Half Sword for Windows

Half Sword is a physics-based medieval combat simulator featuring authentic 15th-century weaponry and armor. You take on the role of a commoner striving to become a knight through intense tournaments and brutal battles. With a unique mouse-driven control system, you must master precise movements to strike, block, and counter opponents. 

Combat in Half Sword is deeply influenced by Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) techniques, adding layers of realism. You can acquire new equipment, forge custom armor, or gamble on your victories to boost earnings. Its gore-heavy presentation features decapitations, crushed skulls, and dismemberment, highlighting the violent nature of historical combat.

Bloody encounters

Half Sword employs a unique mouse-driven combat system that provides full control over weapon movement. This feature demands deliberate, accurate positioning for successful strikes and defensive maneuvers. You must manipulate angles, timing, and force to exploit gaps in enemy armor. The system is designed in consultation with HEMA practitioners, ensuring movements are grounded in real-world techniques. This mechanic requires practice but rewards mastery with satisfying duels.

The game features a diverse collection of historically accurate arms and armor. You can choose equipment suited to your preferred fighting style, ranging from polearms to longswords. Armor pieces vary in design and function, with some favoring protection while others allow greater mobility. However, realistic weapon handling contributes to a steep learning curve for the control mechanics. Historical detail extends to weapon handling, reinforcing the grounded, simulation-driven gameplay.

Combat emphasizes high-stakes brutality. Skulls can be crushed, limbs severed, and bodies left mutilated, depending on weapon choice and strike precision. The gore system dynamically reflects the force and accuracy of attacks, reinforcing the violent nature of medieval combat. Defeat carries significant consequences, meaning each encounter carries risk. This approach heightens tension during tournaments and arena fights, encouraging you to face each battle thoughtfully rather than recklessly.

A test of skill

Half Sword presents a challenging gameplay that rewards precision and strategic thinking. However, achieving this precision requires overcoming a steep learning curve associated with the intricate weapon control system. The diverse equipment options offer tactical flexibility. Its uncompromising depiction of medieval violence emphasizes the brutal nature of the setting. This physics-based simulator offers a compelling challenge of realistic, high-risk combat.

• Added kicking (Space Bar)
• Tweaked parrying
• Nerfed blunt damage and boosted armor defense against it
• Improved grip switching
• Added practice dummy
• Tweaked physics
• Added new juicy slashing and crushing sounds
• Added new blood particles (WIP)
• Added new blood effects, including blood running down from the wounds
• Blood pooling is back
• Added armor and clothing damage
• Added bruises
• Added dynamic slicing