🚀 May 2025 – Development Update

🎉 Milestones, Momentum & The Heart of the Journey

This month marks a special turning point for Seven Castles Games, not just because we’ve reached our first major milestone on both Equestrian and Steam Cities, but because we’re taking a moment to reflect on how far we’ve come, what we’ve learned, and what drives us forward.

📝 We’ve just published two new blog posts that dive deeper into this journey:

🧪 The Playtesting Journey – A look inside the messy, magical world of playtesting. From rough prototypes to rules that barely made sense (at first!), we explore what it really takes to shape early ideas into something players genuinely enjoy, guided by clear, purposeful milestones.
🌟 Believing in the Dream – This one’s more personal. Building a games company from the ground up isn’t easy, especially when you’re bootstrapping, learning as you go, and striving to create something truly original. We share the struggles, doubts, and the sparks that keep the dream alive.

🎯 Milestone Unlocked!

We’ve now completed the first major development milestone for both Equestrian and Steam Cities! You can read more about this progress in our blog post: The Playtesting Journey.

There’s still a long road ahead, but reaching this point is a huge step forward. It means we’re on the right track, and more importantly, we’re building something that’s beginning to resonate with others.

🐴 Equestrian – Horse Show

Playtesting is galloping ahead, and we’ve made some exciting progress:

✅ Components – Added a new token to indicate stable upgrades
🎯 Milestone Completed – The game has successfully undergone its first external playtest sessions, and we’re now receiving consistent feedback on mechanics and player engagement.
🔜 Next Step – Blind playtesting resumes June 7th at The Black Sheep, Dublin.

Thanks to your invaluable feedback, Equestrian is growing stronger with every turn!

🏙️ Steam Cities

Our steampunk strategy epic is starting to shine, with some major refinements in place:

⚙️ Rulebook – Introduced limited trade exchanges with the Global Treasury
⚙️ Game Balance – Adjusted economic costs for better pacing
⚙️ Ministers – Rewritten some confusing text to provide clearer instructions
🎯 Milestone Completed – The full gameplay loop is now functioning, and we’ve begun to see players truly immerse themselves in the world for the first time
🔜 Next Step – Blind playtesting resumes June 7th at The Black Sheep, Dublin.

We’re fine-tuning every cog and gear to make Steam Cities an unforgettable experience!

🚗 Car Collection

The engines are revving, but there’s still some tuning to do. Here’s the current status:

🏁 Playtesting – Currently in early in-house testing.

We’re excited to see how the new design handles on the track!

📢 What’s Next?

Refining both prototypes based on player feedback
Expanding art and visual direction
Planning ahead for our first public showcase
And of course… more playtesting!

We’re committed to crafting fun, balanced, and immersive games and your continued support makes it all possible. Thank you for being part of this journey!

📬 Stay in the loop – Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive updates, behind-the-scenes content, and early access to playtesting opportunities.
🔗 sevencastles.games
💬 Join the conversation – Discord

Thank you again to everyone who’s been part of this adventure. Your support, ideas, and encouragement are what keep the dream alive.

Until next time,
– The Seven Castles Team 🏰