Independent game studio Fardust, in partnership with publisher Awaken Realms, has released a captivating new trailer for their upcoming title Shards of Order while simultaneously addressing ongoing community debates about the game’s genre classification. In a surprising move that has caught the attention of RPG enthusiasts worldwide, the developers have firmly stated that despite featuring a card-based combat system, their project is definitively not a roguelike — a distinction that sets it apart from the countless deck-building roguelites that have flooded the market in recent years.
Breaking Away from Roguelike Conventions
The gaming industry has witnessed an explosion of card-based roguelikes following the massive success of titles like Slay the Spire and Monster Train. These games typically feature procedurally generated runs, permadeath mechanics, and incremental unlocks that encourage repeated playthroughs. However, Fardust is deliberately charting a different course with Shards of Order, opting instead for a more traditional RPG experience that happens to utilize cards as its primary combat mechanism. This approach harkens back to classic RPG design philosophy where narrative progression and character development take precedence over randomized encounters and starting fresh after each defeat.
The decision to clarify the game’s genre comes at a time when players have become increasingly vocal about genre fatigue, particularly regarding the oversaturation of roguelike elements in indie games. By positioning Shards of Order as a pure RPG experience, Fardust appears to be targeting an audience that appreciates strategic card gameplay but desires a more cohesive, story-driven adventure without the repetitive loop structure that defines the roguelike genre.
Awaken Realms: A Publisher with Pedigree
The involvement of Awaken Realms as publisher brings significant credibility to the project. Originally established as a board game company in Poland, Awaken Realms has earned a stellar reputation for producing high-quality tabletop experiences with deep narrative elements and stunning artwork. Their most celebrated titles include Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon and ISS Vanguard, both of which raised millions of dollars through crowdfunding campaigns and received critical acclaim for their immersive storytelling and production values. The publisher’s expansion into video game publishing represents a natural evolution, leveraging their expertise in creating atmospheric, story-rich gaming experiences.
Shards of Order benefits directly from Awaken Realms’ artistic sensibilities, featuring a distinctively dark and moody visual style that permeates every aspect of the game’s presentation. The new trailer showcases intricate card artwork, atmospheric environments, and a tone that suggests players will be venturing into a world where danger lurks around every corner and moral choices carry significant weight.
What Players Can Expect
Based on available information, Shards of Order promises to deliver a substantial single-player RPG experience where players will build their deck throughout their journey, acquiring new cards through exploration, combat victories, and narrative choices rather than random drops between runs. This structure allows for more intentional deck construction and creates a sense of permanent progression that roguelike fans often miss in their favorite games. The combat system appears to blend tactical depth with accessibility, requiring players to carefully consider card synergies and enemy patterns while maintaining an engaging flow that doesn’t bog down in excessive complexity.
The July 28th release date positions the game for a summer launch on Steam, giving players something substantial to dive into during the traditionally slower months for major releases. As anticipation builds, the gaming community will be watching closely to see whether Shards of Order can successfully carve out its own identity in an increasingly crowded card-game marketplace while delivering the rich RPG experience its developers have promised.
Expert Opinion: The strategic decision by Fardust to explicitly distance Shards of Order from the roguelike genre reflects a growing market opportunity for card-based games that offer traditional RPG progression systems. With Awaken Realms’ proven track record in narrative-driven gaming experiences and the clear genre fatigue among players, this title could potentially capture an underserved audience segment that values strategic card combat without the repetitive loop structures that have dominated the indie scene for the past five years.
