Saber Interactive and wonderfully-named developer Twirlbound have announced The Knightling, a fantasy action-adventure game with platforming and puzzle elements that’s set to debut next year.
Per a press release, The Knightling will offer “a mix of exploration, questing, combat and platforming”, and will let you loose in a semi-open world armed only with your trusty shield.
The setup is rather sweetly straightforward; you are the titular Knightling, and your master, Sir Lionstone, has disappeared. It’s up to you to discover what’s happened to him and save the realm of Clesseia before monsters, bandits, and other beasties take over.
Your main weapon in The Knightling is a shield, contrary to expectations; it seems that you won’t be wielding a sword in this particular adventure.
However, your shield is a very capable combat asset. It’ll let you “block, bash, parry, and create openings in your enemies’ defenses”, according to Twirlbound and Saber, so it should serve you more than well enough.
You can also use your shield as a traversal tool. The lands of Clesseia are vast, and you won’t be able to get around just by walking from place to place, which is where Breath of the Wild-style shield surfing comes into play.
If you want to get a feel for what The Knightling looks and plays like, then you can check out the game’s debut trailer right here. It should be a treat if you’re a fan of games like the aforementioned Breath of the Wild.
Frankly, The Knightling looks exactly like the kind of game I wish there was more of, so I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on this one.
If you feel like you recognize Twirlbound’s name, you might be remembering the crowdfunding campaign the studio launched for its previous game, Pine. It doesn’t look like this one is seeking any extra funding, though.
The Knightling launches on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch sometime in 2025. Stay tuned for more info on this game as soon as we get it.
