At first glance, you’d be forgiven for assuming that Stormbinders was a new Heroes of Might and Magic game. High fantasy? Check. Turn-based action? Check. Hexagonal grids galore? Triple check. But Slitherine’s latest isn’t just a carbon copy of the Ubisoft classic: it adds a brand new mechanic that not only changes the game entirely, but tests your mettle in unique ways. If you’re looking for a new challenge, this one’s for you.
The world is in chaos. Storms lash at the strategy game‘s struggling kingdoms, forcing their residents to endure all-manner of weather. One minute it’s snowing, then the tempest begins to rage: nature is the real threat in Stormbinders. As a lone hero you’re on a quest to safeguard and expand your kingdom, but you’ll have to contend with myriad fantasy beasties and harrowing betrayal along the way.
But you’ll also forge unlikely alliances. In the ruins of this fantastical universe, various factions feud and scheme, determined to stamp their names into the annals of history. Each faction has 18 unique units, with its own rules and abilities. Some will maybe prefer a full-frontal assault, for example, where spell-heavy factions will likely keep you at range.
Combat plays out on a hexagonal grid, and success relies on your ability to strategize. Placing units in the right places is key, and balancing out your army so that it can output enough damage while also taking a lot of hits is crucial.
But all of this sounds like Heroes of Might and Magic, right? While Stormbinders is a homage to the iconic series, its main selling point is the ever-changing storm system. When you log into the game, the weather patterns will shift on both the global map and the battlefield, meaning that no two playthroughs are the same. You’ll have to prepare for what your foes plan to throw at you, as well as whatever the weather conditions are on the battlefield. No pressure.
Stormbinders has just been announced, so there’s no release information yet. There is, however, a showcase event on Thursday April 10 at 8am PST / 11am EST / 4pm BST / 5pm CEST, where we’ll find out more. You can tune in here, and check out the game here.
While we wait to hear more, check out our list of the best turn-based strategy games to keep you busy. Alternatively, if you’d prefer to be fighting dragons and exploring fantastical worlds, here’s our rundown of the best fantasy games.
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