Stardock is expanding into card based strategy games with Empire in Decay, a new tactical roguelike deckbuilder being developed by independent studio Siesta Games.
The game is set in a collapsing empire where four factions compete for control of the throne. Players build custom decks, move units across tactical battlefields and work through a campaign shaped around faction specific abilities and cards.
Empire in Decay is currently planned for release in 2027.
More than 200 cards will support different faction builds
The game will include more than 200 cards that can be collected and used across battles.
Combat combines deckbuilding with chess style tactical movement, suggesting that positioning will matter alongside card selection.
Each faction is being designed around its own mechanics, abilities and special cards.
Two factions will be available from the start, while the other two are unlocked through the campaign.
| Feature | Empire in Decay |
|---|---|
| Genre | Tactical roguelike deckbuilder |
| Developer | Siesta Games |
| Publisher | Stardock |
| Release window | 2027 |
| Cards | More than 200 |
| Playable factions | Four |
| Starting factions | Damerites and the Guild |
| Unlockable factions | Groundbreakers Society and Soul Harvesters |
| Combat | Tactical grid movement with deckbuilding |
| Platform confirmed | PC via Steam |
The Damerites and the Guild serve as the initial factions.
Groundbreakers Society and Soul Harvesters will become available later as players progress through the campaign.
That structure gives the campaign a progression layer beyond simply collecting stronger cards.
Factions are built around distinct abilities
Each faction will have its own cards and abilities, allowing players to build decks around different playstyles.
The tactical movement system also means that deck strength alone may not determine the outcome of a battle.
Unit placement, movement and timing should play an important role.
That gives Empire in Decay a hybrid structure that combines familiar roguelike deckbuilding with more traditional turn based strategy concepts.
The setting also supports the faction based structure.
Rather than playing as a single hero or organization, players choose a group attempting to claim power while the wider empire is breaking apart.
Stardock is publishing rather than developing
Empire in Decay is not being developed internally by Stardock.
Development is being handled by Siesta Games, while Stardock is acting as publisher.
The partnership is part of Stardock's growing effort to publish games from external studios.
Company representatives said the project stood out because of its mix of presentation, deckbuilding and tactical gameplay.
Siesta Games, meanwhile, described Stardock as a strong fit because of the publisher's long history with strategy games.
This is Stardock's second major outside publishing deal
Empire in Decay follows another recently announced publishing partnership.
Earlier in 2026, Stardock confirmed it would publish Crimson Freedom from independent developer Yboga Doo.
That game is a real time strategy title with three factions and traditional base building systems.
The two projects suggest Stardock is broadening its publishing business beyond games developed by its own internal teams.
Empire in Decay also marks a notable shift because card based strategy has not traditionally been one of Stardock's main genres.
Stardock still has its own strategy projects in development
Alongside its publishing work, Stardock continues to develop its own games.
Ashes of the Singularity II remains in production and is currently planned for release in 2026.
That means the company is pursuing both internal development and external publishing at the same time.
Empire in Decay is therefore part of a wider strategy rather than a replacement for Stardock's existing projects.
Steam page is already available
Empire in Decay does not yet have a specific release date beyond its planned 2027 window.
A Steam store page is already live, allowing players to add the game to their wishlist.
For now, the main details are clear.
The game will combine more than 200 cards, four distinct factions, campaign based progression and tactical battlefield movement in a roguelike structure.
Its mix of deckbuilding and grid based strategy could make it stand apart from more traditional card focused roguelikes when it arrives in 2027.
Discussion (0)
Be the first to comment.