This upcoming third-person, open-world RPG from Poland is taking realistic swordplay so seriously that the team has brought in a historical fencing world champion to shape its combat. The Vernyhorn is openly aiming for a grounded, simulation-style fighting system that can match – or even surpass – what Kingdom Come 2 will offer, although players will not get their hands on it before 2027 at the earliest.

Poland has, on its own merits, become one of the most important hubs for video game development in Europe. Not only have studios like Techland and CD Projekt RED emerged from there, but the country continues to give players plenty of reasons to keep an eye on what is coming next. Now the team at InterStudio wants to join that roster of high-profile creators with The Vernyhorn, a third-person, open-world RPG that mixes a dark, late-medieval atmosphere with classic role-playing systems.

Although one of the game’s main selling points is realistic combat inspired by Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 and its predecessor, the truth is that The Vernyhorn dives far deeper by drawing on the myths, beliefs and brutal day-to-day realities of Slavic societies during the High Middle Ages. Its open world will feature a wide range of biomes, from ancient forests to swamps and harsh mountain ranges, and every village, cave, and clearing is meant to have its own story. To push authenticity even further, the developers are using photogrammetry and real-world scans of locations in Poland to build a setting that balances on the edge between grounded realism and dark fantasy.

The Vernyhorn Aims For Relentless, Realistic Combat

On the gameplay side, The Vernyhorn promises a demanding and highly physical combat system: as InterStudio puts it, “You fight to survive, not for honor”. To make each strike and movement look and feel as real as possible, the studio has used motion capture sessions with actual sword-fighting and martial-arts champions, including Antoni Olbrychski, a world champion in historical fencing.

At the same time, even if many specifics are still being defined, the story mode will not be a straight, on-rails campaign. Instead, it is being designed around meaningful moral choices, with the world reacting in visible ways as players progress. The developers stress that they are working with a clear philosophy: “instead of creating thousands of empty miles, we want density, atmosphere and real purpose”. According to their current roadmap, they plan to launch a crowdfunding campaign, move into early access in 2026, and then roll out the full game in chapters in 2027.

While there are still plenty of loose ends – including the exact release date, more detailed information about the main campaign and confirmation of which consoles will be supported – The Vernyhorn has already caught the eye of players who are hungry for mature, immersive, and distinct role-playing experiences. And if you are curious about it, you can already add the game to your Steam wishlist so you do not miss future updates.

Source: 3djuegos