After two years of hex-by-hex battlefields, bloodshed, and fan-fueled evolution, Shields of Loyalty is preparing for its final deployment. On August 12, Mosaic Mask Studio’s grimdark turn-based tactics game officially exits Early Access, stepping into its full 1.0 release on Steam. Equal parts love letter to classic wargames and modern strategy showcase, this dark fantasy war chronicle brings its vision of ruthless, grid-bound combat into sharp, deadly focus.
Developed by a small team in Germany and published by indie.io, Shields of Loyalty invites players back to Mantaria, a world where undead hordes roam, ancient magic seethes beneath the sands, and every battle demands more than brute force. The full release marks a milestone for a game that’s already captured a niche but devoted following, one shaped by constant community feedback, balance tweaks, and a shared obsession with tactical perfection, according to a press release.
At launch, players will command over 160 units from across Mantaria’s fractured factions—each with bespoke stats, abilities, and battlefield roles. Some hover above the fray with flight-based mobility. Others disrupt enemy morale, rain elemental chaos, or slip into shadow to strike from the dark. The range is staggering, but Shields of Loyalty isn’t about collecting—it’s about crafting the perfect formation, where every placement on the hex-grid counts, every passive matters, and every decision is a gamble between glory and annihilation.
Factions like the stalwart Empire, the barbaric Warlords, and the spellbound Highpriests offer drastically different paths to dominance. The Empire prefers cohesion and cavalry precision; the Warlords embrace raw numbers and berserker momentum; and the Highpriests summon arcane horrors from the cursed sands of Nâr. Each faction thrives through unique synergies, and mastery comes not from brute strength but from knowing how to push each advantage at just the right moment.
The 1.0 launch brings with it new commanders and content, led by the arrival of Sargon I—the High Priest of Nâr himself. Commanding desert-born spellcasters and elemental titans like the Djinn and Naga, Sargon adds a new faction and a fresh tactical identity rooted in magical warfare and devastating summons. A new biome, the Lava Desert, adds further complexity with environmental hazards and key chokepoints for the battlefield-minded to exploit.
Commanders in Shields of Loyalty aren’t just avatars—they’re campaign-defining forces. Whether rallying troops under Aglovan’s noble banner or unleashing pure carnage with Warlord Karnoth, players shape their story through their leader’s traits, decisions, and strategy. Each campaign not only tells a different tale, but demands a unique playstyle to survive the trials Mantaria offers.
Since entering Early Access, the game has earned a “Very Positive” rating on Steam and developed a core community obsessed with lore, balance, and meta-strategy. That playerbase helped inform major system changes, the expansion of unit rosters, and the refinement of campaign design. With version 1.0, Mosaic Mask Studio is betting that what started as a homage can now stand tall beside the genre’s greats, a trailer for the game showcases it in full glory.