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Half-Sword is a highly realistic simulation that throws you right into fights to the death, set in the dark ages. Go on and equip your sword - or another beautifully lethal tool to mutilate your opponent. Take full control of your character's arm movement, no matter if you are using a gamepad or your mouse. Fight to win - or die and be forgotten! After being ragdolled around like a wimp, of course. Alternatively, you could enjoy the Unreal Engine 5 based physically correct simulated ragdoll locomotion you inflict on your opponent - which quite probably is the preferred option for any player. We are history nerds across the board. Therefore, we strive to achieve a maximum of historical accuracy. Every single part, every weapon, and every item in the game is curated rigorously and zealously. In order to create a truly realistic experience, we work with and rely on practitioners of Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA). This is no pop culture wannabe combat. THIS... IS... HALF-SWORD! In short: If you are excited about merciless medieval battles, and you want to play a game that simulates those in a down to earth kind of way... Half-Sword is exactly what you always wanted!
The general gameplay concept is designed in a way to make Half Sword easy to learn but hard to master. By means of mouse control, weapon handling is immensely precise. At the same time, we aim to achieve that you can practically feel the intensity of each strike and every impact.
Currently, we are planning a release in late 2025, very likely in early access. As predictions are hard when it comes to developing games, delays and postponements can never fully be ruled out. A demo version of Half Sword is already available to interested players on Steam.
This is a violent, brutal and bloody hack 'n' slash game - so obviously not meant to be played by kids. If you have no issues with dismemberment, flying heads, and blood (so much that we even employ a Chief Blood Officer), Half Sword will quite likely be in good hands with you.
Hard to say. First and foremost, none of us personally experienced the 15th century. However, we expect a good mix of historically correct battle physics - in order to achieve that, we work with experts for Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) - and just plain old fun of playing a game!
You take part in arena battles within tournaments. Each player's target is, of course, to survive and win these battles. Each movement counts and a dynamic combat system offers you many possibilities. Earn fame and fortune - or end up as a corpse on the arena floor.
The difficulty depends on your own skills and abilities, as well as your chosen (and available) weapons and armor. Ideally, you will eventually find the right mix and the fitting gameplay elements that will allow you to be successful against increasingly difficult enemies.
Successfully contested battles enable you to purchase better equipment, which might suit your playstyle (even) better - and if the price money isn't enough, you can also place bets on yourself. The PC release of Half Sword is planned on Steam and in the Epic Games Store.
Half-Sword’s controls are easy to pick up but tough to master, making for a deeply satisfying experience. The game is action-packed, with fights that are short, intense, and decisive—if you get hit hard, you’ll feel it. Both mouse/keyboard and gamepad controls are fully supported, so relaxing on the couch is welcome. Local multiplayer is available in Early Access, perfect for inviting friends for fierce, fast duels on the same screen.
The central hub of the game is the tavern, where you go to rest and heal. Doing business and trading with the locals, telling stories, drinking beer - the tavern is a place for conversation and contemplation. Meet the innkeper, the armorsmith, the jester, the seer, the fencer, the merchant, and of course, other mercenaries. Get patched up, learn new skills, purchase equimpment, improve your armor, and even bet on fights.
Starting Half-Sword, you're a nobody. It takes time and effort to learn skills, improve, and become battle-hardened while acquiring the right weapons and armor. You'll earn merit and money by winning, unlocking a vast array of gear to fit your playstyle. The journey is about struggling to get better and the reward of mastering the game. Experiment with different weapons and techniques like parrying, grappling, or kicking to develop your unique fighting style and win battles.
Wins boost your reputation, unlocking better gear through purchase or crafting—and even requests for help. Your battle behavior shapes your fame: ruthless killers become infamous with less mercy from foes, while honorable players gain respect and goodwill. Fear or trust—your choice.
Half-Sword offers a variety of armor and medieval weapons tailored to your playstyle. Heavy armor slows you down but offers great protection, while every weapon part is customizable to make your gear uniquely yours. If you have the coin, crafted masterpieces await.
Time for some fun numbers! Half-Sword is hugely popular with 1.6 million wishlists on Steam, ranking 16th among the most wanted games. The demo has been played by 4.2 million unique gamers, averaging 160,000 daily, plus 1.5 million during playtests. YouTube videos about the game have over 185 million views, TikTok hits 730 million views, and Twitch peaked near 80,000 viewers. With 100,000+ active Discord members, it’s a lively community worth joining!
The developing studio of Half-Sword, appropriately dubbed Half Sword Games, has formed in 2024 in Georgia (the country, not the US state!), and consists of 10 people that are currently working on the game. Members of the studio can be found all over the world, in Sweden, India, the Netherlands, the US, the UK, or Argentina. We all share the belief that a historically accurate fighting sim is just what the world needs. The publisher of Half-Sword, Game Seer Publishing, is an independent label of 4 people based in Sweden, France, Switzerland, and the US. It is their debut title as well, and they support the developers wholeheartedly. We all want Half-Sword to be successful - and that means doing everything in our power to make sure that you, the players, have lots of fun playing our game! Fight, bleed, murder, maim, and enjoy the hell out of it!
