- A party-based turn-based RPG mixed with negotiation, brawls, friendship, and conflict
- A new title from the three-person team Hardrain Studios, featuring both narrative and gameplay
Inner Pocket, a global publisher based in Lisbon, Portugal, has officially released the new RPG ‘Outcast Tales’, developed by Hardlane Studio, for free on the global PC game platform Steam.
‘Outcast Tales’ is a party-based roguelike turn-based RPG set in a wasteland devastated by nuclear war. Players lead three vagrants with distinct personalities to explore the perilous wasteland in pursuit of wealth and glory.
The game has established a system that goes beyond simple stat-based combat, where each character’s unique ‘personality’ directly influences battles and the overall story progression. In particular, it is characterized by delivering an original narrative and immersion by appropriately combining elements of black comedy within the dark atmosphere of a post-apocalyptic world.
The fun of teaming up with unique colleagues
Players form their own party by selecting three vagrants wandering the wasteland. Each character possesses unique skills and abilities, and the team’s overall atmosphere and play style change completely depending on which ‘personality types’ are combined.
For example, assigning the ‘Pacifist’ personality to a ‘Technomancer,’ a support class that aids allies, can be a very natural and stable combination. On the other hand, when a ‘Mercenary’ class, which must engage in fierce combat, is given the ‘Pacifist’ personality, it is difficult to guarantee what unexpected actions or choices this character might make during an adventure.
Regarding this, the development team stated, “There is no fixed ‘correct combination’ in the game,” adding, “Players will be able to enjoy a unique narrative created by ‘unintended results’ every time, depending on their choices and combinations.”
The art of relationships to survive in a wasteland of natural selection
Players will face various threats during their journey through the wasteland, including legions of robots, bizarre mutants, and brutal desert raiders. While crises can be averted peacefully through dialogue rather than force, a fierce battle is immediately triggered the moment a party member with a difficult personality thoughtlessly offers inappropriate advice.
Combat requires strategic choices that go beyond simply swinging weapons. You must upgrade skills acquired through adventures and skillfully utilize unique synergy effects activated by party members to seize victory.
In particular, ‘relationship management’ among colleagues is a key variable. If discord among team members deepens, they will stand by and do not help each other at critical moments, but if their individual pride and tendencies are well aligned, a powerful synergy that exceeds expectations can be triggered, instantly turning the tide.
The Party Member Cruelty Brought About by Choice
Every choice made while adventuring through the wasteland shakes up not only the flow of the entire story but also the dynamics between team members in real time. While these shifts in relationships may provide entirely new clues to solving the problems at hand, they can also conversely become the fuse that causes party members to intensely hate one another.
As the journey continues, sweet romances blossom among companions, while devastating conflicts deepen. These emotional shifts and fluctuations in relationships are not merely confined to the text but are directly reflected in combat efficiency and the various unexpected situations encountered in the wasteland.
Regarding the intense relationship drama unfolding within the game, the development team expressed witty confidence, stating, “It will be more outrageous and exciting than a sensational daytime TV talk show.”
A meeting of a trio of proven development capabilities and a veteran publisher
Hardrain Studio is an elite three-person development team that pursues a perfect harmony between narrative and gameplay. They have proven their solid indie game development capabilities by developing ‘Wondrous Lands,’ which was hugely popular on the famous Flash game platform ‘Newgrounds.’
In January 2024, ahead of the main game’s release, the team pre-released a prologue version titled ‘Outcast Tales: The First Journey’ for free on Steam. At the time, the game was recognized for its unique gameplay and received a ‘Very Positive’ rating from Steam users, leaving a strong impression on the community.
Following this, a free demo version was unveiled last September, and the official launch on October 26 was officially announced through a recent convergence showcase.
Inner Pocket, responsible for the global service of this title, is a new indie label established by veteran personnel from global game companies such as Gaijin Entertainment, Critical Reflex, and Nozomu Games. The recently released ‘Outcast Tales’ is garnering attention as one of the debut titles in the lineup that will prove Inner Pocket’s capabilities.
“Outcast Tales,” a dystopian RPG where combat styles and narratives shift in real-time based on character personalities and relationships with companions, is currently available for free download and immediate play on Steam. If you are curious about the unpredictable party drama set in a post-nuclear wasteland and the satisfying feel of turn-based combat, why not gather three vagrants right now and embark on your own unique journey?
Information regarding ‘Outcast Tales’
| item | detail |
|---|---|
| Developer | Hardlane Studio |
| Publisher | Inner Pocket |
| Genre | Party-based roguelike turn-based RPG |
| platform | PC (Steam) |
| Release date | October 26, 2026 |
| price | free |
| language | Needs verification |
| Steam Page | Shortcut |
