TECHMASH

Category: Gamers

  • Meet DekaDuck: The Retro-Inspired, Detachable-Armed Cyborg Mallard You Didn’t Know You Needed

    Meet DekaDuck: The Retro-Inspired, Detachable-Armed Cyborg Mallard You Didn’t Know You Needed

    The indie gaming scene is no stranger to bizarre animal protagonists, but Brazilian developer Asteristic Game Studio might have just cooked up the most wonderfully chaotic hero yet.

    Meet DekaDuck—a 2D action platformer starring a half-duck, half-robot bounty hunter on a mission to bring the galaxy’s most wanted criminals to justice (while, ironically, working for a criminal himself).

    If you miss the golden age of 16-bit and Sega Saturn side-scrollers, this is one title you need to put on your radar immediately.

    A Cyborg Duck Born From Chaos

    The premise is exactly the kind of beautiful, high-concept nonsense that made ’90s gaming great. While fleeing the Intergalactic Police, a brilliant scientist named Dr. Less crashes his ship on an uncharted planet. Cornered and desperate, he uses his mechanical genius—and his daughter’s pet duck—to engineer the ultimate cybernetic bounty hunter: DEKADUCK.

    Now, our feathered hero has to blast his way through six secret-packed planets, unravel a massive sci-fi conspiracy, and dodge Captain Aiko of the Intergalactic Police, who happens to have a massive crush on him.

    The Secret Weapon: A Detachable Mechanical Arm

    While DekaDuck comes equipped with plenty of fast-paced running, gunning, and super-dashing, the real star of the show is his detachable mechanical arm.

    Inspired by retro classics like Mischief Makers, Mega Man, and Alien Soldier, this game builds its entire loop around reactive physics and momentum rather than fixed platforming solutions.

    • Grab and Throw: You can launch Deka’s mechanical fist to grab almost anything in the environment—including platforms, items, and enemies.
    • Weaponise the Local Wildlife: Grabbing different enemies unlocks unique, temporary abilities. You can swing a bat-like alien around as a boomerang, use a springy creature to bounce to high ledges, or turn small duck toys into improvised explosives.

    Rather than just memorising level layouts, DekaDuck forces you to look at the enemies on screen as tools to solve puzzles and take down massive bosses.

    Hand-Drawn Nostalgia Meets Modern Fluidity

    Visually, DekaDuck looks phenomenal. Asteristic Game Studio has opted for fully hand-drawn digital art and frame-by-frame animations, giving the game a crisp, expressive, Saturday-morning-cartoon aesthetic. Pair that with a pulse-pounding, synth-heavy soundtrack by retro-gaming composer Dominic Ninmark, and you have a recipe for serious nostalgia.

    Play the Demo Now!

    The best news? You don’t have to take our word for how it plays. Asteristic Game Studio has officially launched the DekaDuck Kickstarter campaign, and they’ve dropped a playable demo on Steam to celebrate.

    The crowdfunding campaign is live right now to help fund expanded content, and yes, console players are covered. Thanks to a partnership with publisher Nejcraft, the Kickstarter includes options to secure physical editions for both the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5.

    Head over to Steam, test out Deka’s mechanical arm for yourself, and get ready for some high-flying, robot-smashing avian chaos.

    Find out more here and here

    #DekaDuck #IndieGames #GamingNews #RetroGaming #Platformer #SciFiGaming #Kickstarter #SteamDemo #TechMash

  • Save 20% on Serpent’s Gaze: The Co-Op Soulslike Taking Over the Steam Summer Sale!

    Save 20% on Serpent’s Gaze: The Co-Op Soulslike Taking Over the Steam Summer Sale!

    If you and your gaming squad have been itching for a brutal new challenge, indie developer Feeble Minds has some incredible news. Their critically acclaimed 1-4 player Early Access co-op soulslike, Serpent’s Gaze, is officially joining the Steam Summer Sale with a fantastic 20% discount!

    For a limited time, you can dive into its punishing, sand-swept world for just $11.99 / €12.79 / £11.

    What is Serpent’s Gaze?

    Launched into Early Access just last month, Serpent’s Gaze has already locked down a 90% “Very Positive” user review rating on Steam. The game seamlessly blends the tactical, high-stakes combat of a classic third-person soulslike with the dynamic, unpredictable build-crafting of a roguelike.

    You play as a Scion brought to life by the withering tree god, Magnolia. Your mission? Venture out into an ancient, imposing desert filled with relentless bosses, rival factions, and deep-seated secrets, to take down the usurper gods who rule the lands.

    Whether you choose to face the brutal challenges alone or team up with up to three friends, Serpent’s Gaze demands smart stamina management, aggressive counter-attacks, and strategic build coordination.

    Custom Builds and Brutal Defeat

    No two runs through the game’s handcrafted levels feel the same. Along your pilgrimage, you can gather blessings from strange deities, gifts from your patron, and powerful relics to customise your playstyle:

    • Aspect of the Plague: Perfect for agile glass-cannon players, giving you temporary stat boosts every time you secure a quick kill.
    • Aspect of the Bold: Made for the ultimate avenger, scaling your damage output higher for every point of health you are missing. Pair it with a massive health pool and a health-sacrificing relic to turn your pain into your enemy’s punishment.

    However, the gods aren’t entirely generous. The game’s unique Curse system introduces random variables into every run—ranging from environmental hazards to terrifying mini-bosses hunting you down—ensuring that every single attempt stays fresh and deeply challenging.

    A Look at the Roadmap

    Feeble Minds isn’t slowing down anytime soon. Alongside the sale announcement, the team dropped a massive roadmap tracking the game’s journey toward its 1.0 launch:

    • Short-Term Goals: Focus on game stability, community-driven balancing patches, and a few surprise gameplay content additions.
    • Mid-Term Goals: Introducing a wider pool of weapons, classes, upgrades, curses, blessings, and unique quests.
    • The Journey to 1.0: A massive content drop that will introduce an entirely new domain featuring 4 new levels, 4 new bosses, plenty of fresh enemy archetypes, and dedicated Steam achievements.

    TechMash Verdict: If you love Elden Ring, Dark Souls, or Remnant, but want a rogue-lite twist you can tackle with your friends, Serpent’s Gaze is an absolute steal at this price point. Grab your discount before the sale ends and see if you have what it takes to make the desert bloom again.

    Head over to Steam to check out the Serpent’s Gaze Summer Sale Trailer and grab your copy today!

    Find out more here

    #SerpentsGaze #FeebleMinds #SteamSummerSale #Soulslike #IndieGames #CoOpGaming #GamingDeals #PCGaming #EarlyAccess #Roguelike

  • Feather Land: The Ultimate Cozy Idle Focus Companion Flies Onto Steam This July!

    Feather Land: The Ultimate Cozy Idle Focus Companion Flies Onto Steam This July!

    Get ready to turn your daily grind into a serene, feather-filled escape. Indie publishers Peep Nest and developer Pretty Soon have officially announced that Feather Land, the ultimate cosy idle focus companion, is launching on Steam on July 16.

    If you’re someone who struggles to stay in the zone while working, studying, or just trying to unwind, this charming little digital sanctuary might be exactly what your desktop needs.

    What is Feather Land?

    Unlike traditional games that demand your undivided attention, Feather Land is designed to run gently in the background. It serves as an aesthetic, low-stress companion that helps you manage your time while cultivating a peaceful, virtual ecosystem.

    Whether you are tackling a heavy work project, cramming for exams, or practising mindfulness, the game rewards your real-world productivity with ambient growth, soothing visuals, and adorable avian friends.

    Why It’s Perfect for Your Setup:

    • Idle Productivity: Stay focused on your actual tasks while your virtual sanctuary thrives quietly on a second monitor or in the background.
    • Cosy Vibes: Immerse yourself in a relaxing environment featuring calming soundscapes and minimalist, gorgeous aesthetics designed to reduce stress.
    • Customizable Focus: Use it as a gentle time-management tool or simply as a living wallpaper to make your digital workspace feel a little warmer.

    With the massive rise in popularity of “cosy tech” and digital wellness apps, Feather Land looks to bridge the gap between gamified productivity and pure relaxation.

    Mark your calendars for July 16 and get ready to invite some peace into your daily routine. You can wishlist Feather Land on Steam right now!

    Find out more here

    #FeatherLand #CozyGames #IndieGames #SteamRelease #ProductivityTools #IdleGames #PCGaming #TechMash #WorkFromHome #StudyGram

  • Pushkin Meets Punk: Classic Russian Lit Gets a Glam Rock, Zombie-Slaying Remaster!

    Pushkin Meets Punk: Classic Russian Lit Gets a Glam Rock, Zombie-Slaying Remaster!

    If you thought high school literature class was a bit dry, Dreamlore Games is about to completely shatter that reality. The developers have officially announced a full HD remaster of their cult-classic 2009 comedy-horror visual novel, Eugene Onegin vs. the Undead.

    Get ready, because this is easily the most wonderfully unhinged gaming news you’ll read all week.

    A Bizarre Cult Classic, Lovingly Restored

    For those unfamiliar with the 2009 original, it was a massive milestone for the Russian visual novel scene (technically the third ever produced in the country). At the time, it turned quite a few heads—and caused plenty of controversy—by taking Alexander Pushkin’s defining masterwork of Russian literature, Eugene Onegin, and tossing it into a blender with anime aesthetics, flesh-eating zombies, blood-sucking vampires, and heavy doses of 1980s glam rock.

    Yes, you read that correctly. This is 19th-century high society poetry, but with a chainsaw and a guitar solo.

    Now, Dreamlore is giving this bonkers dark comedy a massive facelift for modern platforms.

    What’s New in the Remaster?

    Dreamlore isn’t just upscaling old sprites; they are bringing some serious upgrades to the table for this Fall 2026 release:

    • Crisp 1080p HD Graphics: The game’s unique anime-meets-gothic style has been entirely remastered for modern displays.
    • A Fresh Script: An updated and revised script promises to keep the dark humour sharp and the pacing tight.
    • Global Language Support: For the very first time, the game will be fully playable in English, Chinese, and Japanese, making it accessible to a whole new audience of global gamers.
    • Bonus Game Included: The remaster includes an unlockable, remastered version of Book of the Dead: The Lost Souls—historically recognised as the very first Russian visual novel ever made.

    Pushkin, But Make It Bonkers

    Technically, the narrative follows Pushkin’s classic characters, but it also throws in unexpected guest appearances from other iconic literary works. Whether you are a scholar of 19th-century prose looking to see your favourite characters reimagined as glam rock icons, or you just want a colourful, chaotic visual novel with multiple endings, this remaster is shaping up to be an absolute treat.

    When can you play it? Eugene Onegin vs. the Undead is slated for a Fall 2026 release on PC, Mac, and Linux via Steam.

    Are you ready to swap poetry for a shotgun? Head over to Steam to wishlist it now, and let us know in the comments if you’re brave enough to face the literary undead!

    Find out more here

    #EugeneOnegin #DreamloreGames #VisualNovel #IndieGames #GamingNews #ZombieHorror #GlamRock #RetroGaming #TechMash

  • Abelard, Hold Our Calls! Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader is Getting a Massive Physical Release

    Abelard, Hold Our Calls! Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader is Getting a Massive Physical Release

    Physical media collectors and Warhammer fans, rejoice! If you’ve been holding out for a boxed copy to proudly display on your shelf, your prayers to the God-Emperor have finally been answered.

    Silver Lining Interactive, Owlcat Games, and Games Workshop have officially joined forces to announce a massive retail release. The critically acclaimed classic cRPG Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader is making its physical debut later this year with the ultimate boxed release: the Voidfarer Edition.

    Mark your calendars, because the journey into the Koronus Expanse officially goes physical on 15 October 2026 for the PlayStation 5 and the Nintendo Switch 2!

    What’s Inside the Voidfarer Edition?

    This isn’t just a bare-bones disc or cartridge (and yes, Switch 2 owners, it’s a proper physical cartridge, not a code-in-a-box!). The Voidfarer Edition is absolutely packed with content, making it the definitive collection for both newcomers and veteran explorers.

    By securing your copy, you’ll get:

    • The Full Base Game: Experience the deep, choice-driven narrative and tactical turn-based combat that helped the game smash past 2 million copies sold.
    • Season Pass 1: Includes two massive, 15-hour story expansions—Void Shadows and Lex Imperialis—fully integrated into the main campaign.
    • Digital Goodies: A stunning Digital Artbook, Wallpaper Pack, and the complete Digital Original Soundtrack (including DLC tracks).
    • Exclusive In-Game Items: Preen across the stars with a unique Rogue Trader Throne for your voidship’s bridge, an alternative Firestorm-Class Frigate starting ship, and a loyal Cherub Pet to replace your servo-skull.
    • Premium In-Game Weaponry: Blast heretics with the enemy-shoving Blast Wave Shotgun, the fearsome Wrath of Saint Drusus Chainsword, and the ancient Heirloom Autopistol.

    Rule the Stars Your Way

    For the uninitiated, Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader places you in the boots of a powerful, aristocratic explorer. Armed with a rare warrant of trade, you are given unprecedented freedom to explore the uncharted, perilous Koronus Expanse.

    Whether you choose to be a benevolent leader, a dogmatic servant of the Imperium, or flirt with the corrupting powers of Chaos, every choice shapes the galaxy around you. Backed by an incredible cast of companions (including everyone’s favourite loyal Seneschal, Abelard), it’s a gold-standard modern cRPG.

    Pre-Orders Are Open Now!

    Given the high demand from physical collectors and the massive Warhammer community, you’ll want to secure your copy early before they sell out.

    Pre-orders are officially live right now through Silver Lining Direct and your local gaming retailers. Will you be picking up this grimdark masterpiece for your collection? Let us know in the comments below!

    Find out more here

    #Warhammer40k #RogueTrader #VoidfarerEdition #PS5 #Switch2 #OwlcatGames #SilverLiningInteractive #GamesWorkshop #cRPG #PhysicalGames #GamingNews #TechMash

  • Lock and Load: Raiden Fighters Remix Collection Gets Major QoL Boost with Update 1.2

    Lock and Load: Raiden Fighters Remix Collection Gets Major QoL Boost with Update 1.2

    Arcade shoot-’em-up purists, it’s time to fire up your engines. If you’ve been tackling the frantic, bullet-hell chaos of Raiden Fighters Remix Collection on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, or PlayStation 5, your gameplay experience is about to get a whole lot smoother.

    Developer MOSS and publisher H2 Interactive have officially rolled out Update Ver. 1.2, a patch completely dedicated to cleaning up the community’s biggest pain points, sharpening the visuals, and delivering that authentic coin-op flow we crave.

    Whether you’re looking to shave milliseconds off your reaction times or just want the game to look exactly like it did in the 90s, here is everything packing a punch in the latest update.

    What’s New in Update Ver. 1.2?

    This isn’t just a minor stability patch; it’s a robust suite of highly requested quality-of-life updates engineered for precision gameplay.

    • The Authentic Arcade Flow (Attract Demo): No more jarring jumps straight into menus. The game’s startup sequence has been reworked to begin with the classic Attract Demo sequence, perfectly recreating the look and feel of walking up to a physical arcade cabinet.
    • The “Smoothing” Filter Option: Purists rejoiced when the collection launched with CRT filters and TATE mode, but the new Smoothing Display Option gives you even finer control over how those pixels render on modern displays.
    • Quick Restart Function: Dying right at the end of a perfect scoring run? No need to navigate clumsy menus anymore. You can now pull off a Quick Restart instantly by pressing and holding the L2 (ZL) and R2 (ZR) buttons for 1 second while playing in the “Custom” play style.
    • Automatic Key Configurations: Your custom button layouts are now safe. Key configurations will automatically save, ensuring you don’t have to re-map your rapid-fire settings every time you boot up the console.

    Platform-Specific & Bug Fixes

    For PlayStation 5 players, the patch brings a massive win for hardware enthusiasts: expanded arcade controller compatibility. The update adds official support for compatible PlayStation 4 arcade sticks, ensuring you can play with your premium fight sticks without a hitch.

    The developers have also squashed some prominent bugs that were bugging the community:

    • Fixing Save Deletions: Resolved a glaring issue where attempting to delete local ranking data on the international version would accidentally wipe out the ranking data for the Japanese version instead.
    • No More Forced Co-Op: Fixed a glitch where using the restart feature would inadvertently force the subsequent game session to launch in 2-player mode.

    The Verdict

    When the Raiden Fighters Remix Collection dropped earlier this year, bringing Raiden Fighters, Raiden Fighters 2, and Raiden Fighters Jet together with a blistering 30-track remixed soundtrack, it was met with high praise for its content but a few groans regarding its technical implementation.

    With Update 1.2, MOSS has proven they are listening to the shmup community. The injection of quick restart mechanics, automatic saves, and visual filters makes chasing those global leaderboards an incredibly fluid experience.

    The update is live right now across all platforms. Fire up your console, download the patch, and get back to dodging those hyper-velocity bullets!

    Have you tested out the new Quick Restart or the Smoothing filters yet? Let us know your thoughts on the patch in the comments below!

    Find out more here

    #RaidenFighters #Shmup #RetroGaming #NintendoSwitch #PS5 #PS4 #ArcadeGames #TechMash #GamingNews #BulletHell

  • Paint Your Own Zen Paradise: ‘Qianli: The Vastscape Scroll’ Brings Chinese Ink Art to Steam This July

    Paint Your Own Zen Paradise: ‘Qianli: The Vastscape Scroll’ Brings Chinese Ink Art to Steam This July

    Cosy gaming fans, get ready to trade your virtual watering cans for an artist’s brush. Publisher 2P Games and developer Betobe Studio have officially announced that their stunning, meditative hex-building game, Qianli: The Vastscape Scroll, is officially arriving on PC via Steam on July 17.

    If you’ve spent hours losing yourself in the tranquil tile-placement of Dorfromantik or the pure creative freedom of Townscaper, this gorgeous slice of interactive art needs to be at the very top of your wishlist.

    Check out what makes this living canvas so special, and how you can grab a launch week discount below!

    A Living, Breathing Ink-Wash Painting

    Unlike traditional city-builders that stress you out with strict resource management, terrain restrictions, or looming disasters, Qianli: The Vastscape Scroll is designed as a stress-free creative retreat.

    The game transforms classical Chinese ink-wash painting into a responsive, living digital world. Using an intuitive hexagonal tile system, you have complete freedom to lay down mountains, rivers, winding paths, and ancient architectural marvels at your own pace.

    Key Features to Look Forward To:

    • Responsive Landscapes: Watch the environment evolve dynamically based on where you place your tiles. Connect a path to the water’s edge, and it organically transforms into a bustling wharf. Build a trail next to a legendary mountain peak, and an ancient temple will reveal itself through the mist.
    • Meet the “Aspects”: As your world grows, you will awaken mystical, personified spirits known as Aspects. Born from classical poetry and legendary Eastern landmarks, these characters guide you through the history and folklore of the Far East, bringing strategic depth and unique world-altering abilities to your session.
    • The Ultimate Zen Soundtrack: Your building journey is accompanied by a beautifully tranquil soundtrack of classical Chinese music that harmonises perfectly with every stroke of the landscape.
    • Whimsical Secrets: Keep your eyes peeled as you build! The developers have tucked playful, hidden cats into the quiet corners of your creations.

    Want to try before you buy? A free Steam demo is available right now! It features the first 7 levels of Exploration Mode and 4 Challenge levels. Completing them unlocks the Sandbox Creation Mode, offering a relaxing 3+ hour preview of the full experience.

    Pricing and Launch Discount Details

    Qianli: The Vastscape Scroll officially launches on Steam on July 17. Even better, early adopters can score a bargain right out of the gate. The game will feature a 10% launch discount for its first two weeks on sale.

    Here is how the standard pricing breaks down before the discount:

    CurrencyStandard Price
    USD$9.99
    EUR€10,25
    GBP£9.09

    Whether you are looking to chase a high score in its light roguelike modes or simply want to paint a beautiful diorama to clear your mind after a long day, Qianli promises to be the perfect summer wind-down game.

    Head over to Steam today to try out the demo and add Qianli: The Vastscape Scroll to your wishlist!

    Find out more here

    #CozyGames #IndieGames #SteamRelease #QianliVastscapeScroll #2PGames #BetobeStudio #PCGaming #ZenGaming #TechMash

  • Ditch the Controller and Start Screaming: ‘Quack Quack Up’ Out Now on Steam!

    Ditch the Controller and Start Screaming: ‘Quack Quack Up’ Out Now on Steam!

    Get ready to test your lung capacity, your patience, and your closest relationships. Publishers 2P Games and developer FuncoreClub have officially released their highly anticipated, voice-controlled party game Quack Quack Up (formerly known as Over Duck’d) on Steam!

    If you are tired of standard controllers, mechanical keyboards, and sensible party games, this chaotic indie title wants you to put down the gamepad and use the ultimate tool: your actual voice.

    The Loudest Co-Op Game on PC

    Quack Quack Up is a physics-based, 4-player cooperative game where you and your friends are tasked with herding a flock of remarkably dense ducks to safety. The catch? Your microphone is the only controller.

    The mechanics are wonderfully simple yet inherently chaotic: the louder you yell into your mic, the faster your flock moves.

    But don’t get too carried away with your shouting. A single mistimed scream, an accidental loud laugh, or a stray sneeze can send your helpless ducks careening off a cliff, directly into a snowdrift, or straight into the jaws of a local crocodile.

    Key Features to Expect:

    • Microphone-Driven Gameplay: Forget standard keybinds. The intensity and volume of your voice directly dictate the speed and physics of your flock.
    • 4-Player “Friendship-Testing” Co-op: Join up to three friends online or via local couch co-op. Will you carefully coordinate your commands like a professional herding team, or will one rogue shout sabotage the whole mission?
    • Physics-Based Mayhem: Guide your unruly ducks across multiple biomes—ranging from peaceful valleys to treacherous, slippery snowy peaks and scorching deserts.
    • Hazardous Environments: It’s not just the terrain you have to worry about. You’ll need to use item interactions like whistles, smoke, and firecrackers to protect your flock from rogue yaks, greedy passersby, and falling boulders.
    • Wacky Customisation: Earn prestigious badges and unlock hilarious outfits to style your herder as the ultimate master of the flock.

    Grab It Now with a 2-Week Launch Discount

    If you want to dive into the madness, there’s no better time than right now. Quack Quack Up is available on Steam for $7.99 | €8,15 | £7.15.

    To celebrate the launch, the team is running a massive 38% discount for the first two weeks, making it incredibly cheap to get your entire co-op squad on board.

    Warm up your vocal cords, grab a glass of water, and head over to Steam to grab your copy before the discount flies the coop!

    Find out more here

    #GamingNews #QuackQuackUp #IndieGames #SteamReleases #CoOpGaming #PCGaming #2PGames #FuncoreClub #PartyGames

  • The Apocalypse Is Open for Business: Zombuds Launches First Public Playtest on Steam

    The Apocalypse Is Open for Business: Zombuds Launches First Public Playtest on Steam

    If you’ve ever looked at a zombie apocalypse and thought, “You know what this wasteland needs? A thriving black-market pharmaceutical empire,” then Gamecraft Studios has the perfect game for you.

    The indie developers behind Vampire Hunters have officially opened the gates to their next delightfully unhinged project. Zombuds has officially launched its very first public playtest on Steam, giving players an early, chaotic look at an open-world co-op sandbox where survival takes a backseat to pure entrepreneurial hustle.

    Turning Brain-Eaters into Brainless Workers

    Zombuds takes place 15 years after the collapse of civilisation, but instead of the usual grimdark, ammunition-scarcity depression, Gamecraft Studios is serving up a colourful, lighthearted comedy fantasy.

    In this sandbox simulator, you and up to three friends play as “Doompreneurs.” Your mission? Scavenge dangerous, abandoned locations, manufacture bizarre post-apocalyptic substances, and build an unstoppable underground enterprise.

    But a massive corporate empire needs a workforce. That’s where the local population comes in. In Zombuds, you can hire human survivors—or, better yet, brainwash the zombies to automate your production lines and keep operations running smoothly while you’re out dealing with rivals. If manual labour isn’t your vibe, you can always just blow them up in spectacularly cartoonish, bloody ways.

    “While others scramble to survive, you hustle to build your black market empire.”

    Built from Scratch for Maximum Chaos

    What makes Zombuds even more impressive is its development story. Built on a custom engine created completely from scratch by a dedicated two-man team, the game balances an incredibly heavy workload of complex mechanics, including full automation systems, an expansive open world, sandbox physics, and seamless 4-player co-op.

    The game’s stylised, low-poly aesthetic isn’t just a stylistic choice either; it allows the developers to focus squarely on delivering tight, chaotic gameplay, massive zombie counts, and deep management loops without sacrificing performance.

    How to Join the Playtest Right Now

    Gamecraft Studios plans to use this public playtest to gather crucial feedback on everything from economy balancing and co-op pacing to zombie pressure. Following this playtest, the game is headed toward a Steam Early Access launch, where it will remain for at least six months to add more quests, weapons, and automation items.

    Ready to get your hustle on? Getting into the action is incredibly simple:

    1. Head over to the Zombuds Steam Page.
    2. Click the “Request Access” button under the playtest banner (everyone who applies is automatically accepted!).
    3. Gather your crew, download the client, and start building your empire.

    Make sure to jump into their official Discord to drop your feedback, report bugs, and help the team fine-tune the apocalypse.

    TechMash Verdict

    Zombuds is a refreshingly wacky spin on a tired genre. Blending the management mechanics of a tycoon simulator with the chaotic fun of a co-op zombie shooter makes for an addictive formula. Go grab your friends, request instant access, and see if you have what it takes to corner the post-apocalyptic market!

    Find out more here

    #Zombuds #GamecraftStudios #SteamPlaytest #CoOpGaming #IndieGames #PCGaming #ZombieApocalypse #SandboxGames #GamingNews #TechMash

  • Spice Up Your Scares: 1990s Japanese Psychological Thriller ‘Wasabi’ Creeps Onto Steam

    Spice Up Your Scares: 1990s Japanese Psychological Thriller ‘Wasabi’ Creeps Onto Steam

    Horror fans, brace yourselves. If you think you’ve tasted everything the psychological horror genre has to offer, Osaka-based developer Phoenix Game Productions—the team behind Tokyo Underground Killer and co-developers on the Resident Evil 4 remake—is about to serve up something uniquely unsettling.

    The studio has officially unveiled the Steam store page for its upcoming first-person psychological horror thriller, Wasabi, giving PC players a first taste of the nightmare to come. Alongside the store page launch, a chilling new gameplay trailer and a fresh batch of screenshots have been released to show off the game’s deeply unsettling atmosphere.

    Ritualistic Murders and Supernatural Dread in ’90s Japan

    Set in the rural, atmospheric town of Azumino in Nagano Prefecture during the 1990s, Wasabi throws players into a TV-drama-style investigative horror. You step into the shoes of Detective Ryuhei Kuroshima, tasked with solving a string of increasingly gruesome, ritualistic murders that have shattered the town’s peace.

    But this isn’t your standard police procedural. As your investigation deepens, the lines between a realistic criminal investigation and supernatural horror begin to blur. With a shadowy cult looming in the background and signs of vengeful spirits seeping into everyday life, the psychological tension promises to be suffocating.

    Key Features to Expect:

    • Unreal Engine 5 Visuals: Experience a photorealistic and hauntingly nostalgic recreation of rural 1990s Japan, where abnormalities slowly infect mundane environments.
    • Intense Interrogations: Grill eight distinct suspects across six gripping episodes. Utilise motion-captured performances to read facial expressions, body language, and psychological states to catch them in contradictions.
    • The Power of “Wasabi”: Beyond standard detective work, players must harness a mysterious, supernatural power known as “Wasabi” to draw hidden secrets directly from the suspects’ minds.
    • Branching Narratives: Your choices and observation skills matter, leading to multiple endings across an estimated 10+ hours of gameplay.

    Phoenix Game Productions has dropped a slick, 51-second announcement trailer that masterfully builds a signature sense of dread. Cutting between eerie, blood-stained crime scenes and tense, motion-captured interrogations, the preview sets a remarkably dark tone for what’s to come on PC.

    The exact release date for Wasabi hasn’t been locked in just yet, but the developer has confirmed that a playable demo is planned to drop soon.

    If you are a fan of Japanese horror, true-crime thrillers, or mind-bending psychological narratives, this is definitely one to keep on your radar. Head over to Steam right now to check out the new screenshots, watch the trailer, and add it to your wishlist!

    Wishlist Wasabi on Steam Here

    #GamingNews #WasabiGame #PhoenixGameProductions #HorrorGames #PsychologicalThriller #PCGaming #Steam #IndieDev #JHorror #UnrealEngine5

  • Forget Cosy Games: Comrade Bear Undermines The Motherland is a Satirical, Aggressive Rebellion on Steam

    Forget Cosy Games: Comrade Bear Undermines The Motherland is a Satirical, Aggressive Rebellion on Steam

    If you’ve been feeling a bit fatigued by the endless wave of cosy, pastel-hued farming simulators dominating the indie scene lately, developer Indifferent Penguin has exactly what you need.

    Announced with a striking exclusive trailer on IGN, Comrade Bear Undermines The Motherland is a chaotic, unapologetically aggressive, and satirical roguelike action-miner that aims a heavy artillery shell directly at reality.

    Check out everything we know so far about this brilliant mashup of mechanics and political satire.

    The Pitch: Dome Keeper Meets FTL (With a Dash of Revolution)

    In Comrade Bear Undermines The Motherland, you play as an anthropomorphic bear who finds himself as the sole survivor of a sunken submarine. Betrayed and left for dead by a corrupt regime, you aren’t going to lie down and take it. Instead, you are going to survive, rebuild, and make them pay.

    The gameplay loop balances intensive logistics with high-stakes panic management:

    • Deep-Sea Excavation: Dig through the seabed to secure vital resources, manage weight mechanics, and construct intricate paths using ladders, platforms, and automated transit systems.
    • Submarine Engineering: Transform your rusty wreck into an interconnected underwater fortress. You will need to wire rooms, manage power flow, and upgrade systems to keep your ship moving.
    • Strategic Combat: This isn’t a twitch-reflex shooter. Defence relies on tactical decision-making. You will use your sonar to prioritise incoming threats—including waves of corrupt military fleets and gigantic, terrifying krakens—while directing your automated defences to open fire.

    “I didn’t want to make another cozy-game to escape reality; I wanted to provide a place to give vent to real-world frustrations.” > — Indifferent Penguin, Developer

    A Bite of Sharp Satire

    The game takes an unapologetic nod to the sinking of the Kursk and the grim political realities of modern history. Rather than pulling its punches, Comrade Bear leans heavily into its premise: you are actively mining for vengeance with the ultimate goal of blowing the Kremlin sky-high.

    The aesthetic beautifully marries a gritty, high-stakes atmosphere with dark, absurd humour, making it a highly anticipated therapeutic release for players looking to channel real-world frustrations into a genuinely fun, strategic loop.

    When Can You Play?

    Comrade Bear Undermines The Motherland is slated for a PC release via Steam. While an official release date hasn’t been set in stone yet, the announcement trailer is live, and the Steam store page is officially open for wishlisting.

    If you love the base-building anxiety of Dome Keeper, the crisis control of FTL: Faster Than Light, and the creative structural freedom of Terraria, this is absolutely one indie project to keep on your radar.

    What do you think of Comrade Bear’s rebellion? Let us know in the comments below!

    Find out more here

    #ComradeBear #IndifferentPenguin #IndieGames #GamingNews #SteamGames #Roguelike #DomeKeeper #FTL #PCGaming #TechMash

  • Get Ready to Raid: Sweet Surrender Creators Announce DRIFTERS: Blackout Crew for Meta Quest and SteamVR

    Get Ready to Raid: Sweet Surrender Creators Announce DRIFTERS: Blackout Crew for Meta Quest and SteamVR

    The extraction shooter craze is officially hitting deep space in virtual reality. Munich-based independent studio Salmi Games—the brilliant minds behind the hit VR roguelite Sweet Surrender—has officially pulled back the curtain on their next major project: DRIFTERS: Blackout Crew.

    Revealed during the Summer VR Games Showcase, this upcoming title is a 4-player, PvE co-op VR extraction shooter built from the ground up for tactile, high-stakes immersive gameplay. It is officially headed to Meta Quest and SteamVR.

    Check out everything we know about your next favourite VR obsession below.

    The Premise: Raid, Steal, and Survive

    In DRIFTERS: Blackout Crew, you and your squad play as a desperate crew stranded in the dark corners of deep space. Running on emergency backup power, your survival depends entirely on what you can scavenge and steal.

    Your mission? Drop into heavily guarded, ancient alien temples to scavenge rare resources, fight off relentless robotic defence systems, and extract vital energy to keep your dying mothership alive.

    High-Stakes Risk vs. Reward

    True to the extraction genre, the core hook of DRIFTERS revolves around classic push-your-luck decision-making. Do you and your crew risk pushing deeper into the facility for rarer, high-tier loot? Or do you call it a day and extract early before the automated security systems completely overwhelm you? One wrong move, and you lose everything.

    Built for Immersion: Tactile VR Gunplay & Jetpacks

    Salmi Games isn’t just making a standard shooter; they are tailoring every single mechanic to the unique strengths of VR.

    • Physical Interactions: Expect incredibly tactile weapon handling, manual reloading, and physical looting that makes every firefight feel chaotic and immediate.
    • Dynamic Movement: Players will be equipped with jetpacks, adding verticality to the combat and allowing them to boost across environments to flank enemies or escape danger.
    • Sci-Fi Visuals: The game features a distinct, highly stylised sci-fi aesthetic. It’s hand-crafted to run smoothly on standalone VR headsets like the Meta Quest while offering extra visual headroom to truly shine on high-end Desktop PC VR setups.

    “With Sweet Surrender, we spent years refining responsive VR combat alongside our community,” says Yacine Salmi, founder of Salmi Games. “With DRIFTERS, we are taking that experience into a bigger co-op game built around teamwork, physical VR gunplay, and extraction decisions players have to make together under pressure.”

    Crafting and Progression

    The loop doesn’t end when you make it back to the ship. Successful extractions feed directly into a long-term progression system. Back on your mothership, you’ll use your hard-earned loot to:

    • Craft powerful new weapon parts and gear.
    • Upgrade your suits and toolkits for the next drop.
    • Unlock cosmetics to make your drifter stand out.
    • Build out and improve your home base.

    Join the Crew: Community-Driven Development

    Salmi Games has a stellar track record of supporting their titles post-launch with massive, community-shaped updates (as seen with Sweet Surrender). They plan to bring that same collaborative approach to DRIFTERS.

    The team has already announced plans for private playtests, inviting players to give feedback early in the cycle to help shape development before the official release.

    While a solid release date hasn’t been locked in just yet, you can head over to Steam and the Meta Store right now to add DRIFTERS: Blackout Crew to your wishlist. You can also jump into the official Salmi Games Discord to sign up for upcoming playtest opportunities.

    What do you think, TechMashers? Are you ready to grab your squad, strap on your jetpack, and raid some alien temples? Let us know in the comments below!

    Find out more here

    #VRGaming #MetaQuest #SteamVR #DriftersBlackoutCrew #SalmiGames #ExtractionShooter #CoOpGaming #TechMash #GamingNews

  • Drop, Rotate, and Relax: Why Cosy Grid-Puzzler ‘Tegelfall’ is Our Newest Indie Obsession

    Drop, Rotate, and Relax: Why Cosy Grid-Puzzler ‘Tegelfall’ is Our Newest Indie Obsession

    If your favourite way to unwind involves clean lines, geometric order, and the deeply satisfying click of a puzzle piece falling perfectly into place, you’re going to want to put this on your radar.

    Out of Stockholm, Sweden, solo developer Jan Mellström—operating under the banner of Mellström Studio—has officially pulled back the curtain on Tegelfall, a cosy yet strategic puzzle game that promises to scratch that exact itch.

    If you spent hours losing yourself to the rhythmic, grid-filling flow of Chime Sharp or the timeless, high-stakes geometry of Tetris, Tegelfall is shaping up to be your next digital sanctuary.

    The Art of the Perfect Fit

    For casual players and hardcore puzzle enthusiasts alike, there is an almost therapeutic joy in organising chaos. Tegelfall leans heavily into this feeling. The game tasks players with filling out a grid using distinct geometric shapes, but replaces the frantic stress of traditional arcade falling-block games with a more deliberate, cosy atmosphere.

    What makes this project particularly exciting is the pedigree behind it. Jan Mellström isn’t just an indie dev with a dream; he’s a senior frontend developer bringing a sharp eye for clean UI, buttery-smooth interactions, and minimalist aesthetic design to the gaming space. When a master of web layout and user experience turns their attention to grid-based mechanics, you can usually expect something incredibly polished and highly intuitive.

    Cosy Vibes Meet Deep Strategy

    While the presentation feels relaxed, don’t let the “cosy” label fool you into thinking it’s a mind-numbing experience. Just like its spiritual ancestors, Tegelfall balances a zen-like flow state with genuine strategic depth. It’s the kind of game perfect for a rainy afternoon, a quick coffee break, or a late-night wind-down session where you just want “one more round.”

    Solo-developed projects often carry a level of passion and singular vision that massive studio games miss, and Mellström Studio seems to be nailing that signature indie charm right out of the gate.

    No official release date has been locked in just yet, but we will absolutely be tracking this one as it develops. Stay tuned to TechMash for future updates, gameplay deep-dives, and hands-on impressions as they drop.

    What’s your go-to puzzle game when you just need to turn your brain off and relax? Let us know in the comments below!

    Find out more here

    #Tegelfall #MellströmStudio #IndieGames #CozyGaming #PuzzleGames #GamingNews #PCGaming #TechMash

  • Uncover the Mystery: Dimhaven – The Lost Source Is Out Now on Steam!

    Uncover the Mystery: Dimhaven – The Lost Source Is Out Now on Steam!

    Puzzle and adventure fans, your next obsession has officially arrived. Developer Zadbox Entertainment and indie publisher Blue Brain Games (the brilliant minds behind Quern – Undying Thoughts) have officially launched their highly anticipated first-person mystery adventure, Dimhaven – The Lost Source, on Steam.

    If you’ve been waiting for a game that respects your intelligence, tests your wits, and wraps it all up in a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere, this is the one to grab this week.

    The Mystery of Dimhaven Island

    In Dimhaven – The Lost Source, you step into the shoes of Emily Ravenstone as she travels to the remote, mist-shrouded island of Dimhaven to investigate the sudden disappearance of her uncle.

    What she finds is a hauntingly nostalgic, abandoned tourist paradise shaped by retro European architecture. It’s a world that feels both familiar and deeply unsettling, filled with interconnected, complex puzzles, hidden mechanisms, and dark secrets waiting to be pieced together.

    Why 90,000+ Players Are Already Hooked

    The hype for this indie gem is incredibly real. Ahead of its launch, Dimhaven – The Lost Source racked up over 90,000 wishlists globally. Now that it’s finally in the hands of the public, players and content creators alike are pouring in with praise.

    While the striking visuals and clever level design are getting plenty of love, one standout mechanic is stealing the spotlight: the unique in-game notebook feature.

    Why the Notebook is a Game-Changer: Instead of forcing you to scramble for a real-world pen and paper or desperately trying to memorize complex symbols, Dimhaven equips you with an essential in-game camera and notebook tool. You can capture important details, log physical discoveries, and organize your clues fluidly within the UI. It perfectly simulates the feeling of being a true detective without breaking your immersion.

    Key Features at a Glance

    • From the Creators of Quern: Expect the same masterful puzzle-design philosophy that made Quern a cult favourite.
    • Atmospheric Retro-European World: Explore gorgeous, eerie landscapes, forgotten interiors, and abandoned tourist spots.
    • Deep Investigative Elements: Sift through lore, documents, and environmental storytelling to uncover what really happened to the island’s residents.
    • Immersion-Focused UI: Use the camera and interactive notebook to naturally track your progress and solve complex riddles.

    Grab It Now with a Launch Discount!

    To celebrate the release, Dimhaven – The Lost Source is currently available on Steam with a 15% launch discount. If you’re ready to pick up your camera, put on your detective hat, and get lost in a brilliant new mystery, head over to Steam and check it out today.

    Have you started exploring Dimhaven yet? What do you think of the in-game notebook feature? Let us know in the comments below!

    Find out more here

    #Dimhaven #TheLostSource #ZadboxEntertainment #BlueBrainGames #IndieGames #SteamReleases #GamingNews #PuzzleGames #AdventureGames #TechMash