The Basics

What is Merauders?

A choice-driven RPG where you discover mysterious water-based abilities while navigating family secrets and cultural cooperation. Every conflict resolves peacefully. Every choice ripples through relationships. Hours of meaningful narrative where discovering who you are changes everything.

When does it release?

Full release: 2027-2028. Free prologue demo: Q2 2026.

What platforms?

Windows, Mac, Linux. Built in RPG Maker MZ, available on Steam and Itch.io.

How much will it cost?

TBA. We’re committed to fair pricing that covers development while remaining accessible.

Gameplay

Wait, there’s really no combat?

Correct. The Synthesis system replaces violence with cultural mediation, empathy-based conflict resolution, and strategic relationship management. It’s equally challenging—just focused on understanding people instead of defeating them.

Can I fail?

Absolutely. Failure is expected. But it leads to learning, recovery, and relationship repair rather than game over. Support systems help you navigate mistakes authentically.

Do my choices actually matter?

Yes. Forty-plus relationship variables track everything—your tone, priorities, consistency, recovery efforts. Relationships evolve or deteriorate based on accumulated actions. There’s no perfect playthrough, just what you chose and how it affected people.

What if I screw up?

Then you acknowledge it, make amends, rebuild trust, and keep trying. The game models authentic relationship repair through sustained effort, not magic forgiveness buttons.

Story & Content

What’s the age rating?

ESRB E10+ with Educational Content. We recommend 16+ for emotional complexity around family loss, secrets, and identity discovery. Not inappropriate for younger players—just sophisticated.

Is this preachy?

We hope not. Characters struggle. Prejudice exists. Politics complicate everything. Cooperation emerges through authentic challenge, not lectures. We show, not tell.

Will you spoil the mystery?

Absolutely not. The central mystery of who you are and what your abilities mean unfolds gradually throughout the game. Marketing materials preserve this discovery experience.

How does family reunion work?

Without spoiling: family secrets from ten years ago need confrontation. This isn’t feel-good fantasy—it requires painful honesty, processing loss, and authentic recovery with professional support. Real family complexity.

The World

How many cultures are there?

Eight surface cultures around Lake Malaclypse: Draakori (arctic artisans), Auri (tropical diplomats), Syldani (floating academics), Vari (maritime traders), Kinaji (desert coordinators), Qordhari (volcanic engineers), Pravi (independent scouts), and Gilani (forest hosts). Whether there are others… you’ll discover during the story.

What are the five guilds?

Traders (commerce/mediation), Makers (creation/engineering), Growers (agriculture/community), Seekers (research/education), Wardens (protection/crisis response). You choose one to master, but can interact with all.

What’s the Discordian philosophy?

“Chaos isn’t the enemy—rigid order is.” The universe acknowledges that cooperation requires flexibility, creativity, and accepting that mistakes are inevitable while recovery is essential. It’s realistic cooperation, not idealistic harmony.

Education

What do I actually learn?

Cultural competency through respectful engagement, permission protocols, and relationship building. Conflict resolution through multiple peaceful solutions and empathy development. Family communication through processing complex emotions and supporting during crisis. The game may teach additional content we’re not spoiling yet.

Is it genuinely educational?

Yes. We’re partnering with educators to ensure learning objectives align with real-world skill development. Cultural competency and conflict resolution frameworks are based on actual methodologies.

Can this be used in classrooms?

Yes! We’re developing curriculum integration resources. Teachers can contact us for information.

Technical

What are system requirements?

Minimum: Windows 10/macOS 10.13/Ubuntu 18.04, Intel Core i3 2.0GHz, 4GB RAM, Integrated Graphics, 2GB storage. Built in RPG Maker MZ, so requirements are modest.

What accessibility features?

Text size adjustment, colorblind-friendly interface, high contrast mode, difficulty scaling, optional activity engagement, extensive tutorials, quest tracking, full controller support. Screen reader compatibility planned.

Can I mod it?

We’re exploring mod support post-launch for custom scenarios. Details TBA.

Development

Who’s making this?

Greyface Games—an independent studio dedicated to meaningful gaming experiences combining entertainment with genuine educational value.

How’s it funded?

Currently through founder investment and community support via Patreon. We’re exploring Kickstarter and additional funding while maintaining creative independence.

Can I help?

Yes! We welcome beta testers (sign up through Discord), cultural consultants (contact us with expertise), translators (for future language support), Patreon supporters, and community feedback.

How do you handle cultural consultation?

We engage consultants with relevant expertise throughout development, pay them fairly, implement feedback respectfully, and give appropriate credit. Even fantasy cultures receive sensitivity review.

Community

How do I stay updated?

Discord for real-time discussion. Newsletter for monthly updates. Social media for regular posts. Blog for detailed insights. Patreon for early access.

Can I create fan content?

Yes! We encourage it. Just credit Greyface Games and Merauders, don’t monetize without permission, and respect the game’s themes.

Can I stream it?

Absolutely! Once the demo releases, we welcome streamers, YouTubers, and content creators.

Difficult Questions

Isn’t cooperation unrealistic?

That’s the point. The game shows cooperation is hard. Prejudice exists. Politics complicate everything. But through genuine effort, empathy, and willingness to learn from failures, cooperation becomes possible—not perfect, but real.

How do you handle prejudice?

Communities demonstrate realistic prejudice toward mysterious abilities and cultural differences. The game doesn’t condone this—it shows the harm and provides tools to address it respectfully. Characters can learn and grow.

Is this political?

Cultural cooperation, family support, and community service are inherently political. We aim for balanced perspectives while advocating for empathy and respect. If you think cooperation is propaganda, this game probably isn’t for you.

SUPPORT THE GAME

Why Your Support Matters

Merauders is ambitious- Your support enables fair consultant compensation, professional audio, comprehensive accessibility, extensive educational resources, post-game expansion, and community events.

Patreon Support Tiers

💧 WATER SPEAKER – £5/month

Benefits:

Discord supporter role with exclusive channels
Monthly detailed development updates
Behind-the-scenes content and early concept art
Vote on minor design decisions
Name in game credits (Supporters tier)

Your Impact: Supports 2-3 hours of development time per month

🌊 TIDE WALKER – £15/month

All Water Speaker benefits, plus:

Early demo access (1 week before public release)
Exclusive development blog posts with detailed insights
Monthly Q&A sessions with developers
Concept art and design document previews
Name in game credits (Tide Walkers tier)

Your Impact: Supports 6-8 hours of development time per month

🏛️ CULTURAL BRIDGE – £50/month

All Tide Walker benefits, plus:

Closed beta access at major development milestones
Direct feedback channels with development team
Monthly video development updates
Name a minor NPC (with team collaboration)
Design a minor side quest (collaborative process)
Name in game credits (Cultural Bridges tier)

Your Impact: Supports 20-25 hours of development time per month

🎭 GUILD CHAMPION – £150/month

All Cultural Bridge benefits, plus:

Design a significant NPC with backstory (collaborative)
Create a cultural festival event (with team)
Quarterly voice calls with development team
Physical merchandise package (post-launch)
Executive Producer credit in game
Permanent Discord VIP status

Your Impact: Supports 60-75 hours of development time per month

One-Time Support

Not ready for monthly commitment?

£10 — Development snack fund (caffeine!)
£25 — Cultural consultation hour
£50 — Audio production contribution
£100 — Accessibility feature sponsorship
£500+ — Major milestone sponsorship with recognition

All one-time supporters receive:

Thank you in game credits
Discord supporter role
Development updates newsletter

Kickstarter Coming Soon

We’re planning a Kickstarter campaign for Q1 2026 to fund:

Extended cultural consultation network
Professional voice direction for key emotional moments
Enhanced accessibility features
Expanded post-game content
Physical rewards for backers

Other Ways to Support

Can’t contribute financially? These help tremendously:

Spread the word:

Share on social media
Tell friends about the project
Post in relevant communities
Write about us on your blog

Engage with content:

Follow on social media
Join Discord community
Comment on posts
Provide constructive feedback

Wishlist the game:

Add to Steam wishlist
Follow on Itch.io
Sign up for newsletter

Participate when ready:

Test demos when available
Report bugs and issues
Provide detailed feedback
Suggest improvements

Transparency & Accountability

Where does your support go?

Development Team (60%): Salaries for programmers, artists, writers, designers, audio team
Cultural Consultation (15%): Expert consultants for respectful representation, educational framework development
Tools & Services (10%): Software licenses, audio production tools, server hosting, marketing platforms
Community & Events (5%): Discord management, community event hosting, beta testing coordination
Educational Resources (5%): Curriculum development, teaching guide creation, assessment frameworks
Emergency Fund (5%): Unexpected challenges, extended testing, accessibility improvements

Quarterly financial reports available to all supporters.

FAQ About Supporting

Q: Can I cancel anytime? A: Yes. Cancel Patreon subscription anytime without penalty.
Q: Do I get the game free? A: Tide Walker tier and above receive complimentary copy upon release. Lower tiers get significant discount codes.
Q: What if development can’t continue? A: We’ll communicate openly and offer refunds for unfulfilled benefits.
Q: Can I support anonymously? A: Yes. Choose anonymous credit option in your profile.
Q: When is the Kickstarter launching? A: Q1 2026, timed with prologue demo release. Sign up for notification.

PRESS KIT

Quick Facts

Title: Merauders: Tides of Fate
Developer: Greyface Games
Platform: PC (Windows, Mac, Linux)
Release: 2027-2028 | Demo: Q2 2026 (Free)
Genre: Choice-Driven RPG, Cultural Cooperation, Mystery, Educational Gaming
Rating: ESRB E10+ (Recommended 16+)

Elevator Pitch

Discover mysterious water-based abilities and navigate family secrets while eight cultures attempt fragile cooperation. Every conflict resolves peacefully in this choice-driven RPG where identity discovery, relationship consequences, and cultural understanding power hours of meaningful gameplay.

Key Features

Revolutionary Synthesis Combat replacing violence with cultural mediation
Mysterious abilities awakening with gradual truth revelation
Family-centered story addressing loss and secrets
Eight surface cultures with distinct cooperation philosophies
40+ relationship variables tracking every choice
Failure and recovery systems modelling authentic support
Extensive post-game seasonal content

What Makes This Newsworthy

Industry Innovation: Full-length RPG with zero violence while preserving narrative mystery
Cultural Impact: Genuine cultural competency skill development through emotional engagement
Social Relevance: Family secrets, identity discovery, cultural cooperation challenges
Technical Achievement: RPG Maker MZ pushing engine capabilities, adaptive music, behavioural tracking

Press Contact

Primary: [email protected]
Social: @Greyface_Games

Story Angles

For Gaming Press: “How an indie RPG preserves narrative mystery while achieving 80+ hours without combat”
For Educational Media: “Video game teaches cultural competency through identity discovery story”
For Family & Parenting: “RPG addressing family secrets with authentic emotional complexity”
For Mystery & Narrative: “Choice-driven mystery where discovering yourself is the central puzzle”

About the Game