We Love It's Guide to…
A footman in the Hundred Years’ War fights turn-based battles, makes survival choices, and tries to rise through the ranks.
Released 04 Oct 2023
Train Between Battles
Manage Stamina And Fatigue
Craft Gear And Supplies
Hardcore survival RPG with non-linear story that lets you play as a young medieval soldier who over the course of battles and adventures becomes the most formidable and respected knight of his era. Or, if he’s not lucky enough, perishes in the chaos of the Hundred Years' War.
Developed by 1917 Studios · Published by Valkyrie Initiative









You play an ordinary soldier caught up in the Hundred Years’ War, with a chance to rise from footman to knight—or fail to survive. The text-led story unfolds through chapters and branches according to your choices and character.
Between major events, use limited time to train, earn money, take on side quests, gather supplies, and prepare your equipment. Choices and traits such as reputation and virtue can affect encounters, relationships with NPCs, and which story paths become available.
Combat is turn-based and shaped by weapon skills, equipment, stamina, fatigue, and injuries. You can equip different weapons and armor, manage consumables, and craft useful items. In the roguelike mode, deaths earn points that can improve a future character’s starting attributes or equipment; a separate story mode is also available.
Players who enjoy the game often point to its branching story, the challenge of building a soldier over repeated runs, and the way character traits and choices can open different paths. Some also appreciate planning around weapons, equipment, stamina, and fatigue. Reviews are mixed on the demanding combat and replay loop: some find them rewarding, while others describe the battles and repeated early sections as tedious. Translation and interface complaints also recur.
Heads Will Roll: Reforged lets the player to take a role of an ordinary medieval soldier who finds himself in the middle of the legendary Hundred Years War between the kings of England and France. You start your way as a simple footman, whose sole ambition is to survive, but with proper skill and cunning or through blood and preservation, you might soon see yourself becoming one of the most famous knights of your time.
This game is a unique type of RPG with survival mechanics and turn-based combat that requires player to make careful decision both inside and outside the fight. The sophisticated combat system utilizes many different parameters including characters’ stats and attributes, familiarity and proficiency with certain weapons, weapon length, fatigue level, various traumas and injuries, as well as hundreds of different items and consumables.
The game offers more than 200 different lootable items varying from all kinds of medieval weaponry and armor to trinkets with unique effects, several types of poisons, medical supplies and many crafting items.
All of the actions that your character takes will have in-game consequences. The NPCs will change their opinions of you depending on how you treat them and how you behave both inside and outside of battle. This in turn will enable or disable various future interactions with them and sometimes trigger special events.
Make good use of any loot or supplies that you got your hands on. A lot of them can be combined in order to craft medical and utility items, as well as many types of crossbow ammunition.
Heads Will Roll utilizes many random generation elements that will turn two separate playthroughs into two completely unique experiences. Start with different items and stats, face different enemies, make different choices and live through different events each time you play.
The game has dozens of weapons ranging from swords, axes, maces and spears to throwing knives and crossbows. All of them have varying movesets that rely on and make use of different stats & skills (strength, agility etc.), while also having distinct features and countering each other in some way.
Fight not only for wealth and honor but also for the hearts of several stunning beauties with unique personalities, views on life and tastes in men. Conquering some of them might prove to be just as tricky as surviving the war.
Choose from a wide array of authentic medieval defensive equipment: from all kinds of helmets and armor to gorgets, bracers, greaves and chainmail stockings. All with varying qualities and characteristics.
Game features a complete Roguelike mode where player can level his profile with each death, unlocking new starting items and improving character's base characteristics allowing to progress further and take on even harder challenges.
There is a special story mode for those who are after the thrills and twists of the story rather than hardcore survival. It offers just enough of a challenge to keep you engaged as well as quick save and quick load options that can be accessed at any time.
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux |
|---|---|
| Achievements | 161 |
| Age ratings |
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| Controller required | No |
| DLC / extras | 10 listed on Steam |
| AI disclosure | Some of the backgrounds are created using AI and manual refinement. |
| AI disclosure categories |
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