Let the bard in or toss him off the bridge – in this game you are the castle's bouncer

In the Middle Ages, castle guards played a crucial role – it wasn’t always easy to tell smugglers and thieves from honest townsfolk. At times, even questionable characters slipped through the gate, as not every guard could resist a heavy coin purse. For anyone curious about what life was like as a castle gatekeeper, a recent Steam announcement offers the chance to find out. Gate Guard Simulator promises exactly that.

Unveiled on December 9 by Redox Interactive, the game places players in the daily routine of a medieval gate guard. You'll check documents, verify seals, spot smugglers and identify plague victims. How strictly you enforce the rules is up to you – but every choice has consequences. The first trailer offers a taste of what's to come: suspicious papers, nervous merchants, a persistent goose and even a bard who gets launched off the bridge, complete with the classic Wilhelm Scream.

A playtest has already been announced on Steam, though details about its start date or scope remain unclear. Players can sign up now and add the game to their wishlist. The concept has been well received in the YouTube comments, with the community showing strong interest and drawing comparisons to Kingdom Come (currently $39 on Amazon for the Royal Edition), Contraband Police and a "medieval Papers, Please." Some criticism, however, has been directed at the use of AI-generated visuals and voices – especially the bard's AI-sung intro.