Psychic Software Unveils The Lich Wars RPG

The upcoming gothic interactive-fiction title serves as a prequel to The Necromancer's Tale.

Updated on Oct. 16, 2026 in Board Games

Graphic gothic fantasy illustration featuring an ornate, metal-bound grimoire and a spectral glowing sigil, capturing an eerie dark-fantasy aesthetic.
Psychic Software has announced the development of The Lich Wars, a gothic interactive-fiction RPG set in the world of Rulsthen. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Psychic Software has officially announced The Lich Wars, a new gothic interactive-fiction RPG set to release on PC via Steam. The title functions as a narrative prequel to the developer's previous project, The Necromancer's Tale.

Why it matters

The game represents a significant expansion of the existing narrative universe established in the studio's earlier work. Development has been supported by the Creative Media Programme of the European Union, highlighting its status as a notable project in the international indie space.

The game features a branching narrative composed of 300,000 words and requires players to manage nine distinct RPG skills. Combat utilizes hand-written prose alongside randomized critical-hit tables to determine outcomes.

The players

Psychic Software

This is an independent game development studio known for creating deep, narrative-driven interactive fiction experiences.

Creative Media Programme of the European Union

This is a European institution that provides funding and support for the development of audiovisual and interactive media projects.

The details

Presented in a 3D book format, the game stages key scenes as hand-painted miniatures while players navigate the fantasy setting of Rulsthen, which spans a 30-year military career. The title is designed as a gothic experience rooted in a European-inspired environment near Venice.

Timeline

  1. Psychic Software announced the game on October 15, 2026.

Culture Shift

The Lich Wars follows the established lineage of The Necromancer's Tale, illustrating a growing trend toward complex, narrative-heavy prequels in the interactive fiction genre. This approach allows developers to deepen world-building while maintaining continuity for existing fanbases.

Players interested in the title can track its progress and future availability through its dedicated store presence. The game requires a PC to play once it becomes available for public download.

The takeaway

Players who enjoy deep narrative branching should look for the combination of skill-based mechanics and visual presentation in this new release. The title emphasizes slow-burn progression through its 30-year career system and text-based combat.

Further reading

Explore more upcoming titles and industry trends in our Board Games section.

More information

To view additional project details, visit the Steam store game page.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Capsule Computers.

Live Poll

Do you prefer playing narrative-driven interactive fiction games over traditional combat-heavy RPGs?