From Press Release:
Knights of Frontier Valley, the challenging, deeply immersive roguelike RPG, isn’t just a love letter to the golden age of role-playing games—it’s a feat of solo development. In a brand-new developer blog, creator Martin Menzel reveals how he spent years building his own custom engine to bring the Valley to life — including low-level plumbing work like memory management and rendering, but also features like pathfinding, adaptive game time, weather modeling, and much more.
It’s not your average behind-the-scenes post. Explaining in great detail how characters act and travel in an ever-changing world—whether you’re watching them or not, this devlog pulls back the curtain and shares the developer’s journey to make the custom engine in a way that requires no tech skills to understand.
If you’ve ever wondered how an RPG simulates hundreds of independent lives at once—or if you just enjoy watching a passionate dev go full wizard mode—this one’s for you.
“There are easier ways to make a game,” Martin says, “but I wanted full code control to build my vision from the ground up, no shortcuts.”
About Knights of Frontier Valley
Knights of Frontier Valleyis a procedurally generated, turn-based RPG that drops players into the boots of an adventurer in a richly simulated world. From seasonal weather and shifting faction politics to hunger, sickness, and survival mechanics, it blends classic CRPG nostalgia with dynamic systems and tough decisions. Built on a fully custom engine crafted by a solo developer over years, every element serves one goal: immersion that feels alive.
Key Features:
- Procedurally generated world: new maps, items, and storylines every run
- Gridless, turn-based tactical combat—or instant auto-resolve
- Deep survival systems (hunger, exhaustion, cold, wounds, and more)
- Hand-drawn art—no generative AI used
- Hundreds of persistent NPCs with their own behaviors and routines
- Realistic seasons, day/night cycles, and dynamic weather
- Built on a completely custom engine designed by a single developer
A Historic Collaboration for RPG Fans
With the legendary Rob Kuntz contributing his design expertise to Knights of Frontier Valley, this project brings in one of the earliest architects of tabletop role-playing—his work on Dungeons & Dragons helped define the genre. His creative involvement makes this a must-watch release for fans of deep, classic RPG systems.
A True Indie Gem, Backed by MicroProse and Enriched by a Legend+
Created by Martin Menzel, a passionate solo developer using a custom-built engine, Knights of Frontier Valley honors the spirit of classic RPGs while forging its own path into the future.
With MicroProse’s support and Rob Kuntz’s creative guidance, this is more than just a game — it’s a love letter to the entire history of role-playing, from the tabletop to the digital age.
