The year is 1914. Europe is at war, and a new kind of warrior takes to the skies. You are a young pilot in the Royal Flying Corps — armed with courage, a crate of wood and canvas, and the slim hope of surviving long enough to become an ace.
Rotary Knights is a text-based RPG set in the skies above the Western Front. Make life-or-death decisions, fly historically authentic aircraft, and forge your legend across the entire arc of the Great War — from the first tentative reconnaissance flights of 1914 to the massive aerial battles of 1918.
A War in Six Acts
Survive the Fokker Scourge. Fight above the Somme. Endure Bloody April. Every act brings new aircraft, new enemies, and impossible choices.
Will you volunteer for the suicide mission — or protect your squadron? Challenge the Red Baron's protégé — or live to fight another day? Mercy or vengeance, glory or survival — the war doesn't care about your plans.
Key Features
A War That Spans Four Years — A branching 6-act campaign from 1914 to 1918. Your choices shape the story, your reputation shapes your war, and every decision has permanent consequences. Your pilot can die — and when they do, it's final.
37 Historical Aircraft — From the fragile Avro 504 to the deadly Sopwith Camel, each with authentic performance stats. Earn access to better machines through merit and service.
The War Evolves Around You — The front line shifts with real offensives. Aircraft technology advances era by era. Supply strain rises during major battles. Aces appear and fall at their historical dates. History moves forward whether you're ready or not.
3 Pilot Specializations — Fighter ace, reconnaissance observer, or bomber pilot. Each shapes your missions, your skills, your temperament, and how the war remembers you.
Legendary Aces & Rivals — Cross paths with Immelmann, Boelcke, Richthofen, and Voss at their real-world active dates. Plus 5 fictional campaign rivals who escalate across each act — these ones you [i]can[/i] shoot down.
Tactical Dogfights — Outmaneuver enemies in hex-based positional combat where altitude, deflection angle, and aircraft choice matter. Inspired by classic WW1 aerial board games.
Your Aerodrome, Your Squadron — Build workshops, manage supplies, and upgrade your base along the Western Front. When the Spring Offensive hits and resources run thin, every decision matters.
Medals & Decorations — Earn British decorations from Mentioned in Despatches to the Victoria Cross. Each medal opens doors to better aircraft and postings across seven aerodromes.
A Terminal Aesthetic
Rotary Knights is rendered entirely in a terminal — glowing text on dark backgrounds, ASCII borders, and hand-crafted sprite art that evokes vintage field dispatches and squadron logbooks. No 3D engines, no cutscenes — just you, the words, and your imagination.
Every screen is designed with a warm, sepia-toned palette inspired by WWI-era photography. The visual style is intentional: this is a game about reading, choosing, and living with the consequences.
Replayability
Three specializations. Branching paths. Randomized events. Permanent consequences. No two wars are the same — and the war doesn't guarantee you'll see the end.
Early Access
Rotary Knights enters Early Access with a complete 6-act campaign and hundreds of events. During Early Access, we plan to add:
Campaign map overhaul with a board-game aesthetic
Additional narrative events, side stories, and historical encounters
Steam Achievements and Cloud Saves
Community-requested features and quality-of-life improvements
Your feedback shapes the war. Join us.
