Lorded for its unique gimmick in which players could summon almost any object they could think of, Scribblenauts has managed to carve itself a cult-following online since launching on the Nintendo DS back in 2009, spawning several sequels over the years. It seems the studio behind the franchise, 5th Cell, is ready to move on from the emergent puzzle series in pursuit of something new, announcing today that it has launched an early-access project known as Castlehold.

Castlehold is a competitive strategy game that focuses on a system known as "Active Resource Control" (or ARC for short). Players have to build an army of soldiers and lead them in tactical battles, with a new trailer for the game promising fast-paced fights and simple to pick up but difficult to master combat. The early access title is available to purchase right now on Steam.

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5th Cell's trailer for the game proposes a simple concept. Each side has a castle on opposing ends of a tile-based battlefield, with the main aim being for the player to take control of their opponent's fort. However, getting to the castle won't be easy, as players must push forward and claim village tiles to ramp up how many soldier units they can produce. The trailer teases that the basic concept leads to a myriad of tough tactical choices, whether that's defending villages, opting to retreat, or playing more aggressively.

As for units themselves, it seems Castlehold will let players assemble an army of unique soldiers. A variety of units can be recruited from the barracks with currency earned through playing matches, while they'll also be able to acquire troops from a cycling daily rota. It seems these soldiers will vary in appearance and skill-level, with units also being classed based on how rare they are to find. It looks to be a system similar in style to games like XCOM, where players are encouraged to grow attached to their roster of unique units.

For those wanting a little information on the story of Castlehold, the game takes place in a world where space and time have collapsed, with the past, the present, and the future all blending into one. The event also bestowed supernatural powers upon survivors, with many using their new gifts to reign like gods over the new world. Castlehold will see players assemble their own armies to fight back against these corrupt oppressors. With the game currently in early access, it seems wise to imagine it will evolve over time, although 5th Cell hasn't announced plans for the future just yet.

Castlehold is out now on PC.

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Source: Steam