PREVIEW – A realistic medieval The Last of Us featuring a Baldur’s Gate 3 actress and a fearless Italian development team. 1348: Ex Voto is a small studio’s grand ambition, set to arrive in 2026 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series consoles.

Every year, countless games debut at major events only to vanish days later into the overwhelming sea of announcements and releases. 1348: Ex Voto could have easily shared that fate — but it deserves far better. First revealed at the Future Games Show 2025, this third-person action adventure immediately caught attention with its stunning medieval European setting and its ambition to deliver the emotional weight of The Last of Us. After seeing it in motion behind closed doors, I’m convinced that this medieval drama is shaping up to be one of the most promising indie projects out there — especially with Jennifer English (from Baldur’s Gate 3) among the cast, and a world that’s both harshly realistic and deeply human.

A Journey Through the Middle Ages: Between History and Fiction

What immediately strikes you when seeing Ex Voto in action is how meticulously crafted and authentic its world feels. The Italian developers didn’t have to look far for inspiration — the story unfolds in Southern Italy during the 14th century, along “the boot’s” rugged coastline, at the height of the Black Death. Naturally, comparisons to A Plague Tale come to mind, yet there’s a crucial difference: while Asobo Studio’s saga focused on the plague itself, Ex Voto uses it as a grim social backdrop, allowing its story to focus instead on its characters and their personal struggles.

The protagonist, Aeta, is a young noblewoman turned knight who has lost her family and now searches for her childhood friend, Bianca — the only bond left tying her to her past. Aeta is an unusual figure in medieval Europe: a female knight whose presence defies historical norms yet feels perfectly natural in this setting. Developer Sedleo enlisted two experienced actresses, Alby Baldwin and Jennifer English, who brought not only their voices but also their full motion capture performances to the characters. This gives Ex Voto a sense of authenticity and emotional depth, presenting the Middle Ages not as a distant legend but as a harsh, human world.

The Developers Don’t Apologize — And That’s A Good Thing

Although the team says social issues won’t take center stage — Aeta behaves more like an Italian Arya Stark, walking her own path — the developers are aware that some might raise an eyebrow at a female knight in medieval Europe. “We don’t mind,” said Tom Oceano, the game’s director. “We know not everyone will accept that idea, but it’s the story we want to tell.” He added: “This isn’t a fantasy game, and there are no supernatural elements either.”

Ex Voto is grounded historical fiction — a dreamlike yet brutally real journey through landscapes torn apart by war. Historians and architects were consulted to ensure that every building, battlefield, and ruin reflects authentic 14th-century Italy. The story unfolds amid a spiritual and moral crisis born from the plague, as the republics of Florence, Venice, Milan, and Genoa wage political and military battles for power. The goal of Sedleo isn’t to exaggerate the violence or misery, but to portray the raw reality of the era — all within an estimated eight-hour campaign that promises intensity over length.

Like Hellblade — Linear, Intense, and Personal

Ex Voto isn’t about epic large-scale battles but about raw, personal conflict. The developers chose a more linear structure where action takes precedence and stealth remains secondary. Combat encounters are small in scale — usually involving just one or two enemies — but every strike feels brutal and final. The combat carries the physical weight of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, where each slash, dodge, and parry feels deliberate, and one mistake can mean death.

The gameplay also features a Ghost of Tsushima-inspired stance system, offering two styles: one-handed and two-handed. The one-handed stance is faster and more mobile but riskier to defend with, while the two-handed stance provides precision and strength at the cost of speed. Switching between stances happens instantly and fluidly, without breaking the pace of combat. Borrowing inspiration from Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, both Aeta and her enemies have a balance system — lose your stance, and you’ll be wide open to a devastating finishing blow.

This isn’t a soulslike, though. As Oceano explains, “It’s not a Souls game — it’s more like Hellblade with the soul of The Last of Us.” There’s no weapon swapping or deep RPG system, but Aeta’s sword can be customized for both visual flair and handling upgrades. Ex Voto aims to be a focused, emotionally charged action game that prioritizes storytelling, character, and historical authenticity over complexity or grind.

Plenty of questions remain, but based on its concept, visuals, and strong performances, 1348: Ex Voto stands out as one of the most intriguing and distinctive European projects on the horizon. Scheduled for release in 2026 on PC and consoles, if Sedleo delivers on its vision, this might just be the next big surprise in narrative-driven action gaming.

– Gergely Herpai “BadSector” –

Source: 3djuegos