The thing I love about playing games, and having such a variety of them, is learning about new specialties or cultures.
In my time as a gamer, I’ve learned how to drive trains, what it takes to survive in the wild, and most recently, a ton about Slavic myths – Blacktail and Selfloss come to mind. These stories are rooted in ancient times, originating from Eastern Europe, with famous tales like Baba Yaga and Morena, the Goddess of Death.
What’s fascinating about some of these pagan rituals and myths is that when the Balkan areas adopted Christianity, these stories and myths were absorbed into the religion. All of this makes for excellent narrative fodder for games. Bylina is one such game looking to utilise these elements to create a new RPG experience.
I had the privilege of attending an online presentation for Bylina, an action RPG from Far Far Games and Fulqrum Publishing that is set to release on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC in 2025.
The presentation introduced us to the lead hero, Falconet, the son of a famous Bogatyr (a knight, in Western terms). He wants to follow in his father’s footsteps but finds himself in the Far Far Kingdom, where he meets his demise. Revived by a mysterious spirit with whom he now shares his body, Falconet must embark on a journey to save his soul, uncover an ancient mystery, and prevent the end of times. No easy feat, to be sure, but legends are made by overcoming the greatest of ordeals.
Bylina already displays the hallmarks of an epic journey. You’ll explore a rich world, including the Land of Cities, complete with forests and dungeons. Each area has its own unique atmosphere, full of secrets, challenges, and combat encounters. Bylina features a main storyline, but like many RPGs, expect a host of side quests and other activities to engage with.
The presentation showcased the use of magic, and the developers confirmed that you’ll be able to collect and wield a variety of weapons. Expect to spend time upgrading skills, crafting armour, and further customising your character.
Visually and aurally, Bylina is impressive, with an isometric design that will surely draw players into this adventure in 2025. It will be interesting to see how Far Far Games and Fulqrum Publishing utilise Slavic myths within the story.
It’s great to see a game like this that combines modern dynamics with a retro feel, showcasing the rich heritage of RPGs.
Look for Bylina to release on Xbox, PlayStation, and PC in 2025. In the meantime, check out the key features of Bylina in the summary below and watch the announcement trailer. We think you’ll be excited about this one!
- Discover a vibrant and extraordinary world based on Slavic myths and legends. Journey through the Land of Cities, boasting diverse locales – from sunlit forests to gloomy dungeons and imposing castles, each with its own unique features and atmosphere. As soon as you open new areas, prepare to encounter strange local inhabitants, as well as countless challenges, treasures, and puzzles waiting to be solved.
- Improve your skills by mastering unique techniques and spells, and engage in fierce battles with common bandits, terrifying legendary creatures, and brutal bosses in which every mistake could be your last.
- Expand your arsenal, embracing mysterious magical powers as well as a variety of armaments, from swords and shields to spears and bows. Level up, increase your strength, create new items, find and experiment with rare types of armour, and fight back against an ancient evil.
- The eternal struggle between good and evil is not as obvious and clear-cut as it seems at first glance in the world of Bylina; its inhabitants experience complex inner lives filled with their fears, anxieties, hatred, and scars left by past trials that have shaped them into who they are today. Falconet will have to face not only legions of powerful foes in combat; but also the emotions, feelings and struggles that make a true human soul.
Huge thanks go out to Far Far Games and Fulqrum for inviting us to the Bylina presentation.
