At Gamescom 2022, Avalanche Studios’ Systemic Reaction (Generation Zero, Second Extinction) announced Ravenbound, an open-world roguelite game steeped in Swedish folklore.

The game’s lead designer, Simon Laserna, said in a statement:

It’s really exciting to explore a new genre as a studio for Systemic Reaction. It was a fun challenge to combine our open-world heritage with roguelite mechanics and the legendary Swedish woodland monsters in your own game world!

Ravenbound is currently in development for PC and will be released via Steam (where you can already take a look at the minimum and recommended requirements). Check out the game’s presentation and trailer below.

You are the Vessel. You carry within you a mighty weapon forged by ancient gods to defeat the Betrayer. They called her Raven, and her sacred duty is to rid Ávalt of dark forces. Knowing that this mission would take many lives to accomplish, they enshrined the Raven in the body of the warriors, led on the quest for the Raven.

Prepare for death, Vessel, but fight knowing that with every enemy you defeat, you serve those who come after you. They inherit the wisdom you gain from traveling through Ávalt, gathering resources, overcoming perilous challenges, and fighting fierce enemies. The loop closes when a ship appears powerful enough to see the crow complete its objective.

A beautifully deadly open world
Ávalt is a beautiful and vast open fantasy world inspired by folklore that you can freely explore on foot or on the wings of the Raven. The choice of where to go and what challenge to complete in Ravenbound is always up to you. But beware! This beautiful land and its creatures are constantly changing, giving rise to new enemies, locations and challenges when you least expect them!

Intense action and roguelite combat
Battle creatures from fantasy and folklore like Trolls, Hulders and the fearsome undead Draugr. Armed with magic-infused steel, you must engage in fast-paced close quarters combat where tactics are paramount. Knowing when to dodge is just as important as when to attack. Choose your battles wisely, as each ship has only one life to sacrifice for the Raven’s ambition. And fight wisely, as the combat abilities you attain can benefit the ship that rises in your place.

Play your cards right
Survival depends on playing your cards directly into Ravenbound’s deck-building feature. Expand your deck when a ship goes down, selecting cards for more powerful gear, weapons, and magic. Choose wisely. These are the cards you want in the hand of the Ship that goes up next. Although this ship must always strive to draw every card, the deck is better stacked to survive when they do. Make the most of every opportunity to improve your deck to give each ship the best chance of bringing the crow closer to victory before it falls.