Heroes of the Seven Islands represents something special in today’s gaming landscape – a completely hand-drawn RPG created by a single passionate developer over two years. This indie gem recently launched on Steam, bringing classic turn-based combat and whimsical storytelling to players hungry for nostalgic RPG experiences.
What Makes Heroes of the Seven Islands Special
Developer rap2h started this project in 2023 as both a tribute to classic role-playing games and an opportunity to learn pencil-and-paper drawing. The result is a unique visual style that feels like playing through a living comic book, with hundreds of hand-drawn illustrations bringing the world of Emerald Archipelago to life.
The game draws heavy inspiration from Might and Magic 3-8, offering party-based gameplay where you control four heroes exploring seven distinct islands. Each location features its own biome, from mysterious forests to ancient dungeons, all rendered in that distinctive hand-crafted art style.
Classic RPG Mechanics with Modern Touches
Heroes of the Seven Islands streamlines traditional JRPG mechanics without losing their charm. You’ll create a party of four characters from seven available classes, each with unique abilities and skill trees. The turn-based combat system shows you the battle order upfront, letting you plan your strategy before the action begins.
Unlike many modern RPGs, this game doesn’t feature random encounters. Instead, each map location either contains enemies or doesn’t – once you clear an area, it stays clear for 15 in-game days. This design choice eliminates grinding while maintaining challenge progression.
Technical Innovation Behind the Scenes
What’s fascinating about Heroes of the Seven Islands is its technical foundation. The entire game runs on HTML, TypeScript, and CSS – essentially a sophisticated website disguised as a desktop game. The developer uses Electron to package it for Steam, proving that innovative gameplay doesn’t require cutting-edge engines.
The art creation process is equally unique. Rap2h draws everything on paper first, photographs it with a phone, then digitally colors the images on computer. This workflow creates the game’s distinctive hand-crafted aesthetic that sets it apart from pixel art or digital illustrations.
Story and World Building
The narrative in Heroes of the Seven Islands keeps things intentionally simple and charming. An evil entity called Furax the Indestructible has invaded the colorful world of Emerald Archipelago, spreading sadness and despair. Your party must collect seven keys from the rulers of seven islands to reach the Oracle – the only being capable of stopping this interdimensional threat.
The writing shines through character interactions and side quests. One memorable quest involves rescuing a king’s daughter from goblins, only to discover she voluntarily became their queen and refuses to return home. These touches of humor and subversion keep the experience engaging despite the familiar fantasy framework.
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The Solo Development Journey
Creating Heroes of the Seven Islands solo meant handling every aspect of game development – programming, art, writing, and music composition. The developer worked approximately 12 hours per week over 18 months, turning a simple paper drawing into a complete gaming experience.
This dedication shows in the final product’s polish and cohesion. Every element feels purposeful, from the ambient dungeon synth soundtrack created in FL Studio to the carefully balanced progression systems that reward exploration and experimentation.
Reception and Availability
Heroes of the Seven Islands launched on Steam in September 2025 with a $11.99 price tag and 15% launch discount. The game includes both light and dark modes, with dark mode being the default to reduce eye strain during longer play sessions.
Player feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with many praising the charming art style and solid gameplay mechanics. The demo, available free on Steam, gives players access to two of the seven islands and represents about 1.5 hours of content.
FAQs
How long does it take to complete Heroes of the Seven Islands?
The full game takes approximately 7-8 hours to complete with side quests, though this can vary based on exploration and difficulty settings.
What platforms is Heroes of the Seven Islands available on?
Currently, the game is available on Steam for Windows, macOS, and Linux platforms.
Does the game support different difficulty levels?
Yes, you can adjust combat difficulty from 1-10 at any time during gameplay, allowing players to customize the challenge level.
Are there multiple character classes to choose from?
The game features seven different classes, and you can create parties of four characters with various combinations for different gameplay experiences.
Is there a multiplayer mode?
No, Heroes of the Seven Islands is a single-player experience focused on party-based exploration and turn-based combat.
What languages does the game support?
The game currently supports English and French languages with full subtitles.
Conclusion
Heroes of the Seven Islands proves that passion and creativity can triumph over big budgets and large teams. This hand-drawn tribute to classic RPGs offers genuine charm and solid gameplay mechanics that will appeal to both nostalgic gamers and newcomers to the genre. While it may not revolutionize turn-based combat, it executes familiar concepts with enough personality and polish to create a memorable adventure worth experiencing.