Note: All information is based on public records; features in the final release may vary.
DESERTER is an isometric stealth RPG developed and published by independent studio AskaLot Games.
The title is scheduled for a Q3 2026 launch on Steam and is currently available for wishlisting.
Setting and Lore Set in a world defined by total control and perpetual warfare, players step into the role of John Holden, a deserter trapped within a cursed, war-torn city.
Navigating streets teeming with marauders and smugglers, plague-ridden slums, and halls of power occupied by ruthless bureaucrats, players must rely on stealth and ingenuity to engineer their escape.
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The game features a secretive semi-open world that expands upon the universe established in the studio’s previous title, Gone Rogue, blending dark dystopian themes with elements of satire and black humor.
Core Gameplay Mechanics
- Deep Stealth Systems: Players can meticulously plan every heist and infiltration using lockpicks, grappling hooks, explosives, and environmental cover to discover hidden routes.
- Non-Lethal Strategy: The game incentivizes non-violent solutions, tasking players with overcoming obstacles through tactical environmental interaction rather than direct combat.
- High-Agency Character Progression: Featuring 8 mastery paths and nearly 100 unique skills and traits, the RPG systems allow players to specialize in distinct playstyles, such as the high-tech hacker or the elusive pickpocket.
- Dynamic Social Simulation: Citizens operate under complex daily AI routines; player agency is central, as individual actions directly impact the fate of residents and the city’s broader ecosystem.
- Non-Linear Narrative: The story utilizes a multi-ending structure where the final outcome is determined by the cumulative weight of the player’s choices throughout the campaign.
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