THQ Nordic has announced The Valiant, a new RTS set during the 13th century developed by Kite Games. It is, naturally, coming to PC but also console, too, on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S systems. The Valiant focuses on smaller forces, tactical combat, and RPG-style heroes, with traditional strategy mechanics such as base building pushed to the side. In short: it sounds like Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 2 but for historic knights.
The Valiant features a “sweeping” single-player story campaign comprising 15 missions that sees protagonist Theoderich take up arms to stop Ulrich, his former brother-in-arms who is terrorizing Europe and the Holy Land with on a crusade to find the missing pieces of Aaron’s rod, an ancient relic. You will choose which units to take into each mission, and assign skills and equipment for heroes. Then, on the battlefield, fast-paced melee-centric combat will provide brutal and bloody battles.
As for multiplayer, there are both co-operate PvE and PvP options. PvP offers 1v1 and 2v2 scenarios based on control points. Co-op, meanwhile, sees up to three friends attempt to survive in a Last Man Standing mode as waves of enemies, including mini-bosses and bosses, storm your defenses. It sounds a lot like Dawn of War 2’s The Last Stand mode, as if The Valiant wasn’t already looking much like one of the best strategy games of all time.
For more, you can check out the game on Steam, GOG, or the Epic Games Store, as well as in the CGI and gameplay trailers above. So far, no release date has been announced.
If smaller-scale, tactical games are your jam, then check out our pick of the best tactics RPGs.
Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Features Editor.