Studio Fardust, in collaboration with publisher Awaken Realms, has unveiled a new trailer for their upcoming title Shards of Order, simultaneously putting to rest ongoing debates about the game’s genre classification. The developers have made it explicitly clear: despite featuring a card-based combat system, the project is definitively not a roguelike. This clarification comes as welcome news to many players who have been following the game’s development and seeking clarity on what to expect from this dark fantasy experience.
A Fresh Take on Card-Based Combat
The distinction between card-based RPGs and roguelikes has become increasingly important in today’s gaming landscape. While titles like Slay the Spire and Monster Train have popularized the roguelike deckbuilder formula with procedurally generated runs and permadeath mechanics, Shards of Order takes a fundamentally different approach. The game embraces traditional RPG progression systems where players build their characters and decks over the course of a persistent narrative campaign. This means no starting over from scratch after each defeat, no randomly generated dungeons, and no reliance on luck-based progression that defines the roguelike experience.
Card-based combat systems have seen a remarkable renaissance in recent years, offering a unique blend of strategic depth and accessibility. Games like Hand of Fate, Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales, and Voice of Cards have demonstrated that cards can serve as an engaging combat mechanic without falling into the roguelike category. Shards of Order appears to follow in this tradition, using cards as a means of representing abilities, spells, and tactical options rather than as collectible items in a randomized run-based structure.
Awaken Realms Brings Board Game Expertise to Digital Gaming
Publisher Awaken Realms has established itself as a powerhouse in the tabletop gaming industry, known for creating immersive board games with stunning production values. The company has successfully funded numerous Kickstarter campaigns, raising millions of dollars for projects like Tainted Grail, Nemesis, and Lords of Hellas. Their transition into video game publishing represents a natural evolution, bringing their expertise in creating atmospheric, narrative-driven experiences to the digital realm. The partnership with Fardust suggests that Shards of Order will likely feature the same attention to world-building and dark thematic elements that have become hallmarks of Awaken Realms’ tabletop productions.
The studio’s involvement also hints at potential connections to their existing intellectual properties or at least a shared design philosophy. Awaken Realms games typically feature morally complex narratives, challenging gameplay systems, and richly detailed fantasy settings that draw inspiration from both classic literature and modern dark fantasy. Players familiar with their board game catalog will likely recognize similar DNA in Shards of Order’s aesthetic and tone.
Release Date and Platform Availability
Shards of Order is scheduled to launch on Steam on July 28, 2025, giving players the opportunity to dive into its dark fantasy world during the summer gaming season. The timing positions the game to capture attention during a typically quieter period for major releases, potentially allowing it to stand out among the summer offerings. Steam users interested in the title can already add it to their wishlists, ensuring they receive notifications when the game becomes available.
The decision to release on PC via Steam first follows a common pattern for indie and mid-tier developers, allowing them to build a community and gather feedback before potentially expanding to other platforms. Given Awaken Realms’ experience with community engagement through their Kickstarter campaigns, players can likely expect active developer communication and post-launch support. The combination of a dedicated indie studio and an experienced publisher with a passionate fanbase creates promising conditions for Shards of Order to find its audience among fans of strategic card-based gameplay and immersive dark fantasy narratives.
Expert Opinion: The deliberate positioning of Shards of Order away from the roguelike genre represents a smart market differentiation strategy. With the deckbuilder roguelike space becoming increasingly saturated, there’s growing demand for card-based games offering persistent progression and narrative depth. Awaken Realms’ track record in creating atmospheric experiences, combined with Fardust’s apparent commitment to traditional RPG elements, suggests this could be a standout title for players seeking strategic card combat without the repetitive nature of run-based gameplay.
