Look, let us be honest—independent development can be a messy affair, but solo German developer Michael Schulze and the tiny indie studio Nighthaven Interactive have officially brought their PC strategy game WARSTEAD to Steam Early Access on October 30. It is a rather cheeky blend of medieval city building, intricate production chains, and real-time strategy combat.

WARSTEAD revolves around constructing and expanding your very own settlement, managing resources and trade routes to grow the economy, while simultaneously commanding armies in battle. One of the standout features is a thoroughly visible logistics system, where resources and finished goods are physically hauled between buildings to make the economy feel properly alive. Naturally, players can recruit troops, organize formations, and defend the settlement through real-time skirmishes.

According to the developer, Nighthaven Interactive built the game using entirely self-funded resources as an independent outfit. The team noted that they spent a good chunk of time enjoying classic city builders and strategy titles, and set out to merge both genres into a single unified experience.

Right now, WARSTEAD is sitting comfortably in Early Access. The developers plan to actively gather community feedback to polish the game further, while steadily rolling out new features and additional content down the line. Adieu, and best of luck out there on the trade routes, mate.