_{Coming to Steam}

Restle Theme – Kira Burr

Restle is a game that looks at the framework and legacy of Go and asks what happens if we put some new encasing principles over it.Go is already incredibly balanced, each player starts with almost no advantage and every move can be answered incrementally. Its whole strength is in how such a simple structure gives way to an almost endless depth of choices.

In Restle we’re not trying to replace that, we’re just shifting the context. small changes in scoring or format that bend the way players think about the board. the idea is to keep the simple architecture of go but tilt it just enough that it creates a different kind of experience, a different lens for making strategic choices.

One mode is called Zone Control. Here the board is split into four quadrants and the focus is on holding territory and having presence rather than just going for captures. that creates a game that feels pretty different from the aggressive, tactical rhythms of traditional play. it pushes you to think less about cutting and taking, and more about where you’re standing and what it means to hold space.

Another mode, Balance Control, takes that further. instead of simply counting who has more territory at the end, the whole point is to be the one in control when the board reaches a certain territory split. it’s not just about expansion but about timing, watching the balance tip and lining yourself up so you’re the one in position when it locks in.