Developer One or Eight along with publisher Alliance Arts have announced that their new crowd-controlling turn-based strategy game The Great Villainess: Strategy of Lily will launch on PC via Steam on 24 July 2025.
Set in a pre-digital era dominated by political intrigue and misinformation, the game follows Duchess Scarlet, who stands falsely accused of murder and sentenced to death by the Imperial Kingdom. At the last moment, she is saved by Lily, a time-travelling livestreamer from the future. Together, they set out to clear Scarlet’s name and dismantle the oppressive regime behind her wrongful conviction.
The Great Villainess: Strategy of Lily blends traditional turn-based strategy gameplay with a media manipulation mechanic. Lily uses her futuristic broadcasting blimp to spread disinformation across the battlefield, persuading enemy commanders to reposition troops and creating openings for Scarlet’s forces to exploit. Misinformation can also be used to demoralise enemies, lowering their combat effectiveness or even prompting defections.
Players will be able to defeat enemy units, liberate prisoners to gain new abilities, and persuade hesitant opponents to join Scarlet’s cause. By developing relationships with allied characters through dialogue, players can enhance their army’s strength and unlock powerful Unison Skills that turn the tide of battle.
Commenting on the upcoming release, the development team said:
Whether winning through winsomeness or brute force, The Great Villainess offers many ways to play. Thanks to the feedback we received from our community, we implemented many community-requested updates, and can’t wait for the community to go hands-on with the final version very soon!
