Helsinki-based developer Everywear Games surely had to rethink the way they pitch when they decided to make an Apple Watch game. Runeblade, the team’s casual fantasy-adventure made only for the Apple Watch, will launch onto Apple’s diminutive third screen later this month.
“The game is designed to be played in 5-15 second sessions and builds over time as you progress through the journey,” said CEO Aki Järvilehto in a statemnent. “We’re excited to help pioneer game development on Apple Watch with a fully original title designed specifically for smartwatch gaming.”
The team has released a trailer to tease the game, and it looks interesting, if a bit tiny. It is a game meant to be played on your wrist. With one hand.
https://youtu.be/31pTC_sdqmU
The free to download title will be set in an epic fantasy world complete with War Mages, tasking players with taking on the role of High Priestess of the venerable order. Of course, an ancient menace has returned and it’s up to you to level up your gear, spells, and powers to battle mystical creatures and save the realm.
It’s hard to know whether this will be much fun, but I’ve enjoyed one-tap games on the iPhone before, so I’m cautiously optimistic.
You’ll be able to download the game for free later this month onto that Apple Watch you pre-ordered last night. To stay up to date, check out Everywear Game‘s main site, which only has the video so far.
Rob LeFebvre is an Anchorage, Alaska-based writer and editor who has contributed to various tech, gaming and iOS sites, including 148Apps, Creative Screenwriting, Shelf-Awareness, VentureBeat, and Paste Magazine. Feel free to find Rob on Twitter @roblef, and send him a cookie once in a while; he’ll really appreciate it.
3 responses to “Runeblade smashes tons of fun into a tiny Apple Watch game”
That is seriously going to tax those watch batteries. Some third-party company had better come out with an AppleWatch auxiliary battery watchband.
I think the Apple Watch’s battery will be fine with these kinds of short sessions. We have the same mindset when building our Apple Watch games. 10 seconds to play and then you can get back to work.
I wish Apple would just ban games on the Watch. It’s dumb.