A quirky turn-based puzzle game where you help the Gnome King, Shorty, Escape from his own tower! Navigate handmade levels, Kill monsters, Dodge traps, Purify allies, and Teleport on your path to freedom, while meeting a cast of silly characters along the way.
Release Date:
May 29, 2025
Developer:
Publisher:
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Free Demo

Play Will The King Escape? Demo

Check out the full game

 

About This Demo

Begin the Escape of King Shorty!

This Demo allows you to escape from the Royal Halls of the Tower, which are basically the first zone of the game!

Face the challenges and decide whether or not the complete experience is up your alley!

Which Enemies Will You Encounter?

The first invaders of the Tower await nothing but King Shorty's death!

In the first 25 levels of the game you must reach the stairs of every level befor the turns run out, thinking carefully about your steps towards freedom!

Be careful, because the Tower is filled with enemies, like:

  • Goblins that hate sunlight so much that they are stunned by it.

  • Corrupted Gnomes that await only to be purified by their king... or to kill him. 

  • Fearsome Nagas ready to leave their waters to right a wrong they have suffered.

How Will You Flee?

During King Shorty's escape, you will have to sharpen your wits by exploiting:

  • Sunlight, to illuminate the Tower through some very royal windows.

  • Many, many, Crates to move that are not always helpful... 

  • A very long and royal carpet that leads towards the stairs... and many enemies.

  • Some other things...

Is This Game for You?

The Aim of this Demo is to let you know if King Shorty's escape is worth your time and money.

If you are still undecided about trying the game, then the following section is for you.

In short, you will like this game if:

  • You like turn-based games.

  • You appreciate convoluted levels.

  • Limits don't bother you.

  • You like puzzle games where you are often stuck without immidiately grasping the reason.

  • You like to think ahead.

  • You like crates.

  • You don't trust carpets. 

You will, most likely, dislike this game if:

  • You like games with fast and adrenalinic gameplay.

  • You don't like fantasy.

  • You don't like silly humor.

  • You don't like to be trapped.

  • You don't want to waste time stuck in the same level.

  • You don't like to restart a level if you make a mistake.

  • Pixel art is not for you.

FAQ

  • Is this game a Prologue?

No, this is the Demo of "Will The King Escape?", which includes, in its entirety, the first zone of the game. It is not a prequel. It is not a game on its own.

It is a (comperatively big) section of the full game that I've released in order to help you understand whether the game will be worth buying (once it’s released)!

  • Once the game is released, do I have to restart from the first level?

I set up the save system to ensure compatibility with the full game. So if you complete the demo and then purchase the game, your progress should carry over.

  • When will you release the full game?

In the summer of 2025

  • Is there any planned DLC?

No.

  • Will the game have Mac support?

I can't test the games on those devices, so no.

  • Will the game have Steam Deck support?

Right now the game works on Steam Deck, as does the Demo.

However, I don't own one, and for this reason I cannot offer complete support on the Steam Deck. Expect some minor problems/inconsistencies if you play on there.

(Examples: working controls, even though they may not be detected correctly or might be swapped.)

  • The Turns Limit is too strict, can I change it?

Yes, you can select the lower difficulty on the option menu. It should work as soon as you restart the level.

  • Does the demo allow control remapping?

Yes.

System Requirements

Windows
SteamOS + Linux
    Minimum:
    • OS: Windows 10
    • Processor: 2,3 Ghz Dual Core
    • Memory: 4 GB RAM
    • Graphics: 1 GB VRAM
    • Storage: 300 MB available space
    Minimum:
    • Processor: 2,3 Ghz Dual Core
    • Memory: 4 GB RAM
    • Graphics: 1 GB VRAM
    • Storage: ~650 MB available space
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