KingFish Preview: Is This Asymmetric Co-Op Strategy Game the Next Indie Phenomenon?

Discover KingFish, the upcoming 2027 asymmetric co-op game from Firevolt. Read our deep-dive preview exploring how Against the Storm meets Thronefall on the back of a giant leviathan.

The year 2026 has witnessed incredible evolution in the strategy and cooperative gaming landscapes, but a newly unveiled title is daring to mash up genres in a way we have never seen before. Developed and published by Firevolt—the talented team previously known for WheelMates—KingFish is an upcoming 2-player asymmetric co-op game that officially captured the industry's attention this May. Slated for a full launch on PC and consoles in 2027, this ambitious project blends the high-stakes survival of Against the Storm with the kinetic tactical action of Thronefall.

The core concept is as wild as it is brilliant: one player controls a young, betrayed King fighting on the ground, while the other player commands a giant, ancient Fish that acts as a living, moving island carrying an entire kingdom on its back. Set in a dark, treacherous ocean world consumed by mist, monsters, and endless nightmares, KingFish forces two players to share a single goal through two completely different gameplay lenses. In this 1,500-word deep dive preview, we analyze the dual-perspective mechanics, the fog-of-war communication systems, and why this indie title is currently one of the most anticipated strategy games on the horizon.

The Lore: Rebuilding a Kingdom on a Leviathan’s Back

The narrative foundation of KingFish sets a grim and gripping tone right from the opening cinematic. Following a devastating political betrayal, a young dethroned King is cast out into a hostile, endless ocean. With his kingdom in ruins and his people scattered, he inadvertently awakens a legendary, ancient Leviathan from the depths of the sea.

Rather than destroying what remains, this colossal sea creature becomes the physical foundation for a new civilization. The setting is an absolute nightmare for survival—a vast, unpredictable ocean filled with marine monsters, supernatural mist, and hidden horrors. To survive, the King and the ancient Fish must form a symbiotic bond, navigating the open waters to gather resources, rescue survivors, and establish a mobile stronghold capable of withstanding constant siege. It is an evocative blend of high fantasy and maritime survival horror that gives context to every tactical choice you make.

The Eye in the Sky: Playing as the Giant Fish

For the player who takes control of the ancient Fish, KingFish transforms into a complex, deep roguelite citybuilder. Viewed from a strategic top-down perspective, this side of the game draws heavy, deliberate inspiration from Against the Storm. The catch? Your entire grid-based settlement is built directly onto the shell and scales of a massive, moving sea creature.

Macro-Management and City Building Functions:

• Resource Production and Grid Layouts: The Fish player must manage complex production chains, build housing, construct specialized industrial buildings, and optimize worker efficiency on limited real estate.
• Threat Monitoring: Operating at a macro level, the Fish can see incoming oceanic threats, shifts in weather patterns, and distant resource nodes long before they reach the settlement.
• Mystical Aerial Support: During combat phases, the Fish isn't passive. The player can look down upon the battlefield, casting powerful spells, summoning barriers, and directing automated defensive structures to support the King’s ground forces.

Managing the morale of your citizens while simultaneously steering a massive living island through a monster-infested storm provides a high-stress, deeply rewarding management loop that will test the micro and macro skills of any veteran strategy fan.

The Boots on the Ground: Playing as the King

While the Fish player is looking at blueprints and production lines, the second player is experiencing a completely different game. Controlling the young Monarch from a third-person isometric perspective, the King’s gameplay is a fast-paced, high-octane blend of action RPG and dynamic tower defense, heavily inspired by the minimalist brilliance of Thronefall.

Micro-Management and Real-Time Combat Functions:

• Direct Combat and Hacking: The King player is directly on the frontlines, utilizing various weapon types to cut down incoming waves of marine monsters and defending vulnerable border walls.
• Village Interactivity: While the Fish places the buildings, the King interacts with the villagers face-to-face, gathering immediate resources, checking on localized wall health, and rallying troops during sudden breaches.
• Tactical Positioning: The King must build localized defenses, position archer towers, and lead standard infantry units to choke points, making split-second decisions as waves of enemies crash against the leviathan's outer rings.

The Communication Gap: Incomplete Information Mechanics

What elevates KingFish from a standard cooperative game into a true psychological and tactical challenge is its brilliant approach to information gathering. Firevolt has implemented an Asymmetric Information System where neither player has the complete picture of the current crisis.

The Fish player can see macro-level movements, approaching storm systems, and overarching structural damage, but cannot see the specific enemy types breaking through a localized gate or the immediate danger the King is facing. Conversely, the King player knows exactly how intense a ground fight is, but has no idea if a massive sea monster is swimming beneath the leviathan to strike from the opposite side. Because both players are looking at the exact same crisis from totally different view angles and UI layouts, constant voice communication isn't just encouraged—it is mandatory for basic survival. It creates an incredible "command center" vibe that forces teammates to trust each other's split-second reporting.

Unique Villagers: RPG Mechanics in a Citybuilder

Adding another layer of mechanical depth to both the building and combat phases is the game’s randomized citizen system. In KingFish, villagers are not generic, nameless units. Every single peasant, artisan, and soldier rescued from the ocean mist is generated with unique properties:

Both players must work together to nurture these citizens. The Fish player manages their housing preferences and luxury goods to keep their baseline morale high, while the King player equips them with forged weaponry and levels them up into hardened veterans on the battlefield. It bridges the gap between the macro and micro loops beautifully.

Roguelite Progression: Endless Ocean Variances

Firevolt is making sure that KingFish avoids the repetitive traps of standard survival titles by utilizing a comprehensive roguelite structure. Every single expedition out into the deep sea operates on a run-based model.

At the start of a run, players select from procedurally generated ocean paths, choosing between high-risk storm zones loaded with rare artifacts or calmer waters with fewer resources. As you progress, you will unlock temporary mutations for the Fish, specialized military tactics for the King, and rare building blueprints that completely alter your strategy for that specific run. Between runs, players return to a meta-progression hub to unlock permanent baseline stat increases, new starting weapon archetypes for the King, and hidden sub-aquatic factions that offer unique trading contracts.

"KingFish forces a brilliant mechanical marriage between isolation and unity. It is a game where a citybuilder and an action hero must share a single heartbeat to survive."

Technical Performance and Target Platforms

Built on a heavily customized modern engine, Firevolt is targeting a flawless multi-platform release in 2027 across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Because the game simultaneous tracks high-density city structures and fast-paced isometric combat on a moving platform, optimization is a primary focus for the studio.

The visual art style strikes a gorgeous balance between a stylized, clean look and dark, atmospheric weather lighting. The water rendering is particularly impressive, showcasing massive rolling waves and deep-sea shadows that give players a true sense of scale of the giant fish they are riding. With full cross-play confirmed, friends will be able to manage their mobile kingdom together regardless of their preferred platform.

Conclusion: An Indie Strategy Masterclass in the Making

Though a full release is still a year away, KingFish is shaping up to be one of the most innovative cooperative strategy titles of the decade. By taking the addictive, methodical progression of Against the Storm and crashing it directly into the frantic, tactical defense of Thronefall, Firevolt is charting a bold new course for independent game development.

The emphasis on incomplete information and constant communication fixes the "backseat gaming" problem that plagues so many co-op experiences, ensuring that both players are fully engaged in their respective roles. Keep your eyes on Firevolt as they move closer to their 2027 launch window. The ocean is vast, the monsters are hungry, and your mobile kingdom is preparing to set sail.

KingFish Fast Facts:

• Developer/Publisher: Firevolt (Creators of WheelMates).
• Release Window: 2027.
• Platforms: PC (Steam) and Consoles (PS5, Xbox Series X|S).
• Core Gameplay: 2-Player Asymmetric Co-Op, Roguelite Citybuilder, Isometric Tower Defense.
• Key Influences: Against the Storm and Thronefall.