This upcoming Fire Emblem-style tactical RPG combines handcrafted battles with enemy recruitment, changing weather, adaptive AI, and a hub where commanders can expand their army.
A new Fire Emblem-style SRPG has surfaced on the TBL Reddit Community, so here I am to give you some details about it. Heads up: it features several interesting mechanics that set it apart from the rest of the genre, which is why I think adding it to your wishlist is the right call.
A political marriage intended to preserve peace ends in bloodshed, pulling several factions into a wider war. This is the starting point of Ashes of Resolve, an upcoming turn-based strategy RPG from independent developer Tactica Studios. The game is currently planned for Steam and Steam Deck in late 2027.
Built in Unreal Engine, Ashes of Resolve places detailed pixel-art characters inside three-dimensional battlefields. Its combat animations draw heavily from the Game Boy Advance Fire Emblem games, while modern lighting, environments, and camera angles give each confrontation a 2.5D presentation.
Tactica Studios also cites Berwick Saga and Game of Thrones among its influences, covering both the tactical systems and the story’s political conflict.
The campaign is expected to contain more than 20 handcrafted chapters and over 20 playable characters. Battles take place on grid-based maps, but several systems are intended to push encounters beyond standard movement and attack calculations. Large opponents can occupy multiple tiles, mounted units can lose their steeds during combat, and adjacent allies can contribute assist attacks when positioned correctly.
Time and Weather Affect the Battlefield
One of the central mechanics is a combined weather and day-night cycle. Every turn represents one hour, allowing conditions to change as a battle continues. Certain characters can transform at specific times, some abilities are restricted to particular hours, and the player can eventually manipulate the clock directly.
This means that delaying an objective or taking several turns to clear a defensive position may alter the available tactics. A unit that performs normally during the day could gain a different role after sunset, while weather changes may create new opportunities or complications elsewhere on the map.
Enemy behavior is also tied to the selected difficulty. Tactica Studios says its AI uses an expectimax-based system to evaluate possible actions before committing to a move. Lower settings will reduce its efficiency, while harder difficulties allow opposing units to coordinate their actions and pursue stronger tactical sequences.
Captured Enemies Can Join the Army
Defeated opponents do not always have to be killed. Ashes of Resolve allows commanders to capture enemies and wanted criminals alive, after which they can be recruited or exchanged for ransom. Captured characters may also be bribed between missions, turning former opponents into additional personnel for the campaign.
Army management continues inside a hub area that can be explored between chapters. Here, players can prepare for the next operation, interact with captured characters, and hire mercenaries to reinforce their permanent roster. The mercenary system takes direct inspiration from Berwick Saga, giving commanders access to temporary or recruitable soldiers outside the main cast.
Character relationships also have a mechanical purpose. Units deployed together accumulate support points, eventually unlocking conversations. Higher support levels increase the damage of assist attacks, linking character bonds with battlefield positioning instead of keeping them entirely separate from combat.
A Fully Voiced Strategy RPG Planned for 2027
Ashes of Resolve will support English text, subtitles, and full voice acting. Its announced cast includes seven performers with previous Fire Emblem roles, including Joe Zieja, Xanthe Huynh, Griffin Puatu, Reba Buhr, Rachelle Heger, Sarah Blandy, and Amber Connor.
Tactica Studios is currently concentrating on the Steam edition and intends to make the game fully compatible with the Steam Deck. A Kickstarter campaign is also in preparation, with potential console editions discussed as stretch goals. No console version has been formally confirmed at this stage.
Ashes of Resolve remains in active development, and some elements, including map layouts, objectives, and presentation options, are still being adjusted.
Its current design, however, already outlines a systems-driven strategy RPG centered on changing battlefield conditions, recruitable enemies, coordinated attacks, and an AI model that scales with difficulty. The game is targeting a late 2027 release on Steam and Steam Deck.
