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Raise a living fortress-city
Secure resources, construct an economy, train an army, and shape walls, gates, and towers around the terrain.
The Citadel Must Hold
Fantasy RTS - Base-Building - Survival
Build your fortress-city. Explore the wilds. Survive the Monster Tides.
Lead heroes beyond the walls, claim ancient powers, shape each run through Oaths and Decrees, and prepare your Citadel for an overwhelming siege.
Open playtesting is live. Play for free and help shape the Citadel.
Open Playtest · Free on Steam
Your first stand starts now
The Citadel Must Hold is in open playtesting. Build your fortress, face the Monster Tides, and help shape the game while it is still in development.
Try the current build for free on Windows PC, then tell us what held strong and what needs work. Your feedback helps guide what comes next.
How to join
- Visit the Steam pageLook for The Citadel Must Hold Playtest.
- Click Request AccessAccess is granted instantly. No key or approval to wait for.
- Play, then share your experienceJoin us on Discord to discuss strategies, report problems, and share feedback.
This is a development build. Expect rough edges as the Citadel takes shape.
Trailer
Hold the walls when the tide arrives
Core Gameplay
A city, a frontier, and a siege that never stops growing
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Venture beyond the walls
Lead heroes through the fog, defeat guardians, uncover Places of Power, and return with rewards that can transform the run.
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Survive the Monster Tides
Prepare during uneasy periods of peace, then command your forces as escalating hordes crash against the Citadel.
Run Choices
No two Citadels fight the same way
Choose one Founding Oath at the beginning of a run, then gain Rally Decrees after surviving Monster Tides. Each choice can reshape the city, the economy, the army, and the risks you are willing to accept.
- Combine restrictions, bonuses, upgrades, and special abilities.
- Adapt your fortress plan around the choices offered during that run.
- Turn survival into momentum before the next tide arrives.
Features
Strategic pressure from the first wall to the final wave
Build a fortress-city
Plan districts, reinforce choke points, and turn the Citadel into a working war machine.
Command heroes and armies
Lead heroes and trained units in real time as threats close from every direction.
Explore a dangerous wilderness
Push through fog, scout routes, and decide when the reward is worth the risk.
Claim Places of Power
Defeat guardians and secure ancient sites that can change the shape of a run.
Shape each run through Oaths and Decrees
Accept defining choices that add constraints, rewards, and new strategic paths.
Endure escalating Monster Tides
Every reprieve is a chance to rebuild before the next siege grows stronger.
Screenshots
From first outpost to desperate last stand
Wishlist
The Citadel Must Hold
Wishlist now and be notified when the public demo and future releases become available.
