A long journey is finally paying off. Craftlings, the retro-inspired strategy and automation game developed by solo creator Ariano GAMES, officially launches on Steam for PC on January 15, 2026 — and more than 130,000 eager wishlisters are ready to jump in.
What started as a personal dream has grown into a community-backed success story, shaped over four challenging years of development and shared openly with players from day one.
A Nostalgic Strategy Game With Modern Depth
Drawing inspiration from legendary strategy titles of the ’90s, Craftlings mixes resource management, automation, combat, and problem-solving into a single tightly designed experience.
Players must optimize:
- Production chains
- Movement paths
- Resource delivery
- Building placement
Every decision affects how efficiently their Craftlings gather, transport, construct, and ultimately dominate the map.
The goal? Build smarter than your rivals and guide your tiny workers to victory.
Features at Launch
Craftlings offers a surprising amount of content at release, including:
- 12 handcrafted campaign levels
- 25+ standard buildings plus quest-specific structures
- Three distinct biomes to master
- Four trainable warrior types
- Four challenging bosses across the maps
- 20+ hours of gameplay
- Seven global speed-running ranks
- A nostalgic 20-track original soundtrack
It’s designed to feel familiar to long-time strategy fans — while still rewarding experimentation and precision.
Steam Release Details
- Release Date: January 15, 2026
- Price: $14.99
- Platform: Steam (Windows PC) — also playable on Steam Deck
A release date trailer introduces Craftlings’ colorful world and shows how quickly simple gathering systems evolve into sprawling automated networks.
Built by One Developer — Powered by Passion
Ariano GAMES — based in Brandenburg, Germany — founded his studio in 2024 with one goal: finish Craftlings the right way.
The game’s journey wasn’t easy. Development stretched over four years, marked by setbacks, redesigns, and countless late nights. But instead of giving up, Ariano shared the process, learned from feedback, and kept pushing forward.
That perseverance has paid off — Craftlings now launches backed by a supportive community and a clear vision.
Why Craftlings Is Worth Watching
Craftlings stands out because it combines:
- Classic RTS nostalgia
- Modern automation mechanics
- Relaxing music and pacing
- Competitive ranking systems
- A handcrafted indie soul
If you love optimizing systems or grew up on ’90s strategy classics, this is one release to keep on your radar.
