Killers and Thieves PC

Killers and Thieves for PC is an arcade strategy game with RPG elements, in which we are placed at the helm of a medieval thieves and assassins guild. The person responsible for the title is Alex Thomas, former artistic director of The Banner Saga – one of the biggest independent indie games of 2014. After the release of The Banner Saga, Thomas decided to engage in a smaller, original project, creating a new developer team named Candle and Key. The author was inspired by titles such as XCOM: Enemy Unknown, or Thief, which are focused around tactical team management, and stealth and silent exploration.

Gameplay

During the gameplay, we assume the role of a leader of a medieval thieves guild. Our responsibilities include recruiting amateur thugs, and shaping them into first-rate theft and assassination specialists. The players steal from corrupt townsfolk and aristocrats inhabiting the fictional metropolis. Every member of the guild has individual statistics and abilities that develop with every heist. The game makes use of permanent death system (permadeath), so any spectacular returns are out of question – dead comrades leave our ranks forever. Thieves who managed to survive a meeting with the soldiers guarding the treasures, land behind bars, and won’t be able to support us in upcoming heists. The loot is used to develop the operating base, shown in a similar manner as in XCOM: Enemy Unknown, as well as to buy equipment and pay the maintenance costs of the whole organization.

All the levels take place on a two-dimensional plane, reminiscent of classic platform games. The gameplay happens in real time, with several characters under our control. The levels mostly involve infiltrating multi-storey tenement buildings or willas. The building interiors and the locations of treasures and guards are generated randomly.

Technical Aspects

The whole game is complemented by comic in nature, but incredibly cohesive and realistic 2D visuals, which make it stand out from other independent titles.

Last updated on 05 March 2015