Indie · May 30, 2024

SKALD: Against the Black Priory (2024)

trophy15 achievementsextension3 DLClocal_offer-50% current discountgroup1M–10M ownersrecommend3.0k recommendations
You drag yourself from the black tides, across the corpses of drowned men, and onto the unwelcoming, craggy shoreline. Gulls cry overhead and the stink of seaweed fills your nose. By some miracle you have made it to Idra. It will take all your skill to survive and unravel the eldritch mysteries of the Black Priory SKALD: Against the Black Priory is inspired by roleplaying games of yesteryear, combining modern design and compelling storytelling with authentic 8-bit looks and charms. Delve into a dark fantasy world, full of deadly creatures, tragic heroes, and lovecraftian horror for an epic retro-style adventure rich in exploration and tactical, turn-based combat. Do you have what it takes to lead a company of broken heroes from the tainted shores of Idra to the gates of the Black Priory - and beyond? Gather your party Lead a band of broken heroes through challenging turn-based combat scenarios as you cleave, blast or stealth your way through deadly enemies of all definitions. Equip your heroes using a modern inventory system, fulfil objectives through quest logs, read journals to discover hidden secrets. And if the action is still a bit too hot to handle, auto-resolve to bypass conflict entirely. Prepare thyself Set yourself up for the journey ahead by crafting and cooking from a slew of distinct recipes Choose your character, select their stats and build out a party from a series of diverse allies, each with their own skill-set, agenda and personality. Decide between a dozen classes and varied backgrounds, levelling up to 20 while customising your spells and equipment to suit your style. Venture Forth Set in an unforgiving world with lovecraftian horrors and choice-based dialogue, your story will take many unexpected twists and turns. Living life as a mercenary, you’ll need to roll the dice to determine whether you fall prey to certain peril or escape grave danger. Celebrate Yesteryear  Uncover the grand schemes of the Gallian Empire and explore the vast expanse of Freymark and the Outer Isles. In SKALD: Against the Black Priory, you’ll experience this richly illustrated world of authentic pixel art, built from thousands of hand-drawn tiles and images using a palette inspired by the legendary Commodore 64 computer. Optional CRT filter for true retro aficionados also included. Mod Support Looking for more SKALD content to play? Players now have access to the SKALD Data Editing Tool (SKaDE) to create their own adventures and play all new ones at no extra cost. This custom-made modding tool is powered by Mod.io and gives you access to all of the assets in SKALD: Against The Black Priory. Where will your imagination take you?

Indie releases from 2024

26 Indie titles launched in 2024 — top 6 by review volume.

Peer Indie titles

Comparable titles in the same genre and review-volume band — ranked by Steam positive percentage.

Community Tag Signals

Tag weights reflect how many Steam users voted each descriptor — larger pills = stronger consensus.

  • Strategy · 2.0k
  • Singleplayer · 2.0k
  • Minimalist · 1.9k
  • Atmospheric · 1.9k
  • Exploration · 1.9k
  • Horror · 1.9k
  • Turn-Based Strategy · 1.8k
  • Story Rich · 1.7k
  • Character Customization · 1.3k
  • Choices Matter · 1.3k
  • Class-Based · 1.3k
  • RPG · 1.3k
  • CRPG · 1.2k
  • Party-Based RPG · 1.2k
  • Dark Fantasy · 1.2k

Position in Indie

MetricThis titleGenre position
Review volume3.0k Steam reviewsTop 71% in Indie
Positive rating94% positiveGenre average: 87% — this title sits in top 30%
Engagement hours23 h averageTop 26% for session depth among Indie

Press Quotes

“Modern, complex, dark fantasy epic” God is a Geek “Charming and accessible modernisation of 80s RPG detail.” Rock Paper Shotgun “Brilliantly unsettling blend of genres” PC Gamer

Release & Availability

Release dateMay 30, 2024
DeveloperHigh North Studios AS
PublisherRaw Fury
Base price$7.49 -50%
DLC / Add-ons3 released
PlatformsWindows, macOS
Estimated owners1M–10M
External linksOfficial site · Support · [email protected]

Features & Capabilities

Community

  • Steam Achievements
  • Steam Trading Cards
  • Steam Cloud

Input & Comfort

  • Full controller support

Other

  • Single-player
  • Family Sharing

Reception Metrics

Steam community

94%Very Positive · 3.0k reviews

2.8k positive · 177 negative

Curator recommendations

3.0k

Engagement Profile

All-time avg

23h

moderate (15–40 hours)

Median

3h

Typical completion time

Achievements

15

Steam unlocks available

Content Notes

The SKALD universe is dark and gritty and deals with subject matter that may be of violent, sexual or offensive nature.

Editions & Packages

  • Buy SKALD: Against the Black Priory