- Debut project by student-founded Super Monkey Studio… Achieved 140% of Kickstarter goal
- Norse mythology brought to life through hand-painted art and comic book-style battle sequences
Spanish indie game studio Super Monkey Studio partnered with publisher Develup Games to release a free demo version of the Norse mythology-based action tower defense game ‘SKULD’ on Steam on November 3.
Through this demo, which signals the beginning of the official launch, users can experience the unique worldview and core systems in advance, and the official service is scheduled for 2027.
‘Skuld’ delves deeply into the world of Norse mythology, where everything has been devastated following the catastrophe brought about by ‘Ragnarok,’ known as the Twilight of the Gods. Players take control of Skuld, the protagonist who is reborn as a ‘Valkyrie,’ a powerful warrior who dominates the battlefield and a member of the ‘Norn,’ the goddesses of fate.
The mission given to the users is clear. Amidst a situation where a legion of corrupted monsters led by Hela, the Goddess of Death, is endlessly surging in from all directions, they must establish and defend the final line of defense to prevent the complete destruction of the world.
The game’s most significant feature is that it organically combines dynamic hack-and-slash action with the conventions of the existing tower defense genre.
Rather than sticking to the traditional method of simply deploying defensive towers from a safe rear and commanding tactics, the game puts the thrilling real-time combat action at the forefront, where the protagonist Skuld personally jumps into the front lines of the battlefield and sweeps away enemies while wielding a sharp sword.
A third-person action tower defense game where you set up turrets and fight directly
‘Skuld’ adopts a third-person perspective to showcase a dynamic combat system that involves evading enemy attacks and utilizing swift melee attacks and divine powers. Players must traverse the battlefield directly while strategically deploying and reinforcing various turrets around them to establish a solid defensive line.
The enemies appearing on the battlefield each possess different artificial intelligence (AI); some focus their attacks on turrets or castle gates, while others fiercely rush to eliminate the protagonist Skuld directly. If the surging enemies reach the final line of defense, ‘Valhalla,’ or if Skuld falls, the battle leads directly to defeat.
Before entering combat, users can freely customize their Tower Deck, Skuld’s abilities, and Divine Skills to suit their play style.
There are two main options. You can devise your tactics by choosing between the combat-focused ‘Blade’ build , which involves directly cutting down enemies with powerful swordsmanship and divine power, and the ‘Base’ build, which involves constructing an impregnable fortress and maximizing turret firepower.
According to the description on the Steam store page, the combination and composition of enemies change completely depending on the area entered, so it is designed to require deep strategic thinking, as a single all-purpose build cannot handle all battles.
Hand-painted art showcasing craftsmanship and a comic book vibe
All in-game textures that drive the visual perfection of ‘Skuld’ were created using ‘hand-painted art’. In particular, for scenes featuring intense battles, a ‘comic book style’ direction emphasizing rough and bold linear elements was introduced to maximize the impact of the action.
On the other hand, the major cinematic scenes where the narrative unfolds are characterized by the use of a soft and profound ‘painterly’ art style, providing diverse visual changes tailored to the situation and atmosphere.
Users will personally explore various realms of Norse mythology, ranging from the magnificent golden walls of Asgard, the home of the gods, to the cool, frozen abyss of Helheim, the world of the dead.
Each area features a unique group of enemies and a giant boss monster suited to the region’s ecosystem, and an original soundtrack (OST) arranged differently for each location plays, further enhancing the epic immersion and the eerie yet majestic atmosphere.
Encounters with gods and crossroads of choice, an original narrative defying fate
After safely finishing the battle, Skuld returns to Valhalla, the hall of the gods, and comes into direct contact with legendary gods from Norse mythology, such as Odin, Loki, Heimdal, and Idun.
The gods gathered in Valhalla make various demands and proposals to Skuld according to their respective purposes and interests, and the answers and choices made by the user during this process have a direct real-time impact on the development of the entire campaign and the flow of the story.
‘Skuld’ deeply reinterprets the setting of Skuld from the original Norse mythology, who possesses a unique multiple identity as both a Norn, the goddess of fate, and a Valkyrie, the guide of the battlefield. The game unfolds a completely new original story set in the Nine Worlds after Ragnarok, the end of the gods.
The development team described this narrative system with the striking phrase, “Fate is predetermined, but the player’s choices are not,” emphasizing that even within the cycle of fixed destruction, players can carve out new paths depending on their tactics and choices.
Kickstarter success achieved through students’ passion
Super Monkey Studio, which is developing ‘Skuld ‘, is an indie development studio founded by student developers united by the sole determination to complete their first game.
Throughout the long development process, the specific genre of the game underwent several changes, but the core development direction of delivering the epic story of the protagonist Skuld to users never wavered.
This tenacity and passion moved the hearts of global users, and in a crowdfunding campaign on the platform Kickstarter held in 2026, it achieved 140% of its target amount.
In addition, it was selected for the ‘Project We Love’ badge, awarded by the platform in recognition of its originality and potential, establishing itself as a highly anticipated global title.
Hugo Maldonado, co-founder of the studio, shared his thoughts, stating, “I started developing my first game as a student and have gone through numerous genre shifts, but Skuld has always been at the center of development.” He also expressed confidence, saying, “This free demo will be the first opportunity in a lifetime for users around the world to wield a sword and defend the gates of Valhalla.”
‘Skuld’, which combines direct combat and defensive strategies, is currently offering a free demo on Steam, with the official release scheduled for 2027.
Information regarding ‘SKULD’
| item | detail |
|---|---|
| Developer | Super Monkey Studio |
| Publisher | Develup Games |
| Genre | Action, Strategy, Indie (Action Tower Defense) |
| platform | PC (Steam, Windows) |
| Release date | Scheduled for 2027 (Free demo released on November 3, 2026) |
| Player count | Single player |
| price | Unreleased (Free Demo) |
| language | English, Spanish (Based on the official Steam page, Korean not supported) |
| Reactions/Evaluations | Achieved 140% of Kickstarter goal and selected for ‘Project We Love’ |
| Steam Page | Shortcut |
