Many video games are created in order to be both fun to play and to offer an experience that players would not be able to have otherwise. This is certainly true for the Stronghold series, which labels itself as a “castle sim” with an RTS backbone. Recently, the newest game in the series was just announced along with a demo in a trailer showcasing some of the improvements. The developers of Stronghold 4, Firefly Studios, also posted additional information about the upcoming game on their official website.

As the genre name would imply, castle sim games are all about building up a castle from medieval times to gain an advantage against the game’s challenges. The trailer starts off with a voiceover explaining the basic mechanics, such as collecting wood and building farms in order to feed the population. Players will also be able to engage in combat, training soldiers and building walls to guard against the constant threat of attacks. Each unit is shown to have a unique personality that coincides with their role.

Later in the trailer, players also get a glimpse of various in-game events that can take place and disrupt the standard gameplay loop, such as ale drinking competitions and infernos that devastate the castle. The few story moments also highlight the goal for the new campaign, which will be a prequel to the original Stronghold game. Players will follow the journey of Penryn of Wethel, a simple shepherd, as he becomes a leader to protect himself and those close to him.

The newest game in the Stronghold series promises to expand on all the mechanics of the previous games while offering futher insights into their stories. The game’s demo is set to be out on June 23rd, with the final release date on PC not yet being available.