Let’s start the day with a genuinely interesting title. It’s called Spears and Spirits, and here’s what you need to know about it. Go North Studio’s party-based RPG draws on the history and folklore of seventeenth-century Siberia, with shamanic deck-building accompanying its turn-based battles.
Its protagonist, Erumi, has been handed two predictions: she will become a great shaman, and she will bring disaster upon her people. An excellent combination for making friends. With the second prediction already unfolding, she sets out to see whether she can change fate, encountering Evenki hunters, Cossacks, and Chukchi guardians along the way.
Combat takes place on grids where cover, terrain, and narrow passages influence positioning and attack accuracy. Every combatant has both Health and Willpower.
Against a heavily armored opponent, shamanic attacks can target their resolve, providing an alternative to repeatedly poking someone who dressed appropriately for the occasion. The developers describe this as a way to avoid drawn-out basic-attack exchanges.
While her companions hold the line, Erumi uses cards to damage enemies, heal allies, apply buffs, and summon spirits. Those supernatural favors require payment in blood or willpower, however.
Between encounters, the focus shifts to injuries, limited supplies, and relationships. Decisions include allocating medicine, choosing expedition members, and spending time with companions at camp. Go North says loyalties, losses, and bonds can change Erumi’s future. Winning the fight, then, is only part of the job; the group still needs to survive the journey together.
The game has already had a playtest, so development has moved beyond the initial reveal. In an October 6 update, the studio confirmed that testing had ended and outlined its response to feedback: a redesigned interface, further work on balance and progression, and additional experienced game designers joining the team. Another playtest is planned toward the end of autumn, though no exact date has been announced.
Spears and Spirits is in development for PC via Steam, where it can be wishlisted. Its release date remains unannounced. Below is the official trailer.
