Introducing BraveSplat - A Minimalist Real-Time Strategy Game
After years of working on chess programs, compiler projects, reports and presentations, I’ve taken a different creative direction with my latest project: BraveSplat, a minimalist real-time strategy game where two kingdoms battle for survival and conquest.
What is BraveSplat?
BraveSplat strips away much of the glitz often found in modern RTS games and focuses on pure strategic gameplay. Two kingdoms face off in a contest to manage resources, territory, military force, and time to achieve outcomes. The minimalist design philosophy means less focus on manic pyrotechnics and more on strategic decisions that determine victory or defeat.
You can try the playable demo and follow the game’s development:
Design Philosophy
The game embraces minimalism not just in its visual design, but in its core mechanics. Instead of overwhelming players with dozens of unit types and complex resource management systems, BraveSplat focuses on:
- Clear strategic choices - Every decision has meaningful consequences
- Accessible gameplay - Easy to learn, challenging to master
- Fast-paced action - Matches are intense but don’t drag on for hours
Development Journey
Building BraveSplat has been a fascinating departure from my past work with languages like Python, Java, C/C++, LISP, and Scheme. In adopting Haskell’s functional programming style, this project has pushed me to think about real-time systems, game balance, and user experience in entirely new ways - including how to apply functional programming principles to inherently stateful game development challenges.
The game represents a culmination of lessons learned from years of algorithm design and strategic thinking, applied to creating an engaging interactive experience.
What’s Next?
BraveSplat is currently in active development, with regular updates and improvements based on player feedback. Whether you’re a strategy game veteran or new to the genre, I invite you to check out the demo and join the community of players helping shape the game’s evolution.
The Steam widget above will show the current status - if you’re seeing this before release, adding the game to your wishlist helps tremendously with visibility and launch momentum. If you’re reading this after release, you can jump right in and start commanding your kingdom!
BraveSplat will available on Steam with regular development updates. Follow the game’s progress and join the discussion in the Steam community.