The fourth week of January on Steam brought a flurry of new releases, though frankly, most of them left us feeling a bit cold. 'Sega Football Club Champions 2026' launched to a wave of 'Mostly Negative' reviews, while the MMORPG 'Eldegard' moved to full release only to remain stuck in 'Mixed' territory. Even the co-op roguelike 'Rot' managed only a lukewarm 'Mostly Positive' reception. Yet, amidst the dross, one peculiar title has managed to catch the eye of the community: 'Bladesong'.

Entering Early Access on the 22nd, Bladesong is a medieval RPG where, as the title suggests, the heart of the experience lies in the craft of the blacksmith. It is more than just a simple forging simulator; it weaves in a surprisingly robust world-building and RPG mechanics. Upon starting, you define your character's backstory—previous occupation, personality, a cherished memento, and your ultimate goal—before setting foot into the fortress of 'Eren'.

Eren is a grim place teeming with vagabonds and ruffians, and you wake up in an abandoned tent, battered and suffering from amnesia. Fortunately, a derelict forge sits nearby, and for some inexplicable reason, you seem to possess all the instincts of a master blacksmith. From your first day, you start taking commissions from mercenaries and scoundrels, aiming to earn enough coin to finally breach the inner walls of the fortress.

You operate on an Action Point system, where each task consumes a portion of your day until you run out of energy. The commissions are straightforward enough: someone wants a sharp, piercing blade, while another might demand something heavy and brutal, reminiscent of the slab-like swords found in 'Berserk'. As the smith, you must balance these specific demands with the physical reality of the metal.

The forging process is impressively granular. You start with a massive iron plate on the anvil, hammering it to define the length, then striking it to adjust the width. From there, you thin out the blade, sharpen the edges, and refine the silhouette to match the client's specifications.

Most of the work involves rhythmic hammering. If you time your strikes for the peak of the swing, you land a much more powerful blow, allowing you to shape the metal more efficiently. Don't worry if you slip up; the game includes features to undo steps or even reset the entire process.

Once the blade is finished, you assemble the pommel and hilt. It is a simple matter of choosing your components, though be warned: some finicky clients will demand specific materials or designs that you must accommodate to earn your pay.

As you gain experience and level up, your repertoire expands. You start with basic double-edged blades, but eventually, you can craft single-edged swords, serrated blades, add fullers, or incorporate intricate engravings and decorations. The developers have also teased future updates that will introduce magic, allowing you to etch runes and enchant your creations.

Bladesong also leans heavily into its RPG roots. At night, once the forge is quiet, you explore the surrounding area through text-adventure segments involving combat and exploration. Success depends on probability, but you might just stumble upon rare materials to elevate your next masterpiece.

One particularly cheeky feature is the 'Creative Mode', which lets you export your designs for use with a 3D printer. While they won't be made of actual steel, having a physical model of your digital creation on your shelf is a tempting prospect. I am both excited and deeply concerned about the avant-garde designs some of you will surely come up with.

As of the 26th, Bladesong holds a 'Very Positive (96% positive)' rating on Steam. Fans are singing its praises: "The blacksmith game I’ve always wanted," "It’s incredibly satisfying to finally do the steel forging I’ve only ever watched on YouTube," and "The story and RPG elements are surprisingly deep." While it currently lacks Korean language support, the forging mechanics are intuitive enough to overcome the language barrier.