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O EMPIRE! WARD OFF THY ROT

About this game

The rapture came and went;
those who remained grow sick,
they scavenge in the wreckage,
seeking shelter.

Carry an ancient artifact across a desolate medieval continent.

Play as a lone traveller transporting a cursed object through a vast, abandoned world. The objective is to survive the journey, travel as far as possible and ultimately decide how to manage the burden you carry.

The game is a slow, journey-driven survival experience focused on travel rather than combat. Stamina and supplies must be managed as you traverse long distances on foot through ruins, roads and bleak terrain. Knowing when to push forward or retreat is central to progression.

Progress is defined by distance travelled, resources secured and endurance over time. The artifact may influence movement and decision-making, becoming increasingly difficult to carry.

Narrative is delivered through environmental storytelling and rare encounters, with minimal dialogue or exposition. The tone is bleak and contemplative, inspired by slow cinema, low fantasy and mythic allegory.

Features

  • Slow, meditative single-player survival focused on travel and endurance

  • Resource management, scavenging and light stamina systems

  • Large interconnected world with abandoned settlements and landmarks

  • Minimal and readable mechanics

  • Atmospheric focused design

This is a game about carrying weight - literal and moral -through an indifferent world, where persistence itself is the only form of progress.

O EMPIRE! WARD OFF THY ROT

A slow, meditative survival journey across a bleak continent. Carry an evil artifact, manage scarce resources, scavenge abandoned places and decide how far you’re willing to endure in a world that offers no reassurance.

Developer

Dean Moynihan

Publisher

Dean Moynihan

Release Date

15 February, 2026

Platforms