Brutally funny medieval combat simulation: Hyped demo nears Early Access release

Half Sword launched as a demo in October 2023 and saw a surge in popularity by spring 2025, peaking at more than 15,000 concurrent players according to SteamDB. Interest has remained strong ever since. The game blends realistic medieval combat with over-the-top humor – a combination that appears to resonate strongly with the community.

Players begin as ordinary citizens and battle their way through the arena to become fully fledged knights. The game features historically accurate weapons and armor, with physics-based combat that accounts for weight, inertia and reach. If all else fails, players can always fight with their bare fists. Swords slice off limbs, spears impale enemies and clubs crush bones. On Reddit, this blend of realistic physics and brutal combat is described as bizarrely entertaining – with the fighters’ pain-racked screams adding to the chaos. Countless absurdly funny clips are now circulating online, likely contributing to the game’s rising popularity. Here is one example:

Much to the delight of fans, Half Sword will enter Early Access on January 30, 2026. To mark the occasion, developer Half Sword Games and publisher Game Seer have released a new trailer. Pricing details, however, have yet to be announced. Steam Deck compatibility (available on Amazon for $590) is currently listed as “Unknown.” Support appears unlikely, as Half Sword is designed for mouse and keyboard and does not offer native controller support. A console version also seems improbable for the same reason.