Bladesong Playtest: Deep Dark Fantasy Swordcrafting

If you’ve ever spent hours fine-tuning a weapon’s look, weight and balance in an RPG, Bladesong’s public playtest might be your next obsession. German indie studio SUN AND SERPENT, backed by publisher Mythwright, opened its dark fantasy swordmaking sim to players from June 26 to July 10—and for anyone craving a deeper forging experience, this is a rare treat.

Playtest Overview

• Developer: SUN AND SERPENT (ex-Moon Studios & Ninja Theory talent)
• Publisher: Mythwright
• Playtest Dates: June 26–July 10
• Platform: Windows PC (Steam)
• Release Window: 2025 (PC)
• Genres: Swordmaking Sim, RPG, Dark Fantasy, Creative

Campaign Mode: Story-Driven Smithing

Factual: Campaign Mode shifts beyond a freeform workshop into the grim realm of Eren Keep, a city teetering on ruin. Players follow a dark fantasy narrative, forging blades that carry weight in both story and combat.

Opinion: The mood recalls the oppressive beauty of Dark Souls or Moon Studios’ moody worlds. If you’ve grown tired of mindless loot grinding, this narrative focus gives each sword a reason to exist beyond raw stats.

Creative Mode: Customization Unleashed

Factual: Creative Mode strips away story constraints, offering granular control over blade shape, weight distribution, engravings and rune placement. The playtest promises modular forging tools and real-time feedback on balance.

Opinion: Crafting sims often devolve into button mashing—here’s hoping Bladesong’s systems feel as tactile as they look. With devs who built Ori and Hellblade, there’s genuine potential for a hands-on, artful experience rather than mere busywork.

Community Feedback and Development Goals

Factual: SUN AND SERPENT is soliciting player feedback during this playtest, intending to iterate on forging mechanics and narrative pacing before launch.

Opinion: An indie studio opening its doors for honest critique stands out in an age of half-finished live-service launches. If the team commits to meaningful updates based on tester input, Bladesong could dodge the pitfalls of bigger, bloat-prone RPGs.

Why Bladesong Matters

Factual: Recent AAA titles have reduced crafting to RNG loot drops or superficial upgrades. Bladesong aims to restore the emotional connection between player and weapon.

Opinion: Fans still talk about crafting their first dragonbone sword in Skyrim or feeling proud of a perfect pierce blade in Monster Hunter. Bladesong has a chance to reignite that “I made this” thrill, turning smithing into an art form rather than a side hobby.

Next Steps for Aspiring Smiths

Ready to shape the future of swordcrafting in games? Join the Bladesong public playtest on Steam before July 10. Your feedback could directly influence the final release, and if you’ve been disappointed by shallow loot systems, this is one playtest you won’t want to miss.