Retro-style fantasy MMORPG Brighter Shores announced for PC and Mac

Fen Research :

13 March 2024. Ten years in the making, newly announced indie game Brighter Shores will bring a cozy, relaxing atmosphere to the world of MMORPGs. Boasting the instantly recognisable style of game designer Andrew Gower, Brighter Shores promises a smoother, more enjoyable take on the genre thanks to the studio’s brand new Fenforge engine. The free-to-play game will be available on PC and Mac via Steam later this year.


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Trailer  | Steam page


True to its name, Brighter Shores is designed to whisk players away to an enchanting world, providing a relaxing respite from daily life. Finding themselves in the peaceful coastal town of Hopeport, players initially take on the role of a town guard. Their role as protector, however, soon expands far beyond the town walls as they learn of a greater threat across the fantastical world of Adothria. Both new and old MMORPG fans are bound to fall in love with the abundance of quirky characters, fascinating foes and captivating locations they’ll encounter on this heroic adventure.


Breaking from the traditional classes of mage, rogue and warrior, Brighter Shores players will be called upon to choose from three new options: Cryoknight, Hammermage or Guardian. While players will revel in the nostalgia of the diorama art style, they can expect a number of new and exciting twists on the genre.


With a wealth of experience within the genre, Brighter Shores developer Andrew Gower is very familiar with both MMO charms and flaws. He’s passionate about improving MMORPGs as we know them, reducing the ‘grindy’ gameplay often found in the genre through innovative game design. 


Gower’s indie studio Fen Research has been hard at work behind-the-scenes for over a decade and are excited to now share Brighter Shores with fans and players. Opposed to the onslaught of microtransactions in modern MMOs and free-to-play games, the studio has remained dedicated to providing hours upon hours of content for free. An all-inclusive premium pass will also be available for those seeking extra quests, adventures and stories, with regular updates planned beyond Brighter Shores’ release later this year.


Speaking on behalf of the studio, Andrew said:

“Creating this game has been a real labour of love. At times it has felt like an insurmountably ambitious task, so it's amazing to finally see it coming together in the way I hoped. I can’t wait to see the world full of players enjoying what we have created.”

Brighter Shores will be free-to-play on PC and Mac later this year. For more information, images, or future review keys, please contact Ria at [email protected].


About Fen Research

Fen Research was founded by award winning games developer Andrew Gower in late 2010 to create ground breaking new technology and products in the field of online games. Alongside titles like Brighter Shores, the studio has been creating the ambitious new games engine / programming language Fenforge.