From Game Jam to Crowned Chaos: The Royal Writ Marches to Steam

What began as a quick 48-hour concept for the Ludum Dare game jam has grown into a fully realized title packed with charm, challenge, and plenty of royal mischief. The Royal Writ, a quirky lane-based card battler with a twist of permadeath, is making waves after its full announcement by Yogscast Games. Originally created as a fun experiment by Save Sloth Studios, the game quickly gained traction thanks to overwhelmingly positive early feedback—and now it’s gearing up for a full release.

In The Royal Writ, players serve a somewhat passive-aggressive monarch who prefers diplomacy—with a touch of siege warfare, just in case. Rather than dealing with rebellious citizens the hard way, the king sends letters "inviting" troublemakers to the throne room. If words don't work, sending a horde of fantastical creatures usually gets the message across.

Gameplay revolves around strategically placing these royal creatures on procedurally generated battlefields, where terrain plays a critical role. Some areas may flood, slowing down grounded units but offering a smooth path for aquatic beasts or flying allies. Each card represents a unit with distinct strengths and vulnerabilities, and players must adapt on the fly to gain the upper hand.

But the real twist? Once a unit falls in battle, it's gone for good. Permadeath ensures that every decision counts, adding a layer of tension and long-term strategy as players level up cards and risk it all in the heat of battle.

Save Sloth Studios co-director Kornél Pittmann shared that the game's spark ignited the moment their first rabbit soldier hit the field. Yogscast Games was quick to back the project, with managing director Simon Byron calling it a unique and delightful evolution of the genre.

The Royal Writ is expected to launch later this year, and eager players can already add it to their Steam wishlists.