This week, we’re taking a look at a game that just found its way to itch.io, Urtuk: The Desolation (Urtuk). While described as an RPG with turn-based combat, it feels more like a Turn-Based-Combat game with some RPG elements, as the vast majority of your time spent with the game is in its fantastic combat system.
Developed by seemingly one man, Mr. David Kaleta, of ‘Madsheep Studios’, Urtuk is currently being offered to potential fans for a “name your own price” pricepoint, which would likely appeal to just about anyone. If you’re a fan of tactical combat, it may very well need to be on your radar.
What makes Urtuk stand out is its simple, yet interesting and engaging, gameplay loop. As the story goes:
“The world in the game is a place of pain, suffering, and darkness, set with (light) fantasy features. Urtuk is the name of the main character. His story begins when he escaped from the Sanatorium, a place where medical experiments take place on common people. Urtuk’s escape was successful thanks to his fellow old friend – Eldric.
Urtuk has suffered a mortal disease, a mutation in the Sanatorium. With every day, his health condition worsens… Now he searches for a cure in the world. It’s only a matter of time, when his mutation evolves to a certain level when he finally dies.”
In short, you set off with a small band of adventurers and attempt to find a cure for Urtuk’s disease. Urtuk is the main character of the party you choose from the game’s outset. Along the way, you’ll meet other adventurers, go on quests, take down hate-filled humans and monsters, and engage in combat. A lot of combat.
Some of its main features include:
- Survival RPG with a focus on combat and world exploration in a dark fantasy world
- Tactical turn-based combat with large maps, and environmental tactical options and carefully throughout the class/skill system
- Procedurally generated survival campaign
- Upgrade your characters with extracts from fallen enemies
- Hand-drawn graphical assets, from the world map to the battlefield, along with all of the characters and map objects
The game is still being actively developed by Madsheep Studios and buying in now on its itch.io page will help support that endeavor. It certainly seems promising in my time with it and I look forward to watching how it progresses.
For more of an idea of how gameplay is, check out my “Let’s eXplore” video below. I’ll do a short series on it, so if you have any questions before making the plunge, be sure to ask here or on YouTube.
Is Urtuk a game that interests you? Is there another game that you’d like us to feature in our “The Less eXplored” series? Be sure to let us know below! Also, be sure to check out the other games in this series!
Until next time, keep eXploring!
Rob founded eXplorminate in 2014 as his passion for 4X needed an outlet. You can find Rob in just about every 4X game beta and 4X game forum, too. He’s equally obsessed with the strategy and tactics genres and constantly combs the internet for new and exciting titles in those genres. He’s proud to be a member of Amplitude Studios’ VIP program and the concept creator of Endless Space 2’s Unfallen.
The price changed to $20 (currently it’s 25% off, so $15). That’s a bit steep.