Skald: Against the Black Priory is a classic, turn-based RPG. It's set in a dark and gritty fantasy universe: full of tragic heroes, violent deaths and eldritch, Lovecraftian horror. With a dark, immersive plot and inspired by legendary titles such as Ultima and the gold box series, this is my love letter to classic roleplaying. It is a tile and turn based roleplaying game where you lead a party of up to six characters on an epic and perilous quest.
About the story
The Gallian Empire is in turmoil: By virtue of it's Wizard Lords, the Empire stood for a thousand years. Now the fabrics of the realm is fraying. Within, the ruling elite is losing its jealously guarded monopoly on the use of magics. Without, hordes of enemies threaten the realms of man. In these troubled times heroes are few and far between. On the isolated island of Idra, lies the Black Priory. Its great libraries were once a haven of enlightenment and wisdom. These days its halls see far darker practices. The Wizard Lord dispatches an elite group of his finest knights to bring Imperial justice to the accursed monastery. However, all is nearly lost when disaster strikes on the high seas: The ship carrying the party is lost in a storm. All perish, save one: You. Stranded on the shore of the bleak island, you are the people's last hope for Imperial justice! Gather what allies you can and prepare to face the Black Priory - pray your sanity holds!
Platforms
Mac PCGenres
Adventure Indie Role-playing (RPG)Themes
Fantasy Open world
Languages: English
| Interface | Audio | Subtitles | |
|---|---|---|---|
| English |
Media
Critic Reviews
IGN Italy
By Stefano CastagnolaInspired by great classics of the past, SKALD isn't just fueled by nostalgia but is a proper good CRPG in its own right, one that fans of the genre should probably consider playing.
Use a Potion
By Use a PotionSKALD: Against the Black Priory offers a deep, strategic, and nostalgic RPG experience that’s a lot of fun to play through. Don’t get me wrong, it has got a bit of a learning curve and its old-school stylings won’t be for everyone, but exploring its intriguing world, battling enemies in tactical showdowns, and rolling dice to determine your success never stops being satisfying as you uncover the secrets of the island of Idra. And hey, if you’re not too familiar with the genre, you can play on the easy difficulty setting to settle yourself in, with the game offering plenty of accessibility options to fine-tune the experience to suit you. It does have some flaws, but SKALD: Against the Black Priory delivers an old-school RPG experience that’s simply oozing in quality and charm.
Slant Magazine
By Steven ScaifeYet even these rough edges work in concert toward something singular and idiosyncratic. Indeed, the story becomes hard to pin down in the lead-up to a truly audacious ending, and the occasional abandonment of combat fortifies the horror undertones far more effectively than simply killing everything in your way. Skald may be easy to distill to its overt influences, but its best moments use those touchstones to build something new.
Eurogamer
By Rick LaneSkald is a propulsive throwback RPG that exudes grisly character, though its commitment to tradition holds it back in a genre rife with competition.
RPG Fan
By Mark RoddisonBask in the heady nostalgia of an '80s retro RPG with strong systems and a dark, mature narrative.
