What is Starwood: Lantern?
Starwood: Lantern offers a refreshing twist on the autobattler genre by removing the stress of live matchmaking and replacing it with a tense, asynchronous day-based strategy loop. You’ll build a seven-slot warband from hundreds of units, manage your gold carefully, and fight ghosts of other players in a way that feels both fresh and deeply strategic.
Gameplay
Starwood: Lantern flips the autobattler script by ditching live lobbies for a chill, asynchronous day-based loop. You pick a hero, hit the Camp to recruit from 238 minions and spells, and slot them into a seven-unit warband. Placement actually matters here, unlike some genre peers where unit order is an afterthought. You then send your squad to fight ghosts of other players' runs. It’s a tight cycle of deciding whether to spend gold to survive today or save it to upgrade your Camp for the long haul. The 'Blessings' system adds a layer of customization that lets you shape your run, giving it a distinct identity separate from Hearthstone Battlegrounds or The Bazaar. It’s not just about stacking the strongest units; it’s about building a coherent engine that can handle the chaos.
Key Features
- Asynchronous day-based gameplay
- 238 minions and spells to recruit
- Seven-slot warband formation matters
- Blessings system for run customization
- Hero powers shape your strategy
Screenshots
Verdict
If you want a tactical autobattler that doesn't demand you be online at the same time as seven other people, this is worth your time. However, if you hate slow early games or clunky UIs, you might want to wait for the full release. The $10 price tag is steep for Early Access, but the depth justifies it if you stick around past the initial grind.
View on Steam →* Price at time of publication (checked 26.09.2026). Prices may vary by region and are subject to change. This is an editorial review, not a commercial offer.