Stray Kite Studios unveils Wartorn roguelite game

Stray Kite Studios, an indie team made up of veteran developers, announced their first self-titled game Warthorn.

The creators of games like Age of Empires, Borderlands, and BioShock are building a real-time roguelite title.

Players follow two eleven sisters as they set out to reunite their families. Along the way, they face moral dilemmas and confront external and internal threats, while using primitive and physics-based systems in their quest for survival. Wartorn will be available for pre-order on Steam and the Epic Game Store in late 2025.

“Wartorn challenges players to navigate the chaos of a fragmented world while finding purpose and joy in selflessness,” said Paul Hellquist, executive director and cofounder of Dallas-based Stray Kite Studios, in a statement. “We are committed to creating games that not only entertain but also make players think deeply about sacrifice, survival, and the relationships that bind us together.”

Set in a fantasy world torn apart by extremism and the release of old bonds, Wartorn follows an extended family as they fight to reunite and survive. Players will make difficult decisions, from choosing who to feed to deciding which life to save, while dealing with violence and sacrifice.

From the beginning, Stray Kite Studios has focused on making Wartorn appear in the professional genre. Clever tactics and skillful maneuvering are rewarded, in brutal battles filled with personality and artfully realized beauty.

Here are some of Wartorn’s highlights:

Strong Struggle: Wartorn’s powerful battle system allows you to use elemental weapons such as fire, water, and lightning, which combine in interesting ways to create unique opportunities. Ignite tar to swallow enemies, amplify electric and water shocks, or ignite fire to move the battle.

Damaged Areas: Damage controlled gameplay ensures that no two encounters are the same, adding depth and unpredictability to each encounter.

Unique Progression System: The roguelite’s progression system rewards players for hard work, providing legacies, leveling up heroes, and new skills that progress with each run.

Beautiful Aesthetic: Wartorn’s world is beautiful, with its heroes, enemy factions, and magical worlds rendered in vivid detail. Painterly beauty adds a beautiful dimension to events, even in times of cruelty and danger.

Reducing Time: It is a slow mode, even the most difficult situations are available, which allows the players to stop the confusion and give the correct orders, changing the game to suit their movements.

“Our vision for Wartorn is a game that seamlessly combines artistic expression, technical depth, and emotional impact,” said Shovaen Patel, CEO of Stray Kite Studios, in a statement. “We want players to feel like every decision matters, both on the battlefield and in the story.”

Wartorn will be available on Steam and Epic Games Store Early Access this spring, and you can wish list it now. The company was founded in 2018.