I don’t usually write articles on Sundays, but this evening I had a very interesting tactical RPG to share with you. It’s called WANE, and as you can see from the trailer (at the bottom of the page) and screens, it immediately stands out visually, while also featuring several interesting gameplay mechanics.
Below is everything I know so far about the game, developed by Metis Creative and published by Shoreline Games, following its reveal during the PC Gaming Show Tokyo Direct.
An archaeologist’s failing memory is an unsettling place to send a party of adventurers. That’s the premise behind this occult tactical RPG. The archaeologist in question is Declan Wayne, a man gradually losing his sense of self.
His fractured memories shape Ravelle, a shifting mental realm where his regrets, obsessions, and past traumas influence the places you explore. The setting takes on an industrial noir tone, with the journey gradually revealing what happened to Declan and why these memories still haunt him.
You recruit adventurers and assemble a three-person party before heading into grid-based, turn-based battles.
Movement, cover, and line of sight are all things you will deal with, while attacks have percentage-based chances to hit, with individual classes and character abilities not yet detailed.
Expeditions take you through three biomes: the Ravellian Sanatorium, the Palace of Arvanshah, and the Death Pilgrimage to Erabel. Each has ties to Ravelle’s history and Declan’s memories. Random encounters and boss fights stand in your way, with attrition also part of the challenge.
Between expeditions, you return to Declan’s antiquarian shop to appraise recovered relics and put them up for auction. The money pays for facility upgrades and funds future runs. For me, this is the most interesting detail in the announcement. I enjoy the idea of coming back from an expedition with strange relics, figuring out what they are worth, and using the proceeds to fund another trip.
WANE follows a roguelite structure, with repeated journeys opening up new synergies, shortcuts, and permanent buffs. Those return visits also reveal more about the characters and Declan’s past, allowing the story to continue developing across multiple expeditions.
WANE is in development for PC and consoles, with no release date announced. I’m closing the overview with the announcement trailer and will wait for your feedback on it, which I think is very promising.
