TECHMASH

Tag: #CardGame

  • Rituals, Not Decks — Evocation Reimagines Card Battling With Node-Connecting Magic

    Rituals, Not Decks — Evocation Reimagines Card Battling With Node-Connecting Magic

    Forget everything you know about card games. Evocation, the striking new title from solo developer vodkakaa and published by GCORES PUBLISHING, is rewriting the rulebook — literally. This isn’t about drawing a hand and playing it. This is about weaving patterns, channelling energy, and performing rituals — and it’s heading to Steam in December 2026.

    The Ritual Is Your Playfield

    The core idea is breathtakingly different: your cards aren’t stacked in a deck — they’re distributed across six nodes arranged in a magical circle. To play a card, you don’t just click it — you connect nodes in specific patterns to complete rituals and unleash their power. Lines become spells. Circles become summons. The shape you draw decides what magic you weave.

    “Completing these ancient rituals generates energy, allowing you to command abyssal demons capable of turning the tide of battle.”

    It’s a visual and tactical layer no other card game offers: the layout matters as much as the cards themselves, and mastering the flow of connections is just as vital as building your collection.

    Two Paths — One Purpose

    Evocation serves every kind of card player with two fully featured modes:

    Single-Player Roguelike — The Pilgrimage

    • 3 unique starting paths and distinct card pools to master
    • Over 300 cards and 40+ enemies across a journey through a dark, fallen world — the Holy City lies in ruins, faith is outlawed, and you walk the road of purification alone
    • Deep equipment system: craft, swap, and trade gear freely — no locked relics, no dead ends
    • Every run reshapes your strategy. Every choice changes what you find.

    PvP — Pure Skill, No Pay-to-Win

    • No in-app purchases, no loot boxes, no pay-to-win — competitive play built entirely on mastery and deck craft
    • Climb, duel, test your rituals against real opponents
    • A level playing field where the best strategist wins, not the biggest wallet

    Made by One, Backed by Many

    Evocation is the vision of solo dev vodkakaa, now partnered with GCORES PUBLISHING to bring this labour of love to the world. The game blends a haunting dark-fantasy aesthetic with mechanics that feel both ancient and entirely new — where the board is a spell circle and every move is a ceremony.

    Coming This December — Wishlist Now

    Evocation arrives on Steam December 2026, supporting Windows and macOS. The internal playtest is underway — follow the game, wishlist today, and be ready when the rituals awaken.

    Draw your lines. Summon your power. Evoke what lies beneath.

    More Info: Evocation

    #Evocation #vodkakaa #GCORESPUBLISHING #CardGame #IndieDev #Roguelike #PvP #DeckBuilder #Steam #PCGaming #DarkFantasy #Techmash

  • Code, Cards & Chaos — Dataclysm Unleashes Retro Pixel Magic in Free Steam Next Fest Demo

    Code, Cards & Chaos — Dataclysm Unleashes Retro Pixel Magic in Free Steam Next Fest Demo

    Deep inside a forgotten machine, data has a life of its own. Independent studio Pet The Dog has officially launched the free demo of Dataclysm, its striking retro pixel-art trading card game, right now as part of Steam Next Fest.

    Where Old Files Become Fierce Fighters

    Dataclysm drops you into a mesmerising digital realm — the heart of an abandoned PC where fragments of code, half-finished scripts, and dormant data have awakened to wage war for control of the Motherboard. This isn’t just a card game — it’s a journey through a decaying but living world, where every card tells a piece of a larger, unfolding story.

    “From swarming Sandbags to monstrous Dragons, every archetype brings its own distinct playstyle, and every card adds another piece to the story of this decaying digital world,” the team explains.

    Built on Pixel Passion

    The first thing you’ll notice is the look: Dataclysm’s vivid retro pixel art is the work of five-plus artists, giving every card, character, and battleground a distinct, hand-crafted personality that feels both nostalgic and fresh. It’s a love letter to classic gaming aesthetics with a modern, sharp-edged soul.

    What Awaits in the Demo & Beyond

    The full game promises a rich, deep experience — 128 cards at launch, with another 128 already planned for post-release updates. You’ll command more than 10 distinct archetypes, from fast-swarming minions to slow, devastating behemoths, each supporting wildly different strategies. When it arrives, the game will include both single-player story mode and online PvP, so you can battle the world or dive deep into the lore at your own pace.

    Right now, the Steam Next Fest demo gives you a generous taste of the card combat, deck-building, and tactical depth — completely free, no strings attached.

    From Turin With Love

    Pet The Dog is an indie studio based in Turin, Italy — and Dataclysm is their heartfelt vision of what a digital card game can be: creative, characterful, and built entirely with passion, not corporate scale. There’s no announced full release date yet, but the demo is the perfect way to follow development, leave feedback, and add the game to your Steam wishlist so you don’t miss the launch.

    The machine is waking up — are you ready to take control?

    More Info: Dataclysm

    #Dataclysm #PetTheDog #SteamNextFest #TCG #PixelArt #IndieDev #CardGame #RetroGaming #SteamDemo #ItalianIndies #Techmash

  • Depths of Strategy — Fathom Reach Surfaces November 3 on Steam!

    Depths of Strategy — Fathom Reach Surfaces November 3 on Steam!

    Dive into a sunken world where every card played could be your last breath.

    Independent developer Feldsparc has announced that Fathom Reach — an atmospheric underwater roguelike deckbuilder — will launch on Steam this Tuesday, 3 November 2026. And before it arrives, you can test the waters yourself during Steam Next Fest, kicking off October 19 with an enhanced demo!

    A Sunken World of Cards

    Fathom Reach drops you beneath the waves of a ruined ocean, where every dive is a calculated gamble. You’ll descend through dangerous chambers, chain devastating card combos, and face the ultimate choice: push deeper for richer loot… or surface before your hull gives out.

    What Lies Beneath

    • 220+ unique cards across four distinct factions — craft builds around armour, corrosion, swarming drones, marked targets, and more
    • Dive modules — upgrade and reshape your deck between runs; no two dives play the same
    • Three ways to play — test your skill in Open Descent, go the distance in Endless Descent, or compete in the shared Daily Signal
    • Build & defend your base — place traps and weapons to guard your domain; other players will dive against your creation
    • Raid others — take your deck and test it against defences built by real players
    • Hull integrity matters — every hit you take carries forward; push too far and you lose it all

    Try It Soon — Steam Next Fest Demo

    Can’t wait to start your descent? An enhanced demo goes live during Steam Next Fest (Oct 19–26), featuring the latest gameplay polish, balance updates, and a generous preview of what the full release offers. Head to the Fathom Reach Steam Store Page now to wishlist and grab the demo when it drops.

    Ready to Dive?

    From the first card played to the moment you decide to surface, Fathom Reach blends tense push-your-luck exploration with deep, rewarding deckbuilding — all wrapped in a haunting underwater aesthetic.

    The ocean is waiting. Will you bring the treasure home, or vanish into the deep?

    More Info: Fathom Reach

    #FathomReach #Feldsparc #Deckbuilder #Roguelike #Techmash #SteamRelease #SteamNextFest #IndieGame #CardGame #Underwater #StrategyGame #PCGaming

  • Cards, Cheats & Chains — The Devil’s Due Lets You Hustle Your Way Out of Hell!

    Cards, Cheats & Chains — The Devil’s Due Lets You Hustle Your Way Out of Hell!

    Poker punks, roguelite rogues, card-counters and sinners of all suits — listen up. There’s a game where you don’t just bend the rules — you break them, swap them, stack the deck, and grin while the demons glare. The Devil’s Due from Norwegian indie studio Games People Play is the infernal card-duelling roguelite where cheating isn’t just allowed — it’s absolutely encouraged.

    The Deal: Your Soul Is Staked

    The story starts simple: you sat down at the wrong table, bet what you shouldn’t have, and lost your soul to the Devil himself. Now the only way out is through — seven layers of Hell, one heads-up poker duel at a time, facing grotesque foes born from the seven deadly sins. Win, and you climb closer to freedom. Lose, and you’re theirs forever.

    But this isn’t polite club poker. There are no referees, no guards, and absolutely no honour among thieves — or demons.

    How You Play — And How You Cheat

    Every encounter is a one-on-one card duel against a fiend with unique abilities and a mean streak a mile wide:

    • Your hand = your damage — the stronger your poker ranking, the harder you hit
    • Card values = your defence — add up the face values to block incoming blows
    • Suspicion is the catch — every trick you pull raises your foe’s eyebrow. Push it too far, and they snap, unleashing devastating fury

    Your real power lies in the cheat system — an expanding toolkit of tricks you unlock and upgrade across runs:

    • Conceal cards from view
    • Swap cards between hands mid-play
    • Inflate values to turn scraps into aces
    • Sabotage the enemy’s draw
    • Manipulate the shared deck — everything you do affects both sides of the table

    That last twist is the sharpest edge: you and your opponent draw from the same deck. Add a powerhouse card and you might see it turned against you. Build combos that shine for you — and burn for them.

    Tarot, Relics & Redemption

    No two runs play the same. At the start of each layer, the Devil lays out a tarot map — paths through monster fights, shops, healing shrines, and risky gambles. You can even cheat the map itself, twisting fate to pick your own route.

    Fall, and you don’t return empty-handed. Permanent upgrades, new cheat cards, and rare relics persist across runs, so every loss leaves you sharper, sneakier, and better equipped to out-hustle Hell itself.

    What’s On the Table

    • Developer: Games People Play (Norway)
    • Release: November 10, 2026 — Steam
    • Demo: Available now — includes four of the seven infernal layers
    • Style: Playful, sharply written, visually inspired by classic mischief and mayhem — think cards, chaos, and colourful damnation
    • Tone: Wicked, witty, and welcoming — bluffers welcome, saints stay home

    “Fair play is for people with nothing to lose. You don’t have a soul to spare — so cheat well, cheat smart, and cheat together.”

    Wishlist The Devil’s Due on Steam, grab the demo, and start practising your innocent face. Hell’s waiting — and it’s dealing.

    Find out more on The Devils Due

    #TheDevilsDue #GamesPeoplePlay #Roguelite #CardGame #Poker #Cheating #IndieGame #Steam #PCGaming #techmash #Deckbuilder #CardDuelling #NorwegianDev #SevenDeadlySins

  • Robots, Rivalries & Rampant Fungi — Dream Team Supreme Unleashes Major Demo Update!

    Robots, Rivalries & Rampant Fungi — Dream Team Supreme Unleashes Major Demo Update!

    Ready to pilot a giant robot, save the world, and take down monsters straight from a Saturday morning cartoon? Developer Big Adventure has just supercharged the playable demo for Dream Team Supreme — their vibrant co-op kaiju-battling deckbuilder — with not one, but two formidable new foes to face: Bushido Beetle and the terrifying King Mycol.

    What Is Dream Team Supreme?

    Dream Team Supreme casts you and a partner (or solo, if you prefer) as scientists piloting Super Supreme, a colossal two-headed robot built to defend Earth against a bizarre invasion of rampaging monsters. It’s a roguelike deckbuilder with a difference — instead of one deck, you build two, one for each pilot, and success depends on finding powerful synergies between your cards and your partner’s.

    • Pilot together — 1–2 player co-op or solo play
    • Dual-deck strategy — combine cartridges, plan your turn order, and chain devastating combos
    • Momentum mechanic — unused blocks convert into momentum, powering up your opening attack next round
    • Comic-book visuals — colourful, bold art style inspired by classic animation
    • Endlessly replayable — procedural maps, unlockable content, and hundreds of deck combinations

    Two New Kaiju Enter the Fray

    The freshly updated demo — version 0.23 — introduces two brand-new boss encounters, each with their own deadly tricks and distinct playstyles:

    Bushido Beetle

    A towering insect warrior that grows stronger as the fight drags on. The longer the battle lasts, the more dangerous it becomes — pressuring you to end things fast before its power peaks. Speed and precision are your only shields against this rising threat.

    King Mycol

    A furious fungal overlord that spreads spores to poison your systems and drain your strength. He doesn’t just hit hard — he weakens your ability to fight back. You’ll need to keep pace with his spreading toxins while maintaining your offensive pressure.

    Even More New Content

    The update doesn’t stop at monsters. Demo 0.23 also packs:

    • Two new playable scientists — fresh pilots with unique decks and abilities
    • 25 new mods — equip Super Supreme with game-changing upgrades between runs
    • New levels, locations & choices — expanded map with branching paths and strategic decisions
    • Co-op quality-of-life — see your partner’s cursor and card movements in real time
    • Visual & UI polish — clearer card distinctions, mod activation indicators, and enhanced animations

    What Lies Ahead

    The updated demo is available right now on Steam — free to download and play. The full release of Dream Team Supreme is targeted for Q1 2027, landing on PC and consoles. Big Adventure has emphasised that player feedback throughout the demo period will directly shape the final game, with regular updates and community discussions taking place via their Discord.

    “Two heads are better than one — especially when they’re both piloting a giant robot.”

    Wishlist Dream Team Supreme on Steam today, download the demo, and team up to take down Bushido Beetle and King Mycol before launch. The world needs saving — and science is on the case!

    For more information, go to Dream Team Supreme

    #DreamTeamSupreme #BigAdventure #Deckbuilder #Roguelike #CoOpGaming #Kaiju #GiantRobot #IndieGame #SteamDemo #PCGaming #CardGame #Strategems #Techmash

  • Cards, Careers, and Corporate Nightmares — Mr. Magpie’s Harmless Card Game Unleashes New Demo!

    Cards, Careers, and Corporate Nightmares — Mr. Magpie’s Harmless Card Game Unleashes New Demo!

    Welcome back to the office — don’t mind the shadows, and definitely don’t trust the boss. Giant Light Studios has dropped a freshly expanded, polished demo for Mr. Magpie’s Harmless Card Game, their surreal corporate horror deckbuilder — live right now on Steam, and perfectly timed ahead of Steam Next Fest, October 19–26.

    “Harmless” — Just Performance Management as Usual

    You’re the newest recruit in Mr. Magpie’s very strange workplace, where climbing the ladder means flipping cards, stacking your deck, chasing synergies, and gambling your life for cash. The rules are simple: hit your quotas, earn your pay, and avoid the JERRY cards. They don’t just hurt your performance review — they end your employment permanently. And everyone hates JERRY.

    This isn’t just a quick polish — the new demo brings meaningful upgrades:

    • Brand-new SHARES system — invest, risk, and reap bigger rewards
    • Revamped Strategy selection — clearer choices, deeper builds
    • Walkabout exploration — step away from the desk and wander the office
    • Fresh narrative beats and more interactions with Mr. Magpie himself
    • Streamlined onboarding — smoother start for every new hire

    Clock In Early — Next Fest Is Coming

    The demo is free and live on Steam right now, giving you plenty of time to test your desk survival skills before Steam Next Fest kicks off later this month. Whether you’re here for clever deckbuilding, eerie surreal vibes, or to see just how “harmless” Mr. Magpie actually is — the door’s open.

    Just remember: the contract says you can leave any time. The office might disagree.

    Download the demo on Steam now — and don’t sign anything without reading the fine print.

    Find out more here

    #MrMagpie #Deckbuilder #HorrorGame #IndieGame #SteamDemo #SteamNextFest #GiantLightStudios #CorporateHorror #CardGame #Techmash

  • Quack to Victory — Duck Fest Shines with New English Trailer & Polished Demo!

    Quack to Victory — Duck Fest Shines with New English Trailer & Polished Demo!

    Duck season is here! Studio Shimazu has just unveiled a brand-new English trailer for Duck Fest — and alongside it, dropped a freshly polished free Steam demo with revamped visuals and gameplay tweaks shaped directly by player feedback.

    If you love card games but crave something charmingly fresh, hand-drawn, and easy to pick up yet tricky to master — this one’s for you.

    Watch the New English Trailer

    See the ducks in action for yourself — the new trailer lays out the rules, the art style, and the strategic hook in just a couple of minutes.

    What Is Duck Fest?

    Think your familiar deck of playing cards — reimagined as a delightful one-on-one battle game starring an adorable flock of hand-drawn ducks. Every single illustration is crafted solo by the developer, giving the game a warm, distinct personality all its own.

    Here’s how it works:

    • Two battle zones — the Water and the Shallows — where you place cards to fight for control of flags
    • Rank determines strength — higher-value cards beat the opposition, but every card also carries a unique special effect that can turn the tide
    • Strategy over luck — choose where to commit your ducks, when to hold back, and when to unleash game-changing abilities
    • Simple to learn, deep to master — built around standard playing-card foundations so anyone can jump in, with layers of tactical decision-making as you progress

    The Demo Got a Major Glow-Up

    The free Steam demo is now updated with:

    • Substantially refreshed visuals — cleaner, brighter, and even more charming duck artwork and UI
    • Playability improvements — smoother flow, tighter balancing, and quality-of-life fixes all based on what players told the team
    • Full opening story + tutorial — play solo first to learn the ropes
    • Online friend matches — take your deck against anyone on your Steam friends list

    Note: Card trading, community market integration, and full custom deck building are reserved for the complete game — but you can get a solid feel for the action right now, completely free.

    Why It Stands Out

    • Made with love — a solo developer passion project inspired by childhood TCG dreams
    • No steep entry barrier — uses playing-card values everyone already understands
    • Built on feedback — the demo update proves the team listens and iterates fast
    • Steam-connected — friend matches, trading, and market support planned for full release
    • Early Access coming — the game is expected to spend roughly one year in Early Access as it grows

    Ready to Flap Into Battle?

    Grab the free demo right now on Duck Fest Steam Store Page — try the story, learn the mechanics, and challenge a friend. The flock is waiting.

    Find out more here

    #DuckFest #StudioShimazu #CardGame #IndieGame #techmash #SteamDemo #HandDrawn #StrategyGame #FreeToPlay

  • Sludge, Strategy & Survival — Toxic Frontier Oozes onto the Scene!

    Sludge, Strategy & Survival — Toxic Frontier Oozes onto the Scene!

    Publisher Meteorbyte Studios and developer Mint Gate Games are positively glowing with excitement — or perhaps that’s just radiation poisoning — as they officially reveal Toxic Frontier, a delightfully gritty card-powered survival strategy game unveiled during the PC Gaming Show Tokyo Direct. Prepare to wade into the muck, purify the wastelands, and build a haven where others see only ruin.

    Cards, Hexes & Hazardous Wastelands

    Toxic Frontier blends roguelike city-building with card strategy in a post-apocalyptic world where every tile is toxic, every decision counts, and every new card could save your settlement — or seal its fate.

    • Build from nothing — start with a single safe tile and expand your colony across a sprawling hex grid, turning poisoned land into a livable home
    • 40+ unique cards — unlock powerful structures, purification tools, defences, and special projects; mix and match to create devastatingly effective synergies
    • Watch your step — slithery things lurk in the muck; each biome brings new threats, strange creatures, and unexpected hazards
    • Retro irradiated aesthetic — crisp pixel-art meets vivid, saturated toxicity; a nostalgic look with a decidedly dangerous glow
    • No two runs are the same — procedural maps, evolving threats, and four distinct game modes keep every expedition fresh; two different endings await
    • Reach the target before your deck runs dry — manage your limited hand carefully; when the cards are gone, survival gets very difficult

    Announcement Details

    Table

    TitleToxic Frontier
    DeveloperMint Gate Games
    PublisherMeteorbyte Studios
    GenreCard-Based Roguelike City-Builder / Survival Strategy
    RevealedPC Gaming Show Tokyo Direct 2026
    Release WindowQ1 2027
    PlatformPC — Steam
    WishlistLive now — https://store.steampowered.com/app/2285020
    BonusFull Steam Deck support confirmed

    The sludge is thick, the air is questionable, and something is definitely moving in the shadows. But hope? Hope is what you build. Grab your cards, purify the soil, and carve a home from the poison. Welcome to Toxic Frontier

    Find out more here

    #ToxicFrontier #MeteorbyteStudios #MintGateGames #IndieGames #CardGame #CityBuilder #Roguelike #techmash #PostApocalyptic #StrategyGames #PCGamingShow #Steam

  • Analog Game Studios Launches Schooled

    Analog Game Studios Launches Schooled

    “Schooled” is a 2-player abstract strategy board game from Analog Game Studios. The game is inspired by the natural behaviour of fish forming schools for protection and survival.

    Here are some key features of the “Schooled” game:

    Players and Goal: It’s a head-to-head game for two players. The objective is to build and protect your school of fish, outsmarting your opponent, and ending the game with the highest combined score of surviving fish and deep-water bonus points.

    Gameplay: The game involves a battle for dominance on a double-sided game board. Players take turns either adding a new fish to an empty space or removing a dead one. The fish tokens have unique capabilities, which add to the strategic depth.

    Components: The game includes a double-sided game board, 18 blue fish tokens, 18 yellow fish tokens, and a rule book.

    Theme: The game has an underwater theme with vibrant artwork.

    Replayability: The double-sided board provides two different layouts, a symmetrical one and an asymmetrical one, offering varied gameplay and increasing replayability.

    Designer: The game was designed by Cecil Oakton.

    While “Schooled” is the most direct answer, other games with “school” in the title or a school-related theme also exist:

    You Got Schooled Card Game: A collectable card game with historical figures battling each other.

    Demonschool: A tactics RPG for PC.

    School Owner: A construction and management simulation game where you manage a school.

    Source: https://analoggamestudios.com/schooled/

    #schooled #boardgames #rpg #games #gaming #gamers #cardgame #pcgame #abstractstrategyboardgame #AnalogGameStudios

  • Versalis is coming to Steam next year

    Versalis is coming to Steam next year

    Versalis is an upcoming indie tactical collectable card game (CCG) with a unique twist on the genre. Developed and published by Aggressive Combustion, it is set to release on PC in 2026. The game combines elements of CCGs with a strategic, grid-based board, making it a hybrid between a card game and a tactical board game.

    Key Gameplay Features

    Card-Flipping Mechanic: This is the game’s core innovation, inspired by classics like Final Fantasy VIII’s “Triple Triad” minigame. Players place cards on a 5×3 grid. When a card is placed next to an opponent’s card, a battle occurs based on the strength of their adjacent edges. If your card’s edge is stronger, you “flip” the opponent’s card, turning it to your side and gaining control of that space.

    Tactical Grid-Based Combat: Unlike traditional CCGs, where cards are placed in a line, Versalis requires careful consideration of placement, orientation, and movement on the grid. A single card’s position can have cascading effects, and matches often become a puzzle of outmanoeuvring your opponent to gain a decisive advantage.

    Drafting System: Each match begins with a draft where players select a hand of eight champions from different worlds. This ensures that every match starts with a fresh set of tactical options, rather than relying on a single pre-built deck.

    Archetypes and Dynamics: Champions are categorised into different Archetypes (e.g., Fighters, Protectors, Instigators, Specialists) that provide unique abilities, such as rotating cards, blocking captures, or swapping positions. Additionally, “Dynamics” are special interactions that can be triggered when certain characters are on the board, creating unpredictable twists.

    PvP and PvE Content: The game will support multiplayer matches for up to four players, offering a competitive experience. It will also include single-player trials for players to hone their skills and collect new cards.

    Collectable Content: There are over 50 unique cards to collect, with different rarities and alternate art versions. Players can earn booster packs through matches and trials, and duplicates can be converted into tokens to craft desired cards.

    #Versalis #games #gaming #gamers #CCG #steam #pcgames #AggressiveCombustion #cardgame #indiegames #newgames #gametrailer

  • Pirates Outlaws Roguelike Card Game


    Stand by for an expedition that will drive you mad and excite you all at the same time, best of all it is about pirates and who does not like a game that involves a bit of plundering? This is a retro-style game that has all of the benefits of the modern age. Find out more here; https://store.epicgames.com/en-US/p/pirates-outlaws-a8cc60 #Pirates #Outlaws #Roguelike #CardGame #EpicGames #Gaming #PiratesOutlaws #RoguelikeCardGame