By Joseph Luster

If you want to experience medieval times without booking dinner and a show, look no further than Wartales. The medieval open-world tactical RPG from developer Shiro Games recently expanded with a piece of Contract DLC titled Fires in the Capital, which aims to capture the flames of revolution as trouble brews in the heart of the city.

Fires in the Capital is set in the city of Isandrin, which is currently under the control of a new leader. Thanks to General Maxime’s sweeping reforms, unrest looms large, adding to the already-present tensions of rival factions. It’s up to you, through this tumultuous time, to wrest order from the throes of chaos in the streets of Isandrin.

To do so, you’ll have to chip away at the source of the unrest itself. From removing propaganda posters to hunting down brigands and fleeing criminals, every move you make will hopefully work against the spread of destabilization, one neighborhood at a time. These moves also have cascading effects, and you won’t be able to restore the flow of trade until you put out the fire of riots in the neighborhoods themselves. The calmer the residents become, the closer you’ll be to restoring economic stability.

Not everything can be handled behind the scenes. Those who have played Wartales and its ilk know well that sometimes you have to get your hands dirty. This involves direct confrontation with the aforementioned brigands, as well as missions involving convoy escorts, civilian rescue and other essential means of aiding the populace. Like the base game, Fires in the Capital aims to serve up a deft balance of combat and grander, tactical decision making, both of which have their own unique consequences.

Wartales has done well for itself since its initial launch on Steam and GOG, and this update continues the tradition of a healthy number of DLC additions that arrived before it. Fires in the Capital marks the third Contract DLC, following The Beast Hunt and The Fief, and there are also two expansions in the form of The Skelmar Invasion and The Curse of Rigel. DLC has been coming out at a relatively rapid pace since The Skelmar Invasion dropped in 2024, and not all have been met with open arms, but Fires in the Capital looks like one worth checking out if you’re already deep into your time with the main game.

Genre: Strategy
Platform: PC
Publisher: Shiro Games
Available: Now

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