This is a preview copy sent to us for our early opinions. No money exchanged hands. Some art, rules or components will change in the final game. Find out more here
There is a special kind of confidence that comes from sticking the landing on something so big, then immediately deciding to go bigger. Damian did exactly that with Heroes of the Shire and now he is back with Light & Shadow, the final instalment in the series, heading to Gamefound on March 3rd. I sat down with him for a chat about what he has been up to, what has changed in the game, who it is built for, and what might be lurking beyond the Shire once this chapter closes.
Hello Damian, Heroes Of The Shire was an ambitious project, but it went down a storm, and now you are back for more. Before we get into the new game, what have the last few years looked like for you?
Since the release of Heroes of the Shire, we have been full steam ahead developing the final instalment of the series, Light & Shadow, which launches on Gamefound on March 3rd.
My partner and I also welcomed a baby last year, which, as you can imagine, has taken up much of our time. That said, it has also been incredibly motivating. He is my biggest inspiration and a constant reminder of why we are so passionate about creating something lasting and meaningful.
That is amazing! Congratulations. So sleepless nights and another huge game project! Let us talk Light & Shadow. When you say this is the final instalment, what is actually new here? How has the game evolved since the earlier HOTS titles?
Combat Maps! In previous Heroes of the Shire games, heroes explored scenario hexes. When a battle started, enemies were summoned and combat happened without a map. Players took turns casting spells. In Light & Shadow, every scenario hex now has its own combat map. These are stored inside the spiral binders. The hexes still act as a world map, but when a battle begins, you now zoom into that hex. Heroes and enemies are placed directly onto the combat map. Each combat map is unique and matches the theme and artwork of the scenario.
The Movement Phase has also changed. Because battles now take place on tactical combat maps, heroes need a way to move. A new Movement Phase has been added. During this phase, players draw three movement cards and choose one. That card determines how much the hero can move during their turn.
Another new feature in Light & Shadow is the Roaming Mini-Boss. This enemy moves around the scenario hexes during the game. Its direction is decided by rolling the Boss Die when instructed. As it moves, the mini-boss leaves Encounter Tokens on each hex it travels through.
Encounter Tokens are placed on hexes by the roaming mini-boss. When heroes collect one, it triggers an Encounter Card. There are six possible encounters, chosen randomly by rolling a D6.
Also, previous games only used cardboard standees, as there was no tactical combat map.
With the addition of combat maps, heroes and bosses now move around the battlefield. For this reason, we have introduced premium acrylic standees for heroes and bosses. This gives them both a visual and functional upgrade.
Heroes are also now rewarded more for levelling up. At Level four, a hero unlocks an additional spell mastery from the skill tree. At Level eight, they unlock a powerful master ability.
These unlocks give players long-term goals and make progression feel meaningful over many hours of play.
Awesome! That is a lot of new stuff, and it sounds like you have leaned harder into tactics and progression. So who is Light & Shadow really for? What kind of gamer do you see falling in love with it?
The game is designed with two distinct modes, each intended to appeal to different types of gaming groups.
The Arena Mode is ideal for players who enjoy interactive player-versus-player experiences. It will particularly appeal to fans of games such as Dice Throne, King of Tokyo, Unmatched, and trading card games. It has a strong focus on direct interaction and fast-paced play.
The Scenario Mode offers a campaign-driven experience designed to be played across multiple sessions. This mode is aimed at players who enjoy deeper, long form games and meaningful progression. Players are rewarded with a robust levelling system that unlocks new spells and abilities. It also includes additional level four and level eight hero content introduced in Light & Shadow. With its added depth and complexity, Scenario Mode is very much a game for dedicated gamers.
Having both game modes in a single box allows the game to appeal to a wider range of players without compromise.
I would agree! I love the Scenario mode myself. If people are reading this and thinking Right, I am in what is the timeline? When can they back it, and when can they realistically expect to get it to the table?
Our crowdfunding campaign will go live on Gamefound on March 3rd, with an estimated fulfilment date of May 2027 and a global retail release planned for summer 2027.
Good luck! Last one from me. Once Light & Shadow launches, what happens next? Is this the end of HOTS for a while, or have you already got the next adventure lined up?
There is one more instalment planned for the Heroes of the Shire universe. Details are under wraps for now, but a very small hint might already say enough.
In addition, we are developing a new 4X game, which will be our first title outside the Heroes of the Shire universe. While it explores a new setting, it will retain some familiar elements, including shared mechanics such as our cooldown dice system. We look forward to sharing more details in the future.
And there you have it: Light & Shadow is shaping up to be a proper final chapter kind of project. It has tactical combat maps, roaming troublemakers, and progression that sounds like it is finally been given room to breathe. The campaign hits Gamefound on March 3rd. If you have been following the series, now is the moment to circle the date, sharpen your spells, and clear some table space. Just remember: if Damian is small hint is already saying enough, the next instalment might not be the only thing creeping up on us.
But what do we think of the game?
Light & Shadow sounds like the sort of game that does not just give you a setting, it gives you a world. Not in a vague there is some flavour text way either, but in that deep, rich, lived-in sense where the lore feels baked into the systems and the moments at the table. It is the final instalment in the Heroes of the Shire series, and it reads like a designer going: right, if we are closing this chapter, let us make it sing. The big headline is the shift to tactical combat maps. One for every scenario hex. This is a massive upgrade. It turns every fight into a spatial puzzle. You are not just trading hits anymore. You are thinking about positioning, movement cards, and the unique layout of the map.
The addition of the Roaming Mini-Boss and Encounter Tokens adds a layer of unpredictability to the world map. It makes the world feel alive and dangerous. You never know when that boss might show up or what encounter you will trigger. It keeps you on your toes.
The progression system has been fleshed out too. Getting new spell masteries at level four and powerful master abilities at level eight gives you something to really look forward to. It makes the long campaign feel worth it. The acrylic standees are a nice touch as well. They look great on the new combat maps.
And having two modes in one box is smart. You can play a quick Arena match with friends or settle in for a long Scenario campaign. It really does have something for everyone.
We are very excited to see this game come to life. It has been a long journey, but we think Light & Shadow will be the best one yet. We hope you will join us for the final chapter.
