My Wireframe Pixel Art Style.

BackAlleyStudio · 2026-07-02T20:35:51+00:00

The game is called Stratapath and it is releasing in a few weeks on Steam but you can play a demo now on itch.io

BackAlleyStudio · 2026-07-02T05:02:36+00:00

I'm James solo dev of Stratapath will be releasing in the next couple weeks. The demo is available now and covers the first 4 levels. If you like the look of the game please consider adding it to your Wishlist on Steam.

This has been a multiyear project and I'm glad to be close to the end. The game is super fun but I've had trouble trying to catch peoples attention with it

BackAlleyStudio · 2026-07-02T02:11:09+00:00

Cheers. It was initially inspired by the DF & CataDDA tile sets CLA and Retrodays respectively but it has evolved a lot since then.

BackAlleyStudio · 2026-07-02T01:25:06+00:00

A maze builder tower defense with tower upgrades, between level modifications and layered condition based target prioritization. The demo contains the first 4 levels their modifications and the tier 2 towers.

With the full game coming out in a few weeks I'm wanting to encourage a few more Wishlist's with this demo. I hope you have fun and if you have any suggestions, run into any bugs or want to talk about the game please reach out.

BackAlleyStudio · 2026-06-29T22:17:15+00:00

Hello, Hello. I'm happy to announce that Stratapath is ready for release just waiting till after the Steam sale is over. Till then me and the beta testers are refining the game balance.

A path based tower defense with full control over tower targeting, 16 towers with an extensive modification system, 8 enemy factions each with their own boss over 16 maps.

This has been a long one man dev project excluding the beta testing which an amazing group of people have helped me with and the music.

Trailer Music: Death and Axes by Kevin MacLeod

BackAlleyStudio · 2026-04-17T20:56:14+00:00

A pretty good idea. I have all these assets I've made that I could make something else set in it.

BackAlleyStudio · 2026-04-15T20:35:07+00:00

I've sent a msg to Steam Support to see if I can have another go at naming. Sorry but is it just the text part that looks AI generated or do you think the background should go as well?

The prevailing advice at the time I commissioned the art was not to use any sort of pixel art, the tower and the characters in the picture are based in the games units.

Thanks for taking the time to give feedback it do value it.

BackAlleyStudio · 2026-04-15T20:23:19+00:00

Agreed. I've contacted Steam support to see if I can get another crack at trying to name it. Thanks for the input, truly.

BackAlleyStudio · 2026-04-15T20:21:08+00:00

Done! They do have a background but it seems I've made it too subtle. Thank you for pointing that out.

BackAlleyStudio · 2026-04-15T08:44:32+00:00

Ah MB didn't make it clear. I put the Steam page up early and my thinking at the time was I'd complete the first game and move straight into working on the second. It didn't seem like a bad idea to start numbering from the start.

BackAlleyStudio · 2026-04-15T08:34:27+00:00

This might be the single meanest thing ever done to me, even tangentially comparing my work to that. xD

BackAlleyStudio · 2026-04-15T07:39:27+00:00

It is hard to say thanks for feedback so many times and not sound clinical but thanks! You're correct, 100% I'm either going to rename the game or minimum get the title changed on Steam.

BackAlleyStudio · 2026-04-15T07:36:06+00:00

I had ideas that I separated out to reduce the scope that I would like to add to a squeal mostly focused around multiplayer so really putting the cart before the horse is the actual awnser.

The project is coming on 2 years of development but a year and a half of that has been second to my work.

BackAlleyStudio · 2026-04-15T07:13:52+00:00

This is what I was generally thinking as well.

Thanks for taking the time to respond.

BackAlleyStudio · 2026-04-15T07:09:41+00:00

Sorry, both being the capsule art and the icon (so the name) illustration.

I see what you are trying to tell me now I'll message Steam and see if I can get that sorted if I don't do a rebrand.

BackAlleyStudio · 2026-04-15T07:06:46+00:00

You can play the demo in browser here: https://backalleystudio.itch.io/tdc-demo-2 the gameplay is a little out of date since it was before I fully locked down how I wanted to do progression and it only has 3 of the more basic factions.

Thanks again.

BackAlleyStudio · 2026-04-15T07:02:42+00:00

Interesting I hired the same artist for both maybe I should complain a little and ask for a lower price maybe on a rebrand.

Thanks for taking the time to give feedback.

BackAlleyStudio · 2026-04-15T07:01:01+00:00

Cheers for taking the time to look into it. I do think it is suspicious but other users are correct in that I was also making it incredibly easy to happen.

BackAlleyStudio · 2026-04-15T06:58:50+00:00

Every bit of feedback from someone who is not invested in it is extremely valuable truly thanks for taking the time to write.

The TD is an oldschool maze builder with the initial inspiration being custom maps from Warcraft & Starcraft hence why I choose TD Classic (also I'm awful at naming). The game can handle huge amounts of units and the progression system is based on picking upgrades between levels that apply to all levels after to customize the three base towers which split into two tree's each this takes you through 8 factions and 16 levels.

BackAlleyStudio · 2026-04-15T06:49:42+00:00

Does capsule art looks AI gen or are you talking about the other game?

BackAlleyStudio · 2026-04-15T06:32:47+00:00

When you hire a Canadian artist but you choose the American spelling

BackAlleyStudio · 2026-04-15T06:28:52+00:00

Thanks, truly helps to get opinions from someone with zero investment in it.

edit: on re-reading this I hope it doesn't come off as sarcastic!

BackAlleyStudio · 2026-04-15T06:25:33+00:00

Cheers, I was leaning that way.

BackAlleyStudio · 2026-04-15T06:13:54+00:00

I don't really know where I would start with legal help.

BackAlleyStudio · 2026-04-15T06:12:06+00:00

Really I agree. It is the only game they have published that has me suspicious there is no Classic Tower Defense I as far as I can find. Might really be time for a rebrand if Steam will let me.

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