Strange Scaffold, known for titles such as I Am Your Beast and El Paso, Elsewhere, has announced its latest project: Gods With Badges. This narrative tactics game, revealed during the Triple-I Initiative showcase, centers on the significant power police officers wield over life and death decisions. It is scheduled for a 2027 release on PC via Steam.
The game casts players as Harrow McClellan, a police officer whose disgraced past has become legendary. Harrow is transferred back to her original precinct, where every dialogue choice and turn-based encounter allows players to either lean into her notoriety or attempt to transcend it. Players will navigate the dystopian city of Scarhelm, a setting filled with open hubs where Harrow will patrol, investigate complaints, seize contraband, and search for evidence. The choices made in dialogue, as well as decisions regarding arrests and the use of force, will directly influence Harrow's relationships with her colleagues, the public, and the city's institutions.
A pivotal mechanic in Gods With Badges occurs when situations escalate, shifting the gameplay to isometric turn-based combat. During these sequences, players can utilize cover, rescue hostages, and carefully choose their level of force. The game introduces a unique element where players can temporarily disable Harrow's body camera. This action unlocks new tactical and dialogue options but removes the public record of subsequent events, adding a layer of moral ambiguity and consequence.
Gods With Badges originated from Hard Justice, a strategy game concept from the studio Artificer that was never realized. Strange Scaffold has built upon the foundations and development materials of this original project, reinterpreting them within their distinct style. This project also marks another entry in Project Share, an initiative pioneered by Strange Scaffold to foster collaboration among developers by exchanging technology and exploring sustainable game development practices.
Xalavier Nelson Jr., Strange Scaffold's studio head, stated that Gods With Badges is one of the studio's most ambitious undertakings, owing to its unique production circumstances and the desire for cultural impact. He expressed gratitude to the original developers at Artificer for entrusting them with the project and conveyed eagerness for players to experience what has been built upon its complex foundation, emphasizing that the game is being approached with seriousness and a commitment to creating something both intentional and striking.
The game's soundtrack is being composed by Kris Kirk, who previously scored Space Warlord Baby Trading Simulator. Strange Scaffold's previous work, I Am Your Beast, was positively received, with one review noting its bombastic nature and thoughtful design despite a schlocky presentation, calling it a trim, frenetic, and impactful shooter.