Studio Closes and Removes Tower Defense Roguelike From Steam One Month After Failed Release

Solo developer Frosty Wren Studios is shutting down and pulling its fantasy tower defense roguelike Defense of Kyrath from Steam following low player engagement.

The one-person studio launched Defense of Kyrath on PC via Steam this past summer. The game challenges players to position various guardians across enchanted forests, peaceful meadows, and volcanic wastelands. These defenders face 18 distinct enemy types, each featuring specific weaknesses and damage resistances:

Brute force will solve nothing here. Champion ignores arrows and inflicts crippling status effects on your guardians. Cinderhoof cavalry is immune to flame, but melts under frost. Wraith passes through physical attacks. Bog Matron webs guardians right on their tiles. Hedge Witch poisons your defense. Each wave forces you to think through your roster composition and exploit vulnerabilities.

The release drew little attention on Steam. Defense of Kyrath reached a peak of just two concurrent players, and the game saw zero active players in recent weeks. Consequently, the developer decided to close Frosty Wren Studios and remove the title from sale on Steam, offering a final message of gratitude to the community:

Thank you to everyone who played, wishlisted, streamed, or reached out with messages. Fifteen people dedicated many hours to a game I built alone, and that turned out to be worth far more than sales revenue.

The Steam page for Defense of Kyrath is available at the following link.

Related articles