There are plenty of games that have journeyed alongside my blog, or, to be fair, the blog has followed these projects through every stage of their development, however long they took.
The title featured in this news update spent a full four years in Early Access, during which the developer steadily honed the formula of a strategy RPG that evokes the classics of the genre.
Shields of Loyalty exits Early Access, marking the full release of a project that’s been in development since 2021.
Created by the seven-person team at Mosaic Mask Studio and supported by indie.io, the game is a tactical turn-based strategy title with clear inspiration from classic hex-based wargames. It places a heavy emphasis on positioning, terrain, and unit composition, delivering a system-driven experience where planning and execution matter more than spectacle.
The game is set in Mantaria, a grim fantasy world where necromantic forces threaten what remains of civilization. Locations like the Darkwoods and Eternal Ice are not just scenery; they influence how battles play out.
Forests improve evasion but hinder movement, while lava fields introduced in the most recent update offer environmental hazards that can turn a poor decision into a critical mistake.
These biomes push players to adapt tactics based on the terrain, reinforcing the game’s strategic demands from the very first encounter.
A misstep costs more than a few hit points; it often leads to a breakdown in your entire formation. There is no undo function, reinforcing the permanence of every action. Players are expected to think ahead, understand their unit roles, and use each ability with intention.
The full version features over 160 units divided across four distinct factions. The Empire uses tight formations and well-rounded troops supported by cavalry. The Warlords prefer brute force, fielding berserkers and monsters that ignore subtlety in favor of damage and morale-breaking tactics.
The High-priest faction from the desert island of Nâr combines ranged magic and rituals with front-line defense. Added in version 1.0 are unique magical units like Golems, Djinn, and Nagas that bring regeneration, elemental resistances, and battlefield control.
Each faction encourages different approaches and playstyles, and mastery involves understanding how different unit combinations interact across various map conditions.
In addition to factions, players choose a Commander who serves as both a story lead and a gameplay modifier. Aglovan the Noble boosts cavalry and morale, Warlord Karnoth enhances bleed effects and momentum-based offense, and the new addition, Sargon I, introduces summoning and fusion mechanics that combine units into short-term powerhouses.
Each Commander shifts how campaigns play out, including map events, unlockable upgrades, and available unit types. There’s a light narrative layer that explains their goals and background, but the focus remains squarely on tactical execution rather than scripted story beats.
Shields of Loyalty has been developed in close communication with its community. The Early Access version launched in 2021 with limited content and rough visuals, but player feedback directly influenced monthly updates that improved UI, added Iron Man difficulty, expanded the unit pool, and replaced placeholder assets with higher-resolution sprites.
The Steam rating reflects this steady growth, with most recent reviews praising both the mechanical depth and the consistent developer engagement. Rather than trying to appeal to everyone, the game focuses on delivering a complete experience for strategy players who value rules clarity and tactical depth.
Presentation is designed to be readable. Maps use color-coded tiles to show movement restrictions and status effects. Unit animations are functional rather than flashy, keeping the screen clean and focused on the action.
At launch, Shields of Loyalty isn’t trying to chase trends or modernize the genre for the sake of it. It’s a grounded tactics game that knows its audience: players who want to make difficult decisions, adapt to terrain and unit matchups, and learn through failure.
It delivers systems that are consistent and fair, allowing skill and planning to drive success. The factions feel different, the unit variety is deep, and the environmental challenges are meaningful.
Shields of Loyalty is going to be fully released on August 12, 2025, on PC via Steam, with a Nintendo Switch version also planned for later this year, below the launch trailer.
