Tides of Annihilation is the debut project from Eclipse Glow Games, and the studio is aiming big with its first release. The single-player action adventure mixes large-scale environments, Arthurian mythology, and a combat system built around fighting alongside legendary knights.
During the Game Developers Conference, we spoke with Ary Chen about the studio’s vision, the inspiration behind the game’s world, and how the team approached combat and story for their first title.
Building a First Game Around What the Team Knows
Eclipse Glow Games didn’t overcomplicate its debut. The team chose a genre it understands and enjoys.
“Our entire team are big fans of action games, so we wanted to create something that we personally love,” Chen said. “That’s why we chose the action-adventure genre.”
That experience also shaped the scope of the project. “Many members of our team have extensive experience developing PC and console games in this space,” he added. “Because of that background, we feel confident working in the action-adventure genre and building a strong single-player experience.”
That focus on single-player design influences everything from pacing to combat structure.
A World That Blends Reality and Fantasy
A defining part of the game is how it mixes real-world locations with fantasy elements. The story moves between modern London and a world under attack, giving the setting a grounded starting point.
“We wanted to create something unique and interesting for players,” Chen said. “Using real-world settings gives players something recognizable, while the fantasy elements allow us to expand the story and gameplay.”
That decision also ties into the game’s structure. “We also wanted to focus on a single-player experience rather than an online game,” he explained. “That allowed us to design a combat system and narrative that works best for a focused story-driven adventure.”
Arthurian Legend as a Gameplay Foundation
Tides of Annihilation makes it clear that the Arthurian influence directly supports how the game plays.
“The legend of King Arthur is a very famous story globally,” Chen said. “It includes King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, which naturally fits with our gameplay concept.”
Because the game revolves around fighting alongside multiple allies, the connection is direct. “Because our game features a team-based combat system, the idea of fighting alongside legendary knights works very well with the story and mechanics we’re building.”
Gwendolyn and the Core Narrative
At the center of the story is Gwendolyn, the game’s main character and emotional anchor.
“The main character is named Gwendolyn. She is the last survivor of humankind,” Chen said.
Her journey moves between two worlds. “In the story, she moves between modern London and another world that has been invaded by mysterious forces,” he explained. “She fights alongside spectral knights inspired by the Arthurian legends.”
As players progress, the cast expands. “As the story progresses, players will meet different knights and learn about their backgrounds and how they connect to Gwendolyn’s journey.”
Scale, Exploration, and World Design
The environments shown so far emphasize scale, with large spaces that dwarf the player character.
“Exploration is an important part of the experience,” Chen said. “As an action-adventure game, we want players to travel across different environments and worlds.”
The story unfolds through that movement. “As players explore, they’ll gradually learn more about the story and lore surrounding Gwendolyn and the invasion affecting the world.”
Combat Built Around Multiple Knights
Combat is the core gameplay, and the knight mechanic defines how it works.
“We wanted to create something like a multi-role combat system,” Chen said.
Players can build their own approach by combining abilities. “The player can team up with different knights, and each knight provides different abilities and skills,” he explained. “By combining them, players can create different combat styles and skill combinations.”
That flexibility is meant to keep encounters engaging. “This makes the gameplay more interactive and adds variety to combat encounters.”
Boss Encounters and Combat Variety
Boss fights are designed to push players to adapt and aren’t static encounters.
“Throughout the game, players will face challenging boss battles,” Chen said. “Players will have many different ways to approach these encounters.”
Some bosses change mid-fight. “Some bosses also have multiple forms or styles,” he added. “For example, one boss shown in the trailer has both a human form and a more monstrous form. These variations help make each battle feel different and memorable.”
Early Reception and Community Feedback
For a first title, Tides of Annihilation has already reached a wide audience through major showcases.
“This is our studio’s first title, so feedback from both the media and the gaming community is extremely valuable to us,” Chen said.
The response so far has been encouraging. “The response from players and the media has been very positive,” he noted. “At the same time, we’ve received many suggestions and pieces of feedback.”
The team is acting on that input. “We are carefully reviewing them and trying to incorporate improvements into the game during development.”
Working with Jennifer English
The game also features voice actor Jennifer English, adding weight to its story-driven focus.
“We’re really honored to work with Jennifer English,” Chen said. “She’s known for her performances in many great games.”
The collaboration has been smooth so far. “Working with her has been very smooth. We collaborate closely, and she brings a lot of energy and professionalism to the role,” he added. “We’re very excited for players to hear her performance in the final game.”
Looking Ahead
“First, I want to say a huge thank you to the gaming community,” Chen said. “We’ve received a lot of positive feedback, and we really appreciate the support.”
That support is driving the studio forward. “As a newly formed studio, seeing that response is very inspiring and tells us we’re heading in the right direction,” he explained.
At the same time, the team is still refining the game. “We’re also listening closely to player suggestions and continuing to improve the game,” Chen said. “We hope players will keep following our updates… and we look forward to delivering a great final product.”
Tides of Annihilation has a clear direction, a single-player action-adventure built on knight-based combat, large environments, and a story rooted in Arthurian legend. The structure is there, and now it comes down to how well it all comes together.
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