Zen Studies, the development/publishing company best known for their sprawling video game pinball franchises, is bringing a new dungeon crawler to PS4, Switch, Steam, and GOG on March 31st.
Operencia: The Stolen Sun "is Zen’s modern homage to classic first-person dungeon crawlers, set in an unconventional fantasy world inspired by a faraway land refenced in countless Central European folktales", says Zen Publishing VP Mel Kirk.
According to a recent press release, "The land of Operencia is an unconventional fantasy world where history meets legend – a faraway land referenced in countless Central European folktales spanning hundreds of years of oral tradition. For the first time ever, these stories all occur in the context of one single universe. Adding further depth, real-life historical figures populate the game, such as more legendary versions of Attila, King of the Huns, and his wife Réka. Locations vary from common fairytale settings (e.g., castles, tombs and forests) to fantastical versions of storied landmarks anyone can physically visit today.
"Zen has gone to great lengths to ensure that everything in Operencia: The Stolen Sun feels familiar to RPG players, yet still modern and unique. Through a classic, tile-based movement system, players explore the far reaches of the land, engaging in strategic turn-based battles at every turn. The quest to free the abducted Sun King, Napkirály – thereby saving Operencia from endless days of night – is rife with malevolent monsters, devious traps, mind-bending puzzles and perhaps even a three-headed dragon."
Being stuck in the house like this has me hungry for new games, and Zen is one of my favorite development teams. I'm really looking forward to taking Operencia for a spin, and will report back once I get the chance.
