In a Line:

The Black Queen is an open-world computer role-playing game following the journey of a displaced nobleman in Medieval Croatia.

You stand upon a hill overlooking a forest. Below you, nearly shrouded by fog, are the shadowy, indistinct forms of hundreds and hundreds of soldiers, locked in bitter combat. The thrum of bows, the clang of sword upon shield, and the screams of wounded men fill your ears.

“Left flank!” the man beside you cries, “They’re charging our left flank!”

You turn. Storming the hill are the Queen’s men in black and red tabards, their weapons dripping with blood. You draw your sword and charge.

 

BALKAN REALMS PRESENTS…

The Black Queen

A myth, a fable, a legend; Balkan Realms retells the tale of the Black Queen in all of its dark, rich glory, reinventing the RPG epic through a mature, non-linear story, an immersive, open world, and fast-paced tactical combat.

The Black Queen is set in 15^th century Croatia, a time when Croatia was the center of a titanic struggle between the Kingdom of Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and the Republic of Venice. Amidst a backdrop of war and intrigue, you, the player, are caught between two sides in a desperate civil war; all the while, a greater threat lies just beyond the horizon…

“The Ban of Slavonia has raised his troops and presses hard towards Zagreb, looking to take the city. The simpering nobles gathered before the Queen begged her for the honor of leading her troops. They hunger for glory, a struggle that they have no understanding of. The Queen however, will not budge. She has some plan, though I know it not. She has hinted that there are better ways to handle a fractious lord, and greater threats than the one in our own borders…”

-Journal Entry, Nikola Frankopan, General of the Queen’s Army, Count of Lika

 

IT’S ALL IN THE DETAILS…

THE WORLD

With a land and culture that’s both foreign and familiar, and a cast of historical figures and events that actually occurred, Balkan Realms captures the feeling of being a medieval Croatian in one of its most critical and definitive eras.

Emphasizing a vast and stunningly vivid open world, The Black Queen unites the feeling of grand adventure and exploration with a darkly realistic and gritty atmosphere. Wade through blood-soaked battlefields. Climb the summits of Velebit and walk amongst its ancient trees. Swim in the crystal clear lakes of Plitvice. A vibrant, breathtaking view is just beyond every turn of the road.

“‘Do your duty,’ he said, and I obeyed. I burned down the church and cut down the men and women that leapt out of the second floor, the people that frantically beat at themselves with their hands to try and extinguish the flames, yes I cut them all down. And I… I would- I would- I… Enough. The weight of your censure is but a feather to the lead bars I heap upon myself.”

-Abbot Martin, Conversation with a Dalmatian soldier

 

A LIVING WORLD

The Black Queen will feature a living, organic world. Things will happen without you, and the world will move independent of your presence. The lord will clean out the bandits, the merchant’s daughter can elope, and the village might revolt, all without your input. This is a world that breathes, and it’s up to you to actively seek out ways to make your mark on it.

“There is nothing more vulnerable than a person in power. Their every movement is scrutinized, their every weakness prodded. All it takes to break them into pieces is the right tool in the right place…”

-Dowager Queen Regent of Croatia in a speech to the Sabor

 

CHOICES, CHOICES…

Choice matters. The decisions you make, the actions you take, and your very presence at the right place and the right time, all unite to create an absolutely unique story each and every time you play through The Black Queen.

The story pivots around you, molding to the weight of your impact. Who will you support in the coming war? Who gets to lead, where do they go, and what cities are irrevocably changed because of your choices?

“Such simple faith you hold in your rebellion! Have you never stopped to truly think about what it is that they’re fighting for? The goals they espouse are by no means the desires they hold close to their hearts. Think carefully about what they’ve been doing, and tell me truly that yours holds the moral high ground.”

-Emeric Marmont, Lord Mayor of Dubrovnik, an address to the city council

 

A MATURE, COMPLEX STORY

This isn’t a game about a person out to save the world. There is no grand evil coming to wipe out mankind. The Black Queen is a story about people; human beings fighting over goals and beliefs intimately familiar to your own; nowhere will you find a moustache-twirling villain out for power. There’s always a purpose behind a person’s actions, a strong, underlying motivation. And while it might not always be obvious in the game, you’ll know it’s there, one way or another.

In The Black Queen, you’ll find yourself navigating the twists and turns of courtly intrigue, you’ll agonize over crucial decisions that have no straightforward answers, and every betrayal you face will make you wonder which of your allies are actually enemies. This is a tangled knot of a story, and yours is the only hand that can unravel it.

It’s an odd fact of life that in times of great conflict and strife, someone always arises with possession of a rather singular capacity to, in a sense, reverse the tides of fortune. Some people call it divine guidance, while others say the turmoil provides the opportunity to those with the necessary qualities. Frankly, I know not which it is, but I certainly look forward to seeing just what sort of person rises to the occasion.

-Bishop Emeriti in a letter to Bishop Carloman

 

COMBAT

Nothing says exciting better than adrenaline-pumping, fast-paced, dynamic combat. In The Black Queen, combat is deadly. The choices you make and the skills you bring are just as important as the equipment you carry. With six different character attributes and over two-dozen weapons and skills, Balkan Realms offers gripping, intuitive combat. Hone your skills as a fighter with perfectly-timed parries, dodges, and blocks, or take the sneaky approach with spectacular backstabs, traps, and take-downs. The tactical options are endless!