Experience the legendary adventures of a brave courier rider! Bond with your horse and tame the open wilds of 13th century Mongolia.
Latest Updates from Our Project:
Questions & Answers: Part 2 & more!
12 months ago
– Mon, Mar 24, 2025 at 08:16:04 AM
Dear Backers and Followers,
Please join another Q&A Update where we answer some more questions that arose during the campaign, plus a link to a Tech Feature about our Dynamic Weather. Here we go!
Yes, we offer UltraWide 21:9 on PC!
Q: Does the Horse and Character Customization Stretch Goal mean we will get more outfits for Naraa? And does painting our horses mean with actual paint in the game, or “painting” coat patterns?
We will offer a wide variety of patterns and emblems that you can grace your horse with, and then customize with the colors of your choice. We will ask our community to be part of choosing and creating those patterns.
On top of that you will be able to choose different outfits and accessories for Naraa and your horses!
The main goal of this mechanic is “freedom of expression”, and for the sake of this player freedom we may take some liberties from the strict historical framework.
This one is Backer-exclusive! The Avatar Warrior Skin and Warrior Horse refers to an ancient Windstorm legend: “Warrior and Sleeper represent the energies that every horse carries within itself!”
What types of horse breeds will be considered for the final game? Will it only be historically accurate horses?
Our main horse breed in the game will be the Mongolian Horse: a stocky, hardy and small-stature breed perfectly adapted to traveling long distances and surviving harsh winters. Their small build, stout heads and necks and sturdy legs might not be what fans of long-legged modern warmbloods and thoroughbreds are used to, but we couldn’t possibly not feature this breed that is the pride joy of Mongolian nomads.
We did take a little bit of liberty with their size in the game for aesthetic reasons, admittedly, but we feel like their build remains true to what makes this breed what it is.
Our other confirmed horse breeds are the Ferghana and the Akhal Teke, both of which are plausible “import breeds” for our game’s location and time period, and will add some variety in build and type. In general, we aim to include breeds or horse types that are at least believable, even if they’re not explicitly confirmed to have existed in our setting.
However, we also want the creative freedom to include horses that people love, not just those that meet strict standards of realism or historical authenticity or beauty standards. We’re building this game to bring joy to many different kinds of players, whether they’re purists or simply enjoy riding their favorite breeds. We ourselves would love to ride around on a big, powerful Shire horse or an energetic Avelignese.
To support all playstyles, we offer players the option to disable non-authentic breeds in their individual game sessions.
How exactly will “Windstorm” be featured in the game’s story and whether players will be able to ride warmblood horses in historical Mongolia is something we’re keeping under wraps for now.
The modern warmblood horse, featured in some of our promotional material, is included specifically because of Windstorm himself, the iconic main horse of this franchise. For our Mongolian setting, we will include a warmblood precursor breed, such as a Limousin Horse, dating back to 12th century.
Since our development is strongly focused on core gameplay at the moment, additional breeds will not make it into the Alpha Playtest (Spring 2025) or Early Access (Summer 2025) release of the game yet, so we have time to figure things out and do additional research, and to listen closely to what breeds our players want to see.
However, we are happy for any suggestions and have already created a “backer breeds” list with all the suggestions we got from you :) What type of breed would you like to see in the game? Please leave a comment below!
Bouncy Foal
Q: How do you plan to fill the world so that it doesn't feel “empty”?
This is a fantastic question and one we've been asking ourselves since the early days of our Windstorm games. Vast landscapes must not feel meaningless, resulting in large but empty spaces that players rush through without much engagement.
In Windstorm: The Legend of Khiimori, the journey is the gameplay, not just a means to reach a destination!
We’re designing our world so that every ride feels like an adventure, filled with dynamic events, meaningful exploration, horse management, and skill progression. Our goal is to ensure no two journeys feel the same, offering players constant opportunities to engage with the world in impactful ways. We’re taking a systemic approach to feature development, which takes more time, but pays off with deep, emergent gameplay variety.
We strive for a world full of details!
We want a world that reacts to you and your horse… and vice versa!
In Windstorm: The Legend of Khiimori, the environment isn’t just a beautiful background, it’s alive, and it responds to your actions.
Weather impacts gameplay in meaningful ways. Heavy rain turns paths into mud, strong winds affect your horse’s balance and the accuracy of thrown powders, and sandstorms can force you to take shelter or lose your way entirely. More on weather below in our “In-depth Tech Feature”.
The world transforms at night, offering a second layer of discovery. Some animals disappear while others emerge. Certain merchants relocate, and some paths become safer or more dangerous depending on wildlife activity.
Animals react to your presence. “Predator & prey” behaviors unfold naturally, creating a dynamic, living ecosystem. Deep mud, icy slopes, steep hills, and unstable ground demand skill, preparation, and smart route planning.
The Gobi Desert can not only be a dry and hot place, it can also be foggy, or cold at night! Are you well prepared?
Your Horse is more than a Mount: It’s Your Lifeline
Inspired by companions like D-Dog from Metal Gear Solid V, your horse is your travel companion and if needed your survival partner. It is not just a vehicle!
Your horse responds to threats, weather, and terrain. It grows over time, unlocking new traits and behaviors based on its breed, the way you train it, and the strength of your relationship.
Survival can be a shared challenge. Overworking your horse leads to fatigue and potential injuries. Managing food, water, and trust is the key to success. But do not worry, horses cannot die in W:TLOK.
Different breeds excel in different environments. Some are better suited to deserts, others to steep mountain trails or snowy landscapes. Choosing the right horse for the journey ahead is part of your strategy.
Let’s jump into cooking! With the “Cooking” Stretch Goal unlocked you can now prepare useful meals for you and your horse.
Every Journey should be a Strategic Choice
A delivery mission might present options like:
1.) Take a dangerous shortcut through a canyon filled with poisonous snakes. 2.) Choose a longer, safer route that drains more resources like food & water. 3.) Or wait until nightfall, when the snakes disappear, but risk encountering nocturnal predators instead.
And there’s much more planned, but we’ll save that for another time…
A Life on Horseback!
In-depth Tech Feature: Dynamic Weather
Our friends and partners at 80 Level published an article by our Lead Technical Artist just recently. If you are interested into the tech behind our dynamic weather then this is a really nice chance to take a look behind the scenes of game development including lots of video footage:
Project recommendation: The Guardian of Nature - A Wholesome Puzzle Adventure Game
The Guardian of Nature is a hand-drawn, size-changing adventure. Embark on a magical journey with botanist Henry, use your size-changing ability to explore nature in big and small and solve solarpunk puzzles to put nature back in order.
Check out their Kickstarter page and get notified when they launch:
The Game: Exploration & Survival on Horseback (new video)
about 1 year ago
– Wed, Mar 19, 2025 at 08:34:11 AM
Dear Backers and Followers,
Today we will continue our journey “deeper into the game” and tell you more about your roles and activities! The main topics are the survival and exploration elements, while highlighting some of our distinct horse care features.
In Windstorm: The Legend of Khiimori you not only need to master the open wilds of 13th century Mongolia on horseback. You also need to thrive and survive as a courier rider, bond with your horses to stand a chance against the harsh terrainand conditions and ultimately unravel the Khiimori myth!
Challenging weather conditions…
...create puddles of water that your horse can use to drink!
Thrive and Survive as Yam Courier
Originally, the so-called “Yam” was a Mongolian postal system that was established mainly in the 13th century. It operated with a chain of multiple stations and courier riders, so that a messenger arriving at one station could immediately pass on his goods or information to another messenger in order to enable rapid delivery over large areas.
The approach we take in Windstorm: The Legend of Khiimori is a bit of a different one, as you are the only Yam courier rider in a vast area and thus need to make sure goods are delivered accordingly in the game world.
Turtle Rock is a point of interest in our game that actually truly exists in Mongolia. But what about the “slotted” tortoise sculptures? These animals stand for endurance and strength…
However, wildlife, biomes, weather, ground types such as mud, snow, high meadows or deep canyons, all present a compelling challenge! Prepare your journey carefully: Craft and bring the right equipment, plan your route wisely and master archery so that you may survive the dangers ahead of you.
Horse fatigue is a serious topic: Lose your horse’s trust and you might as well both be lost…
Let it be the vast steppe, the Gobi Desert or snow-covered peaks, Mongolia offers a fascinating variety of biomes and each and every time you do a quest the conditions change: We as developers want to make sure that even when repeating a mission due to failure, it will not feel the same the second time around!
This short video shows some on foot exploration with different weather conditions:
Horses: Your Key to Success
Obviously, the “make it or break it” factor for being a successful Yam courier rider is your four-legged companion.
The game offers a large variety of horse attributes… and attitudes! It will be up to you to train them accordingly and manage your stable successfully, so that you have the right horse at hand for each challenge or mission.
Gated Progression: You may only cross here if your horse can jump high enough, achieved through training and breeding.
Naturally, you can upgrade both your own equipment and your horse's, while also gathering essential resources for feeding, healing, evolving, and for crafting!
Hunting Ger in the wild
Gathered resources can be used for crafting!
On top of that you can tame wild horses and breed new ones: Raise up foals with special skills that are vital to succeed.
Need to deliver a hot soup to a wise hermit living on top of a snowy mountain before the night ends? Well, then your horse should be comfortable with snow, not afraid of the dark and pretty quick too. If you cannot train your existing horse accordingly, or tame a suitable horse in the wild, or buy one from the merchant, then breeding will be your best option. However, an errand that takes you through the desert on a hot day with the possibility of a sandstorm is a completely different story, calling for a different partner!
Sand or snow, where will you go?
Unravel the Khiimori Myth
As mentioned on the main page of or campaign, the game takes place in two different, intertwined periods of time. Mika’s stallion Windstorm from the Kaltenbach Ranch got sick and only ancient knowledge may be the last help. Thus, Mika connects with Naraa (full name: Naranchimeg), a girl from 13th century Mongolia (the main part of the game), who sets out to find a cure by unravelling the myth of the Khiimori, the legendary “wind horse”!
Set markers to plan your route and keep track of your quests via our handy journal (WIP)
In order to resolve this mystery and save Windstorm, you will need to explore Mongolia, support residents, solve tasks, thrive and survive as a Yam courier and even occasionally visit the Kaltenbach Ranch in our present-day world.
A hidden settlement waiting to be discovered!
Feature Chart
Please check out our Feature Chart below. From Survival to Action-Adventure, from Exploration to Horse Care, Windstorm: The Legend of Khiimori takes its mission seriously: Breaking out of its niche and riding towards new horizons!
Feature Chart
So, is the game fun for core and casual gamers alike?
Yes! Multiple game settings and options are planned, so that the title can be enjoyed by different types of players. On top of that, we have “Peaceful Mode” as a new Stretch Goal, in case you are not into survival elements at all.
Talking about Stretch Goals, here is our new list! Which ones are you most looking forward to? Please leave a comment below.
New Stretch Goals!
Please follow us on Social Media and spread the news, so that we can reach as many of our Stretch Goals as possible! Let's make this the best possible game it can be :) Thank you all for your passion and support!
100k Wishlists & Add-on
about 1 year ago
– Tue, Mar 18, 2025 at 09:07:34 AM
Dear Backers and Followers,
We have great news today, for the success of the project and for you as a (potential) backer!
100.000 Wishlists on Steam
We have reached 100.000 Wishlists on Steam!
Since our announcement of the game on Steam in Spring 2024, 100.000 people have put Windstorm: The Legend of Khiimori on their wishlist. This is amazing and makes us confident that we are all on the right track here!
“More, more, more!!” Stretch Goal
On top of that we have reached or “More, more, more!!” Stretch Goal yesterday! Alongside additional courier missions, quest types and resources (used for e.g. crafting), we will now add two more Horse Breeds: Akhal-teke and Ferghana. They will be on offer at the stall of the Horse Merchant, who's brought them in from faraway lands. Both are quite old breeds, so they perfectly fit into our game. For the Akhal-teke we will even implement an additional gene for breeding, so that we can get this typical metallic sheen and make it really distinct from other horses.
Additional horse breeds will be added after the Early Access release! We may include even more horse breeds, depending on the success of this campaign.
Thank you all for your support
Add-on added!
Last not least and to celebrate above millstones we have just added the “digital version of the game” as an Add-on to the Kickstarter Reward Tiers! This was a wish from our backers and followers, so we are happy to grant it today.
Digital Game: Add an extra copy of the digital game (system of choice) to your existing order! This Add-on is available for all tiers. It includes the game for a special price of 29 EUR (approximately 31.5 USD) and none of the digital extra content.
Hungry for more?
Have you backed the project yet? If not, what is keeping you from doing so? Please leave a comment below and/or follow us on social media :)
