Your fortress has a new horizon. Renegade Games, the independent studio based in Utrecht, The Netherlands, has deployed a massive feature update to the playable demo of Castle Away — the hand-drawn roguelite autobattler where you build, arm, and pilot a flying stronghold toward an epic showdown with the Archdemon — just in time for Steam Next Fest. The update is live right now, free for all players.
Build Your Fortress. Defy the Archdemon.
Castle Away reimagines the autobattler by placing you in command of a custom-designed flying castle. You place rooms, defences, and units across your keep, then watch as your creation takes to the skies — fighting through waves of foes, gathering resources, and growing in power with every run. It’s part sky-city builder, part tactical autobattler, part roguelite — and every journey is different.
This Steam Next Fest update doesn’t just polish the experience — it fundamentally expands what you can do.
What’s New — The Full Breakdown
Rivals — Asynchronous Multiplayer
The headline addition: Rivals mode lets you clash with castles built by real players — live, no matchmaking required. Instead of facing only demon bosses, you’ll now encounter other people’s fortresses in flight. And Renegade warns: “Some of these player-built castles are so tough, they’ll make the Archdemon look like a mid-boss.” It’s a chance to test your design against the community’s best — and see what truly unbreakable looks like.
Relics — A New Layer of Strategy
At the start of every run, the mysterious merchant Fishy now grants you a Relic — a powerful unique item that reshapes your entire approach to building. One Relic might favour aggressive, high-damage layouts; another rewards dense, impenetrable defence; a third might unlock wild experimental strategies. Collect more Relics as you progress and suddenly no two journeys — or two castles — will ever feel the same.
Customise Your Commander
Your avatar now stands out with unlockable cosmetic options, letting you personalise the face of your flying fortress. Stand tall, look the part, and match your style to your strategy.
Speed Controls — Your Pace, Your Call
Tired of waiting through drawn-out battles? New speed toggles let you crank up the tempo — blaze through skirmishes or slow things down to study every tactical detail.
Quality of Life Everywhere
From clearer UI to smoother animations and behind-the-scenes polish, the whole demo feels tighter, friendlier, and more satisfying to play.
Hand-Drawn Heart, Deep Strategic Soul
Every asset in Castle Away is lovingly hand-illustrated — giving the world a warm, storybook charm that contrasts beautifully with the high-stakes tactical warfare. Beneath that gentle look lies serious depth: room placement, unit synergy, and Relic selection all combine to create systems that reward experimentation and clever planning.
Wishlist & Play Now — Full Release Coming 2027
The updated demo is free to download and play right now via Steam during Next Fest. The full version of Castle Away is scheduled to launch in Q1 2027, published by Renegade Games in partnership with WhisperGames. Join the Discord, share your toughest castle designs, and help shape the game as it evolves toward release.
Build high. Fly far. Defy the Archdemon — and any rival that dares cross your path.
More Info: Castle Away
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