Band Of Crusaders is a dark fantasy party RPG with heady overtones of XCOM and Diablo

If you enjoyed the devil-mulching action of Space Marine 2 and are craving more medieval zealotry, consider checking out Band Of Crusaders. This open-world party-based RPG puts you in the role of the Grandmaster of a knightly order, tasked with keeping wily Archdemons out of Europe. With gameplay reminiscent of XCOM, you’ll navigate an oppressive world map, recruit soldiers, engage with settlements, and battle hellfiends inspired by biblical descriptions and European folklore. The game also explores themes of xenophobia and sectarianism. Watch the trailer below.

On the Steam page, you’ll find more details about Band Of Crusaders. You can hire up to 20 knights for your crusade, training, equipping, and upgrading them at a campsite with various buildings. Each crusader brings unique strengths, weaknesses, and abilities that can synergize with others. There are no fixed character classes, but a skill tree with active, passive, and “semi-active” abilities allows for versatile builds.

The overworld landscape evolves as demons invade and factions resist, creating a darkening atmosphere that culminates in battles with Archdemons. Factors like time of day and season impact gameplay, and each enemy family has distinct strengths and weaknesses, requiring strategic combat tactics. The real-time combat features slow-motion orders and the risk of character permadeath to keep players engaged.

For more information about Band Of Crusaders, visit the Steam page. The game does not have a specific release date yet. Developed by Virtual Alchemy, an indie studio from Warsaw, Poland, the team includes former CD Projekt and War Hospital staff.