Fable creator releases free RPG 'because everyone is poor and stressed'

The co-creator of Fable and developer of Dungeon Keeper has added a brand-new Ultima-inspired roguelike RPG to Steam and it’s completely free.

Dene Carter is the brains behind the new the “dark-fantasy, turn-based, retro-fusion of classic turn-based RPGs and roguelikes” Moonring. Set 500 years ago in the land of Caldera which was once shrouded in endless darkness, five moons appeared in the sky and brought light back to the world as well as some strange Gods. With them they brought Dreams which would bestow supernatural gifts to Devotion. Now Caldera is a land of Devotion and Dreamers run by the Archon, the God’s representative. However, unlike their Gods, the Archon is not immortal, and a successor must be found. You take on the role of a Dreamer who is free to choose your own destiny, even if that means becoming the next Archon.

Check out the Moonring trailer below!

"Travel, trade, sneak, fight and sail the world of Caldera," reads the Steam synopsis. "Speak with the townsfolk, learn Caldera's secrets, and challenge the Archon for his throne... or even overthrow the Gods themselves!". Explore procedurally generated dungeons, take part in ship-to-ship combat and go head-to-head with over 100 enemies through access of a “hidden” magic system.

Carter’s reasoning behind creating the game was to bring the spotlight back to video games in this genre. "This is my love-letter to a style of gaming that has largely fallen out of fashion," he explains. "The days I spent playing these games were spent in joyful exploration and discovery, venturing into the dark unknown, a co-author of the experience, filling in the gaps left by the primitive art with my imagination. For those of you who did the same, I hope Moonring recaptures some of the spirit of those days for you. For those who did not, I hope that the more modern conveniences you find in this game allow you to catch a glimpse of what we did 40 years ago."

As to why Carter has decided to make Moonring free, he said, "Life is hard, Covid sucked, everyone's poor and stressed, I don't need the $300 this would make me: I'd rather take the goodwill."