The moment we’ve all been hoarding our gold for has finally arrived.
Publisher Hooded Horse and developer Sad Socket have officially dropped the news that 9 Kings players have been collectively manifesting: multiplayer is officially here.
If you’ve spent the last few months meticulously perfecting your medieval layouts in isolation, it’s time to tear down those castle walls and look toward the horizon. The smash-hit kingdom-building auto-battler is throwing open its gates to the world, introducing a brand-new competitive mode where you can finally test your strategic genius against actual human brains.
Sovereign Supremacy (or Complete Chaos)
Until now, 9 Kings has been a brilliant, addictive balancing act of managing a thriving economy while engineering the perfect automated defence grid. But let’s be honest—true satisfaction doesn’t come from beating an AI. It comes from watching your best friend’s carefully planned cavalry crumble against your own chaotic genius.
The new multiplayer update introduces a dedicated competitive mode designed to prove who truly deserves the crown. You can now square off in real-time tactical showdowns against:
Your Friends: To settle roommate disputes, office rivalries, or just for bragging rights.
Your Foes: To crush the spirits of anyone who dares question your build order.
Complete Strangers: Because sometimes you just need to match wits with a random internet stranger who is trying to mount a ballista onto a giant boar in peace.
Same Deep Strategy, New Unpredictable Rivals
What makes 9 Kings so special is its blend of cosy kingdom management and high-stakes auto-battling. The introduction of multiplayer completely flips the script on the meta. No longer can you rely on predictable enemy waves; now, you’ll have to scout, adapt, and counter the wild, experimental builds of live opponents.
Whether you play defensively with towering stone keeps or aggressively rush the field with weaponised wildlife, the playing field just got a whole lot bigger—and a lot more dangerous.
The update is live right now. So grab your blueprint scrolls, rally your troops, and go claim your sovereign supremacy. We’ll see you on the battlefield (just watch out for the boars).
If there is one thing indie developers 8BitSkull know how to do, it’s delivering a high-octane power fantasy. After the drilling mayhem of Bore Blasters and the bullet-heaven chaos of Void Scrappers, the Edinburgh-based team has returned with something a little more… skeletal.
Released on April 10, 2026, Skull Horde is an auto-battler dungeon crawler that flips the script on the typical hero’s journey. Instead of playing the knight in shining armour, you are a literal flying skull with a major grudge against your former body.
The Premise: Bone vs. Flesh
The setup is as “humerus” as it is metal. Your body has betrayed you, and as a floating necromancer head, you’re out for revenge. To get it, you’ll need to raise an ever-growing army of skeletons to tear through “endless tides of evil flesh.” It’s a classic battle of calcium versus protein, and let’s just say the bones are looking pretty sturdy.
Gameplay: Strategic Chaos
While the combat happens in real-time, your minions handle the dirty work. Your job is the “big-skull” strategy. Think of it as a mix of a roguelite dungeon crawler and a tactical squad builder:
Unit Merging: You can purchase various skeleton types, but the real power comes from merging identical units. Level them up enough, and they unlock unique special abilities that can turn a losing skirmish into a slaughter.
Procedural Dungeons: No two runs are the same. You’ll navigate procedurally generated maps filled with loot-packed chests, mysterious shrines, and enemy types that require you to pivot your strategy on the fly.
The “Greed” Factor: You have to keep moving. If you linger too long in one spot trying to min-max your loot, the flesh-hordes will eventually overwhelm your brittle battalion.
Why It’s Buzzing
The game has already garnered a “Very Positive” rating on Steam within its first few days. Fans of the “broken build” meta will find a lot to love here. Between the perks you choose at the start of a run and the items you find in the depths, the potential for creating “delightfully broken” synergies is massive. Whether you’re stacking frost mages or building a frontline of veteran warriors, the satisfaction of watching your horde vaporise a boss is top-tier.
Platform & Availability
Skull Horde is out now on PC (Windows, Mac, and Linux). For the handheld fans among us, the game features full Steam Deck support, making it the perfect “just one more run” companion for your commute.
If you’re looking for a fresh take on the auto-battler genre that doesn’t take itself too seriously but offers deep tactical satisfaction, it’s time to join the horde.
Are you ready to show your old body who’s boss, or do you think the flesh still has a fighting chance?
If you’ve been looking for a reason to dive back into the chaotic, procedurally generated depths of the Astral Plane, your time has come. Independent developer Blüd Brüther has officially rolled out the first major content update for Auto Dungeon, their sleeper-hit roguelite autobattler.
Released just this week, the update—thematically titled “Keys to the Leviathan’s Vestigial Closet”—is a massive expansion that focuses on what players love most: more ways to break the game with weird synergies.
The Compendium: A New Way to Play
The centrepiece of this update is the Compendium. This isn’t just a static encyclopedia; it’s a menu of unlockable challenges that gives players tangible goals to aim for during their runs.
Challenge & Reward: Completing specific feats within the Compendium unlocks brand-new cards.
Game-Altering Mechanics: These aren’t just minor stat boosts. Each new card introduces fresh mechanics that can drastically shift the balance of a playthrough, offering new strategies for even the most seasoned summoners.
Over 25 New Weapons Added
Variety is the spice of life—and death—in Auto Dungeon. Blüd Brüther has added over 25 new weapon types to the loot pool. Whether you are looking to enchant your current squad or hoping to find that one piece of legendary gear to carry you through the final dungeon, the expanded arsenal ensures that no two runs feel the same.
Why You Should Be Playing Auto Dungeon
If you missed the initial launch back in August 2025, Auto Dungeon is a unique blend of a dungeon crawler and an autobattler.
The Fusion System: You don’t just collect units; you mutate and fuse them. You can create truly grotesque, powerful amalgamations by combining units repeatedly, leading to emergent synergies that the developer describes as “pushing (and inevitably breaking) the system.”
Procedural Exploration: The world is grid-based and generates dynamically. You move through room tiles, initiating battles with neighbouring enemy groups while managing your hand of cards to summon and support your army.
Strategic Depth: Between capturing enemy creatures and demolishing dungeon walls to create your own paths, the tactical possibilities are surprisingly deep for an “auto” game.
“We think of the creatures as animated pieces on a game board. The world generates dynamically as players explore, with lots of procedural dungeons and structures.” — Blüd Brüther
Grab It While It’s Hot
To celebrate the release of the update, Auto Dungeon is currently on a Special Promotion on Steam. If you act fast, you can snag the game at a 55% discount, bringing the price down to just £3.99 / $4.49.
Whether you’re a fan of Auto Chess-style strategy or the “just one more run” addiction of Slay the Spire, this major update makes now the perfect time to start your conquest of the Astral Plane.
Find out more here on Steam – https://shorturl.at/jG5Ob
If the name “Einstein” usually brings to mind dusty chalkboards and complex physics, it’s time to update your mental software. Between a new tactical roguelite taking Steam by storm and the ongoing mission of the GEAR UP educational program, “Gearing Up” is all about preparation, precision, and a bit of genius.
1. The Game: Einstein as Your Secret Weapon
In the newly announced tactical co-op roguelite, Gear Up Einstein!, the world’s most famous physicist isn’t just a face on a poster—he’s a soldier. Developed by No Deadlines, this game flips the script on history.
What to Expect:
Recruit Historical Legends: Use a time machine to pull iconic figures from the past into an apocalyptic future.
Tactical Auto-Battler Mechanics: You aren’t just clicking buttons; you’re positioning heroes and crafting synergies. Think of it as high-speed chess with higher stakes.
Multiplayer Co-op: You don’t have to save the world alone. Team up with up to two friends to trade gear and optimise your squad’s build.
The Goal: Stop a monstrous invasion and restore the timeline.
Pro Tip: Keep an eye on the “Bonus Eras.” While you start in places like Ancient Egypt and the Renaissance, the twisted timelines offer unique gear that can turn Einstein from a theorist into a powerhouse.
2. The Mission: Gearing Up for Success
Beyond the digital battlefield, “Gear Up” at schools like Einstein Middle School (and hundreds of others) refers to the GEAR UP Program (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs).
This initiative is the ultimate “power-up” for students. It’s designed to ensure that low-income and marginalised youth have the tools, tutoring, and mentorship they need to transition from middle school to a successful college career.
Mentorship: Connecting students with leaders who have walked the path before.
Financial Literacy: Demystifying the cost of college and finding scholarships.
Academic Support: Specialised tutoring to ensure no student falls behind in the “STEM” subjects Einstein himself mastered.
Why the World Needs a “Gear Up” Mentality
Whether you are strategising a win in a roguelite or planning your academic future, the core philosophy remains the same: Preparation is the greatest synergy.
Einstein once said, “I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious.” That curiosity is the fuel for both the gamer and the student. When we “gear up,” we aren’t just putting on armour or picking up a book—we are equipping ourselves to handle the unknown.
Ready to Join the Fray?
For the Gamers: Head over to Steam and wishlist Gear Up Einstein! to get notified of the 2026 Early Access launch.
For the Students: Check in with your local school counsellor to see if a GEAR UP cohort is active in your district.
Attention, strategy fans and insect enthusiasts! Hive Blight, the buzzy roguelite autobattler from indie studio OptizOnion, is officially crawling into Early Access. If you’ve ever wanted to command a legion of beetles and wasps to take down a fungal plague, your time is coming.
The Core Loop
The world is being consumed by a fungal corruption brought on by the mysterious Fungomancer. To save the kingdom, you’ll need to:
Draft & Adapt: Choose from over 30 unique insect units—each inspired by real-life biology—to build your perfect swarm.
Synergise: Combine units from different clans (like the fearless Vespada or the rhythmic Sweet Symphoney) to unlock game-breaking combos.
Survive the Blight: Manage your Elixir (your life essence) as you navigate a perilous map filled with shops, forges, and sacred altars.
Key Dates & Details
Early Access Launch: March 9, 2026
Platform: PC (Steam)
Current Event: If you can’t wait until March, a demo is live now through February 14th as part of the Tiny Roguelike Festival on Steam!
Why Early Access?
The devs plan to stay in Early Access for about a year to fine-tune the balance and add even more content, including new bosses, items, and mechanics. Supporting the game now also means a lower entry price as a thank you for helping shape the hive.
“Unite the clans, build your synergies, and push back the Blight.”
Find out more here on Steam – https://shorturl.at/rQGXZ
Space is cold, but the action is heating up. Dive into the festive “Battleshooter” event, earn exclusive rewards, and bring some Yuletide cheer to the crushing vacuum of the frontier.
Commanders, attention on deck!
The sensors are picking up something unusual in the neutral zone. It’s not another pirate fleet, and it’s not a Void anomaly. It appears to be… tinsel?
That’s right. The holiday season has officially arrived in Starborne: Frontiers, and it’s bringing a cargo hold full of festive chaos. The community has affectionately dubbed this year’s festivities the “Battleshooter” event, and if you’ve logged in the past 24 hours, you know exactly why: the only way to spread cheer out here is with overwhelming firepower.
If you’ve been looking for an excuse to jump back into the pilot’s seat, or if you’re a daily grinder looking for the next big challenge, this is the most wonderful time of the year.
Here is your briefing on what to expect during the Starborne: Frontiers holiday event.
The Atmosphere: Frost and Firepower
The developers over at Solid Clouds usually do a great job of setting the mood, and this event is no exception. Forget the usual drab greys of military stations; the Frontier has received a festive makeover.
You can expect a complete UI reskin, with snowy overlays, twinkling lights adorning your station, and a suitably epic, jingle-bell-infused soundtrack to accompany your orbital bombardments. It’s a great contrast—managing high-stakes sci-fi warfare while your home base looks like a futuristic gingerbread house.
The “Battleshooter” Mechanics: How to Play
This event isn’t just about looking pretty. It’s about grinding for limited-time loot.
While the specifics can tweak year to year, the core loop of the holiday event usually revolves around a special Event Campaign Map.
Special Event Nodes: A new sector has opened up, filled with frosty enemies and special challenges. These battles are often tuned differently than the main campaign, requiring you to rethink your usual fleet compositions.
Festive Currency: Forget standard credits for a moment. Every victory in the event sector awards you with special holiday currency (think “Snowflakes,” “Baubles,” or “Data-Canes”).
The Holiday Shop: This is where the magic happens. You take that hard-earned festive currency to a temporary shop to exchange for high-value items.
The Loot: What’s Under the Tree?
Why are we calling it the “Battleshooter”? Because you’re going to have to shoot a lot of things to get the prizes you want. And this year, the prizes look worth the grind.
Typically, Starborne events offer two tiers of rewards:
The Essentials: The event shop is usually stocked with discounted upgrade materials, XP boosters, and standard recruitment tokens. It’s the perfect time to power-level that legendary unit you pulled last month but haven’t had the resources to max out.
The Exclusives (The Big Draws): This is what we are all here for.
New Holiday Units: Often, a brand-new unit is introduced that is thematic to the season—think ice-based weaponry or ships with unique “freezing” crowd-control abilities.
Festive Skins: Nothing says “I own this sector” like blasting an enemy flagship while your dreadnought is painted in aggressively festive red and green patterns or wearing a giant Santa hat. These skins are usually time-limited and become rare status symbols later in the year.
3 Quick Tips for Maximising the Event
Don’t go into the holiday free-for-all blind. Here’s how to get the most out of your playtime:
Energy Management is Key: Event nodes usually cost energy. Don’t blow your entire daily allowance on standard resource farming until you’ve completed your event goals for the day. The event is temporary; the main campaign is eternal.
Check for Unit Bonuses: Sometimes, specific units receive stat buffs during the event or grant bonuses to the amount of event currency dropped. Check the patch notes in-game to see who you should be fielding.
Prioritise the Shop: Don’t just buy random items. Look at the exclusives first. Can you earn that unique unit purely through gameplay? If so, make that your number one goal. Upgrade materials will always be around; limited-time ships will not.
Dismissed!
The Starborne: Frontiers holiday event is a fantastic time for the community. The servers are busy, chat is active, and everyone is chasing that shiny new loot.
So, charge your railguns, wrap some tinsel around your fusion reactor, and get out there, Commander. Those snow-covered space pirates aren’t going to blow themselves up.
Happy Hunting and Happy Holidays!
Are you enjoying the “Battleshooter” event? What’s your favourite new skin? Let us know in the comments below!
Let’s face it: the daily grind can be a slog. You clock in, you do the thing, and then you have that glorious, fleeting window of freedom—your lunch break. For most, it’s a quick sandwich and doom-scrolling. But for the dedicated employees at your local superstore (and for the Lunchbreak Tactics dev team), it’s something much, much more.
It’s war. A glorious, strategic, auto-battler card game war.
We’re thrilled to see the buzz around the Lunchbreak Tactics Demo on Steam, and if you haven’t punched your time card yet, you’re missing out on the most bizarre and brilliant office obsession.
The Supermarket of Strategy
Lunchbreak Tactics isn’t just another card game; it’s a whole world built out of the mundane. The setting is a superstore, and your units are the everyday objects that have been brought to life by your co-workers’ shared obsession. We’re talking about roguelite auto-battler gameplay where Paladin Pineapples and Wizard Wipes duke it out across the breakroom table.
You play as the new trainee, trying to rise through the ranks by mastering this incredibly addictive card game that your co-workers invented. What started as a casual pastime has, naturally, become an all-consuming, asynchronous, multiplayer phenomenon across the store.
How to Clock In a Win
Every round of Lunchbreak Tactics is a fresh start—a new shift, if you will. The core of the game comes down to three crucial choices that define your run:
Your Hero: Each hero is an in-store legend, offering a unique passive power that can shape your entire strategy. Do you boost your economy, empower certain unit types, or bend the rules in clever ways? Choose wisely, because your hero sets the tone.
Your Two Clans (Decks): Your clans determine the pool of units and items you’ll be drawing from. With themes ranging from aggressive Pirates to eternal Necroes, mixing and matching two clans allows for wild, unpredictable, and devastating combinations.
From there, it’s all about building the perfect squad over thirteen intense rounds. With over a hundred units and dozens of heroes, the strategic possibilities and powerfulsynergies are virtually endless. Finding that perfect combo of units and items is the key to climbing the ranks and becoming the ultimate slacker—uh, we mean, the Employee of the Month card master.
Play at Your Own Pace
One of the best features of Lunchbreak Tactics is the commitment to the concept: it’s the perfect game for… well, your lunch break!
The game is built around an asynchronous multiplayer experience. That means you can take your turn, put your phone down, eat your sandwich, and come back later. You play at your own rhythm, whenever and wherever you want, without the pressure of a real-time match. It’s perfect for a quick session during that 15-minute coffee break or a deeper dive when you have more time to kill.
Your Shift Starts Now
Don’t just sit there counting the minutes until quitting time. Grab your badge, step up to the breakroom, and experience the tactical depth and quirky charm that have made this game a store-wide obsession.
The free demo is available right now on Steam! Jump in, define your playstyle, and see what wild synergies you can cook up. We can’t wait to see your squads dominate the breakroom leaderboards!
What’s the wildest unit combination you’ve discovered in the demo so far? Let us know in the comments below!
Having been in Early Access on Steam the Throne of Bone game is now ready to be released. This is one of those games that turns the players into necromancers, who must create an army to serve them and defend the castle from invaders. The game is a mix of deckbuilding and tactical warfare so there is a lot going on here. The Throne of Bone game will be released on the 22nd of April on PC via Steam.
To find out more about the Throne of Bone game go to the official game website here https://www.windmillslamgames.com/ or go to the games page on Steam here https://shorturl.at/eZHQj
