Creating Tumble Tavern has been an incredible journey of prototyping, playtesting and exploring what this world could become.
As Guildhelm Studios’ first game, it marks a significant milestone for us. We are thrilled to have brought the project this far, and we cannot wait to get it into your hands. If you are reading this after release, we hope you are already enjoying your time at the table.
From Farkle to fantasy
Tumble Tavern began as a passion project. A few of us loved playing Farkle in Kingdom Come: Deliverance and wanted to explore how that compelling mixture of chance and strategy could become the foundation of a complete game.
The medieval setting already felt perfect, but we wanted to push it further into fantasy. Runes, spells and magical dice gave us new ways to build on the familiar rules, create surprising combinations and make every decision at the table more interesting.
At its heart, Tumble Tavern is still about the tension of the roll: knowing when to keep pushing, when to protect your progress and when to take a risk. The fantasy elements let us expand those decisions without losing the simple appeal that made us love the game in the first place.
Building a tavern worth staying in
The setting matters just as much as the dice. Our ambition was to create a rich, atmospheric tavern that feels like a place you will want to spend time in, not simply a backdrop for a menu.
It is a place to roll, strategise and battle, surrounded by the warmth, mystery and character of a fantasy inn. Every iteration has helped us understand what makes the tavern feel alive and what makes each run worth returning to.
Choose how you play
When designing Tumble Tavern, we knew that one way to play would not be enough.
As someone who loves roguelites, strategy games and games of chance, I wanted players to have meaningful choices about how they approach the game. Different modes create different rhythms and challenges, whether you want a focused battle or a run that tests how long your strategy can survive.
I have personally become obsessed with our Endless Gauntlet mode. It captures exactly what I enjoy about this kind of game: adapting as the pressure builds, finding new combinations and convincing yourself that you can survive just one more round.
What comes next
Developing Tumble Tavern has been an incredible learning experience. Through every prototype and playtest, we have found our footing and laid a strong foundation for Guildhelm Studios as an independent game studio and publisher.
The free Tumble Tavern demo is live on Steam, with the full game planned for 12 November 2026.
Visit the Steam page to wishlist Tumble Tavern and follow our journey towards launch. We will see you at the table.
9 September update: demo live and Steam Next Fest
Tumble Tavern is joining Steam Next Fest, 19–26 October 2026. The free demo is now publicly available on Steam, ahead of schedule.
Follow the official game website and Steam page for current news, and find coverage resources in the Tumble Tavern press kit.