Tag: #autobattler

Nature Fights Back: Chaos Theory Games Announces Roguelike Autobattler Oaks vs Orcs
Forget everything you know about traditional kingdom builders where chopping down trees is step one. In the upcoming strategy title Oaks vs Orcs, the forest isn’t a resource to harvest—it’s your army.

Indie developer Chaos Theory Games has officially revealed Oaks vs Orcs, a rogue-lite strategy auto-battler coming soon to PC via Steam. Blending tactical tile placement with automated, wave-based combat, the game challenges players to build, mutate, and adapt a living forest ecosystem to crush invading orc hordes.

Interested commanders can jump into the battle early, as Steam playtest sign-ups and wishlist pages are live right now.

Bending Rivers and Awakening Groves

In Oaks vs Orcs, your core objective is simple: defend the Great Tree at all costs. However, how you achieve that goal is where the game’s strategic depth shines through.

Players expand their territory across a tactical grid, positioning defensive structures, deploying nature-infused combat units, and carving out a winding river system. The river acts as the lifeblood of your war machine, carrying game-changing bonuses downstream and dictating which surrounding groves awaken to join the fight.

As Nico King, Creative Director at Chaos Theory Games, explains:

“In most kingdom builders, the forest is the first thing you clear. In Oaks vs Orcs, the forest is the kingdom. You bend the river and turn a tiny ecosystem into a living war machine. We love that contradiction: the more beautiful your kingdom becomes, the more dangerous it gets.”

Over 100 Cards, Changing Seasons, and Broken Synergies

Strategy gets granular between waves. With over 100 unique cards featuring structures, troops, and wild mutations, players can shape unpredictable builds—from overwhelming swarm tactics to powerhouse defensive chokepoints.

To keep commanders on their toes, dynamic seasonal changes constantly reshape the terrain. Shifts in weather transform tile values and force players to evolve their strategies on the fly across 20 escalating waves, culminating in high-stakes boss battles.

Key Features Include:
- Autobattler Mechanics: Design your tactical layout, deploy your forces, and watch your living forest automatically battle incoming axes and armour.
- Deep Rogue-lite Progression: Experiment with wild card combinations and mutations to discover game-breaking strategies on every run.
- Dynamic River Mechanics: Shape the water’s path to route powerful buff chains and activate specialised grove tiles.
- Evolving Environments: Adapt to changing seasonal effects that alter tile values and battlefield tactics.
- Multiple Game Modes: Dive into multi-stage campaigns or test your endurance in Endless Mode featuring global leaderboards.
- Twitch Integration: Streamers can connect with their community directly, allowing viewers to interact with gameplay mechanics live.
How to Join the Playtest

Whether you’re a fan of deckbuilders like Slay the Spire, tactical autobattlers like Teamfight Tactics, or innovative indie strategy titles, Oaks vs Orcs is shaping up to be a fresh, leafy entry in the genre.

Oaks vs Orcs is currently listed as “Coming Soon” on Steam. You can head over to the official [Oaks vs Orcs Steam Page] today to add it to your wishlist and sign up for the upcoming public playtest to get early hands-on access.

Find out more here

#OaksVsOrcs #ChaosTheoryGames #IndieDev #IndieGames #PCGaming #SteamGames #GamingNews #StrategyGames #Autobattler #Roguelike #techmash
10th September 2026
From RTS to Auto-Battler: Gate Project Pivots Vision into a Sci-Fi Party-Based RPG
Independent solo developer TestOneDev has officially announced a massive update regarding the core direction of Gate Project. Moving away from its original concept as a 3D Real-Time Strategy (RTS) game, Gate Project is pivoting into a party-based, sci-fi RPG auto-battler.

A New Strategic Direction

Pivoting mid-development is a bold move for any game project, but for a solo developer, it represents a focused effort to hone in on dynamic, engaging gameplay mechanics.

While the initial vision centred on traditional 3D RTS mechanics—often requiring high APM (actions per minute) and grand-scale base management—the shift to a party-based auto-battler shifts the tactical weight to team composition, character synergies, and pre-battle preparation.

What to Expect from the New Gate Project

By blending party-based RPG progression with auto-battler strategy, Gate Project promises to deliver a fresh tactical experience set against a rich science-fiction backdrop:
- Party-Based RPG Depth: Players can look forward to collecting, upgrading, and customising a diverse roster of sci-fi heroes, units, or constructs, each boasting unique skills and tech trees.
- Tactical Auto-Battler Combat: Instead of micromanaging every order in real-time, victories will be earned through strategic positioning, element/ability synergies, and gear optimisation prior to engagement.
- Sci-Fi Atmosphere: The core sci-fi narrative and world-building remain a central pillar, offering players an intriguing universe to explore as they build their ultimate combat squad.
The Rise of Solo Sci-Fi Gems

Indie gaming has continuously proven that some of the most innovative game design comes from solo creators willing to iterate until they hit the mark. By combining the addicting loop of auto-battlers with the strategic depth of party RPGs, TestOneDev is carving out an exciting niche for Gate Project.

Stay tuned for upcoming playtests, gameplay trailers, and dev logs as TestOneDev pulls back the curtain on this revamped sci-fi venture.

Find out more here

#GateProject #TestOneDev #IndieDev #GameDev #IndieGame #RPG #AutoBattler #SciFiGames #PCGaming #GamingNews #TechMash
10th September 2026
Enter the Basement If You Dare: Kingsway Creator Unveils ‘Bad House’
If you spent hours organising mock Windows OS windows to slay monsters in Kingsway, get ready for another delightfully twisted spin on PC gaming formats. Solo developer Andrew Morrish, the creative mind behind Kingsway and Super Puzzle Platformer Deluxe, has officially partnered with indie publisher The Arcade Crew (Drop Duchy, Abyssus) to reveal Bad House—a genre-blending, auto-battling dungeon crawler coming to PC.

The premise sounds simple enough: you’ve just moved into a brand-new home. The previous tenant left behind a few personal belongings, and management says they’re all yours to claim. There is, however, one catch… stay out of the basement.

Naturally, you’re going to go down there anyway.

What Lurks Beneath?

Bad House pairs auto-battler mechanics with classic roguelike risk-and-reward extraction. Underneath your seemingly cosy new abode lies an ever-shifting, ever-expanding basement populated by demons, skeletons, bats, and other hostile entities.

Here is what you can expect when you step into your new fixer-upper:
- Strategic Auto-Battles: Combat happens automatically once you enter a room. Success depends entirely on your setup. You will combine character skills with weapons, spells, traps, bombs, and summons that you’ve strategically hidden around the environment to wipe out waves of enemies.
- Diverse Playstyles: Choose from unique character builds suited to your preferred combat style. Swap between melee strikes and elemental magic with Blake, harness high-crit blood magic with Rory, or stalk through the shadows to poison targets with Lou.
- High-Stakes Extraction: As you clear rooms and descend deeper into the basement, you’ll earn upgrades and unlock powerful abilities. But beware: the further you push, the deadlier the residents become. You can choose to gamble it all for legendary loot or extract early to safely bank your treasures in your upstairs storage box.
- A Treasure Trove of Leftovers: From swords, shields, and body armour to amulets, rings, and magic wands, the previous tenant left an entire arsenal behind. Just don’t expect management to reimburse you if you lose your gear deep in the subterranean abyss.
A Proven Indie Lineup

With Andrew Morrish’s signature knack for innovative, systems-driven game design and The Arcade Crew’s stellar track record of publishing standout indie hits, Bad House is shaping up to be one of the most intriguing strategy titles on the horizon.

PC players can look forward to exploring the mysteries of the basement when Bad House launches on Steam. Be sure to add it to your Steam wishlist and keep an eye out for an upcoming playable demo!

Find out more here

#BadHouse #AndrewMorrish #TheArcadeCrew #IndieGames #GamingNews #PCGaming #AutoBattler #Steam #IndieDev #TechMash
9th September 2026
Assemble the Ultimate Beast Brigade in Mythmon: Mythic Monsters!
Monster-taming enthusiasts and auto-battler fans, take note: a fresh strategy-driven adventure has just landed on PC! Mythmon: Mythic Monsters, developed by MachHabaneroGames and published by Kodansha Creators’ Lab, is officially out now on Steam.

To celebrate its launch, you can grab this adorable yet surprisingly deep tactical title for $7.99, featuring an exclusive 10% launch discount available until Sunday, September 20, 2026.

Here is why Mythmon: Mythic Monsters should be at the top of your indie games backlog this month.

Cute Creatures, High Stakes

Don’t let the adorable visuals fool you—Mythmon: Mythic Monsters packs a serious tactical punch. The premise pits players against the invading forces of the Demon King. To save the realm, commanders must recruit, train, and deploy a roster of 30 unique, ancient creatures known as Mythmon.

In combat, you will field a party of five creatures at a time, each possessing unique traits, skills, and behaviour patterns. The game features nine distinct elemental types (including fire, ice, water, and electric), creating deep strategic synergies and matchup advantages that will require careful planning.

Pre-Battle Preparation is Key

As an auto-battler, the real thrill comes before the fight even starts. Combat unfolds automatically based on the orders, gear, and positioning you assign to your team:
- Tactical Formation: Position sturdy tanks in the Frontline to soak up damage, versatile options in the Midline, and glass-cannon ranged damagers in the Backline where they can safely rain down attacks.
- Massive Loot System: Customise your squad with over 140 pieces of gear, from swords and shields to staves and wands, tweaking attributes like attack speed, critical power, and on-hit status effects.
- High-Risk High-Reward Plundering: Winning a skirmish lets you steal your enemy’s powerful weapons to instantly power up your squad. Be warned, though—losing means surrendering your own equipment to the Demon King’s army, making your future foes even stronger!
Endless Endgame

Conquering the main campaign isn’t the end of your journey. Once peace is restored to the kingdom, seasoned commanders can jump into the challenging endgame dungeon, testing their ultimate formations against endless waves of increasingly powerful enemies.

With full language support in English and Japanese, Mythmon: Mythic Monsters is a cosy yet nail-biting tactical gem perfect for quick sessions or deep-dive strategising. Head over to Steam today to claim your discount before September 20!

Find out more here

#Mythmon #IndieGames #SteamGames #AutoBattler #MonsterTamer #PCGaming #KodanshaCreatorsLab #GamingNews #techmash
8th September 2026
Packed Lair Sets Steam Release Date for September 22
Indie game developer Fables of Wits and publisher Mystic Forge have officially announced that their upcoming title, Packed Lair, will launch on PC via Steam on September 22, 2026.

Combining the strategic depth of a roguelike base-builder with the automated tactical play of an auto-battler, Packed Lair challenges players to design, manage, and defend their ultimate dungeon where every single tile matters.

Every Tile Counts

In Packed Lair, dungeon management is stripped down to its most crucial, spatial decisions. Rather than relying purely on muscle memory or twitch reflexes, victory hinges on your ability to optimise limited space, maximise tile synergies, and plan ahead for incoming waves of heroes attempting to raid your keep.

Key features to expect at launch include:
- Grid-Based Spatial Strategy: Every tile you place directly impacts layout efficiency, minion movement, and trap placement. Managing physical layout is just as important as managing resources.
- Auto-Battler Combat Mechanics: Once you set up your defences and position your troops, watch the battle unfold automatically. Tweak setups between waves to counter specific enemy types and boss threats.
- Roguelike Progression & Replayability: No two runs play out the same way. Unlocking new rooms, traps, and minion types across runs allows for endlessly customizable strategies and builds.
- Synergy-Driven Gameplay: Discover unique combinations between different monster types and room attributes to create devastating kill zones.
Gear Up for Launch Day

For strategy fans who love spatial puzzles, deckbuilders, or management sim auto-battlers, Packed Lair promises a fresh, highly replayable twist on dungeon defence.

Be sure to head over to Steam to add Packed Lair to your wishlist before it drops on September 22, 2026.

Find out more here

#PackedLair #IndieGames #SteamGames #PCGaming #Roguelike #AutoBattler #GamingNews #TechMash
4th September 2026
Rule, Build, and Auto-Battle: Fantasy Strategy Game ‘Kingdoms Assemble’ Revealed with Open Playtest Tomorrow!
Fantasy strategy fans, get your decks and tactical minds ready. Independent game developer FrontierCraft has officially unveiled its debut title, Kingdoms Assemble—an exciting new strategy game that blends deck-building kingdom management with asynchronous auto-battler combat.

Alongside the announcement, FrontierCraft released a feature-packed announcement trailer showcasing how players will build, optimise, and expand their fantasy realms before testing their creations on the battlefield.

Better yet, you won’t have to wait long to try it out for yourself. A free public playtest kicks off tomorrow, August 20, and runs through August 27 on Steam—and it’s open to everyone with no sign-ups or approvals required!

Card-Based Kingdom Building Meets Auto-Battler Combat

At its core, Kingdoms Assemble bridges two deeply satisfying genres: card-based strategy and asynchronous auto-battlers.

Instead of controlling troops in real-time micro-management, players spend their turn acquiring, placing, and optimising cards that represent buildings, economic structures, defences, and military units. Every card placed influences your kingdom’s synergy, resource management, and combat readiness.

Key features revealed include:
- Deck-Driven Realm Management: Carefully construct your domain card-by-card. Balance resource generation, defensive fortifications, and army recruitment to build a self-sustaining empire.
- Deep Synergies & Optimisation: Every placement matters. Combining specific structures and unit cards creates powerful bonuses, allowing for diverse playstyles and long-term strategic depth.
- Asynchronous Auto-Battling: Once your kingdom is assembled, send your forces into asynchronous combat. You’ll test your domain’s strength against real player builds from around the world without needing to be online at the exact same time.
How to Join the Public Playtest (Aug 20–27)

If you want to be among the first to rule a realm, FrontierCraft is opening the gates to all players on PC:
- Platform: Steam
- Dates: August 20 – August 27
- Access: Open Playtest (Instant access directly via the Steam store page—no key giveaways, beta sign-up forms, or developer approvals required).
Simply head over to Steam starting August 20, hit the “Join the Kingdoms Assemble Playtest” button, download the client, and start building your empire.

Whether you are a fan of strategy simulators, deck-builders, or competitive auto-battlers, Kingdoms Assemble looks to bring a fresh tactical twist to the tabletop-inspired digital genre. Head over to Steam to add it to your wishlist and jump into the playtest this week!

Find out more here

#KingdomsAssemble #FrontierCraft #IndieGames #GamingNews #SteamPlaytest #AutoBattler #Deckbuilder #PCGaming #StrategyGames #TechMash
19th August 2026
Infinite Replayability Awaits: ‘Underboard’ Unleashes Its Largest Free Update Yet with ‘The Endless’

If you’re a fan of tactical auto-battlers, roguelikes, and deep team-building strategy, you’ve likely had Underboard on your radar.

Developed by Headless and published by 2 Left Thumbs, Underboard first hit Steam on February 6th, 2026, delivering a compelling mix of active and passive tactical gameplay. The momentum picked up in April with a sizable content update—expanding the playable roster while introducing fresh spells, items, and masteries.

Now, the developers are raising the stakes with their latest and largest free content update to date: The Endless.

This massive expansion doesn’t just refine the base experience—it completely overhauls the endgame to offer practically infinite replayability. Here is a breakdown of what makes The Endless a game-changer for new and returning players alike.

What’s New in Underboard: The Endless?

1. The Ultimate Test: Endless Runs

The main attraction of this update is the brand-new Endless Runs mode. Designed specifically for players who love pushing their builds to the absolute limit, this mode drops your fully optimised teams into the hardest, most brutal challenges the game has ever seen—complete with a brand-new final boss.

2. Attribute-Based Passive Skills

Building synergistic teams just got a lot deeper. Newly recruited characters now spawn with passive skills tied directly to their attributes. This opens up countless new strategy avenues and lets you experiment with team compositions in ways that weren’t possible before.

3. Tiered Quality System for Items & Spells

Looting in the Underboard is getting an upgrade! All items and spells now feature quality tiers. Higher-tier gear doesn’t just boost your raw stats; high-quality items and spells can trigger game-changing secondary effects, giving your synergies an extra punch.

4. Overhauled Horizon Paths

Late-game explorers will notice a massive visual and mechanical makeover. Horizon Paths previously remixed content from early zones, but they now feature dedicated custom visuals alongside a completely unique roster of enemies to keep endgame encounters fresh and unpredictable.

5. Boss Masteries

The update adds new narrative and tactical depth by linking boss interactions to combat perks. By accessing attribute-locked dialogue options during encounters with Zone bosses, you can unlock powerful Boss Masteries to carry over into future runs.

Why You Should Dive In Now

Whether you’re a veteran player looking to test your min-maxed compositions in Endless Runs, or a newcomer looking for a tactical roguelite with endless depth, there has never been a better time to jump into Underboard.

The base game’s core mechanics—balancing active spellcasting with passive mana reserves, draft-style team building, and positional auto-battling—feel tighter than ever thanks to these community-driven refinements.

Underboard is available now on Steam. If you’re ready to put your tactical skills to the ultimate test, update your game, draft your squad, and see how long you can survive The Endless!

Have you tackled Endless Runs yet? What’s your go-to team composition? Let us know in the comments below!

Find out more here

#Underboard #UnderboardTheEndless #IndieGames #PCGaming #SteamGames #AutoBattler #Roguelike #GamingNews #TechMash

11th August 2026
Enter the Voxel Depths: Tactical Escape Adventure ‘Drag ‘N Dungeon’ Is Out Now on Steam!
The dungeon gates have officially swung open! If you’ve been itching for a fresh tactical adventure that tests your strategic skills and reflexes, indie developer Demon Girl and publisher Tambù Digital have delivered just the fix.

Drag ‘N Dungeon is available right now on PC via Steam for £8.99 / $9.99 / €9.99, featuring a sweet, limited-time 20% launch discount to sweeten the deal.

Whether you’re a fan of auto-battlers, strategy RPGs, or fast-paced escape adventures, here is everything you need to know about this vibrant new indie release.

Every Drop Counts: Strategic, Grid-Free Combat

Set in an eye-catching voxel-style world, Drag ‘N Dungeon puts you in the shoes of a commander trapped in a deadly, mysterious labyrinth. Your mission? Battle your way out, room by room, one drag-and-drop at a time.

Unlike traditional turn-based tactical RPGs that lock your party onto a strict square grid, Drag ‘N Dungeon throws out the rulebook with fluid, grid-free real-time combat. Positioning, timing, and quick spatial awareness matter just as much as your team’s raw attack power. You’ll need to make split-second decisions to drag your heroes into key positions, dodge environmental hazards, and counter aggressive monster encounters in tight spaces.

Up to 40 Unique Heroes to Unlock and Master

No hero can survive the dungeon alone. To make it out alive, you’ll need to build and adapt a balanced party on the fly.
- Huge Roster: Recruit and unlock up to 40 distinct heroes, each packed with their own stats, passive abilities, and tactical synergies.
- Countless Team Combos: Experimentation is the key to survival. Blend tanky frontliners with high-damage spellcasters or agile disrupters to discover game-changing party synergies.
- High Replayability: Every expedition presents a unique tactical challenge. No two escape attempts feel the same, encouraging you to refine your strategies, learn enemy patterns, and try out new hero combinations on every run.
Indie Passion Meets Tactical Depth

Developed by Italian indie studio Demon Girl (founded by Fabio Consorti) and published by Tambù Digital, Drag ‘N Dungeon combines deep strategy mechanics with accessible, high-energy gameplay.

“We wanted Drag ‘N Dungeon to capture the excitement of building a team, discovering new strategies and adapting to whatever the dungeon throws at you,” shares developer Fabio Consorti. “It’s been fantastic watching players experiment with different hero combinations throughout development, and we’re thrilled that everyone can finally experience the full adventure today.”

Grab It Today with a 20% Discount!

Ready to test your tactical skills? Don’t wait too long—the 20% introductory launch offer is only available on Steam for a limited time!
- Platform: PC / Mac (Steam)
- Price: £8.99 / $9.99 / €9.99 (minus the 20% launch discount!)
- Free Demo: A playable Steam demo is also available if you want to sample the tactical action before diving into the full game.
Head over to the Drag ‘N Dungeon Steam Page today, assemble your party, and drag your way to freedom!

Find out more here

#DragNDungeon #IndieGame #Steam #PCGaming #TambuDigital #DemonGirl #AutoBattler #TacticalRPG #GamingNews #TechMash
6th August 2026
Catch the Next Flight: Tales & Tactics Drops Massive ‘World Tour’ DLC and Free Base Update!
Calling all tabletop tacticians and autobattler fanatics! If you’ve been looking for a reason to re-roll your rosters, refine your synergies, and dive back into one of the slickest strategy games around, your call has officially arrived.

Yogscast Games and developer Table 9 Studio have officially launched the highly anticipated Set 2: World Tour DLC alongside a massive, game-changing free base update for their acclaimed tabletop roguelike autobattler, Tales & Tactics.

Whether you’re a seasoned Grand Champion of the Tournament or a fresh contender taking your first steps across the grid, it’s time to pack your bags—the Grand Tournament is expanding across the globe.

What’s New in the Set 2: World Tour DLC?

The World Tour DLC opens up an entire world of new tactical depth, introducing fresh factions, exotic mechanics, and brand-new units that will completely flip your favourite strategies on their head.

Here is what you can expect when you step onto the international stage:
- Brand-New Factions & Archetypes: Discover unique origins and traits inspired by legendary realms around the world. Adapt your squad composition with new synergy bonuses that reward clever positioning and creative drafting.
- Fresh Champions to Recruit: Expand your bench with a diverse cast of new playable units, each equipped with distinct abilities, custom animations, and game-winning ultimates.
- Global Arenas: Battle it out across beautiful, newly designed tabletop boards reflecting the sights, colours, and atmospheres of the World Tour.
- New Equipment & Artefacts: Tailor your carry units with powerful new gear combinations designed to turn defeat into decisive victory.
Massive Free Update for All Players

Don’t worry if you’re sticking to the base game for now—Table 9 Studio hasn’t forgotten about you! Accompanying the DLC release is a huge free base game update packed with quality-of-life improvements, rebalancing, and content updates designed for every player.

Highlights of the base update include:
- Overhauled Balance: Reworked unit costs, adjusted trait thresholds, and rebalanced items ensure the meta stays fresh, fluid, and competitive.
- Refined Roguelike Progression: Smoother node choices, tweaked random events, and enhanced risk-versus-reward decisions throughout your tournament runs.
- UI & QoL Enhancements: A cleaner interface, clearer combat readouts, and streamlined unit management make planning your turn faster and more intuitive than ever.
Why You Should Dive Back In

Tales & Tactics has earned a loyal following by perfectly marrying the deep, addictive squad-building of an autobattler with the unpredictable, strategy-focused run structure of a roguelike RPG. With the arrival of Set 2, the team has taken feedback directly from the community to deliver richer strategic choices, wilder synergy combos, and endless replayability.

It’s time to rethink your opening drafts, experiment with bizarre new compositions, and see if you have what it takes to dominate the global stage.

Ready to jump in? The Set 2: World Tour DLC and free base update for Tales & Tactics are live now on Steam! Grab your dice, rally your champions, and we’ll see you in the arena.

Find out more here

#TalesAndTactics #YogscastGames #Table9Studio #Autobattler #Roguelike #IndieGames #PCGaming #GamingNews #TechMash #TabletopGaming
6th August 2026
100,000 Wishlists in 4 Days! Roguelike Autobattler ‘Guildrun’ Takes Steam by Storm

If you’ve popped onto Steam over the past few days, you’ve likely seen a new title dominating the trending charts. Indie developer Leyline has officially announced that their upcoming roguelike autobattler, Guildrun, has crossed a massive milestone: over 100,000 Steam wishlists in under four days since its reveal!

For an indie game, hitting six figures in wishlists usually takes months of promotion, showcase appearances, and word-of-mouth. Guildrun managed to pull it off in less than a week, proving that PC gamers are hungry for a fresh, deeply strategic twist on the autobattler genre.

The Demo Is Taking Over Steam

It’s not just hype and trailer views driving the excitement—players are already sinking hours into the game.

During its opening weekend, Guildrun’s public demo hit an impressive peak of over 10,000 concurrent players, quickly propelling it to the #1 trending demo on Steam.

Even better? Players are loving what they’re playing. The demo currently boasts a stellar 95% “Very Positive” user rating, with early feedback praising its satisfying tactical depth, rogue-lite replayability, and polished presentation.

What Is Guildrun?

For the uninitiated, Guildrun combines the quick-thinking party building of classic roguelikes with the automated, high-stakes tactical combat of autobattlers.

Players recruit, gear up, and position a party of heroes to take on increasingly difficult encounters. Because the battles run automatically based on your preparation and synergy choices, every run tests your ability to adapt, optimise builds, and outsmart the AI before the fight even begins.

When Can You Play the Full Game?

If you missed out on the initial rush, don’t worry—the public demo is available now on Steam, so you can jump in and test your tactical skills right away.

As for the full release, Leyline is aiming for a 2027 release on Steam, giving the studio plenty of time to build upon the demo’s explosive success, incorporate community feedback, and expand the game with even more heroes, items, and encounters.

If you haven’t already, head over to Steam, try the demo, and smash that Wishlist button to support the devs!

Find out more here

#Guildrun #Leyline #IndieGames #Steam #PCGaming #GamingNews #Autobattler #Roguelike #TechMash

21st July 2026
Magic: The Gathering Creator Teams Up With Indie Studio For Massive ‘Vanguard Exiles’ 1.0 Steam Launch!
If you are a fan of deep strategic card games, tactical auto-battlers, or simply love a good indie success story, mark your calendars! Independent Australian game developer The Tea Division has officially announced that its highly anticipated strategic auto-battler, Vanguard Exiles, will launch into its full 1.0 version on Steam on February 4, 2027.

But this isn’t just your standard indie release. The Tea Division has a secret weapon up its sleeve: Vanguard Exiles was designed in close collaboration with none other than Richard Garfield, the legendary game designer and creator of Magic: The Gathering.

Here is everything you need to know about this upcoming strategic powerhouse.

A Match Made in Strategy Heaven

The Tea Division has been quietly brewing something special down under, but bringing Richard Garfield on board has catapulted Vanguard Exiles to the top of every strategy gamer’s wishlist. Garfield, whose brain gave us Magic: The Gathering, Netrunner, and KeyForge, brings decades of balance, depth, and innovative game mechanics to the project.

By blending The Tea Division’s sharp indie vision with Garfield’s unmatched expertise in card and tabletop design, Vanguard Exiles promises to deliver an auto-battler experience that is both easy to pick up and incredibly deep to master.

What is Vanguard Exiles?

For those unfamiliar, Vanguard Exiles takes the fast-paced, addictive nature of the auto-battler genre and infuses it with high-stakes tactical decision-making. Players will recruit, position, and synergise a roster of unique exile units, outsmarting opponents in intense rounds of automated combat where pre-battle preparation is everything.

With the 1.0 launch on the horizon, players can look forward to:
- Refined Strategic Depth: Thanks to Garfield’s influence, expect intricate synergy webs, satisfying counter-play, and fewer victories left to pure RNG.
- Full Release Polish: The 1.0 launch will bring a wealth of new content, including a robust roster of new characters, fully fleshed-out game modes, and competitive balance tweaks.
- A Vivid World: Dive into a beautifully crafted universe where outcasts and exiles fight for survival and dominance.
When Can You Play It?

The wait is almost over. Vanguard Exiles officially drops on Steam on February 4, 2027. Whether you’re a veteran of Teamfight Tactics and Dota Underlords, or a card-game enthusiast looking for your next obsession, this collaboration is shaping up to be one of the first must-play titles of 2027.

Make sure to head over to Steam to wishlist Vanguard Exiles today so you don’t miss the 1.0 drop!

Are you excited to see what Richard Garfield and The Tea Division have cooked up? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!

Find out more here

#VanguardExiles #TheTeaDivision #RichardGarfield #MagicTheGathering #AutoBattler #IndieGames #SteamRelease #GamingNews #TechMash
20th July 2026
Cats, Mechs, and Mayhem: Tech Titans Join Forces for ‘Cats in the Shell’
When veterans from China’s biggest rival gaming giants—Tencent and NetEase—leave their corporate strongholds to team up, the industry takes notice. But no one quite predicted what their newly minted collective, Raven Studio, would build as their debut project.

Alongside global publisher Infini Fun, Raven Studio has officially pulled back the curtain on Cats in the Shell, a frantic, highly strategic mech-building roguelike auto battler coming to PC via Steam Early Access in Q4 2026.

If you’ve ever wanted to pilot a towering, steel-clad instrument of absolute destruction as a whiskered feline, your highly specific dream is finally coming true.

The Birth of Raven Studio

Raven Studio isn’t just another indie outfit. Founded by a powerhouse collective of industry veterans pulling experience from Tencent, NetEase, and SNK, the studio was built with a specific mandate: break away from predictable, formulaic corporate production and prioritize pure, experimental gameplay.

By partnering with Infini Fun, a global multi-platform publisher established in 2024, the developers have been given the runway to bring one of their wildest ideas to life.

“Cats in the Shell’s detail-oriented, satisfying mech building and roguelike randomness will keep you on your toes. More than 1,000 modules provide near-infinite choices in exhilarating combat instances.” — Alex Dong, Director of Raven Studio

Tactical Customisation Meets Feline Fury

At its core, Cats in the Shell is all about build-crafting. The loop is a satisfying blend of deep mechanical tinkering and roguelike unpredictability.

1. Six Mech Archetypes & Whiskered Helmsmen

Players can choose from six distinct mech types, each serving as a blank metal canvas. However, a giant war machine is only as good as its pilot. You’ll recruit a variety of feline fighters, each sporting exclusive active abilities and unique strategic focuses that heavily alter how your machine behaves on the battlefield.

2. Over 1,000 Component Modules

As you progress through runs and navigate random in-game events, you will collect weapons, armor, and specialized component parts. With over 1,000 modules available, the sheer depth of theory-crafting is massive.

3. Inventory Management & Synergy Slots

You can allocate modules into five core slots. However, inventory space is strictly limited. The strategy lies in managing your tight inventory, arranging parts in a precise order, and unlocking hidden synergies that trigger explosive chain reactions.

Automated Chaos and Global PvP

Once your feline pilot is buckled in and your mech is armed to the teeth, it’s time to step onto the battlefield. Cats in the Shell splits its action across two main fronts:
- The Story Campaign: Battle through four distinct futuristic biomes, adapting your loadout to handle environmental hazards and squaring off against towering, screen-filling bosses.
- Asynchronous PvP: Want to test your build against the world? Take your machine into an asynchronous PvP gauntlet. You will fight AI-controlled versions of mechs meticulously assembled by actual players worldwide. The ultimate goal? Survived the gauntlet to secure 10 cumulative victories.
Because it’s an auto battler, your job is done once the countdown hits zero. You get to sit back and watch your engineering masterclass—or catastrophic design flaws—play out in real-time automated clashes of steel, lasers, and flying fur.

Launch Details & Public Playtest

Cats in the Shell is slated to hit Steam Early Access in Q4 2026. Raven Studio is already aiming for a massive global audience right out of the gate, promising localization support for 11 languages, including English, German, French, Russian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and both Simplified and Traditional Chinese.

Can’t wait until Q4? You don’t have to. To celebrate the announcement, Raven Studio and Infini Fun have launched a seven-day public playtest right now on Steam. Head over to their store page, request access, and start building your ultimate mechanical kitty today.

What do you think of this unexpected gaming crossover? Let us know your thoughts on Raven Studio’s debut in the comments below!

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3rd July 2026