Another strategy game, Annulus, is on the way to us all, and we have a little bit of a playtest for Annulus coming as well
If you are in need of a new tactical strategy title that’s set in a dark fantasy world, you’re in luck, as we have Annulus on the way to us all for the PC. Not that we haven’t had many of these to play around with in the past number of years, but this time it’s NIRVANA‘s turn to take a swing at it all. Not the band, but the game developer who is trying to build a big world out there with Annulus and try to give us all something we might not have seen before in the gaming space. That all said, let’s have a look at the little bit that we do for the game to see if it is going to stand out from the other titles in the same structure as it is.
Just like many other titles like Annulus, we are going to be jumping into the role of a mercenary captain who has set out to dominate the lands. To do this, they collect and train other mercenaries along the way, while also making sure the armory is fully stocked, and they have all of the resources needed to move onto the next battle. This goes over and over, in the various maps and multi-path narrative story we will find ourselves in while playing Annulus. One that will also have us facing off with various Lovecraftian-inspired beings out there, along with other dark fantasy creatures we normally expect. Throw in a bit of dynamic weather and a character mutation system, and we have something that rounds out to be a full experience. One that we will be able to playtest on Steam from January 26th to the 30th, which will be nice, as the following video doesn’t give us a good feel for what the gameplay will be. Just a solid look at the world we’ll step into.
Annulus — Announcement
Annulus is a dark-fantasy tactical strategy game, inspired by medieval knightly warfare. Blending dark fantasy elements with an epic, grand-scale worldbuilding approach—and powered by the stunning visual capabilities of Unreal—it delivers a breathtaking visual experience.
In the game, you take on the role of a mercenary captain, collecting and training mercenaries, weapons, and various resources, each with their own unique traits. Build your own mercenary legion and battle across the turbulent continent of Novisess—for survival, for glory, and to break free from the fate imposed by the world’s rules. The battle is endless
- Dark Aesthetics · Crafting a Grand Fantasy Epic — Inspired by the gritty, hard-edged warfare of the medieval era and infused with classic Lovecraftian visual elements, the game delivers a distinct dark-fantasy tactical experience. Built with Unreal Engine and enhanced by cinematic narrative CGs, it presents a sweeping, dramatic storyline that immerses players in an age of clashing steel, turmoil, and shadowed darkness.
- Character Mutation · Multi-Form Evolution — As mercenaries level up and advance, their forms, attributes, and skills evolve accordingly. Several main characters even gain entirely new forms—shaped by their narrative backgrounds—featuring striking designs and powerful visual impact. These evolutions unlock more elaborate skill effects, while their exclusive “character auras” further challenge players to master formation strategy and maximize overall team strength.
- Build Your Legion · Deploy Diverse Weapons & Units — Across the turbulent continent of Novisess, the three major races—Orcs, Elves, and Humans—have given rise to countless uniquely designed mercenaries. Through flexible combinations of inscriptions, classes, weapon skills, and more, players can develop a variety of specialized playstyles such as collision, knockback, tanking, decay, and others. Recruit and train distinctive mercenaries, then adapt your unit compositions and skill synergies to meet different battlefield needs and secure victory.
- Dynamic Battlefields · Evolving Strategic Challenges — Players will encounter a variety of combat effects triggered by random weather and elemental interactions. Terrain, day–night cycles, vegetation, and other environmental details directly influence mercenary performance on the battlefield. Meanwhile, the “Contamination Value” system adds impactful buffs and debuffs, enhancing immersion and unpredictability—putting players’ tactical decision-making to an entirely new test.
- Adventure & Exploration · Multi-Path Narrative Journeys — Beyond the grand and far-reaching main storyline, the game offers a web of intricate side tales. Every choice you make can shift the direction of the narrative—and may even trigger entirely new “battle events,” deepening the medieval fantasy immersion. The world map is filled with exploration points where you can dispatch your squads: venture into eerie forests, traverse treacherous mountain passes, and overcome life-or-death trials. Countless rare resources across the continent await the fearless mercenaries who dare to claim them.
- Visuals & Audio · Every Detail Crafted with Precision — From grand, atmospheric environments to realistic weather effects and subtle lighting across every map, the visuals have undergone multiple rounds of refinement to bring a rich medieval world to life. All in-game music, sound effects, and voiceovers are originally composed and produced by a professional audio team. Every detail has been carefully polished so you can fully immerse yourself in your journey across Noviseth and enjoy the best gameplay experience possible.
Do you feel like you’ve seen the game that Annulus is trying to be before? How will this one stand out from the many others in the same design? Does Lovecraftian just mean massive and with tentacles to keep to the inspired part? How many paths will there be for us to go down in the narrative, and will they truly feel different as we go? Let’s talk all about that in the comments below. Annulus is still in the early steps of things, so as more of the game drops, we’ll try to update you all. Just watch the site and follow all of our socials to make sure you catch those drops as they come. You won’t want to miss a single one, I’m sure of it.