Every now and then, an indie RPG comes along that feels like it’s trying to do more than just follow in the footsteps of the classics. BECKONED, developed by Zade Studios, is one of those games.
Still in development, it combines hand-drawn visuals with a deeply layered world and a reactive turn-based combat system
This was one of the first games I spotlighted on my YouTube channel and featured inside one of my KAEOI and I only now realize that was four full years ago. In that time, the two brothers at Zade Studios have kept inching the project forward, right down to launching a dedicated comic book.
When I caught up with them on, they told me they’ve spent the past four months working on the game full-time, rolling in a slew of new features and making a huge leap in development.
Game-wise the story centers on a boy named Taujh, who is searching for a stolen crystal pendant. But that’s just the surface.
As he travels across the land of Devanis with his companions, Enelh and Leign, it becomes clear that this world is shaped by a powerful force known as Shadreic Majiq, channeled through mystical crystals called Lodens.
These Lodens aren’t just set dressing; they’re tied directly to the magic system, character roles, and the broader conflict between the eco-conscious Loden Tuners and the expansionist Denithite Empire of Thal.
The world-building feels truly inspired. The fishing village of Burketh, the merchant-run Red Mouth, and the treetop refuge of Tula’Banya all play a role in shaping the political and environmental tensions that define the story.
These are places where people live, where different species coexist, and where history leaves scars.
Mechanically, BECKONED sets itself apart with its Engage system, an active turn-based approach that allows for combo attacks, counterplay, and precise defensive reactions.
You can chain abilities together, interrupt enemy actions using TURNBREAK mechanics, and shift character roles mid-battle using crafted Amulets.
Each character has a primary role: Taujh as a blade-wielding tank, Leign as a ranged battle mage, and Enelh as a healer, but thanks to the flexible amulet system, roles and abilities can shift depending on your loadout.
Outside the battle, the world responds to how you interact with it. You can hunt, forage, or avoid confrontation entirely by learning a creature’s habits and feeding it the right bait.
These choices matter, and they feed into a broader survival layer that i gladly would like to learn more about it in the future.
As I told you in the opening, Zade Studios has also built an extended universe around the game with BECKONED: RECOURSE, a comic book prologue set before the game’s events.
It introduces new characters and details the rise of the Denithite Empire and the people resisting it. It’s not essential reading, but it adds context and weight to the setting.
Funded through Indiegogo back in 2022, the comic was delivered to backers in 2024, and it shows the studio’s commitment to fleshing out its world beyond just the game.
Visually, BECKONED leans on clean hand-drawn animation and a crisp, cinematic presentation. The most recent trailer shows improved character designs, new UI elements, and a more refined combat flow compared to earlier demos.
It still feels like an indie project in the best way, focused, ambitious, and grounded in a personal vision.
There’s no confirmed release date yet, and development has been slow and careful. But that seems to be the point. Zade Studios isn’t rushing this project. They’re building something with depth, something that feels like it belongs in a shelf next to classic JRPGs, but without just copying them.
For now, BECKONED is available to wishlist on Steam, with the latest demo offering a glimpse into both the mechanics and the tone of the story. Below the latest Game Trailer.
