Get ready to send your cute little card soldiers to glorious doom—The Royal Writ, a darkly funny, lane-based deckbuilding roguelike from Save Sloth Studios and Yogscast Games, has just been unveiled and it’s as clever as it is chaotic.
Set in a whimsically grim medieval world, The Royal Writ mixes picture-book charm with brutal tactical consequences. Players command quirky creatures across procedurally generated battlefields, fighting on behalf of a king who has chosen to solve kingdom-wide unrest… with highly encouraged invitations to his throne room. And if the invite gets rejected? Siege warfare is totally on the table.
In this tactical twist on the deckbuilding genre, every decision could be your last—literally. The Royal Writ features permadeath for your cards. If a soldier reaches the enemy base and fails to finish the job, they’re permanently wiped from your deck. Say goodbye to that leveled-up champion bunny you just spent four battles buffing.
You’ll carefully place troops into lanes, each with terrain-based advantages and hazards—like aquatic units that thrive in soggy swamps or flying units that simply soar past trouble. With every run, you’ll upgrade units through mini-games, create synergistic combos, and pray your best soldier doesn’t get stuck in a mud pit with no way out.
What really makes The Royal Writ stand out is how it turns sacrifice into strategy. Cards become characters, and their losses shape the story of each run. Whether you triumph with an unstoppable combo or go down in flames because you forgot frogs can’t fly, The Royal Writ makes every match memorable.
Wrapped in charming hand-drawn visuals and packed with that signature Yogscast dark humor, the game strikes a delightful balance between lightheartedness and brutal consequences.
“We only sign games we love,” said Yogscast Games’ Simon Byron. “The Royal Writ is brilliant, fun, and so full of jeopardy—we want to marry it.”
“It all started with a rabbit soldier,” adds Kornél Pittmann, co-director at Save Sloth Studios. “Now it’s grown into something packed with unique mechanics, memorable characters, and visual flair. We’ve loved working on every part of it.”
Originally created as an entry for Ludum Dare 55, The Royal Writ has now evolved into a full-fledged title set to launch later this year. A playable demo is on the way soon, and early access playtests are available for those who join the game’s official Discord.
📜 Wishlist The Royal Writ on Steam, and keep your eyes peeled—this is one invitation you do want to accept.
Want help turning this into a short social post or announcement blurb too? Just let me know!