The world of tactical RPGs is getting sharper and more dangerous with Pathbreakers: Roaming Blades, a fantasy turn-based game from 6 Eyes Studio. Known for Fell Seal: Arbiter’s Mark, the team returns with a mercenary company adventure that mixes deep tactical combat, story-driven exploration, and meaningful character choices. With its sprawling sandbox world and flexible gameplay paths, Pathbreakers promises to carve out something special for fans of games like Battle Brothers—only this time, with magic, monsters, and myth woven into every blade swing.
A medieval sandbox where stories grow from blood and ambition
Set on the Stormtossed Isle, the game opens up a world as unpredictable as its name. This is not a place ruled by kings or fate—it’s ruled by gold, grit, and grim decisions. Players won’t follow one grand storyline but instead choose from multiple origin stories. Each path offers a different background for the mercenary company and different goals to pursue. Some origins might begin in ruin, others in exile or betrayal.
The island itself is procedurally generated every campaign. That means each playthrough brings new maps full of towns to trade in, dungeons to delve into, secrets to uncover, and enemies to battle. This design removes the rails often found in RPGs. There are no scripted paths—just the direction carved by player choice and steel.
During a test run of an early build, one player started with a disgraced noble origin. Instead of reclaiming honor through politics or war, they chose to become traders first—selling rare monster parts for coin before hiring sword arms for revenge. That kind of narrative freedom lies at the core of Pathbreakers.
Tactical battles shaped by action points and sharp terrain
Combat plays out on hex-based grids where up to eight mercenaries face off against foes in turn-based battles. Every unit works under an action point system—typically nine points per turn—which adds layers of strategy each round. Moving across rugged ground costs more points than flat land. Water slows you down. Enemies’ zones of control punish hasty steps.
Initiative rolls decide who moves first at the start of each fight, which adds unpredictability to every encounter. A slow but heavy-hitting warrior might get caught flat-footed if faster enemies roll high. Or a clever scout could dash ahead and pin down archers before they fire.
Each ability also costs points, whether it’s a power strike or a debuff spell. Players must decide when to move aggressively or hold back for defense later in the round. It’s not about just using powerful skills—it’s about when and how they’re used across shifting terrain under pressure.
Mercenary customization runs deeper than just stats
Where Pathbreakers really separates itself from similar titles is in how it handles progression. Every even-numbered level gives mercenaries new active abilities—but there’s more than just learning new skills. Each ability comes with two modifiers that dramatically change how it works.
A cleave attack might be modified to hit harder against armored targets—or instead spread poison across all enemies struck. These decisions aren’t just flavor—they reshape how characters perform on the field entirely.
Odd-numbered levels grant passive ability points that can be spent on traits like increased dodge chance or resistance to elemental damage. Over time, even two mercenaries from the same class can evolve into wildly different fighters based on what modifiers and passives players choose.
This kind of system rewards careful planning while leaving room for experimentation—a dream setup for players who love optimizing builds and testing strategies against tough opponents.
Build your company your way—fighter, trader, explorer
The game doesn’t stop at customizing individuals—it extends that freedom to shaping the entire company as well. Mercenary companies can specialize in three broad paths: fighters focused on combat contracts; traders who profit through deals and resources; or explorers who discover lost places and ancient relics.
This specialization affects what kinds of missions appear during campaigns—and how stories unfold around them. A fighter-focused group might be offered assassinations or front-line battles between factions fighting over land or power. Traders might manipulate local markets or smuggle goods between towns caught in feuds.
The choice influences not just gameplay but progression too—new contracts mean new risks and rewards tailored to that specialization path. No two playthroughs will shape up alike unless players force them to.
Storylines branch based on real choices—not binary good versus evil
Unlike many RPGs where moral choices boil down to “hero” or “villain,” Pathbreakers leans into ambiguity with branching storylines built around consequences rather than labels. Quests often present decisions with no clear right answer—and those decisions ripple outward across the campaign.
An early mission may involve choosing between defending one town from bandits or chasing down an informant hiding near another village—with both situations worsening if ignored too long. Later events build atop those outcomes depending on what was chosen earlier—and which specialization path was followed during them.
This design encourages players not only to think tactically but ethically too—what matters more: wealth or reputation? Victory at any cost—or survival with values intact?
Enemies that crawl, burn, freeze—and force new tactics
Diversity in enemy design keeps battles fresh throughout campaigns. Instead of facing endless waves of humanoid brigands or soldiers, players clash against creatures like plant-born salamanders that spit acid across multiple tiles; snowy lycans who stalk through fog-covered maps at night; or hellish hounds whose infernal howl disrupts formations before charging straight through defenses.
Each monster type presents unique challenges requiring different strategies—and sometimes different gear setups entirely—to counter effectively.
A player once recounted an ambush by snowy lycans during a snowstorm quest chain where visibility dropped drastically mid-fight due to weather effects coded into that specific region seed—an example of how dynamic systems work together to elevate challenge beyond just stats-on-stats encounters.
Create your own rules with full mod support on day one
For players who want even more control over their experience—or simply wish to add new content—the game launches with full mod support right out of Early Access gates. Everything from balancing tweaks and visual reskins to entirely new classes can be added via community-created content tools integrated directly into launch systems.
This commitment gives creative fans tools not only for longevity but for turning Pathbreakers into something personal over time—a living sandbox built atop shared systems designed by both developer and player base alike.
When does Pathbreakers: Roaming Blades come out?
The release date for Pathbreakers: Roaming Blades has not yet been announced by 6 Eyes Studio. The game is planned for release via Steam Early Access but currently has no official launch window confirmed by developers.
Tactical RPG fans hungry for strategy layered over choice-heavy storytelling should keep this title firmly on their radar as updates continue rolling out closer toward Early Access release news later this year.
If given the chance to lead a group of mercenaries through war-torn lands filled with monsters and secrets—what kind of legacy would you leave behind?
F.A.Q.
When does Pathbreakers: Roaming Blades come out?
The release date for Pathbreakers: Roaming Blades has not yet been announced by 6 Eyes Studio. The game is planned for release via Steam Early Access, but currently, there is no official launch window confirmed by the developers.
What type of game is Pathbreakers: Roaming Blades?
Pathbreakers: Roaming Blades is a turn-based tactical RPG set in a fantasy world. It combines mercenary management, deep tactical combat, and narrative freedom, allowing players to explore a procedurally generated sandbox world with multiple origin stories and flexible gameplay paths.
Does Pathbreakers: Roaming Blades have permadeath?
The article does not explicitly mention permadeath as a feature in Pathbreakers: Roaming Blades. The focus is on tactical depth, mercenary customization, and branching storylines based on player choices.
What platforms will Pathbreakers: Roaming Blades be available on?
Pathbreakers: Roaming Blades is planned for release via Steam Early Access, indicating it will be available on PC. There is no mention of other platforms at this time.
Is Pathbreakers: Roaming Blades worth it for fans of tactical RPGs?
For fans of tactical RPGs, especially those who enjoyed Battle Brothers or Fell Seal: Arbiter’s Mark, Pathbreakers: Roaming Blades offers a compelling blend of strategic combat and narrative freedom. With its procedurally generated world, extensive customization options, and meaningful player choices, it promises significant replayability and depth.
Does Pathbreakers: Roaming Blades have mod support?
Yes, Pathbreakers: Roaming Blades launches with full mod support. Players can customize various aspects of the game, from balancing tweaks and visual reskins to entirely new classes, providing a personalized and extended gameplay experience.
