Turn-Based Fantasy RPG Combines Rune Forging, Tavern Brawls, and Strategic Combat
Independent developer Terahard Studios has officially unveiled Runesmith, a new turn-based tactical RPG centered around dwarven craftsmanship, unpredictable status effects, and revenge-fueled fantasy adventure.
The game made its debut during the Indie Quest 2026 Showcase, where the studio premiered the first trailer and launched the game’s official Steam page ahead of its future release.
Blending tactical combat with crafting systems and dark comedic storytelling, Runesmith aims to deliver a fantasy RPG experience inspired by classic tabletop adventures while introducing chaotic combat mechanics built around rune combinations and environmental interactions.
A Dwarf Blacksmith on a Personal Mission
In Runesmith, players take control of a hardened dwarf blacksmith whose motivation is less about saving the world and more about collecting unpaid debts.
The story follows the protagonist as he hunts an all-powerful villain responsible for threatening the world — not out of heroism, but because the antagonist still owes him money.
Set in a fantasy world filled with monsters, mines, taverns, ruins, and questionable adventurers, the game leans heavily into dwarven culture and humor. Players are encouraged to embrace the rough-and-tumble lifestyle associated with fantasy dwarves, including excessive drinking, tavern fights, dangerous jobs, and relentless greed.
According to Terahard Studios CEO Aris Tsevrenis, Runesmith represents the company’s first full-scale RPG project after more than a decade of game development.
“Runesmith is a dream come true as it’s the company’s first true RPG, something that I’ve wanted to build in all the 13 years of Terahard’s existence,” Tsevrenis said. “Fantasy dwarves are loved for a lot of different reasons and their deep lore makes them extra interesting.”
He added that years of tabletop role-playing experiences, including Dungeons & Dragons, helped inspire the game’s tone and mechanics.
Rune Crafting Drives Combat Strategy
At the center of Runesmith is a rune-smithing crafting system that allows players to forge weapons, armor, trinkets, and magical enhancements through customizable rune engravings.
The game encourages experimentation by allowing different rune effects to combine in unpredictable ways. Status effects can interact with the environment, chain together, or spiral into destructive outcomes that dramatically alter battles.
For example, combining poison with environmental fog can transform the battlefield into a deadly hazard zone. Alcohol-related effects also play a role in combat, with drunkenness impacting characters in both strategic and comedic ways.
Rather than focusing solely on traditional turn-based encounters, the combat system is designed around creativity and risk-taking. Players can trigger devastating combinations, accidental disasters, or entirely unintended chain reactions depending on how they build their equipment and approach fights.
The game’s mechanics appear aimed at players who enjoy tactical RPGs with emergent gameplay systems similar to sandbox-style strategy titles.
Fantasy Adventure With Humor and Exploration
Beyond combat, Runesmith includes exploration, character management, and life-simulation elements rooted in dwarven fantasy traditions.
Players can recruit a party of unconventional adventurers while traveling through towns, dungeons, mines, and ancient ruins populated by merchants, priests, nobles, and monsters.
The game also includes forge upgrades, side jobs, tavern interactions, and world exploration systems designed to flesh out the setting between battles.
Its comedic tone stands out from more serious fantasy RPGs currently on the market, leaning into exaggerated dwarven stereotypes while mixing absurd humor with tactical gameplay.
That approach could resonate with U.S. players familiar with fantasy franchises such as The Lord of the Rings, Warhammer, and tabletop role-playing games that often portray dwarves as stubborn craftsmen obsessed with honor, gold, and ale.
Terahard Studios Expands Into RPG Development
Founded in 2012, Terahard Studios operates from London and Athens while working with a global development network. Over the years, the independent studio has developed and co-developed games across multiple platforms, including PC, mobile, AR, and VR.
Its previous projects include Dunebound Tactics, Monster Mop Up, Overbeast, Claws of Furry, and ChipiTales: Hercule.
With Runesmith, the studio is moving deeper into large-scale RPG development while maintaining its focus on technical systems and gameplay experimentation.
The game is currently available for wishlisting on Steam following its Indie Quest 2026 reveal.
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