Today the small European indie studio Forge Ahead Games has revealed their upcoming post-World War 1 Slavic folklore historical fantasy title Chains of Lukomorye. The team appears to have blended a fair bit of Slavic mythology with third-person action-shooter mechanics for an altogether unique and intriguing gameplay experience.
The game is set to feature a number of recognizable characters from Slavic myth and folklore including the pagan deity and forest guardian Leshy, the enigmatic and morally ambiguous over-sized black cat Bayun, the mysterious witch of the woods Baba Yaga and her bipedal shack, and a handful of other “names not spoken for years” as highlighted by the newly released trailer.
“The ritual ended the war but cracked the world. Myths seep into broken trenches and forgotten villages, and something ancient stirs in the dark. Chains of Lukomorye is an action-adventure set in an alternate post-WWI world.”
Though the trailers feature a few glimpses into the title’s innovative gameplay, the development build currently remains in pre-alpha. There is no current release date as of yet, but starting today the game can be wishlisted on Steam. Forge Ahead Games has described their upcoming release as a haunting third-person shooter that promises to explore grief, love, and the thin line between fate and free will, as many fairy tales and folklore often do:
The interesting twist found in this clever narrative is that the player will take control of a WWI rifleman, utilizing his knowledge and experience of trench warfare and infantry tactics to contend with the many dark and mystical threats that he will encounter on his journey. Wielding his service-issued bolt action rifle and fixed bayonet, this soldier must undertake a new mission, but this time one of a more fantastical nature.
“Chains of Lukomorye is a narrative-driven action-adventure odyssey set in a world unraveling at the seams. Journey through deserted trenches and enchanted ruins to rescue a lost love from the Slavic Underworld.”
The game is also being developed in a way that will allow playability in either solo or online co-op. How that will affect the narrative of the game or change the players’ interactions within the lore of the world is beyond me at present, but I look forward to getting my hands on Chains of Lukomorye when it eventually drops. This is not the type of game I knew I needed until seeing the trailers, and as an avid student of 20th century warfare as well as all manner of folklore and fairy tales, I couldn’t be more interested.
Does this look like your type of game? Are you intrigued by the intertwining of historical fiction and Slavic folklore? Do you want to shoot some fairy tale monsters? Let us know over on the Discord.
