Discover the Stunning Medieval Brazil of BlackThorne Keep That Changes Everything!

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It’s more frequent nowadays for fantasy role-playing games to delve into revising history, and Limiar Studios’ BlackThorne Keep is one of the upcoming titles that aims to do exactly that. This game is set in a reimagined world where medieval customs are deeply rooted in South American heritage, offering a glimpse into a reality that never happened but might have been possible. Instead of sticking with the traditional castles-and-knights setting, BlackThorne Keep immerses players in an alternative Brazil – one where indigenous cultures and architectural advancements form the backbone for a world that is as rich in history as it is imaginative.

At Gamescom Latam 2025, Game Rant had a chat with Roberto Garcia, the brain behind BlackThorne Keep. We discussed how his game is breathing life into a never-before-seen medieval interpretation of Brazil. Throughout the conversation, Garcia shared insights about how indie studio Limiar Studios harmoniously blends medieval structures with ancient South American artistry, and speculated on what a medieval Brazilian civilization could have looked like.

BlackThorne Keep’s Take on a Medieval Brazil

BlackThorne Keep Brings Medieval Europe to Ancient Brazil

In contrast to many contemporary role-playing games set in medieval Europe, the inspiration for BlackThorne Keep stemmed from an intriguing question: what if Brazil had a medieval era of its own? Driven by this curiosity, the team at Limiar Studios crafted a hypothetical historical scenario, envisioning how the unique geography, culture, and pre-colonial history of South America could breathe life into a distinctly alternate medieval world. Instead of creating a fresh fantasy realm, BlackThorne Keep aimed to establish a setting that felt both authentic and fantastical, while paying tribute to Brazil’s rich heritage. To elaborate, Garcia shared, the game would be rooted in an immersive sense of place that would captivate players with its blend of historical accuracy and enchanting fantasy elements.

One fascinating aspect of designing this game involves the ability to step into an imagined past scenario. Suppose we had been tasked with constructing structures like these, utilizing such technology back in time – what would have transpired? To explore this, we delved into the intricacies of medieval architecture. A medieval fence, for instance, often consists of several layers: the base is typically rock, followed by a layer of stone and plaster on top. How could this concept be adapted to Brazil? This served as our starting point in our creative process.

In response to this, Limiar Studios dedicated significant time and funds into a project that aimed to reimagine history. The developer delved into the study of European architecture and pondered how these structures might have evolved in a South American context. Consequently, they created a realm where the underlying principles of medieval architecture are distinctively apparent yet significantly influenced by Brazilian ingenuity spanning centuries. In essence, BlackThorne Keep‘s world appears to be shaped by unique requirements and perspectives that differ considerably from its European counterpart.

BlackThorne Keep’s Medieval Brazil Finds Its Roots in People

BlackThorne Keep’s world-building extends beyond architecture and delves into cultural folklore. Essentially, Limiar Studios recognizes that it is the people, not just architectural traits, that mold a civilization, its culture, and consequently, its design principles. Garcia further explained this idea.

Another way of putting it might be: All fantastical worlds feature ancient populations, similar to Egypt, Rome, or England in our reality. In England, you can find remnants of Roman structures that predate the formation of modern England. In South America, there was no equivalent to the Roman Empire. Instead, we have the Inca and Aztec empires which existed prior to colonization. In our world, these are examples of ancient civilizations that built structures like Machu Picchu, Loto Tambo, and Sasuyama, which we often associate with ancient civilization architecture.

As a passionate admirer, I found myself pondering Limiar’s daring query: could other fictional worlds reinvent historical artistic styles, then why not BlackThorne Keep? After all, why limit our imagination? Why not draw from the vibrant tapestry of Brazil’s modern art history to inspire a setting where the graceful lines of Brazilian architecture coexist harmoniously with the swords, towers, and armor of medieval times? This fusion would result in a world that is at once original and deeply rooted in cultural heritage, offering a unique fantasy aesthetic that resonates powerfully. Garcia’s final words echoed in my mind: this could indeed be an extraordinary blend of old and new.

In a similar vein to how The Lord of the Rings combined elven and dwarven aesthetics with Art Nouveau and Art Deco, respectively, we applied this concept to Brazilian modern art. As you explore Rio de Janeiro, you’ll notice many Neoclassical buildings in the city center. We thought, “Although these structures aren’t medieval, Art Deco and Art Nouveau were not either in Middle-earth, yet they worked beautifully. Could we blend modern art influences in Rio and other places with our game’s aesthetic and make it feel medieval as well?” And thus, the artistic style of Medieval South America was born.

In essence, BlackThorne Keep doesn’t merely re-envision what Brazil might have been like during the Middle Ages; instead, it crafts a realm that explores how culture, climate, and history could have progressed if they had followed a different course. This fundamental question has guided almost every choice made in the development of BlackThorne Keep, and it appears to be effectively reflected in the final product.

BlackThorne Keep is currently in development by Limiar Studios.

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2025-05-04 13:26