in dark caves to otherworldly spectral knights and five headed hydras in places you least expect. You may never know what you might find beneath the roots of an old larch. Or perhaps a hidden trapdoor in a mill leads to a subterranean cavern that seems to stretch on forever.
Face a vast bestiary of different enemies wherever you may find them: In obscure dungeons, in the mountains, in the deserts or maybe even in a magical painting. Face them as you fight for your life in a turn-based combat which offers tons of tactical decisions. The placement of each of your heroes can decide over the outcome of a painstaking battle. Just make sure to pick the right abilities… or your fate may be that of a hundred adventurers before you, skewered by the rusty blade of a marauding orc.
Classic Roots, Modern Style
If you haven’t noticed it yet, Lair of the Leviathan takes inspiration from the classics of a bygone era. It’s a memory of what made RPGs special in the good old days, a reinterpretation, or maybe even a reincarnation of the games you grew up with. It is inspired by classic legends such as Ultima, Pools of Radiance and the early Baldur’s Gate series. It’s all visualized in a stunning pixel-art style and surrounded by modern quality of life features which were technically just impossible in the past.
Key Features
- An Open World Like It Should Be – Of course, you can follow the main storyline but why would you if there is so much to explore? Here, you can discover your own adventure and get lost in meaningful sidequests. Remember the feeling from your childhood to just clear that one more dungeon?
- Enemies of All Kinds – Foes both familiar and unique await you in battle. Each with their own tactics, powers and weaknesses. From the humble dungeon rat to the mighty storm giant, you will have to face them all.
- Customization is the Rule – A unique pixel-art paperdoll avatar system that mirrors the hundreds of items you will find and equip along the way, from shiny broadsword to weathered old wizard hats.
- Welcome to the Party – Create your own party of heroes, write your own story. There are no pre-made companions to bore and antagonize, just the heroes you come up with in your own tale. The companions you want beside you when the night is darkest.
- Lore and Worldbuilding, but Not Too Much – You’re here to play, not read walls of text. A rich and deep world is revealed through short conversations with the various NPCs you will meet and in scrolls you will discover along the way, but you’ll never be bombarded with page after page of expository dialogue.
- A Living, Breathing World – Townsfolk have schedules, from the hunter who idles away his evenings in the tavern, to the graveyard keeper who is never seen come dawn. Storms pass through, day turns to night and the world around you unfolds as your adventures continue.
- Deep Combat System – A complex turn based combat system offers room for tactical decisions. Use your skills wisely, place your heroes with a thought in mind and make sure that you take care of your enemies in clever ways!
Watch the announcement trailer below. View the first screenshots at the gallery.