The Cologne-based (Germany) indie games developer Playing Mantis are today very happy and excited to announce that their wholesome, casual, story-rich Roguelike, ‘Solstride’, is now in development for PC.

What Solstride Is:
“Solstride is a deeply personal game, a labor of love,” says Juniper Alves (they/them), co-founder and Game Director of Playing Mantis. “It is a wholesome adventure about friendship and finding your heart. Our game adds a unique and unexpected mix of gameplay mechanics to the cozy game genre: It is highly accessible and allows cozy gamers to immerse themselves not only in a rich story, but progress through casual turn-based combat and base-building where decorating unlocks upgrades for your fellowship.”

Solstride blends emotional gameplay with tactical weight. Set in a cozy solarpunk world it features an extraordinary blend of gameplay elements, incl. dialogues with meaningful decisions and accessible turn-based combat, which is quite unusual for the cozy games genre. Its story together with its beautiful hand-drawn art, inspired by anime and fairy tales, has a powerful message, particularly important in our current times of turmoil and multi-crises: What does it mean to be human?

Game Highlights:
• Endearing animal companions with evolving abilities
• Sanctuary building that affects exploration and combat
• Relaxed & rewarding turn-based roguelike gameplay
• Deep narrative about friendship, resilience, and connection
• Full accessibility support (subtitles, adjustable UI, controller support)

About Playing Mantis
We are an indie studio founded in April 2025 by experienced game developers based in North-Rhine-Westphalia. Work-life balance is important to us, so we have fully embraced working remotely and with very flexible working hours. The games we work on might be quirky, but we take a pragmatic approach to game development and project management, to make sure everyone manages their time and energy efficiently. We aspire to make games and spaces that are inclusive to everyone.

Robin “V-Act” Ek
Editor in chief
The Gaming Ground
Twitter: @TheGamingGround

More by Robin Ek:

• The unique horror game ‘Hoarder’ has just been announced for PC
• The story-driven investigative adventure, ‘Rainbow Billy: The Book of Fears’, has just been announced for PC
• Antstream Arcade just teamedup with Xbox to launch retro classics for game pass members
• The stylish noir stealth action-adventure “The Shadow Syndicate” is coming to PC and consoles in 2026
• The brutal gothic pixel-art action platformer “Slain 2: The Beast Within” is coming to PC in 2025

Tags: Indie games, PC games, Playing Mantis, Roguelike, Solstride, Steam