E3 2017: Klei’s Next Game Is A Sci-Fi RPG Called Griftlands

Developer Klei has a pretty strong track record: Don’t Starve, Mark of the Ninja, Invisible Inc., and the recently released Oxygen Not Included are all examples of Klei’s ability to take on a variety of genres and add their unique art style, sense of humor, and surprising difficulty. For Klei’s next release, they are taking on the RPG realm with a game called Griftlands.

There was no one on hand to talk about the game, so much of what we know about Griftlands is just what we can interpret from the short trailer. It is a sci-fi RPG, and looks like it has somewhat of a western/steampunk aesthetic. Here is the trailer, and then we can break down what to expect from the game:

The aspect that immediately stands out, like with many Klei games, is the charming art style. Griftlands looks like it is hand drawn, with bright colors and character models that seem to pop off the backgrounds. The animation looks fantastic, and both the soundtrack and sound design seem like they are going to be strong. It looks like it will feature turn based battles, a stylish overworld map, and plenty of RPG conversations. The trailer ends with the following words: “charm, fight, negotiate, cheat, explore, steal, profit.” It ends with a release window: Late 2017/Early 2018.

Obviously, details are scarce, but Klei has built up a considerable reputation, and Griftlands looks like it will be yet another bright spot in their catalog. A sci-fi RPG that looks this pretty is one to keep an eye on. Stay tuned to the Nerd Stash, and we will publish more details on Griftlands as they become available.

What do you think of the trailer for Griftlands? What most do you want to see from Klei’s sci-fi RPG? Let us know in the comments below.