by theygamesWhen is the Windblown release date? This delightful action roguelike from the creators of Dead Cells was announced at The Game Awards 2023, and immediately stole our attention with its fast-paced combat and colorful cartoon violence. We already know a fair bit about what to expect, so let’s dig into all the latest news and trailers.
For those unfamiliar with Dead Cells, Windblown takes on a similar vibrant aesthetic – but instead of a 2D platform game, Windblown is a 3D top-down action roguelike that still features the satisfying combat and lightning-fast action that we loved in Dead Cells. Motion Twin describes it as “what happens when a rogue-like game guzzles a whole lot of energy drinks, hits the gym, and wears treadmills on its feet.” If that sounds right up your alley, here’s the latest news surrounding the Windblown early access release date.
Windblown release date estimate
Windblown is due to launch into early access in 2024, as confirmed by developer Motion Twin in the announcement trailer. The latest playtest indicates that Windblown is currently in alpha, and we expect it to launch in Q4 2024 following its beta period.
A June 2024 community update also reiterated that Windblown would enter into Steam Early Access “later this year.” The studio expects the indie game to remain in early access for “a minimum of one year” to “bring the game to where we want it to be.”
The Windblown closed alpha playtest was announced in February 2024. While the playtest cohort is small in scope, Motion Twin has stated that the feedback will help the team “understand what’s working and what’s not” as they draft in more players. Eager fans can sign up for the official newsletter to receive an invitation to future playtests once Windblown moves into a beta state.
Motion Twin has confirmed that Windblown will receive a price increase once it leaves early access. However, it may also apply a slight increase prior to this date “if we feel we have brought significant content and value to your experience.”
Windblown will be available on PC via Steam for its early access period, though it’s highly likely that it will also arrive on consoles at the same time as its full release, just like Dead Cells.
Windblown trailers
The Windblown announcement trailer introduces a trio of cute anthropomorphic characters having a snooze during a lesson in the art of combat. They’re handed weapons, and off they gleefully charge – only to meet a bloody demise.
However, all is not lost. This is a roguelike, after all, and so the trio start off again – only this time, they have a device strapped to their back that allows them to dash through enemies and reach high places. The trailer culminates with a dramatic showdown against a powerful automaton boss standing in their way. It makes mincemeat out of two of our heroes, but the lone survivor communes with a mystical animal spirit that grants them the power to take it out and avenge their fallen pals.
The Windblown gameplay trailer dispenses with the cartoon animation entirely to focus on in-game combat and traversal. In these few minutes, we see our favorite punk axolotl taking on various robotic enemies across a range of different biomes, from blood-red forests to the broken bow of a pirate ship. Between each run, our axolotl hones their skills via a training dummy back on the Ark until they’re ready to team up in a Leaper squad and reduce a boss to scrap metal.
Windblown gameplay
While the trailers released so far only offer a brief taste of moment-to-moment gameplay, PCGamesN caught up with Motion Twin developers for a Windblown preview that delves into what we can expect in each run, including story, maps, and mechanics. We also find out how Windblown handles as a dedicated multiplayer game.
Windblown is set on The Ark, a floating village that orbits around a deadly Vortex – one that’s about to come crashing right into you. Of course, that doesn’t sound very nice, so it’s your job as a Leaper to take on the Vortex Sentinels and save your home. Motion Twin says it’s looking at building a “connection to the world” following player feedback, so that players can understand “why they should care” about the world they’re saving.
You can even retrieve and master the skills and abilities of the warriors that have fallen before you. By unlocking memories, you’ll be able to craft better, more complex weapons to fight enemies. Each weapon type suits a different playstyle, with unique ‘Alter’ attacks that function as explosive finishers to successful combos. This combat depth should easily sustain players across endless runs, and we expect Motion Twin to introduce even more weapons in early access.
In the August 2024 dev log, Motion Twin revealed that a gifting system had been added to the game. These ‘Hexed Gifts’ are upgrades that “give you powerful buffs, at the cost of something else.” Apparently, they’re slightly more sophisticated than your standard ‘deal more damage but take more damage’ trade-off, so we’re keen to see how it materializes. The devs also say “gifts can basically turn you into a god,” which sounds right up our power fantasy alley.
Windblown also includes online co-op that supports up to three players, so you can choose to go at it alone or team up with friends. “We wanted a fast-paced game that was playable with friends,” Motion Twin said in the game’s May 2024 dev log. “Looking at the current market, there wasn’t something that ticked both of those boxes, and we felt this was our opportunity to create something unique.”
Motion Twin has confirmed that the initial early access build includes five biomes and four main weapons, with plans to expand this scope as development continues. You can see what Motion Twin has cooking over on the official website.
That’s everything there is to know surrounding the Windblown release date so far, but be sure to check back regularly to catch up with all the latest dev logs and community updates. In the meantime, check out our top picks for the best roguelike games, as well as all the other upcoming games we’ve marked on our calendar this year.