Steam lands free slice of 'masterpiece' RPG branded 'phenomenal' by players

Looking ahead to 2027, it’s titles like Fable, God of War: Laufey, Exodus, Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis, Pokémon Winds and Waves, and Final Fantasy VII Revelation that may be among your most anticipated.

By all accounts, however, it’s an RPG by the name of At Fate’s End that should be on your radar.

This indie offering from Thunder Lotus is set to launch on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S next year having been delayed out of 2026.

To cushion the blow of its delay though, a free demo for the game has now landed on Steam and it’s already been branded a “masterpiece” and “phenomenal” by players.

It should take you around 90 minutes to two hours to work through this early slice of the game.

“It's a f**king masterpiece. These devs are insanely good at executing a vision they have in mind. I really hope this game sells well so it justifies becoming a strong IP, all the set pieces are there,” one player declared.

“The presentation is phenomenal,” another declared, while someone wrote, "I have not been this excited for a game in a very, very long time.”

At Fate’s End is from the studio that brought you the excellent Spiritfarer

Thunder Lotus

Within At Fate’s End, you’ll step into the shoes of Shan, the young heiress of the Hemlock clan who wields the legendary God Sword known as Aesus.

Thunder Lotus describes the title as “a lush, hand-crafted fantasy” adventure where you’ll defeat “foul creatures”, solve puzzles, and hone your blade skills.

It looks as if you’re in pursuit of estranged siblings, with the story centring around “intense, emotional duels” that will “ultimately decide your family’s fate”.

For each sibling you encounter - and this is a sprawling clan - you can either reconcile or fight, with your choice shaping what comes next.

There are seven swords of power in total to acquire, so I wonder if that means you’re pursuing seven siblings.

“Your blade may cut deep, but your journey will demand more than combat prowess. Shape confrontations through tactical dialogue and psychological insight, using your deep knowledge of your family’s secrets to gain the upper hand,” devs tease.

The game looks to be beautifully animated. It’s 2D and played from a side-scrolling perspective.

While it’s not something there’s a ton of information on at this stage, trailers and gameplay screenshots also suggest that gameplay incorporates some deckbuilding elements.

READ MORE: 15 of the most exciting AAA games scheduled for release in 2027

“Let’s get the potentially disappointing news out of the way first: we’re pushing back At Fate’s End release to 2027,” began the recent announcement confirming the game’s delay.

“We’ve made so much progress on the game since its 2025 reveal but it needs a little more love and care to ensure its release is as smooth as possible.

“We’ll let y’all know a more precise date once we have all our ducks in a row. The team is very impatient to get At Fate’s End in your hands and we promise it’ll be worth the wait! Thanks for your understanding!”

It’s hard to be surprised by At Fate’s End’s early positive reception; developer Thunder Lotus previously released the acclaimed Spiritfarer.

The demo is currently sitting at a ‘Very Positive’ rating of 91%, correct at the time of writing, which certainly bodes well for At Fate’s End’s 2027 launch.