Fresh out of the latest Xbox Partner Preview (March 2026), a new contender has emerged to shake up the tactical RPG landscape. Developed by Lost Lake Games—a team of industry veterans behind heavyweights like StarCraft and Guild Wars—and published by the strategy specialists at Hooded Horse, Vaunted is shaping up to be one of the most innovative titles of the year.
If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if you mixed XCOM’s tension with the “unreliable narrator” storytelling of Rashomon, all wrapped in a gritty Space Western aesthetic, Vaunted is the answer.
Three Heroes, Three Lies
Set a millennium after the collapse of the last galactic empire, the world of Vaunted is a lawless frontier where mercenaries and treasure hunters scrap over imperial relics. You control a trio of “dysfunctional frenemies” who have just bungled a high-stakes heist:
- Dyse: An incorrigible thief and con artist with a knack for finding loot and making enemies.
- Gendril: A battle-hardened mercenary who believes violence is the only universal language.
- Kyvaath: A powerful warlock—the last of her kind—empowered by cybernetic enhancements and a thirst for vengeance.
The hook? They are all unreliable narrators. As you play through the story, you’ll experience events from different perspectives. Every lie, half-truth, and exaggerated boast opens new branching paths. If a character “dies” in your version of the story, you can rewrite the chapter from a different survivor’s viewpoint, unlocking new loot, secrets, and dialogue.
Tactical Gameplay with a Twist
Vaunted doesn’t just innovate on the narrative front; it reimagines how we handle turn-based combat. It features a hybrid system where turn-based planning meets real-time execution.
- No Initiative Order: You decide who moves when, alternating activations with the enemy.
- Physics-Based Action: You can set overwatch angles, leap into cover to dodge in real-time, or use a grenade to launch an enemy into the air and riddle them with bullets before they hit the ground.
- Manual Aiming: Like Valkyria Chronicles, you can take direct control to pinpoint enemy weaknesses and manually aim your shots.
Key Information at a Glance
| Feature | Details |
| Developer | Lost Lake Games |
| Publisher | Hooded Horse |
| Platforms | PC (Steam, Epic, Microsoft Store) |
| Release Date | Early Access 2026 |
| Game Pass | Day One for PC Game Pass |
Why It’s On Our Radar
It’s rare to see a tactical game place such a heavy emphasis on the character of its protagonists. These aren’t just faceless soldiers; they are petty, desperate, and brilliant criminals trying to keep a criminal syndicate off their backs. Combined with the “perspective-switching” mechanic, Vaunted promises a level of replayability that most RPGs can only dream of.
“Tell the story of an expedition gone horribly wrong… where every exposed lie and half-truth opens up new branches.” — Lost Lake Games
Find out more on Steam here – https://shorturl.at/Momdp
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