Hardlane Studio and publisher Inner Pocket released Outcast Tales as a free-to-play title on Steam Monday, Oct. 26. The developer describes the game as a story-driven, party-based roleplaying experience set in a post-apocalyptic frontier, where character personalities can be as consequential as class and abilities in both exploration and combat.
What the game is
Outcast Tales places players in control of a three-person crew drawn from a roster of wasteland survivors. Combat is turn-based and tactical; outside fights, players navigate scripted encounters in a ruined landscape, make decisions that shape the story, and manage the social dynamics within their party. The game’s systems let players assign personality types to each character—examples mentioned by the developer include Pacifist and Technomancer—which can affect how characters respond to events and to one another.
- Platform: PC via Steam (free-to-play)
- Combat: turn-based tactical encounters
- Party size: three characters per crew, personalities influence outcomes
Hardlane Studio and Inner Pocket published a gameplay overview trailer alongside the Steam page to show how party composition and personality can open different solutions to challenges or trigger conflict within the group. The studio highlights upgradeable skills and synergy effects tied to different party combinations as key mechanical elements that influence battles.
Design emphasis and player choices
The developer frames interpersonal drama as a central gameplay factor. According to the Steam description, conversations and decisions can escalate into combat when a party member says the wrong thing, and party members may not always support each other when fights begin. The game aims to tie narrative outcomes directly to in-party relationships as well as to tactical choices.
Players interested in trying Outcast Tales can access the Steam store page to download and play at no cost. The announcement and storefront provide the gameplay trailer and the developer’s summary of core features.
