Swashbuckling Combat!
Dynamic combat fueled by pirate-themed abilities, weapons, and loot.
A mythological pirate ARPG
Bound to Davy Jones. Fighting for freedom.
The Sea’s Verdict is a top-down hack-and-slash ARPG set in the mythological world of the Hallowed Realm. Bound to Davy Jones, fight solo or with a crewmate in co-op to reclaim your freedom.
Play through a core 3-act campaign, wield pirate and soul-infused powers, craft powerful builds, and search for treasure throughout the archipelago.
Come aboard and deliver the sea’s verdict!
Design pillars
Built for atmosphere, action, and replayable mastery.
Pirate and Sea Mythology Inspired World!
A haunting realm forged from pirate lore and sea-born myths.
Chart your own course!
Shape your build through melee and ranged archetypes, mastering weapons and soul-bound powers through a sprawling skill atlas.
Play solo or with a crew mate!
Sail alone or join a crewmate to face the cursed seas side by side.
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Why follow now
A real game, already in development.
Follow the build as it takes shape: lighting passes, combat iteration, world-building, systems, and the practical realities of a small team making an ambitious indie ARPG.
This is the moment where rough edges become atmosphere, prototypes become play, and early supporters can see the ship being forged plank by plank.
About the studio
Small team. Focused ambition.
TidalForged Studios is an independent game studio based in Dunedin, New Zealand, co-founded in 2025 by Joey Milton and Glen Williamson.
Our mission is to create fun, action-packed games that players can explore, enjoy, and conquer.
Joey Milton
Co-founder / Lead Programmer
Joey Milton is an indie game developer and co-founder of TidalForged Studios. He specializes in game design and Unreal Engine Blueprint visual scripting and serves as the lead programmer and developer on The Sea’s Verdict.
Glen Williamson
Co-founder / Lead Designer & Artist
Glen Williamson is an indie game developer and co-founder of TidalForged Studios. His expertise lies in game and level design, and he serves as lead designer and artist on The Sea’s Verdict.
Scott McDonald
Chief Technology Officer
Scott McDonald is a business and technology operations expert who joined TidalForged Studios in late 2025 and is our Chief Technology Officer. He brings over 15 years of experience across technology, film, and games, specializing in production, operations, management, and consulting.
Visual direction
Dark seas, cursed souls, weathered metal.
Current imagery mixes promotional art, behind-the-scenes development captures, and studio identity while future concept art and gameplay assets come aboard.
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Community
Want to talk to us directly?
Hop into Discord and chat with the crew while we build. Ask questions, share ideas, and help us steer this thing in the right direction.
Discord invite coming soon — check back shortly.