Strange Scaffold puts police power at the center of turn-based combat
Gods With Badges is giving a canceled Artificer project another chance. Revealed during the October 8, 2026 Triple-i Initiative showcase, the narrative tactics game is being developed and published by Strange Scaffold. The studio describes it as a revival and reinterpretation of the earlier project.
This is the studio behind El Paso, Elsewhere, our Game of the Week #69. Its new game turns toward law enforcement in a dystopian city, with conversations, arrests and turn-based combat built around the power an officer holds.
Gods With Badges reveal trailer
Watch the official Gods With Badges world premiere trailer
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Back on patrol in Scarhelm
Players take the role of Harrow McClellan, a disgraced officer sent back to a former posting in Scarhelm. According to the official Steam page, each conversation and battle can reinforce that reputation or offer a chance to act differently.
Patrols include handling complaints, gathering evidence and seizing contraband. When violence breaks out, the game shifts into isometric, turn-based encounters with cover and hostage rescues. Officer loadouts can also be customized.
Turning off the bodycam opens new options
The most distinctive announced mechanic is the bodycam. Strange Scaffold says switching it off temporarily unlocks dialogue and tactical choices that would otherwise be unavailable. Players also decide whether to pursue an arrest or use lethal force.
A conversation with Terry Jones while the body camera is switched on. Image: Strange Scaffold via Steam.
That puts questions about accountability directly alongside the tactical decisions. The announcement gives us the premise; how those choices carry through the campaign is something the game still has to show.
Gods With Badges is listed for Windows PC on Steam, with its release date currently marked “To be announced.”
Gods With Badges
Release: To be announced on Steam
Genre: Narrative tactics, turn-based strategy
Developer / Publisher: Strange Scaffold
Platforms: Windows PC — Steam
Related Reading
El Paso, Elsewhere: Game of the Week #69
Written by Ronny Fiksdahl, Founder & Editor-in-Chief of Fix Gaming Channel.
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