The Lamplighters League
A 1930s pulp-inspired turn-based tactics game with real-time infiltration.
The Lamplighters League is a turn-based tactics game from Harebrained Schemes, the studio behind the Shadowrun trilogy and BattleTech, and was published by Paradox Interactive. It launched in October 2023 on Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. Critics gave it mixed reviews, and it failed to sell well.
The story takes place in a fictional 1930s. Players put together a squad of misfits to fight the Banished Court, an ancient cult trying to take over the world.
At the start, players control only three agents, but the full roster includes ten characters at launch. Each has unique weapons and abilities—for example, Ana Sofia can heal teammates, while Celestine can hypnotize enemies. Players can also unlock extra skills and perks at their headquarters using equippable cards. These cards can boost combat effectiveness but might also add negative traits. Characters get stressed if they go on too many missions in a row, which hurts their performance. To avoid this, players should regularly swap agents, letting some rest at the base.
Before combat, players freely explore each level in real time. During this infiltration phase, they can collect items, take out enemies quietly, set traps, and position their agents perfectly. Once a fight starts, the game switches to turn-based combat, similar to *XCOM* or *Gears Tactics*. After clearing all enemies in an area, the game returns to infiltration mode so players can keep moving. Each mission’s map is handcrafted, but enemies and interactive objects are placed randomly.
A world map lets players disrupt three hostile factions as they cause trouble globally. Agents resting at headquarters can also be sent on side expeditions.
Development was inspired by 1930s pulp magazines. The game was announced in March 2023 and released on October 3, 2023.
In October 2023, Paradox Interactive said the game’s commercial reception was “too weak” and a “big disappointment.” Low sales forced them to write off development costs, leading to a $22.7 million reduction in pre-tax profit for the fourth quarter. They also confirmed that significant layoffs had happened at Harebrained Schemes before the game was finished.
Quick Facts
- Title
- The Lamplighters League
- Developer
- Harebrained Schemes
- Publisher
- Paradox Interactive
- Director
- Christopher Rogers
- Composer
- Jon Everist
- Platforms
- Microsoft Windows · Xbox Series X/S
- Released
- October 3, 2023
- Genre
- Turn-based tactics
- Modes
- Single-player
- Engine
- Unity
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Lamplighters League was developed by Harebrained Schemes, the studio behind the Shadowrun trilogy and the BattleTech video games. The game was heavily inspired by pulp magazines published in the 1930s. Announced in March 2023, it was released on October 3, 2023. The story takes place in an alternate version of the 1930s, where the player must assemble a team of misfits to stop an ancient cult named the Banished Court, which aims to achieve world domination.
Reader's Guide
The Lamplighters League combines real-time infiltration with turn-based tactical combat. Players begin with access to three agents, with a total of ten characters available at launch. Each character has unique weapons and abilities—for example, Ana Sofia can heal allies, while Celestine can hypnotize enemies. Skills and perks are unlocked at the player's headquarters in the form of equippable cards, which can improve combat efficiency but may also introduce negative traits. Characters become stressed after multiple consecutive missions, impairing their combat performance, so players are advised to rotate agents and allow them to rest. In each mission, players freely explore the level in real time during an infiltration phase, collecting items and eliminating enemies undetected, placing traps, and positioning agents before engaging in turn-based combat. After defeating all enemies in an area, the game returns to infiltration mode. Maps are handcrafted, but enemies and interactables are procedurally generated. A world map allows players to disrupt the progress of three hostile factions, and resting agents can be sent on side expeditions.
Did You Know?
- Characters can gain negative traits from equippable cards, hindering their performance.
- In October 2023, Paradox Interactive announced that the game's commercial reception was too weak and that it was writing off development costs, resulting in a $22.7 million reduction in pre-tax profit.
- Significant layoffs occurred at Harebrained Schemes prior to the game's completion.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Lamplighters League?
It is a turn-based tactics game with a 1930s pulp aesthetic and real-time infiltration segments, built by Harebrained Schemes and published by Paradox Interactive. You lead a squad of misfit agents in a fight against the Banished Court, an ancient cult bent on seizing global control.
When did The Lamplighters League release and on which platforms?
The title launched on October 3, 2023, for Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. No PlayStation or Nintendo versions were available at launch.
How many playable characters are in The Lamplighters League at launch?
You begin the campaign with just three agents under your command, but the full launch roster spans ten distinct characters. Each one carries their own unique weapons and tactical abilities.
Who is the main antagonist in The Lamplighters League?
The central villain is the Banished Court, an ancient cult whose goal is to take over the world. Players must coordinate their misfit squad through turn-based encounters to thwart the Court's plans.
How did critics and players receive The Lamplighters League?
Metacritic scores for both the Windows and Xbox Series X/S editions landed in the mixed range. The game also underperformed commercially, struggling to find a strong sales audience after its October 2023 release.
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