Rat King - ZTGK build

Rat King

Isometric rogue-like game set in a medieval world with fantasy elements. Here, players assume the role of a rat charmer imprisoned at the bottom of a dungeon for his misdeeds.

The main goal of the game is to find a way out. While searching for freedom, they explore subsequent levels, gather resources and upgrades, and fight enemies. The game's distinguishing feature is the combat system - as a wandering bard, we are trapped in a cage carried by rats, and our only weapon is a horde of rodents that we gather along the way. Moving the horde is controlled by mouse movements, and attacking is reduced to drawing a path for the rats to follow, dealing damage to enemies encountered along the way.

The game won ZTGK 2026 (Zespołowe Tworzenie Gier Komputerowych) contest in the Game Development category.

Technical Specifications

• Engine: Own engine
  
• Platform: Windows (PC)
  
• Input: Keyboard + Mouse
  
• Language: English
  
• Release State: Award-winning Prototype / Vertical Slice

Core Gameplay Features (Technical Breakdown)

• Boids & Flow Fields Navigation: Dynamic simulation of hundreds of independent rats navigating complex layouts without getting stuck or dropping performance.
  
• Path-Drawing Combat: Hold LMB to "paint" attack paths for the horde. Strategic positioning is key, as active attack paths cannot be canceled, leaving rats vulnerable to telegraphed enemy AoE attacks.
  
• Dynamic Horde Reshaping: Use the Mouse Scroll Wheel to instantly adjust the width and spread of the horde to fit tight corridors or maximize attack coverage.
  
• Horde Recruitment: Replenish fallen rats by hovering the cursor over sewer grates to recruit wild rodents mid-run.
  
• Elemental Form Shifting: Collect "Cheese" from defeated enemies to temporarily change your horde into Fire, Gas, or Electric forms, altering their combat mechanics.
  
• FSM Enemy AI: Enemies utilize Finite State Machines and Navigation Nodes for diverse movement patterns and clear tactical telegraphing.