Whether you’re a die-hard fan of the “masocore” genre or just someone who appreciates a beautifully crafted pixelated death, the team at Doinksoft has something special cooking.

Fresh off the heels of the gritty Gunbrella and the cat-in-a-mech cult classic Gato Roboto, Doinksoft and publisher Devolver Digital have officially pulled back the curtain on Dark Scrolls.

Coming to PC (Steam) and Nintendo Switch later in 2026, this title is shaping up to be one of the most chaotic indie releases of the year. Here’s why it should be on your radar.

What is Dark Scrolls?

At its core, Dark Scrolls is a “pixel-perfect dungeon scroller.” Imagine the methodical exploration of a classic 1980s dungeon crawler blended with the bullet-hell intensity of a “shmup” (shoot ’em up).

According to Doinksoft’s Cullen Dwyer, the game was born out of a bit of healthy frustration with the modern “roguelike” label. Dwyer joked that while many modern games claim the title, few capture the gridlocked, high-stakes tension of the 80s originals. Dark Scrolls aims to bridge that gap—mixing old-school difficulty with modern, fluid controls.

Key Features to Get Excited About

A “Rogue’s Gallery” of Heroes: You won’t just be playing as a generic knight. There are nine unlockable heroes, ranging from burly berserkers to… a saxophone-playing rat. Each comes with unique skills, side objectives, and customizable trinkets.

Chaos with a Friend: The game features both local and online co-op. You can strategise with a buddy, combine elemental powers, and—perhaps most importantly—revive each other when things inevitably go sideways.

Procedural Mastery: While the rooms themselves are hand-crafted to ensure high-quality level design, the way they are stitched together is procedurally generated. No two runs will feel the same.

Arcade Alchemy: As you progress, you’ll visit Bruce & Goose’s Shoppe to spend your hard-earned coins on perks and summoned allies. Stack them correctly, and you’ll unleash the kind of “screen-filling destruction” usually reserved for arcade legends.

The Doinksoft Signature

If you’ve played Gato Roboto or Gunbrella, you know what to expect: tight mechanics, a distinct visual identity, and a quirky sense of humour. The reveal trailer showcases a vibrant, high-energy world where you’re just as likely to hurl a magical axe as you are to “flip a steak” at a bizarre enemy.

The game isn’t just a test of reflexes; it’s an invitation to explore a world packed with secrets and branching paths. Whether you’re playing solo on your PC or taking the chaos on the go with the Switch, Dark Scrolls looks like it’s going to be a must-play for 2026.

Stay Tuned to Techmash

We’ll be keeping a close eye on the exact release date as Devolver Digital drops more info later this year. For now, you can head over to Steam to add Dark Scrolls to your wishlist!

Find out more here – https://www.devolverdigital.com/

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