SKALD: Against the Black Priory is a retro-style, party-based RPG developed by High North Studios AS. It places players in a grim-dark fantasy world infused with Lovecraftian horror, combining authentic 8-bit pixel art inspired by the Commodore 64 with modern design elements. The game features tactical, turn-based combat, character customization, crafting, cooking, and branching story choices. Mod support is available through the SKALD Data Editing Tool (SKaDE).Players assemble a party of diverse allies, choosing from a dozen classes and varied backgrounds to level up to 20. Combat involves cleaving, blasting, or stealthily navigating through enemies, with options for modern inventory management, quest logs, and journal entries to uncover secrets. An auto-resolve option is available to bypass conflict. The narrative unfolds across an unforgiving world with Lovecraftian horrors and choice-based dialogue, where dice rolls determine outcomes. Exploration spans the Gallian Empire, Freymark, and the Outer Isles, all rendered in hand-drawn pixel art.
