The wait is over for fans of gritty, tactical survival. Stoneguard, the highly anticipated medieval survival strategy game from husband-and-wife duo ThornSpire Games, officially launches on Steam Early Access on March 19, 2026.
If you’ve ever wanted a game that blends the settlement management of Age of Empires with the brutal, boots-on-the-ground combat of Mount & Blade, this is your new obsession.
Defend the Lifestone
In Stoneguard, you aren’t a “god” clicking from the clouds; you are the Ruler of Earth, a leader on the front lines. Your mission is simple but gruelling: protect the Lifestone, humanity’s last source of magic, from an onslaught of alien invaders.
Core Gameplay Loop:
- Daytime: Scavenge for resources, recruit survivors, and expand your settlement. You’ll build walls, towers, and workshops to turn a humble camp into a fortress.
- Preparation Phase: Strategically place your defences and assign your survivors to key positions.
- Nighttime: Survival horror begins. Defend against waves of monstrous enemies and massive bosses in intense third-person combat.
Brutal, Tactical Combat
Stoneguard introduces a limb-based injury system that makes every swing count.
- Targeted Damage: Use precise weapon tracing to sever enemy limbs, rendering them useless.
- Consequences: Be careful—your survivors (and you!) can lose limbs too. While the Lifestone can provide prosthetics or magical rejuvenation, a lost arm or leg will permanently hinder your performance in both battle and daily labour.
- Macabre Crafting: In a dark twist, you can harvest the limbs of fallen monsters to research and forge powerful new weapons.
Solo or Co-op
You don’t have to face the apocalypse alone. While the game is fully playable solo, you can team up with up to four players in co-op. Coordinate your builds, share resources, and watch each other’s backs when the sun goes down.
Why Early Access?
The developers at ThornSpire Games (supported by their four cats: Ponyo, Popeye, Pickle, and Petal) have spent three years building this world. They are launching in Early Access to work directly with the community. Expect:
- 6–12 months of active development before 1.0.
- Regular updates, including new biomes, boss encounters, and expanded crafting trees.
- A Steam Next Fest Demo (running Feb 23 – March 2) if you want to test your mettle before the March 19th launch.
Pro-Tip: Keep an eye on your survivors’ morale. A well-fed community builds faster, but a terrified one might crumble before the first wave hits.
Find out more here – https://www.wanderingwizard.com
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