Today’s Niche Spotlight comes from indie developer Last Keep, who are working on Project Citadel, a real-time strategy game that blends multiple genres.

Project Citadel is described as an RTS “sci-fi roguelike where fast-paced action combat meets deep, strategic squadron management.” It’s being developed by Last Keep, who are made up of former Ensemble Studios (Age of Empires) and BonusXP developers.

The game is in development for Windows PC (via Steam), though a release date isn’t confirmed. Project Citadel will release in early access, which already has the entire main story implemented and numerous side quests.

Over the course of early access Last Keep is planning on expanding and adding more features, while also adding new playable factions, expand unit choices, adjust and improve game balance, and even add to the game’s story.

Here’s a rundown on the game, plus a previous trailer:

Codename: Project Citadel

Liberate the galaxy from the evil Voltari Empire in this real time strategy, sci-fi roguelike where fast-paced action combat meets deep, strategic squadron management. Project Citadel flips the strategy genre into something new by blending quick and rewarding gameplay with the depth and replayability that strategy games are known for.

Battle your way through Voltari space on a mission to free the sector from their rule. It won’t be easy, but you have a secret weapon to aid you in your voyage – a secret relic that allows your mothership and crew to regenerate at the edge of Voltari space – again and again as you uncover the story’s twists and turns. 

Customize Your Faction

• Build your fleet of squadrons from a diverse stable of ship chassis, where each instance is uniquely rolled so it’s a fresh challenge every time you play 
• Easily control, command, and upgrade units as squadrons 
• Strategically reinforce losses with additional ships in the heat of battle

Determine The Strategy

• Boom or Rush: make decisions to out maneuver the enemy as the campaign unfolds before your eyes
• Turn-based overmap gives you control without being overwhelming and is perfectly suited to short play sessions. Fail on one run, try again… this time with a different approach
• Explore the battlefield to progress objectives and discover rewards. Procedural maps and a robust, overarching progression mean there is always something new to discover every time

Join The Action

• Fast-paced action with skill-shot special abilities: Turn the tide of battle by using well-timed and well-positioned special abilities
• Use the mothership to construct powerful stations and activate support abilities
• Modernized strategy game controls are easily playable with both controller and a mouse/keyboard