
SKALD:Against the Black Priory is a retro-style party-based RPG set in a grim-dark fantasy world of tragic heroes, violent deaths and Lovecraftian horror. Take a chance and roll the dice as you embark on a compelling story filled with deadly creatures, branching story and tactical, turn-based combat
Modeled estimate, not a reported figure. How we estimate →
About
You drag yourself from the black tides, across the corpses of drowned men, and onto the unwelcoming, craggy shoreline. Gulls cry overhead and the stink of seaweed fills your nose. By some miracle you have made it to Idra. It will take all your skill to survive and unravel the eldritch mysteries of the Black Priory


SKALD: Against the Black Priory is inspired by roleplaying games of yesteryear, combining modern design and compelling storytelling with authentic 8-bit looks and charms.
Delve into a dark fantasy world, full of deadly creatures, tragic heroes, and lovecraftian horror for an epic retro-style adventure rich in exploration and tactical, turn-based combat.
Do you have what it takes to lead a company of broken heroes from the tainted shores of Idra to the gates of the Black Priory - and beyond?
Lead a band of broken heroes through challenging turn-based combat scenarios as you cleave, blast or stealth your way through deadly enemies of all definitions. Equip your heroes using a modern inventory system, fulfil objectives through quest logs, read journals to discover hidden secrets. And if the action is still a bit too hot to handle, auto-resolve to bypass conflict entirely.
Set yourself up for the journey ahead by crafting and cooking from a slew of distinct recipes Choose your character, select their stats and build out a party from a series of diverse allies, each with their own skill-set, agenda and personality. Decide between a dozen classes and varied backgrounds, levelling up to 20 while customising your spells and equipment to suit your style.
Set in an unforgiving world with lovecraftian horrors and choice-based dialogue, your story will take many unexpected twists and turns. Living life as a mercenary, you’ll need to roll the dice to determine whether you fall prey to certain peril or escape grave danger.
Uncover the grand schemes of the Gallian Empire and explore the vast expanse of Freymark and the Outer Isles. In SKALD: Against the Black Priory, you’ll experience this richly illustrated world of authentic pixel art, built from thousands of hand-drawn tiles and images using a palette inspired by the legendary Commodore 64 computer. Optional CRT filter for true retro aficionados also included.
Looking for more SKALD content to play? Players now have access to the SKALD Data Editing Tool (SKaDE) to create their own adventures and play all new ones at no extra cost. This custom-made modding tool is powered by Mod.io and gives you access to all of the assets in SKALD: Against The Black Priory. Where will your imagination take you?
Genres
Stats
All-time low is the lowest price we've recorded for this game since we started tracking it.
Languages: English
Engagement
Hours played at review time, across 46 reviews with recorded playtime.
Reviews
Themes across 46 recent reviews and how positive each mention is. A keyword signal, not full sentiment analysis.
positive critical· bar length = how often the theme comes up
Reviews
Amazing game! If you like old school crps this is for you. The story is dark and captivating. The systems are put together so well. Can't recommend enough!
Cool story, nice visuals, very good music - overall, great vibe. It seems a tiny bit buggy, but fortunately not in a game breaking way.
good game to get lost in
I’m not entirely sure why *SKALD: Against the Black Priory* works so well for me, but it scratches an itch I didn’t even know I had. On paper, it looks like a deliberately old-school RPG: chunky visuals, turn-based combat, dark fantasy writing, and a lot of classic CRPG DNA. But once it clicks, it becomes much more than nostalgia. The atmosphere is oppressive in the best way, the world feels strange and hostile, and the game constantly gives you that “just one more area” feeling. It feels like the kind of RPG that rewards curiosity without wasting your time. The combat is readable, the exploration is satisfying, and the tone lands somewhere between grim fantasy, pulp adventure, and cosmic horror. It has personality, mood, and confidence. It doesn't feel cheap, its very purposeful in its retro esthetics. It's a good balance between depth and simplicity. Greatly recommended.
pretty damn good cRPG with a genuine Lovecraftian feel to it. 9/10
juegardo.......... no soy ningun fanático del genero pero me anime por la estética y no defraudó. me dio unas buenas horas
Neat, quick and simple to grasp. Combat is a bit repetitive but is sufficient. Great buildup on the horror and the Lovecraftian influences.
옛날 틀딱 도트 감성은 느끼고 싶은데 게임디자인 예전의 그것이 싫은 나같은 구매자의 틀립선을 아주 잘 건드려줌
:)
Trve Cvlt Norwegian RPG.
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Trends
Modeled estimate over time, reconstructed from Steam's monthly review histogram.
Audience
Estimated from the language of this game's reviews — a proxy for where players are, not official Steam demographics.
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