Threads of War News

Today we're releasing the demo version of our game!

Threads of War merges Battle City mechanics with rogue-lite progression. The game, styled in Ukrainian embroidery, allows players to experience the liberation of Ukrainian cities during the first year of the full-scale war and can be played solo or in co-op.

The demo version will demonstrate all these features. You'll be able to evaluate the modernized Battle City mechanics, the roguelite progression, and the game's styling (while the screenshots may seem very striking, you'll see how quickly you can get used to the patterns in the demo), as well as the journey of liberating Ukrainian cities in 2022, and the option to play the game in co-op.

For those who enjoy experimenting, we have created an editor where you can create a unique location and play on it.



Here are the quantitative details of the demo version: players will be able to liberate 5 out of the planned 14 regions: Hostomel, Kyiv, Chernihiv, Sumy, and Kharkiv. There will be three types of enemy tanks, one boss, one music track, and a sufficient number of active and passive bonuses to evaluate the game mechanics.

The game features different levels of difficulty, each distinguished by the presence of new and interesting rules. To fully complete the game, all regions must be liberated across 10 difficulty levels, with each subsequent level unlocking after completing the previous one. The first three levels will be available in the demo version.

Overall, our game focuses less on reaction or accuracy and more on the ability to choose priorities correctly.



For example, you see a nearby bonus on the map that can give you an extra shield. If not collected within five seconds, it will disappear. Meanwhile, an enemy command tank passes by, which, if destroyed, can provide a temporary powerful boost. You also notice a slow, but fortified enemy approaching your headquarters. You need to quickly decide the order in which to act.

My son and I spent considerable time on prototyping and fine-tuning the game's feel, and we believe we have successfully captured that essence.

However, we would love to receive feedback from players about their experience—what they enjoy and what could be improved. This feedback will help us refine the gameplay and release a more polished game. Please leave your comments on the Steam forum.

[h2]For Youtubers[/h2]
To make it easier for you to create images for videos, we have compiled a set of game graphics in one folder: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/sxp5qnbfbj1se0s40cgbt/h?rlkey=2yt7zbwpvtib4azp5eoghecub&dl=0

I'm Andriy Kostiushko, the director of Creoteam and game designer of Football, Tactics & Glory. Today I want to announce Threads of War.

Threads of War is a game that combines the mechanics of Battle City with roguelite progression. The game is designed in the style of Ukrainian embroidery. It allows players to experience the liberation of Ukrainian cities in the first year of the full-scale war, playable both solo and in co-op.



We have been working on the game for almost a year now, just the two of us—my 11-year-old son and I, in our spare time. I handle the game design, draw the graphics, and compose the music, while my son does the programming. We plan to release the game in late fall of 2024. The price of the game will be announced closer to the release date.

The gameplay can be seen in the trailer, created from the working version of the game, which will soon be released as a demo:

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
[h3]Game Features:[/h3]

• Combining Battle City with rogue-lite progression.
  
• Single and Cooperative play (hot seat).
  
• Every game element is created in the style of Ukrainian embroidery.
  
• The opportunity to take part in liberating Ukrainian cities in the first year of the full-scale war.
  
• Reimagined and modernised Battle City mechanics, including added "boss" mechanics.
  
• Ukrainian folk music in 8-bit style.
  

If you like the idea - add it to your wishlist!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2917630/Threads_of_War/

[h3]More about the game:[/h3]
Embroidery is part of the Ukrainian cultural code. The patterns on the embroidery serve as talismans that provide strength and inspiration in our country's defence against dark forces. This metaphor is the basis of the visual style.



The player begins in Hostomel (where the world's largest aircraft, "Mriya," was destroyed), continues in Kyiv, liberates a series of other cities, and concludes with the final "boss" of 2022: the battle for Kherson. Between cities, the player will choose bonuses that affect their gameplay style. Levels will become more challenging, and occasionally players will need to fight mini-bosses (levels with unique rules, for example, enemy drones that limit the character's movement area; to stop the drones from interfering, the enemy headquarters must be destroyed).

Character death leads to defeat. However, players will gain experience and unlock new bonuses that appear between battles. This symbolizes both the death of every warrior who did not live to see their victory and the ability of the Ukrainian army to grow and learn from their mistakes.

In co-op mode, two players can go through the campaign on the same screen. They will try to overcome enemies together, but can also tease each other by picking up improvements and ammunition right before their companion's eyes. The player who scores more points on a level will be the first to choose a bonus before the next level, motivating players to fight better.

The music will feature Ukrainian folk melodies reimagined in chiptune style. But it's not just a simple translation of notes into 8-bit sounds, but an attempt to convey the anxiety of the first year of the full-scale war, the roar of a tank column, and the unleashing of Ukrainians’ inner strength using the instruments and music techniques popular during the original Battle City's heyday.

[h3]About Developers:[/h3]
I, Andriy Kostiushko has been developing games for 18 years already and am known for designing successful turn-based football management strategy game Football, Tactics & Glory which has an 88% rating out of ~3500 reviews.

Askold Kostiushko is a programmer of the game who wrote 100% of the game’s code. He started learning programming at the age of 5, and before Threads of War, he already has released several amateurish games on itch.io.

Despite the programmer's young age, the demo version, set to release in 1-2 weeks, will demonstrate the stability and good quality of the future game. This is evident in the game trailer, which shows real gameplay from the working version.

25% of the developer's profit will be donated to support our armed forces.