Valorborn, the upcoming open-world sandbox RPG that developer Laps Games describes as a "dangerous, reactive medieval fantasy world full of freedom, tension, and possibility," officially has an early access release date. It'll arrive on PC first through Steam, and it'll be out in early access on April 15, 2026.
Sim and city-building fans may already recognize Laps Games as the developer behind Land of the Vikings, the 2023 strategy city-building sim that lets you create intricate Viking colonies and challenges you to lead your people through difficult winters, military expeditions, all while managing resources so your colony can thrive instead of just getting by.
Valorborn zooms its focus in on your individual character rather than an entire colony, with emergent storytelling that evolves depending on where you choose to explore. It's a world that'll continue to grow and evolve with or without you, with villagers in their routines, different factions constantly vying for power on their own clock, and a shifting world that may seem safe when you leave it only for its most dangerous elements to be right on your doorstep when you return.
When it arrives in early access, you'll be able to start your journey in Thareon, the first major kingdom you'll be able to explore. Thareon is one of several kingdoms that were part of the Allarion Empire, with your journey kicking off just after the fall of the Allarion Empire. More kingdoms within the fallen empire will be made available as the game continues to grow and develop, and each will bring its own unique quirks and customs, like how the worst crime you can commit in Thareon is practicing magic. A significant contradiction to the fact that magic was once a significant part of Allarion, and remains a significant force in the world.
Because Valorborn is a game that moves on even when you're not playing, with you driving your own path, one of its more significant elements is permadeath. Laps Games calls it a core feature in the game's design, forcing you to think very carefully about how you move through the world, whether you've chosen to be a sword-for-hire, a thief, a hunter, a lone traveler or a member of a larger party.
"Valorborn is an ambitious project for us, and it was made possible by the support we received for Land of the Vikings," said Laps Games founder Onurhan Akçay, in a press release. "That support gave us the foundation to build something bigger and more systemic. With Valorborn, we wanted to create a world where players can truly choose their own path and write their own stories. A lot of our inspiration comes from games like Mount & Blade, Wartales, and Kenshi, and from worlds like Game of Thrones and The Lord of the Rings. Those inspirations helped shape the kind of experience we wanted to make, a dangerous, reactive medieval fantasy world full of freedom, tension, and possibility."
About the author: David has been writing about videogames, technology, and culture since 2020, with a focus on reporting daily news across multiple publications, including GameDaily.Biz, GameSkinny, and PlayStation Universe before joining Wccftech in 2025. David started contributing as Canada/US reporter for Wccftech's gaming section in 2025. Besides being up-to-date on the industry's movements, he loves interviewing developers, reviewing games, and writing intricate essays about the symbolism and layered meanings to be found in rich narratives as he's done for publications like GamesIndustry.Biz, LostInCult, and others. Outside of games he loves movies, music, theatre, his hometown, and his family, though not necessarily in that order.
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