A band of Norwegian and Swedish indie developers—literally a band—are striking a new chord in the gaming scene with their upcoming tower defense roguelite, No Tithe for Olaf. Developed by Ancient Well, this quirky single-player adventure blends satirical storytelling, eccentric defenses, and a dash of Nordic history for a hilariously rebellious take on the genre.
Set in 17th-century Norway, players must defend their farms from the King’s relentless tax collectors in procedurally generated maps filled with unexpected twists, oddball towers, and crafty enemies. And yes—this indie team also doubles as a folk rock group, infusing the game’s design with the same creativity and camaraderie they’ve honed on stage.
A Musical Twist to Indie Game Development
Chris from Ancient Well shared the team’s inspiration:
“We wanted to create something small but endlessly replayable that also captured our love of Nordic history and culture. We’ve made prototypes before that didn’t quite make it—but this one stuck. It’s been amazing to work on something with lifelong friends, taking what we learned playing in a folk rock band and channeling it into game design. We focused on gameplay first, but still packed in as much Nordic flavor as we could. We’re stoked to see how people react!”
Key Features of No Tithe for Olaf
- Procedurally Generated Tower Defense – Each map offers a unique layout and farm path. Optimize your defenses for every rebellion.
- Unconventional Towers – Deploy 12 unique structures including Manure Carts, Lambasting Crones, and suspiciously welcoming Taverns, each with addons and ultimate upgrades.
- Crafty Taxmen – Face off against 15+ enemy types, each with unique tactics to claim the King’s tithe.
- Streamlined Economy – Manage three interconnected resources—Produce, Rebels, and Farmer’s Wit—to build, staff, and upgrade your defenses.
- Roguelite Replayability – Conquer fresh challenges each run, carrying over permanent upgrades to strengthen your rebellion.
- Royal Whims – The King’s New Year speech introduces creative new taxes, keeping each run unpredictable.
Wishlist Now on Steam
Players eager to start their uprising can wishlist No Tithe for Olaf on Steam today. For more information and to stay up to date, have a look on the Ancient Well website. Join the Discord and follow Ancient Well on Facebook, X, Instagram and Bluesky.
