Fans of XCOM, rejoice! A new strategy combat game, Slaves of Magic by Amethyst Dreamers, is slated to release later this year. 

The developers, Amethyst Dreamers, are an independent two-person partnership from Budapest, Hungary. Their goal as game developers is to create games with great tactical depth, unique mechanics, and high replayability. After playing the demo, I’d say if that’s what they were aiming for, Slaves of Magic definitely goes above and beyond.

An Otherworldly Foe

Slaves of Magic is Amethyst Dreamers’ first self-published game. This ambitious project was, naturally, inspired by the XCOM series and the original Guild Wars. What makes it stand out, however, is the dynamic AI that you are battling against. The enemy AI perceives how much of a threat you are to them based on your actions and success and reacts accordingly. Sometimes, the best strategy will be to lay low and build your resources to lower their guard, even if that means incurring some losses. You will also have to deal with multiple types of invading forces, from enslaved dwarves and orcs to hypnotized goblins and drow. Each one has different strengths and strategies that you will have to counter.

Set in the Middle Ages, Slaves of Magic is a challenging turn-based strategy game. As in XCOM, an otherworldly force has come to enslave humanity, but those who have come are mages rather than aliens. In their thrall are all the fantasy races familiar to players of the genre, and humanity is next on their list. As the leader of the resistance, you must build your bases and your armies. If you fail, humanity’s great cities will fall into the enemy’s grasp, becoming Slaves of Magic. But be warned – the enemy is overwhelmingly powerful, and your recruits will die permanently if not protected.

The Slaves of Magic demo is out now on Steam, if you want to give it a try. It feels like a fully realized game on its own, except the demo only lasts three in-game months before the enemy launches a full-scale assault on your main base. How much can you build and defend in time, to prevent yourselves from becoming slaves of magic?