Stoic deserves every bit of success that has come its way. Formed by three BioWare alumni, the studio built its reputation off the back of The Banner Saga – a trilogy of phenomenal tactical-RPGs which were funded by fans and beloved by many. Now, Stoic is collaborating with Xbox Game Studios for Towerborne, a new cooperative action-adventure that's designed to gradually evolve, offering an awesome blend of Castle Crashers carnage with a freedom fluent to Monster Hunter.
The quality so inherent to Stoic games is evident from the moment I begin to play Towerborne. The vibrant color palette and distinctive character designs are quick to draw the eye, as four impeccably-dressed avatars battle against sprawling watercolor backdrops. It looks stunning, and is sure to be one of the most attractive upcoming Xbox Series X games released in 2024. I'm speaking to the strength of the visual aesthetic, but also its core play – it's hard not to be attracted to Towerborne's raucous action, as exaggerated slices and slashes grind against waves of marauding enemies.
