Safo and the Moon Warriors: Everything We Know

BitSummit 2023, Japan's highly anticipated celebration of game developers and development, just concluded. With it came exciting news, including a round-up of games launching this year. Oink Games' latest development, Safo and the Moon Warriors, is at the top of that list. 

Now, there's always something about video games and leveraging your emotions to enthrall you with their insidious tasks. And this upcoming title is no different. If adventure is your middle name, you need to look out for this one. 

But before it drops, let's peel back its layers and unravel whether it's a game worth your time and dime. Here’s everything we know about Safo and the Moon Warriors. 

What is Safo and the Moon Warriors?

To put things in perspective, Safo and the Moon Warriors is an adventure RPG, granting you the opportunity to be a hero. The game is a spiritual successor to Legendary Warriors, another impeccable title from Oink Games. The game's remarkable visual design was voted one of the App Store's Best of 2015. 

If this is your first time hearing about the game, let me fill you in. Legendary Warriors takes you on an enchanted journey through the world to restore the flame. Players pick a team of three characters and strategically send them into battle with a pool of enemies waiting to curtail their every move. Your objective is to restore light in a town covered in immense darkness.

Legendary Warriors shares a lot in common with its successor. For instance, its fleet of enemies will be making a return, as will the protagonists. However, a striking difference is that Safo and the Moon Warriors will not be a free-to-play title like its predecessor.

Story

There is something about the darkness that consistently headlines a litany of horrors for the protagonist to brave the quest before him. And, in sticking to its tradition of darkness, Oink Games uses this as a premise for its storyline. 

Here's how the storyline goes: Darkness ensues over this mystical world, leading to the rapture of one-eyed beasts known as the Argus. On one of these damned days, an Argus snatches Safino, a dear sister to Price Safo of the Sheep Tribe. As a young prince bestowed with the impossible task of rescuing his sister from an oversized flock of bird-like monsters, Safo defies all odds and possible logic to ensure his sister's safe return. 

From the developer's website, the game's description reads:

There was a world where, one day, the sun suddenly stopped rising. The people there were resolute, living their lives. Then, out of nowhere, one-eyed monsters began to appear all around the world. Even around Prince Safo of the Sheep Tribe, the sound of their approach draws near.

Embark on an adventure to rescue your kidnapped sister, Safino! Along the way, you will meet many companions with unique personalities.

Safino, along with her younger brother Safo, live on Rano Island. One day, while peacefully going about their lives, a large, bird-like [Argus] appeared and snatched Safino away. Now, all on his own, Safo readies himself to rise up and take back his older sister, Safino. As he chases after Safino and her Argus captors, the mysteries of the Argus begin to reveal themselves one after another.

Gameplay

Safo and the Moon Warriors aim to deliver a unique blend of freshness and nostalgia, immersing you in a mesmerizing world full of enigmas. Oink Games describes the gameplay as a gorgeous artwork that will unravel its tapestry through an epic tale. From the horse's mouth, “the gameplay [that] feels as if you are reading through a novel will bring out the curiosity within you.” We could see more of Legendary Warriors' gameplay mirrored in the upcoming title, granted that the game is stepping into its shoes, only with a different tale. 

What's clear so far is that players will have their hands full dealing with a boatload of enemies. The Argus are a nasty lot. Thankfully, you'll have many companions in equal measure to spruce things up; this includes the sturdy knight, Cervo, and the sharp-clawed Lupo. The highly-skilled archer Klavino, the nimble Lacertino, the slightly careless fortune-teller Pingveno…in addition to many other companions that make an appearance. The interweaving encounters and conversations during your journey will only add to the excitement of your adventure. The companions are not just there to make the journey bearable; you may need to use them in battle by leveraging their unique skills. Although the studio promises to deliver redesigned gameplay, the game still leans towards strategy play, as seen in Legendary Warriors. 

Furthermore, the townsfolk are also interesting characters to encounter. Although the developer doesn't unveil what unique trait they hold. 

Development

In a burst of exciting news, the developer has revealed plans for a Kickstarter Campaign to debut later this winter. Fortunately, adventure RPGs are not uncharted territory for the studio, as they've already proven their prowess with the critically acclaimed Legendary Warriors, which secured a spot in the top 10 RPGs across 30 countries. Adding to its accolades, the game received a nomination for Best Visual Design at the esteemed Kyoto Indie Game Festival. 

With this impressive track record fueling its momentum, we eagerly anticipate the captivating journey that Safo and the Moon Warriors will undoubtedly embark on.

Trailer

Oink Games unveiled the game's trailer during the BitSummit. The announcement trailer and screenshots provide a tantalizing sneak peek into the visually breathtaking game that lies ahead. If you're curious to see how this stunning adventure looks, you can check out the trailer in the video embedded above. 

Release Date, Platforms & Editions

In anticipation of the upcoming Kickstarter campaign, it's evident that Safo and the Moon Warriors is still in the early stages of development. Consequently, the exact date of its appearance on the storefront remains uncertain. 

Nevertheless, the studio has confirmed the game will launch on both the Nintendo Switch and Steam platforms.

As for the specific launch editions, the details are yet to be revealed, as it's too premature to ascertain.

If you find yourself on the edge of your seat with this game, stay connected with Oink Games' official social media feed to catch all the latest developments here. In the meantime, if anything remotely new releases, we'll be sure to rope you in on gaming.net.

So, what's your take? Will you be getting a copy of Safo and the Moon Warriors when it finally comes to Nintendo Switch? Let us know your thoughts on our socials here.