Sea of Stars

Sea of Stars is Sabotage Studio's turn-based RPG, deeply inspired by the classics of the 16-bit JRPG era while committing to modern design priorities throughout. The setup is mythic: two Children of the Solstice combine the powers of the sun and the moon to perform Eclipse Magic — the only force capable of fending off the monstrous creations of the evil alchemist known as The Fleshmancer. The story is a prequel set in the universe of Sabotage's earlier game The Messenger, though it stands on its own without prior knowledge.

Combat is turn-based with the timed-hits mechanic familiar from Super Mario RPG and Chrono Trigger — pressing the action button in sync with attack animations increases damage and reduces incoming damage. On top of that, the game layers multi-character combo attacks, a boosting system that converts mana for stronger effects, and a strategic 'locks' system that lets you interrupt enemies channeling powerful attacks by hitting them with specific damage types. There are no random encounters, no transitions to separate battle screens, and the game is deliberately tuned so that grinding isn't required.

Exploration uses platformer-derived navigation. Characters swim, climb, vault, jump off ledges and hoist themselves up obstacles, moving through the world seamlessly rather than along grid tiles. The custom render pipeline pushes 2D pixel art into territory most games of its visual lineage don't reach, with breathtaking environments built on lighting and color work. Side activities — sailing, cooking, fishing, taverns with original songs, the infamous tabletop game Wheels — give the world texture between story beats. Up to three players can drop in and out of the entire adventure for co-op timed hits, including via Steam Remote Play Together.