Steamforged Games has opened pre-orders for Strangelight Workshop, a standalone 5e-compatible roleplaying game of supernatural investigation set in the popular Iron Kingdoms universe.
The game places players in the roles of specialist field agents who form teams to investigate and neutralise paranormal threats. In a world defined by arcane science and steam power, these agents are armed with peculiar prototype technology, their own wits, and a talent for unorthodox problem-solving. When someone in the realm has a strange problem, the Strangelight Workshop is there to provide an even stranger solution.
Steamforged Games has previously described the concept as a fresh direction for the setting, a “Hellboy-meets-Ghostbusters in a steam-powered world of mechanika and sorcery,” challenging players to crack cases and uncover mysteries on the fringes of civilisation.
The Iron Kingdoms setting is well-established and has a strong reputation, having previously secured multiple ENNIE Awards for Best World, Best Game, and Best Art. Geek Native has followed the story of the iconic setting’s new home, noting how swiftly Steamforged moved with the Iron Kingdoms licence after acquiring it. The project’s authenticity is further bolstered by the involvement of the setting’s original lead designer, Matt Goetz.
Two books are currently available for pre-order. The Strangelight Workshop core rulebook is a complete campaign book that contains rules for riveting paranormal investigations, intriguing new classes and ancestries, and an arsenal of over 70 creature-busting spells and pieces of inventive gear.
Alongside the core rules is the Specternomicon, a guide to the many supernatural entities that roam the world. This bestiary introduces over 80 paranormal creatures to challenge agents and inspire Game Masters.
The publisher, Manchester-based Steamforged Games, is celebrating its 11th anniversary this year. The studio is known for its original intellectual properties and its extensive catalogue of tabletop adaptations of popular video games, including titles such as ELDEN RING, Monster Hunter: World, and Resident Evil.
