The Three Kingdoms of Shadows

The currently downloadable file is only a demo version. If you're interested after trying it, please add it to your wishlist. I’d be very, very grateful!

Hey everyone, I’m Peng Yan! My game is nearly done, and I’m gearing up for the next Steam Next Fest. Let me introduce you to my project!

This is a city management game centered on the brief period when Liu Bei governed XuZhou, weaving a series of stories around that historical moment. I’ve aimed to stay true to historical records, drawing inspiration from Romance of the Three Kingdoms, but since this is a fictional work, I’ve leaned slightly into conspiracy theories for a unique spin. Some folks have asked why I chose Xuzhou—well, as an indie dev, keeping costs manageable is key. By focusing on a smaller historical slice, I can pour more effort into crafting a complete, engaging story. That’s one of my core goals!

Allow me to toot my own horn: this will be a different kind of Three Kingdoms game. Unlike traditional games where you play as a lord making unilateral decisions in a heroic, solo narrative, this game emphasizes group decision-making. Even as a supreme lord, you can’t just dictate everything. You’ll need to listen to your advisors, negotiate, and persuade them to align with your vision. Only when you reach a consensus will your decisions be effectively executed. Fail to do so, and you’ll face inefficiency or half-hearted efforts from your team.

In a way, playing this game feels less like being an ancient warlord and more like being a CEO running a company. Outwardly, you might seem decisive, but behind the scenes, it’s all about rallying support. Whether it’s winning over merchants, nobles, commoners, or even rival factions like Lü Bu’s forces, it’s all up to you! Your goal is to pass the laws you want by gaining maximum support and, with your advisors’ input, make Xuzhou as prosperous as possible.

P.S. I’ve added some cool side content! There’s a Lovecraftian side quest involving a mysterious sheep corpse outside the city (yep, blending in some modern flair). I’ve designed two UI styles—one standard, one Cthulhu-themed—that switch during this quest, with day/night scenes getting darker for extra vibe. Other side quests include visiting a great scholar, a marriage event with Mi Zhu, and a sashimi banquet hosted by Chen Deng. Main story development is at 70%, side quests at 50%. Hoping to wrap it all up this year!If this sounds intriguing, please follow along! The current Steam demo doesn’t fully reflect the real gameplay—it’s just an early prototype. Stay tuned for the proper demo at Steam Next Fest!

当前游戏为早期demo版本，如果试玩后感兴趣可以加个愿望单!

我是鹏砚！我的游戏即将完成，正准备参加下一次 Steam Next Fest。让我来介绍一下我的项目吧！

这是一款以刘备治理徐州短暂时期为背景的城市管理游戏，围绕这一历史时刻编织了一系列故事。我力求忠于历史记载，汲取了《三国演义》的灵感，但作为虚构作品，我略微加入了一些阴谋论元素，打造独特的风格。有人问我为什么选择徐州——作为一名独立开发者，控制成本非常重要。聚焦于一个较小的历史片段，我可以投入更多精力打造一个完整、引人入胜的故事。这是我的核心目标之一！容我自夸一句：这将是一款与众不同的三国游戏！不同于传统游戏中玩家扮演领主，独自做出英雄式的单方面决策，这款游戏强调群体决策。即使身为至高无上的领主，你也无法一意孤行。你需要倾听谋士的意见，与他们协商、说服他们认同你的愿景。只有达成共识，你的决策才能有效执行。如果做不到，你的团队可能会效率低下，甚至敷衍了事。

在某种程度上，玩这款游戏的感觉不像古代军阀，更像是经营公司的 CEO。表面上你看似果断，但幕后需要凝聚支持。无论是赢得商人、贵族、平民的支持，还是与吕布的敌对势力周旋，一切都取决于你！你的目标是通过争取最大支持，推行你想要的法令，并在谋士的协助下，让徐州尽可能繁荣。

P.S. 我还加入了一些很酷的支线内容！有一个克苏鲁风格的支线任务，涉及城外一具神秘的羊尸（是的，融入了一些现代元素）。我设计了两种 UI 风格——标准风格和克苏鲁主题风格，在这个任务期间会切换，日夜场景也会变得更暗，增添氛围。其他支线包括拜访大儒、与糜竺的婚姻事件，以及陈登主持的生鱼片宴会。主线剧情开发进度为 70%，支线任务为 50%，希望今年能全部完成！如果这听起来有趣，请持续关注！当前的 Steam 演示版无法完全反映真实玩法，仅为早期原型。请期待 Steam Next Fest 的正式演示版！