First released in 2022, Roadwarden is an illustrated text-based RPG that has already enjoyed a PC release and is now coming to Nintendo Switch.
As you can see from the screenshot above, this is a visually striking game, that takes retro-style pixel art and traditional computer RPG and point-and-click elements to create something simultaneously contemporary and classic.
Set for a global release on 25 August 2025 (and coming to Korea shortly after), Roadwarden is available to preorder now from the Nintendo eShop for £9.89 (or $10.99/€10.99) with a 20% launch discount.
Roadwarden takes place in a gritty, low-fantasy world. Here, you play as a solitary traveller, challenged by mystery, danger, and moral dilemmas, as you explore an untamed peninsula. The game progresses through isometric pixel art, deep narrative design, and RPG elements. So, you’ll encounter dialogue choices, inventory puzzles, character building, and more.
Better still — certainly from my point of view — this game features 30 hours of gameplay. That’s significant and makes it particularly good value.
This is the synopsis:
YOU ARE THE ROADWARDEN
A brave stranger putting your life on the line to make a difference in this grim fantasy world. While most people would never risk a solitary journey through the wilder parts of the land, you willingly accept the struggle. You guard travellers, connect isolated villages, support merchants, and repel attacking creatures, bandits, or even undead.
TAKE THE PLUNGE
A powerful merchant guild has called on your services, sending you on a journey into the unknown planes of a mysterious peninsula in the hopes to expand the guild’s influence even further. Explore this world and gather as much information as possible to reveal the secrets surrounding the area. It’s a dangerous task, but an equally respectable one.
Here’s the trailer:
What can you expect from Roadwarden?
As you can see from the video, this is quite a unique game, although it has already done well on Steam, garnering strong user and critic reviews. Roadwarden features:
- 🧭 Explore a Mysterious Peninsula
Uncover secrets, dangers, and hidden stories in a richly detailed, low-fantasy world.- 🧙 Choose Your Class and Backstory
Play as a warrior, mage, or scholar, shaping your character’s abilities, beliefs, and personality.- 📜 Meaningful Choices
Engage in deep dialogue, make the right decisions and shape the world around you.- 🗺️ Unique Genre Blend
Combines text-based storytelling, isometric pixel art, RPG systems, and adventure mechanics.- ⏳ 30+ Hour Campaign
Immerse yourself in a narrative-driven experience full of quests, survival elements, and moral dilemmas.
You can already play Roadwarden on Steam (PC or Mac) or you can head to the Nintendo eShop to preorder it now.
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Christian Cawley is a writer and editor who covers consumer electronics, IT, and entertainment media. He has written for publications such as Computer Weekly, Linux Format, MakeUseOf.com, and Tech Radar.
He also produces podcasts, has a cigar box guitar, and of course, loves retro gaming.
