TECHMASH

Tag: #CoopGames

  • Grab Your Crew and Set Sail: Last Pirates: Die Together Brings Hilarious Extraction Horror to Steam!

    Grab Your Crew and Set Sail: Last Pirates: Die Together Brings Hilarious Extraction Horror to Steam!

    If you thought extraction shooters were strictly about tactical gear and intense firefights, think again. Indie developer RetroStyle Games is turning the genre on its head with a hilarious, physics-fueled twist: Last Pirates: Die Together.

    Now available in Early Access on Steam, this 1-to-4 player co-op horror comedy challenges you and your squad to venture into cursed, monster-infested pirate coves to retrieve precious treasure for your demanding captain. The catch? You’ll be doing it with ridiculously long, stretchy physics-based arms, proximity voice chat, and mechanics that make accidental sabotage almost guaranteed.

    Search for Booty—Without Losing Yours!

    In Last Pirates: Die Together, the core gameplay loop is as chaotic as it is addictive. You step into the boots of a ragtag crew dropped into dark, trap-laden islands. Your primary objective is simple: gather as much loot as you can carry, dodge bloodthirsty creatures—ranging from giant hooked pirates to terrifying voice-mimicking monsters—and make it back to your ship before your entire team gets wiped out.

    What sets this game apart from standard co-op horror titles is its heavy emphasis on dark humour and slapstick physics.

    • Elongated Elastic Arms: Forget standard inventories. You’ll be using wildly stretchy limbs to reach, grab, drag, and haul massive pieces of treasure across treacherous terrain—which is much easier said than done when ragdoll physics take over.
    • Literally Protect Your Booty: In a cheeky twist on classic revival mechanics, losing your health means losing your “booty.” Teammates will have to help you retrieve it (or replace it!) to bring you back into the action.
    • Proximity Voice Chat: Coordinate tactical moves with your friends, or listen in utter panic as their distant screams fade out when a monster strikes from the shadows.
    • Upgrades & Customisation: Between runs, use your hard-earned gold to buy cosmetics, equip weapons to fight back, or unlock ridiculous upgrades like expanding your hand size to carry extra coins or lengthening your arms to grab distant loot.

    Whether you’re playing carefully as a team or accidentally hurling your crewmates off a cliff while trying to haul a heavy chest, no two runs feel the same.

    Early Access Pricing and Launch Discount

    Following a massively successful public demo that racked up hundreds of thousands of players, Last Pirates: Die Together has officially entered Steam Early Access.

    You can pick up the game right now on Steam for just $7.99 (regional pricing may vary). Even better, to celebrate the game’s launch, you can grab a 20% launch discount for the first two weeks!

    Gather your crew, warm up your vocal cords for plenty of screaming and laughing, and set sail today—just make sure at least one of you makes it back alive to tell the tale!

    Find out more here

    #LastPiratesDieTogether #LastPirates #CoOpGames #HorrorGaming #SteamRelease #IndieGames #GamingNews #PCGaming

  • Keep the Rails Alive: ‘NightRunner’ Fuses Horde Survival and PvE Extraction for 2027

    Keep the Rails Alive: ‘NightRunner’ Fuses Horde Survival and PvE Extraction for 2027

    If you love the high-stakes thrill of PvE extraction shooters like Escape from Tarkov and the relentless adrenaline of wave-based survival classics like Killing Floor or Call of Duty: Zombies (think Tranzit), developer 314 Arts has cooked up something tailor-made for your squad.

    DEFEND. SCAVENGE. EXTRACT.

    That is the core loop of NightRunner, an intense 1-4 player co-op extraction experience set in the brutal aftermath of an apocalyptic solar event. Officially slated for a 2027 release on PC, this upcoming title is blending heavy combat, tactical tower defence, and high-risk scavenging runs into a unique, high-octane package.

    Here is everything you need to know about the next evolution of horde survival and why you’ll want to get on board early.

    A Mobile Base in a Post-Apocalyptic Wasteland

    In NightRunner, civilisation has collapsed, the sun is a deadly hazard, and the land is infested with ferocious mutants. To survive, you and up to three teammates take on dangerous jobs as NightRunners.

    Your primary lifeline? A heavily customizable train wagon that serves as your mobile base of operations.

    Unlike traditional extraction games where you simply run to a static LZ, NightRunner forces you to keep the rails alive. To secure the loot you scavenge in the dead-zone zones, your train must reach its destination in one piece. That means as you travel through hostile territory, your team will have to constantly manage on-the-fly repairs, set up defences, and fend off deadly mutant ambushes mid-transit.

    Define Your Playstyle: Four Distinct Runner Kits

    Team composition matters. Before dropping into a mission, players choose from four specialised Runner Kits, each heavily shaping how you engage in combat, gather loot, and keep your squad alive:

    • Combat & Assault: Focuses on firepower and crowd control to suppress massive hordes.
    • Scavenging: Maximises resource gathering, locating high-tier loot, and salvaging crucial train components.
    • Support: Keeps squadmates healthy, repairs the wagon during intense firefights, and buffers team capabilities.
    • Tactical / Defence: Sets up defences and controls choke points to lock down areas when horde waves peak.

    Beyond immediate loadouts, NightRunner features a deep progression loop. By earning permanent Runner-Tech unlocks, you can upgrade your gear, abilities, and wagon defences to take on increasingly ruthless high-tier jobs.

    Four Game Modes to Test Your Squad

    Whether you’re looking for tactical extraction gameplay or endless wave-slaying, NightRunner offers four modes at launch:

    1. Train Jobs (Signature Mode): The quintessential experience. Scavenge for supplies, fight through lethal mutant zones, manage your wagon, and reach the end of the tracks to extract safely with your gear.
    2. Transition Jobs: Board a heavily armed naval vessel to cross mutant-infested waters. With no mid-trip scavenging stops or easy reinforcements, survival depends on smart resource conservation.
    3. Dungeons: Dive into tight, linear, high-stakes dungeons packed with deadly mutant encounters, terrifying boss fights, and the most valuable loot in the game.
    4. Endless: Channel classic survival nostalgia by facing off against ever-increasing waves of mutants. Adapt your loadout, upgrade on the fly, and chase the highest score on the global leaderboards.

    Playtest Coming Soon to Steam

    While the full release is slated for PC in 2027, gamers won’t have to wait years to get their hands on early gameplay.

    Developer 314 Arts has announced that the first public playtest launches this September on Steam. Head over to the Steam store page today to add NightRunner to your wishlist and sign up for playtest access.

    Find out more here

    #NightRunner #GamingNews #CoOpGames #ExtractionShooter #HordeSurvival #PCGaming #SteamGames #IndieGame #314Arts #GamingCommunity

  • Forget Pension Plans: ‘GRAMPAGE: LIFE AT 67’ Is Bringing Elderly Heist Chaos to Steam!

    Forget Pension Plans: ‘GRAMPAGE: LIFE AT 67’ Is Bringing Elderly Heist Chaos to Steam!

    If you thought retirement meant quiet afternoons tending to the garden, sipping tea, and working on crossword puzzles, independent German developer StickyStoneStudio is here to shatter that delusion.

    The team behind the upcoming title today officially announced GRAMPAGE: LIFE AT 67, a chaotic 1–4 player “coopetition” heist comedy scheduled to hit PC via Steam. The premise? A group of broke, desperate seniors realise their meagre pensions won’t afford them the luxurious golden years they deserve. The solution? Form an elderly criminal syndicate and burgle local neighbourhoods, obviously.

    Break In Together, Retire Alone

    GRAMPAGE: LIFE AT 67 blends the frantic energy of physics-driven party games with high-stakes social deduction and heist mechanics. Each match takes place across 30–60 minute runs composed of bite-sized, 5–9 minute break-ins.

    However, calling this a simple co-op game would be a mistake—this is coopetition at its finest. While you and your fellow retirees need to work together to crack heavy safes, pick locks, or lug oversized valuables out the front door, only one player actually gets to win and retire.

    Every player receives a randomised “shopping list” at the start of a run. You might be hunting for priceless antique art, dinosaur eggs, or simply hoarding six-ply toilet paper. To secure the top spot, you’ll have to balance brief moments of teamwork with shameless betrayal:

    • Trust is a liability: Help your buddy carry a heavy safe to the getaway van, then shove them right into an oncoming police officer to take the loot for yourself.
    • Physics-first slapstick: Physics dictate how loot, furniture, and players interact. Trip over a coffee table, and your hard-earned stolen goods will scatter across the floor.
    • Tactical entry options: Choose whether to quietly pick locks and climb through windows, or kick down doors and smash through with crowbars.

    Proximity Voice Chat: “Talking is Gameplay”

    One of the game’s standout mechanics is its noise-driven AI and proximity voice chat powered by ODIN Voice. Residents and local authorities react dynamically to every sound your crew makes—including what you say aloud over your microphone.

    If your heist goes sideways, expect chaotic screaming, flying furniture, and total anarchy as police arrive on the scene while your team scrambles back to the escape van.

    Quick Game Facts:

    • Developer / Publisher: StickyStoneStudio (Freiburg, Germany)
    • Genre: 1–4 Player Coopetition Heist Comedy / Social Deduction
    • Platform: PC (Steam)
    • Release Window: Planned for 2027 (Playable preview shown at Gamescom 2026)
    • Engine / Tech: Unity 6, Photon Fusion 2, ODIN Voice

    Whether you’re looking for a hilarious new game night title with friends or just want to steal high-end toilet paper as a 67-year-old menace, GRAMPAGE: LIFE AT 67 is definitely one to add to your Steam Wishlist.

    Find out more here

    #Grampage #GrampageLifeAt67 #StickyStoneStudio #SteamGames #PCGaming #CoopGames #IndieGames #GamingNews #IndieDev #HeistGame #TechMash

  • Descend Into the Abyss: Cthulhu’s Reach: Devil Reef Hits 1.0 on Steam Today!

    Descend Into the Abyss: Cthulhu’s Reach: Devil Reef Hits 1.0 on Steam Today!

    Eldritch action roguelike fans, assemble! First Break Labs and developer The Fine Arc have officially announced that Cthulhu’s Reach: Devil Reef is leaving Early Access and launching its full Version 1.0 today on PC via Steam.

    After three years of development, rigorous playtesting, and community feedback, this retro-inspired 1920s Lovecraftian dungeon crawler is ready to plunge players into its final, most polished form. Whether you choose to face the horrors solo or team up with up to four players in online co-op, the deep blue abyss of Devil Reef is calling—and it’s hungrier than ever.

    What is Cthulhu’s Reach: Devil Reef?

    Set in the dark, noir-infused 1920s, you play as desperate fortune-hunters who have fallen on hard times and debt. Desperate for a way out, a tip-off sends you toward the cursed coastal town of Innsmouth and the sunken labyrinth of Devil Reef. Myth says unimaginable treasure lies at the bottom—reality says cosmic horrors, contorting corridors, and ancient evil await your descent.

    Combining fast-paced top-down twin-stick shooting, isometric roguelike dungeon crawling, and stunning 90s-style pixel art, Cthulhu’s Reach: Devil Reef delivers a thrilling blend of high-risk action and eerie atmosphere.

    What’s New in the 1.0 Full Release?

    The full release brings together everything the community loved in Early Access, along with major game-changing updates designed to test your skill and sanity:

    • The Curse Dice System: Sanity management is core to Lovecraftian horror, and here it directly alters gameplay. As your Sanity drops, you gain the ability to roll up to four dice before each level. Mutation effects alter enemy behaviours, while Law effects reshape the environment itself—giving you a dynamic risk-versus-reward mechanic in every run.
    • Tactical Ammo & Reload Mechanics: Shooting isn’t just point-and-spray anymore. Ranged combat now features a full ammo management system. Balancing reloads against horde waves forces fast-paced, tactical decision-making in the heat of combat.
    • Hand-Crafted Room Spawn Events: Say goodbye to purely procedural encounters. Hand-crafted, timed set-piece encounters are now sprinkled throughout the campaign, delivering dramatic, high-intensity battle arenas.
    • Expanded Arsenal & Incantations: Mow down Deep Ones with Tommy guns and shotguns, or unleash arcane scrolls and magic incantations to alter your abilities and survive the horrors of the deep.
    • Steam Deck Verified: Want to battle cosmic horrors on the move? Cthulhu’s Reach: Devil Reef is fully Steam Deck Verified, making it seamless to play wherever you go.

    Ready to Plunge Into Devil Reef?

    If you enjoy co-op roguelikes, twin-stick shooters, or HP Lovecraft’s cosmic horror mythos, Cthulhu’s Reach: Devil Reef is well worth adding to your Steam library today. Gather your squad, lock and load, and see if you have what it takes to survive the depths!

    • Platform: PC (Steam / Steam Deck Verified)
    • Developer: The Fine Arc
    • Publisher: First Break Labs
    • Co-Op: Up to 4-player online co-op

    Have you played Cthulhu’s Reach: Devil Reef in Early Access, or will today be your first drop into Innsmouth? Let us know in the comments below!

    Find out more here

    #CthulhusReach #DevilReef #IndieGames #SteamRelease #GamingNews #Lovecraftian #Roguelike #CoOpGames #PCGaming #FirstBreakLabs

  • Cozy Above, Chaos Below: Arc Games & Magic Design Studios Reveal NAUTUS!

    Cozy Above, Chaos Below: Arc Games & Magic Design Studios Reveal NAUTUS!

    If you’ve ever wanted the relaxing vibes of a tropical island SIM paired with the white-knuckle thrills of deep-sea exploration, your next gaming obsession has arrived.

    Arc Games—the powerhouse publisher of AA and indie hits—has teamed up with Magic Design Studios (the brilliant minds behind Have a Nice Death and Unruly Heroes) to announce their next major project: NAUTUS.

    Described as a charmingly quirky island adventure, NAUTUS flips the typical indie loop on its head. Above water, the surface acts as your cosy sanctuary. Below the waves? Well… the ocean floor is a whole different beast.

    Here’s everything you need to know about this dual-layered, offbeat adventure!

    The Mystery of NAUTUS Station

    The story kicks off when you receive a strange, unsettling radio transmission from your uncle, Bernard Torpedo. Following the signal, you arrive at the remote N.A.U.T.U.S. research station only to find a very peculiar crisis unfolding:

    The resident scientists have completely lost their memories and developed an intense, paralysing phobia of the ocean.

    As the only person willing to face the watery depths, it’s up to you to pilot an upgradable submarine, plunge into dangerous underwater trenches, battle bizarre mutant marine life, and recover mysterious artefact stones. Only by piecing together these artefacts can you restore the locals’ memories and uncover the truth behind your uncle’s sudden disappearance.

    A Tale of Two Worlds: The Gameplay Loop

    What makes NAUTUS stand out is its clever blend of relaxing life-sim mechanics and action-packed deep-sea survival.

    Cosy Above: Build & Unwind

    When you’re on land, you can take a breather. The island surface is your safe space to:

    • Customise & Expand: Transform a secluded tropical outpost into a bustling home base. Set up machinery, process rare resources, and craft vital gear.
    • Befriend the Locals: Meet a delightfully eccentric cast of amnesiac islanders—including a tanning-obsessed diver and a quirky expedition chief.
    • Restore the Island: Complete quests to cure the inhabitants of their marine phobias and bring their true personalities back.

    Dangerous Below: Plunge Into the Abyss

    When you step into your customizable submarine, the game transforms:

    • Deep Sea Exploration: Navigate uncharted trenches, glowing coral reefs, and eerie sunken pirate shipwrecks.
    • Mutant Monsters: Combat and capture strange, mutated sea creatures that guard hidden treasures.
    • Tech & Upgrades: Harvest rare materials to upgrade your submarine’s hull, weapons, and specialised dive modules, allowing you to venture into even deeper, more hostile environments.

    Play Solo or Dive In with Friends!

    Whether you prefer solitary deep-sea dives or chaotic group expeditions, NAUTUS has you covered. The game features 4-player online co-op, allowing you and up to three friends to team up, manage your tropical base together, and brave the ocean depths as a squad.

    When Can You Play?

    NAUTUS is set to launch in Steam Early Access in 2027.

    Given Magic Design Studios’ stellar track record with Have a Nice Death, this unique blend of cosy island management and sub-aquatic horror-lite action is definitely one to keep on your radar.

    Head over to Steam today to add NAUTUS to your Wishlist, and prepare to dive deep into the unknown!

    What do you think of NAUTUS? Are you excited to pilot your own submarine, or will you stick to the cosy surface? Let us know in the comments below!

    Find out more here

    #NAUTUS #IndieGames #ArcGames #MagicDesignStudios #GamingNews #CozyGaming #PCGaming #SteamEarlyAccess #CoOpGames #HaveANiceDeath #TechMash

  • Grab Your Sunscreen: ‘Lazy River’ Reveals Heat-Packing Desert Biome and New Features!

    Grab Your Sunscreen: ‘Lazy River’ Reveals Heat-Packing Desert Biome and New Features!

    If you thought a relaxing day at the waterpark couldn’t get any more chaotic, think again. Lazy River, the wacky co-op waterpark zombie survival FPS from independent developer Mike Boxleiter (co-creator of the hit social deduction board game Secret Hitler and mobile classic Solipskier), is cranking up the heat!

    First showcased during Day of the Devs at Summer Games Fest 2026, Lazy River has just dropped a fresh trailer revealing a brand-new Desert Biome alongside a beach wagon’s worth of insane new features.

    What is Lazy River?

    For those who missed its initial debut, Lazy River takes place aboard Water Station One—proudly billed as the galaxy’s most unregulated waterpark. The premise is as hilarious as it is absurd: someone peed in the pool, mixing human urine with murky extraterrestrial space water and turning the park’s guests into bloodthirsty, water-vulnerable zombies.

    To survive and reach the park exit, you and up to three friends must scavenge parts, build a custom escape vessel, and blast through hordes of infected patrons and rogue security robots.

    Barefoot in the Dunes: The New Desert Biome

    The latest trailer gives us a deep dive into the Desert Biome, proving that even when the water runs low, the action doesn’t dry up!

    Here is everything packed into today’s update:

    • From Floating to Offroading: You aren’t tied to the water anymore! The Desert Biome swaps lush rivers for dusty dunes, introducing tyres and air fan engines so you can take your makeshift rafts off-road. Just watch out for prickly, innertube-popping cacti!
    • Sand-Swimming Zombies: Think you’re safe on dry land? Think again. Infected patrons can now swim through shifting sediment like terrifying land-sharks. Keep your eyes peeled for movement beneath the sand.
    • 5 New Water Guns (14 Total Arsenal): Five brand-new soaking weapons join the fight, bringing the full arsenal up to 14 distinct water guns—ranging from classic hand-pumped blasters to heavy-duty battery-powered pressure washers. Waterlog the zombies until they burst!
    • Upgraded Floating (and Offroading) Fortresses: Turn a simple dinghy into an absolute unit. You can now build with zombie-proof reinforced walls, turrets, tethered sails, rudders, bathtubs (for filling water balloons on the fly!), and even grills to cook meals on the go.
    • Real Water & Weight Physics: Don’t get too greedy with your upgrades! Lazy River features a full physics simulation, meaning weight distribution and buoyancy matter. Overload one side of your raft with turrets, and you just might capsize.

    When Can You Play?

    If you’re attending PAX West 2026 in Seattle from September 4–7, you’re in luck! A hands-on playable demo featuring the new Desert Biome will be debuting at the PAX Rising booth.

    For everyone else, Lazy River is officially set to hit Steam Early Access in 2027. You can head over to Steam right now to add it to your wishlist and start planning your ultimate zany waterpark escape raft.

    What’s your dream waterpark survival build? Let us know in the comments below!

    Find out more here

    #LazyRiver #IndieGames #GamingNews #CoOpGames #ZombieFPS #DayOfTheDevs #SummerGamesFest #PAXWest #TechMash #PCGaming #SteamEarlyAccess

  • Double the Antics, Double the Fun! Wacky! Deer & Munk Adventure Hits Steam!

    Double the Antics, Double the Fun! Wacky! Deer & Munk Adventure Hits Steam!

    Indie gaming enthusiasts, assemble! If you’re a fan of clever puzzle platformers with charm to spare, there’s a brand-new release on Steam you need on your radar.

    IDIOCRACY, INC., an energetic four-person indie studio based out of South Korea, has officially launched Wacky! Deer & Munk Adventure on PC via Steam today, August 12, 2026.

    If the name sounds familiar, that’s because the game made its initial debut on the Nintendo Switch™ back on June 25, 2026. But don’t mistake this PC debut for a simple port—the team at IDIOCRACY has put serious love into bringing an enhanced version of their acorn-retrieving quest to Steam!

    What Is Wacky! Deer & Munk Adventure?

    The premise is simple, goofy, and delightfully engaging: The villainous Pig King’s army has marched off with every single acorn in the village. It’s up to two unlikely best friends—Deer and Munk—to get them back.

    The catch? You can’t conquer these stages with just one hero. “You can’t do it alone. Together, you absolutely can!” * Deer is the powerhouse: built for dashing, hauling heavy objects, and clearing obstacles through brute force.

    • Munk is the agile acrobat: capable of double jumping, gliding over treacherous gaps, and squeezing through tight spots Deer could never fit into.

    In this 2D action-puzzle platformer, switching between characters at the exact right moment isn’t just a mechanic—it’s the core puzzle itself.

    Key Game Features

    • 200 Single-Player Stages: Journey through 10 distinct worlds. Rather than overloading you with endless new mechanics, the game tests your mastery over the fundamental character abilities, subtly ramping up the challenge from easygoing fun to a true test of platforming skill.
    • Couch Co-op Fun: Got a gaming buddy? Jump into 10 exclusive local 2-player co-op stages where team coordination (or accidental chaos) is key.
    • Player-Driven Difficulty: Forget standard easy/hard toggles. In Wacky! Deer & Munk Adventure, difficulty is shaped by how you spend your collected acorns on items and upgrades.
    • Customisation Galore: Unlock over 200 costumes—complete with their own unique dance animations—so you can reclaim your stolen snacks in style.

    Not Just a Port: Upgraded for Steam

    The developer spent two months listening closely to player feedback following the initial Nintendo Switch launch. Rather than releasing a copy-paste build, IDIOCRACY reworked character balancing, refined the late-game difficulty curve, revamped the character-switching UI, upgraded the visuals, and even re-recorded the soundtrack with live instruments.

    (Switch owners, don’t worry—these quality-of-life updates and visual passes will also be making their way to the console version soon!)

    Grab It Now!

    If you’re craving a charming, brain-teasing platformer with solo or co-op options, Wacky! Deer & Munk Adventure is available now on Steam for $8.99 USD, featuring a 10% launch discount for early adopters.

    Head over to Steam, pick your favourite hero, and go get those acorns back!

    Find out more here

    #WackyDeerAndMunk #IndieGames #SteamRelease #PuzzlePlatformer #IdiocracyInc #PCGaming #GamingNews #CoOpGames #NintendoSwitch #IndieGameDev

  • Grab Your Paddles! Physics-Driven Co-Op Survival Game ‘SHORE’ Revealed for PC

    Grab Your Paddles! Physics-Driven Co-Op Survival Game ‘SHORE’ Revealed for PC

    If you and your gaming squad thrive on chaotic multiplayer survival games like Raft or Overcooked, you’re going to want to pay close attention to this one. Solo developer Underdog has officially revealed SHORE, a brand-new 1–4 player physics-driven co-op adventure that’s already taking social media by storm.

    With dev logs already pulling in over 600,000 views and generating thousands of feature requests from eager fans, SHORE is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated indie multiplayer releases of the year.

    Check out what you need to know about this seafaring survival journey and why your biggest enemy might just be the person holding the paddle next to you.

    What is SHORE?

    SHORE drops you and up to three friends into a desperate race against the elements. After a sudden volcanic eruption destroys what was supposed to be a peaceful island getaway, you’re forced onto a small, fragile wooden raft with little more than a couple of paddles, scarce supplies, and each other.

    Your goal? Navigate a treacherous, unpredictable ocean to find civilisation somewhere beyond the horizon.

    Unlike traditional survival games, SHORE relies heavily on fully physics-driven mechanics. Every wave that hits your raft rocks the deck, every current pushes you off course, and every single shift in your crew’s weight alters the raft’s balance. If your teammate suddenly runs to one side to grab floating debris, they might just tip the whole craft over—sending everyone straight into shark-infested waters!

    Key Features

    • Physics-Based Rafting Chaos: Coordination is everything. Players must physically time and synchronise their paddle strokes to steer through violent currents and avoid capsizing.
    • The Ocean Wants You Dead: It’s not just calm sailing—expect to face torrential storms, massive icebergs, deadly whirlpools, giant tsunamis, and hungry sea creatures.
    • Explore Uncharted Waters: Chart a path across uncharted sea lanes, loot drifting wreckage, and explore mysterious abandoned islands for vital resources to stay alive.
    • Built Alongside the Community: Developed by solo dev Underdog, SHORE has been built out in the open, heavily incorporating player feedback and suggestions right from the earliest dev logs.

    Friendly Chaos at Sea

    As creator Underdog puts it:

    “The ocean is dangerous, but your friends usually make things worse. Whether you’re arguing over which direction to paddle, scrambling to save someone who fell overboard, or risking everything to investigate something on the horizon, SHORE is all about creating those unforgettable moments that only happen when you’re playing together.”

    And let’s be honest—if someone on your raft isn’t pulling their weight, throwing them overboard to distract the sharks is always an option!

    When and Where Can You Play?

    SHORE is scheduled to launch on PC via Steam later in 2026.

    If you’re eager to track its progress or want to jump into the community, you can head over to Steam to Wishlist SHORE today and follow Underdog’s development updates across TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Discord.

    Find out more here

    #SHORE #IndieGame #CoOpGames #SteamGames #PCGaming #SurvivalGame #GamingNews #TechMash

  • Grab a Buddy! Two-Player Co-Op Platformer Brave Escape Launches on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S

    Grab a Buddy! Two-Player Co-Op Platformer Brave Escape Launches on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S

    If you and your favourite gaming partner have been searching for your next couch co-op obsession, the wait is officially over. Independent developer Hit Start Studios has officially launched its acclaimed two-player co-op platformer, Brave Escape, on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S!

    Priced at an accessible $19.99 / €20.99 / £15.99, Brave Escape is a game built from the ground up around teamwork, crisp communication, and those inevitably chaotic, laugh-out-loud moments when a plan completely falls apart.

    What is Brave Escape All About?

    In Brave Escape, players take control of an unlikely duo—Colin and his trusty robot companion Floyd. Together, you must navigate through hazard-filled environments, dangerous traps, and intricate platforming challenges where coordination is everything.

    Every jump, climb, and gadget use requires tight synchronisation between both players:

    • Unique Abilities: Master Colin’s climbing rope to scale walls or utilise Floyd’s boost mechanism to propel each other across massive gaps.
    • Specialised Gadgets: As you explore distinct, themed worlds—ranging from Glacial Falls to Serpent’s Hollow—Floyd gets equipped with clever gadgets like the Wind Gun, Grapple Hook, Flashlight, and Freeze Gun to help solve puzzles.
    • Play at Your Pace: Whether you’re a hardcore platformer enthusiast or just playing casually with a friend, Brave Escape caters to all skill levels. Choose Standard Mode for more forgiving timings and gentle obstacles, or jump into Brave Mode for the ultimate precision platforming test.

    What’s New for the Console Launch?

    Console players aren’t just getting a port—they are getting the ultimate version of the game. Launching with all post-launch PC updates included, the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S releases feature:

    • Cross-Platform Play: Seamlessly team up with friends across PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S right from day one.
    • 45 Additional Levels: Added since the original PC release, bringing even more content to explore.
    • 70 Bonus Levels: Scattered across all 7 worlds for maximum replayability.
    • Enhanced Visuals & Performance: Supporting high frame rates, improved lighting, and enhanced environmental effects.
    • Accessibility Features: Includes customizable character outlines, overlap transparency, and flexible control settings.

    Ready to Escape?

    Whether you prefer sitting side-by-side in local screen co-op or linking up online, Brave Escape delivers a fresh, hilarious, and deeply satisfying cooperative adventure that rewards clear communication (and tests even the best of friendships).

    Brave Escape is available to download right now on the PlayStation Store and Microsoft Store for $19.99 / €20.99 / £15.99.

    Grab a controller, call up Player Two, and see if you have what it takes to survive the chaos!

    Find out more here

    #BraveEscape #HitStartStudios #CoOpGames #PS5 #XboxSeriesX #IndieGames #GamingNews #Platformer #GamingCommunity

  • Goats Speaking Latin? ‘Huntin’ Buddies’ Is Your Next Chaotic Co-Op Obsession

    Goats Speaking Latin? ‘Huntin’ Buddies’ Is Your Next Chaotic Co-Op Obsession

    If you and your friends thought meeting quotas in Lethal Company was stressful, wait until you’re tasked with hauling a massive, exploding deer carcass through a cursed forest.

    The team at Huntin’ Buddies Wildlife Management has officially announced that their upcoming 4-player co-op horror-comedy hunting game, Huntin’ Buddies, is officially locking in its Steam release date for July 24th, 2026.

    Pack your bags and grab your gear, because we are heading into a forbidden national park where the laws of nature have completely gone out the window.

    The Job: Meet the Quota, Don’t Die Trying

    The loop of Huntin’ Buddies sounds simple enough on paper:

    1. Accept your hunting contract via a pager.
    2. Head into the pitch-black national park at night.
    3. Hunt the assigned wildlife, grab the massive carcasses, and drag them back to the truck.
    4. Get paid and survive to see another day.

    Easy, right? Not exactly. The game features realistic, highly volatile carcass physics. You and your friends have to physically move the heavy bodies by hand back to extraction. Pull too hard or overstretch the carcass? It explodes. Add in limited ammo and one-shot kills, and every single bullet counts.

    “The Wildlife Has Been Behaving Strangely…”

    Here is the real catch: you aren’t just hunting normal game. The developers have issued a strict warning that the local ecosystem is deeply corrupted.

    We aren’t talking about standard rabies here. We are talking psychological horror. The deer have both eyes on the same side of their head, the goats are apparently speaking fluent Latin, and the longer you stay out past dark, the more the forest starts hunting you back. As the 15-night campaign progresses, each night gets increasingly cursed. Creepy anomalies, screaming rabbits, and things that definitely aren’t supposed to exist will begin stalking your squad. You either extract together with your quota met, or you become part of the park’s food chain.

    Wishlist and Play the Demo Now!

    Huntin’ Buddies features full drop-in multiplayer, shared contract progress, and proximity voice chat—perfect for hearing your friend scream as they get dragged into the brush by a creature.

    If you want a taste of the madness before the official July 24th launch, there is currently a three-night demo available right now on Steam to test your survival skills. Go grab your squad, throw it on your wishlist, and get ready for the most chaotic camping trip of the year.

    Find out more here

    #GamingNews #HuntinBuddies #CoOpGames #IndieGames #SteamReleases2026 #SurvivalHorror #PCGaming #TechMash

  • Pack Loot and Craft Chaos: The Artifactory Lands on Nintendo Switch!

    Pack Loot and Craft Chaos: The Artifactory Lands on Nintendo Switch!

    Indie game fans and couch co-op lovers, assemble! Budapest-based independent developer Berries Studios has officially launched its debut title, The Artifactory, on the Nintendo Switch eShop.

    Following a highly successful Steam release earlier this year (boasting a glowing 94% positive rating), this delightfully unhinged party game is finally bringing its frantic, magical factory-building mayhem to Nintendo’s hybrid console. Whether you’re playing at home on the big screen or taking the chaos on the go, it’s time to fire up the conveyor belts.

    Check out the gameplay breakdown below to see what’s in store:

    What is The Artifactory?

    Imagine a world where fantasy crafting meets extreme factory mismanagement. In The Artifactory, you and up to three friends are tasked with running a whimsical, fast-paced lootbox factory. Your objective sounds simple enough: coordinate your actions, move resources along twisting conveyor belts, craft magical items, and successfully pack them into loot boxes before time runs out.

    However, keeping this enchanted workplace running smoothly is next to impossible. You aren’t just following strict recipes; you are actively fighting against a factory that wants to sabotage you.

    Key Features

    • Chaotic Couch Co-op: Local multiplayer mayhem for 1 to 4 players. Divide up tasks, yell out instructions, and try your absolute best not to accidentally bonk your teammate on the head with a rogue item.
    • Magical Crafting & Alchemy: Move beyond the basic instructions. Players can experiment with raw materials to discover entirely new item combinations, brewing rare potions, forging powerful weapons, and enchanting legendary gear.
    • The Factory Fights Back: Every level introduces unique, punishing hazards. You’ll need to master production lines while dealing with jammed conveyor belts that dump goods into lava, broken generators, moving platforms, haunted workstations, and pesky ghosts.
    • Accessible Yet Challenging: Designed with local social play in mind, The Artifactory is incredibly easy to pick up and learn, making it a perfect addition to family game nights, while still offering plenty of depth for seasoned co-op players.

    “We’re a small, independent team building games that feel best on a couch, with a controller in each hand and three friends laughing next to you. The Artifactory is our love letter to local co-op: messy, magical, and a little bit unhinged.” — The Berries Studios Team

    Available Now!

    If you’ve been searching for the next great party game to scratch that Overcooked or Moving Out itch, The Artifactory is a must-download. Grab your Joy-Cons, round up your gaming crew, and prepare for some beautifully controlled chaos.

    The Artifactory is available to purchase today on the Nintendo Switch eShop for £17.59 / $19.99.

    Find out more here

    #TheArtifactory #NintendoSwitch #IndieDev #BerriesStudios #CouchCoOp #SwitchGaming #IndieGames #GamingNews #CoOpGames #TechMash

  • Tiny Wheels, Big Secrets: Co-Op Adventure ‘WheelMates’ Drops Updated Demo Ahead of September PC Launch!

    Tiny Wheels, Big Secrets: Co-Op Adventure ‘WheelMates’ Drops Updated Demo Ahead of September PC Launch!

    If you’ve ever looked at your living room furniture and thought, “I could definitely do a sick flip off that bookshelf,” developer Firevolt has the perfect game for you.

    Revealed during the Future Games Show, the highly anticipated co-op adventure WheelMates has officially locked in its PC release date. Ready a fresh set of batteries, because this miniature, micro-sized journey is zooming onto Steam on Monday, 7 September.

    Even better news? You don’t have to wait until autumn to get behind the wheel. To celebrate Steam Next Fest, Firevolt has just deployed a freshly updated demo that you can download and play right now.

    Go Off-Road, Indoors!

    In WheelMates, you and a player-two answer a distress call from an eccentric, mysteriously missing scientist. The catch? The only way to navigate his massive, puzzle-filled home laboratory is by piloting a pair of tiny RC cars.

    This isn’t a racing game—it’s a true, collaborative physics playground inspired by classic RC games like Re-Volt and modern co-op masterclasses. You’ll need to work in tandem to drop vases from the kitchen table, whiz under the sofa, and turn mundane household appliances into epic stunt ramps.

    Co-Op over Competition: WheelMates features zero timers and no pressure to rush. It’s entirely focused on shared problem-solving, letting you and your co-driver uncover the house’s mysteries at your own preferred pace.

    What’s New in the Steam Next Fest Demo?

    Firevolt has listened closely to player feedback, packing this latest demo with massive quality-of-life upgrades:

    • Steam Deck Support: The demo now features full Steam Deck optimisation, making it absolutely perfect for a couch co-op night with a friend.
    • Upgraded Driving & Camera Controls: Expect much smoother handling options to make your RC car drift exactly the way you want, plus new camera controls (including a free camera) for a better view of the great indoors.
    • The Journal Feature: A brand-new story tracker that logs the clues you scan and collect throughout the house, helping you piece together the mystery of the professor’s whereabouts.

    Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

    As you delve deeper into the house—exploring the Kitchen, Garage, and Backyard—you’ll unlock wild experimental gadgets. From rope-swinging winches to magnetic wheels that let you drive upside down on metal surfaces, the game slowly unfolds into a miniature Metroidvania.

    Best of all, when the full game launches on 7 September, it will feature a Friends Pass—meaning only one of you needs to own the game for both of you to play online together.

    Head over to Steam, grab a partner, and test drive the updated demo today!

    Find out more here

    #WheelMates #Firevolt #SteamNextFest #FutureGamesShow #CoOpGames #IndieGames #GamingNews #PCGaming #SteamDeck #TechMash