Sometimes the best indie game stories start with two people, a crazy idea, and absolutely no safety net. That’s exactly how Dead Weight began three years ago when Klukva Games founders decided to build a turn-based tactical RPG about flying pirate ships in a steampunk world ruled by ancient gods. They self-funded everything, survived the endless grind of indie development, and somehow managed to build a community of 95,000 players who’ve wishlisted the game before it even launched.
The free prologue dropped on December 17, 2024, giving players their first hands-on taste of what this small team has been cooking. And if the early reactions are any indication, the wait might have been worth it. Dead Weight combines the tactical brilliance of Into the Breach with the depth of Final Fantasy Tactics, wrapped in gorgeous pixel art that makes every flying island feel alive.
The Journey From Two to Nine
Klukva Games started as a duo with big ambitions and limited resources. The two founders fell in love with pixel art, the romance of piracy, and steampunk aesthetics, then asked themselves what would happen if you combined all three with flying ships and tactical combat. Three years of development later, they’ve grown into a team of nine passionate developers who’ve somehow managed to create something genuinely special.
The Reddit post announcing the prologue doesn’t hide the struggles. Self-funding an indie game means no publisher safety net, no guaranteed income, and constant pressure to make every decision count. The development cycle stretched longer than expected. Moments of doubt crept in when progress felt impossibly slow. But the team kept pushing, gradually discovering their audience and building momentum through social media, demos, and Steam Next Fest appearances.
That persistence paid off. Dead Weight has accumulated roughly 85,000 to 95,000 Steam wishlists depending on the source, an impressive number for a completely independent tactical RPG from an unknown studio. For context, many indie developers consider 10,000 wishlists a success milestone. Klukva Games blew past that by nearly ten times over.
What Makes Dead Weight Different
Dead Weight drops players into a world of floating islands suspended in the sky, all governed by tyrannical Ancient Gods who need a good thrashing. You command a flying pirate ship, recruit a crew of unique characters, and sail between islands taking on turn-based tactical battles that demand careful planning and positioning.
The combat takes clear inspiration from Into the Breach, the indie darling from the FTL creators that perfected bite-sized tactical puzzles. Battlefields are cramped and claustrophobic with nowhere to hide. Every move matters because you can see exactly what enemies will do next turn. The challenge comes from planning three steps ahead, using terrain and positioning to your advantage, and occasionally sparta-kicking goblins off the side of your airship.
Where Dead Weight expands beyond Into the Breach is in the RPG systems. Think Final Fantasy Tactics or Battle Brothers with deep character customization, skill trees, class systems, and persistent progression across runs. The roguelite structure means each playthrough generates different encounters, events, and challenges, but your overall progress carries forward through unlocks and upgrades.
The pixel art deserves special mention. Every frame looks hand-crafted with meticulous attention to detail. Character sprites are expressive and full of personality. The flying islands feel distinct with varied biomes and atmospheres. Combat animations communicate weight and impact despite the retro aesthetic. It’s the kind of visual presentation that demonstrates genuine artistic talent rather than just nostalgia bait.
The Free Prologue Experience
Dead Weight Prologue released as a completely free standalone experience on Steam. Players take control of Arn, a barbarian protagonist who quickly gets tangled up with the Ancient Gods’ powers. The prologue focuses on the opening region where you’re tasked with rescuing a character named Berry from the Mad Oracle Aluza.
The prologue runs approximately 40 to 60 minutes depending on how thoroughly you explore. That’s enough time to experience the core combat loop, upgrade your flying ship, hire a few crew members, and get a taste of the narrative hooks that will presumably play out across the full game.
Combat encounters pit your small squad against goblins and other creatures on grid-based battlefields. The positioning mechanics allow for environmental kills where enemies can be pushed into hazards or off edges. Friendly fire is also a consideration, adding another layer of tactical complexity when crowds get tight.
Between battles, you’ll navigate an overworld map choosing which islands to explore, managing resources, and making decisions during random events. The roguelite structure means death sends you back to restart the prologue, but with knowledge of enemy patterns and encounter types that makes subsequent runs smoother.
The prologue gives players access to over 20 skills and items to experiment with, along with basic ship upgrades and crew management. It’s designed to establish the core mechanical loop and narrative tone without giving away too much of the full game’s content.
Steam Next Fest Built the Buzz
Dead Weight’s path to 95,000 wishlists didn’t happen by accident. The team participated in multiple Steam Next Fest events throughout 2024 and 2025, each time releasing an updated demo that showcased improvements and new features. These limited-time festival events give indie developers crucial visibility on Steam’s front page alongside hundreds of other titles.
The developers shared a detailed case study about how they used Twitter (now X) to gather 25,000 wishlists early in development. Their strategy focused on consistent posting, engaging with the tactics and roguelite communities, and showcasing gameplay clips that demonstrated the core appeal. Pixel art GIFs showing enemies getting kicked off airships or elaborate tactical maneuvers proved particularly effective at stopping scrollers.
Community building extended beyond just marketing. The developers actively engaged with playtesters, incorporated feedback into subsequent demo versions, and maintained transparency about development progress and challenges. This authentic approach built trust with potential players who could see the game genuinely improving over time.
The Publisher Partnership
While Klukva Games self-funded development, they partnered with Spaghetti Cat for publishing duties. This arrangement lets the developers maintain creative control while getting support for marketing, platform relationships, and other business aspects that can distract from actual game development.
Spaghetti Cat has a small but growing catalog of indie titles, suggesting they focus on boutique partnerships rather than mass-market publishing. For a team like Klukva Games that wants to preserve their vision while getting professional support, this type of relationship makes sense.
The publishing deal likely also helped with the prologue strategy. Releasing a free standalone slice of the game is smart marketing, but it requires additional development work, QA testing, and coordination. Having publisher support makes these promotional efforts more feasible for a small team.
What’s Next for Dead Weight
The full release of Dead Weight is scheduled for Q1 2026, which translates to January through March. Given the prologue just dropped in mid-December 2024, that timeline suggests the core game is largely complete and the team is in the polish and testing phase.
Based on typical indie development patterns, we can expect the full game to include multiple regions beyond the goblin-infested starting area from the prologue. The narrative will presumably explore the conflict with the Ancient Gods in greater depth, introducing more crew members, enemy types, and tactical scenarios.
The roguelite structure means replayability is baked into the design. Players will likely unlock new ship types, crew classes, and progression paths across multiple runs. The Steam page mentions choosing or creating unique classes, suggesting character customization will be more extensive than what’s shown in the prologue.
Pricing hasn’t been announced yet, but comparable tactical roguelite RPGs typically land in the $15 to $25 range. Given the development timeline, team size, and scope, Dead Weight will probably fall somewhere in that bracket.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Dead Weight prologue free?
Yes, Dead Weight Prologue is completely free on Steam. It’s a standalone experience that runs 40-60 minutes and introduces the core mechanics, combat system, and opening narrative without requiring purchase of the full game.
When does the full Dead Weight game release?
Dead Weight is scheduled to launch in Q1 2026, meaning sometime between January and March. The exact release date hasn’t been announced, but the prologue’s December 2024 release suggests the full game is in final development stages.
Who is developing Dead Weight?
Klukva Games is developing Dead Weight. The studio started as a two-person team three years ago and has grown to nine developers. They self-funded the entire project and partnered with publisher Spaghetti Cat for marketing and distribution support.
What games inspired Dead Weight?
Dead Weight draws primary inspiration from Into the Breach for its tight tactical combat, Final Fantasy Tactics for RPG depth and class systems, and Battle Brothers for roguelite structure and persistent progression. The steampunk pirate aesthetic is the team’s original creative vision.
How many wishlists does Dead Weight have?
Dead Weight has accumulated between 85,000 and 95,000 Steam wishlists as of December 2024. This is considered an exceptional achievement for a completely independent tactical RPG from a previously unknown studio.
What platforms will Dead Weight be on?
Dead Weight is confirmed for PC via Steam. Console versions haven’t been announced, though many successful indie tactical games eventually port to Switch and other platforms after the initial PC release.
Is Dead Weight single-player or multiplayer?
Dead Weight is a single-player experience focused on tactical turn-based combat, exploration, and roguelite progression. There’s no indication of multiplayer features in any of the promotional materials or Steam listings.
Do I need to play the prologue before buying the full game?
No, the prologue is optional. It’s designed as a free marketing tool to let players experience the game before committing to purchase. Progress likely won’t transfer to the full game, making the prologue more of a demo than a required prequel.
The Bigger Indie Story
Dead Weight’s journey represents something important happening in indie game development. Two people with a vision and zero financial backing managed to build something compelling enough to attract 95,000 interested players. They did it through consistent work, community engagement, smart use of Steam’s promotional tools, and genuine passion for the tactical RPG genre.
The gaming industry is full of stories about massive teams, huge budgets, and corporate backing. Those games have their place, but there’s something special about watching a tiny team punch above their weight class through sheer determination and talent. Klukva Games proved you don’t need a big name publisher or years of industry experience to create something players genuinely want.
Whether Dead Weight becomes the next Into the Breach-level sensation or finds a smaller but devoted audience, the team already succeeded in the hardest part: turning a dream into a real game that people care about. The free prologue is available right now on Steam, and the full release is just a few months away. For fans of tactical combat, roguelite progression, and gorgeous pixel art, this is absolutely one to watch.