As a fan of tactical RPGs, Brigandine: The Legend of Runersia looks really compelling. Though I wasn’t familiar with the first game, this latest entry appears to have a wealth of complexity and a very unique style. But it’s hard to gauge interest in a game until you’ve had some hands on time with it. Well, thankfully starting now Brigandine has a demo in the eShop! If that wasn’t enough, Brigandine is also getting the Limited Run Games treatment, with two different editions of the game available to preorder starting in May. And there’s also a snazzy new trailer.

You can find out more details for Brigandine: The Legend of Runersia by reading the full press release below. Stay tuned to oprainfall for more information about this promising tactical experience.


New Brigandine: The Legend of Runersia Game Demo Marches on Nintendo Switch Worldwide Today

Happinet Brings Free Demo to the Nintendo eShop For New and Returning Players to Experience the Strategy RPG Before its Launch on June 25; Preorders Available Now

Brigandine | Map Art

TOKYO, JAPAN – (April 30, 2020) – The Brigandine of Justice steps onto the battlefield…! Japanese videogame company, Happinet, announced that a demo for Brigandine: The Legend of Runersia has launched worldwide today on the Nintendo eShop for the Nintendo Switch™ system and is available to download now. Players can finally experience Brigandine after 20 long years before its June 25 launch on the Nintendo eShop worldwide!

Preorders for the digital version of Brigandine: The Legend of Runersia are available now via the Nintendo eShop. Additionally, in partnership with Limited Run Games, limited physical edition preorders will be available beginning May 1 and ends on June 7. The Collector’s Edition includes a reversible 18” x 24” poster, original soundtrack CD, Gustava emblem pin, housed in a custom box. A standard edition is also available.

Brigandine | Collector's Edition

The Brigandine: The Legend of Runersia Nintendo Switch demo features two key modes to select from for new players looking for a new fantasy strategy RPG and returning fans of the classic Brigandine series. The training mode offers players a tutorial on troop movement, invading bases and combat, while the Trial mode allows the player to take on the role of the Brigandine of Justice, ruler of the Norzaleo Kingdom in Easy mode. The demo ends when the player’s army reaches up to 10 seasons or when 7 bases have been occupied by the army*. However, the demo can be replayed for players to try different strategies and scenarios each time. Any game progress or save data players made in the demo will not transfer over to the game when it launches on June 25.

Brigandine | Organize and Invade

*Note to players: The Trial Version (Trial Mode) description after selecting “New Game” is incorrectly written as “experience a trial version of the game that lasts for three seasons”. The correct description is “The game will end after 10 seasons or when you occupy 7 bases”.

The veteran producers and developers shared additional details in the Producer Letter which was released today. The Producer Letter series which will be released until launch can be found here.

The Demo is out today!
I know this is sudden, but we’ve been working hard to get the Demo to players as quickly as possible.

Right now, the novel coronavirus is threatening the health and livelihoods of people all over the world. This is just my personal opinion, but I believe the people of the world can take this chance to unite against our common enemy – the virus – despite the trend for division in international affairs these days. It is my deep desire to see us emerge victorious from this adversity and regain peace. As a game developer, developing games is the only thing I can do. The full game is where you can play to your heart’s content, but we wanted fans to get an early taste. In order to get the Demo out as quickly as possible, we merely grabbed the first part of the main game. Nevertheless, we believe it gives you a good feel for what the new Brigandine has to offer.

The Demo contains two sections: Tutorial and Free Play. For new Brigandine players or those who seldom play strategy games, the tutorial will get you up to speed. Free play allows you to sample a small part of the full release. You will begin in Easy Mode as the Norzaleo Kingdom, located in the northwest corner of Runersia. You can play until you grow your original five bases into seven, or until 10 seasons have passed. Only being able to capture two bases in the Demo means the experience will be relatively short. Will you recapture Warren, the base the Holy Gustava Empire seized in the opening? Or will you march south and declare war on the Republic of Guimoule instead? Enjoy having free reign in this country conquest simulation game without being bound to clearing stages!

To make things easier for players, enemies in the Demo will not invade your country. We apologize for any inconvenience, but this means save data will not be transferable to the full version. When you do play the full version, don’t forget to add defense to your strategy!

There are still two months until the official release date on June 25, but development is finished, so you can expect it to land in your hands exactly on schedule!

As always, thank you for reading!

In Brigandine: The Legend of Runersia, six countries in the Continent of Runersia have waged a war to conquer and unify the land under one nation. Players decide how their legend will unfold by selecting a country and creating their army of Rune Knights, exploring over 40 base locations and encountering over 100 unique knights and 50 types of monsters as they progress across Runersia.

Brigandine | Combat 1

About Brigandine: The Legend of Runersia

In Runersia, a continent created by the Rune God, mana rains down endlessly. Eons ago, five Mana Stones were brought forth by this continent and passes through history alongside human nations, eventually embedding into special Brigandine equipment to create Rune Knights – special individuals who can wield the mana power and stones embedded into their armor to cast skills and magic as well as summon and control ancient monsters. Six Brigandine Countries of Runersia, each with conflicting ideals beliefs, histories, and faiths, are divided by Brigandines of Justice, Glory, Freedom, Sanctity, and Ego, while the sixth country exists without Brigandine. The goal is to win battles to expand their country’s influence until the entire continent of Runersia has been taken over by the player.

Featuring a Fantasy world conquest within the turn-based strategy genre, Brigandine: The Legend of Runersia will offer hundreds of hours of immersive gameplay in this stunning new campaign for conquest. Players choose one of six countries to assume the role of the ruler aiming to conquer Runersia, and command more than 100 Rune Knights throughout the six nations leading various monster troops of various dragons, ghouls, and fairies, into fierce battles on hexagonal grid maps in the tactical turn-based battle system.

Brigandine | Combat 2

Developed exclusively for the Nintendo Switch by Japanese developer Matrix Software and published by Happinet, Brigandine: The Legend of Runersia will be released digitally on the Nintendo eShop and available for preorder at an MRSP of $49.99/ €49.99. The limited physical editions are released by Limited Run Games will be available for preorder in a Standard Edition and Collector’s Edition, May 1 – June 7 for $49.99 and $79.99, respectively. This game has been rated “T for Teen” by the ESRB.

For more in-depth information about the game’s story, gameplay mechanics, and the top development talent behind making the game, please visit the official Brigandine: The Legend of Runersia website and follow the game’s latest updates on the official English Twitter account.

Josh Speer
Josh is a passionate gamer, finding time to clock in around 30-40 hours of gaming a week. He discovered Operation Rainfall while avidly following the localization of the Big 3 Wii RPGs. He enjoys SHMUPS, Platformers, RPGs, Roguelikes and the occasional Fighter. He’s also an unashamedly giant Mega Man fan, having played the series since he was eight. As Head Editor and Review Manager, he spends far too much time editing reviews and random articles. In his limited spare time he devours indies whole and anticipates the release of quirky, unpredictable and innovative games.