TECHMASH

Tag: #couchcoop

  • 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

  • Slither Into Chaos: Scales of Silence Demo Arrives on Steam

    Slither Into Chaos: Scales of Silence Demo Arrives on Steam

    The “Snake” game is a literal relic of mobile history, but solo developer Aggro Games (the studio behind Montreal-based dev Cinder) is proving that there is plenty of life left in the classic formula. Their upcoming title, Scales of Silence, just dropped its free Steam demo, and it’s looking like the “couch party” hit we didn’t know we needed.

    Forget the lonely dot-munching of the Nokia era. This is a high-stakes, narrative-driven action game that turns the classical mechanics into a frantic, 8-player brawl.

    The “Shrink” Mechanic: Size Matters

    In most snake games, hitting a wall or an opponent means game over. Scales of Silence takes a more tactical approach with its signature Shrink Mechanic.

    “Collisions don’t kill you; they shrink you. Your length is your life.”

    Every time you take a hit, you lose a piece of your tail. While being shorter makes you faster and harder to corner, it also brings you closer to permanent silence. It turns every encounter into a calculated risk rather than an instant restart, especially when eliminations net you a juicy +3 point bonus in competitive modes.

    What’s in the Demo?

    The Steam demo isn’t just a tiny slice; it’s a meaty 60–90 minute experience that sets the stage for the full release. Here is what you can jump into right now:

    • The Opening Act: Play through the first 50 levels of a 500-level campaign.
    • The Roster: Access 10 different playable serpents, each with unique stats like acceleration and growth rate.
    • Boss Fight: Take on the demo’s final boss—beating them even unlocks an extra character for you to use.
    • Party Modes: Test out Score Battle and Endless Classic modes.

    Built for the Ultimate Game Night

    The standout feature for tech-savvy party gamers is the hardware flexibility. Aggro Games has clearly prioritised accessibility:

    • Up to 8 Players: While the demo caps at 4, the full game supports 8 players on a single screen.
    • Controller Splitting: Only have two gamepads? No problem. Each gamepad can support two players (one on each thumbstick).
    • Keyboard Chaos: A single keyboard can be split into four independent control zones.
    • Remote Play Together: Even if your friends aren’t on your sofa, you can bring them in via Steam’s Remote Play.

    A “Potato-Friendly” Tech Spec

    In an era of 100GB installs, Scales of Silence is a breath of fresh air. It’s optimised for “potatoes,” meaning you don’t need a high-end rig to run it. With a tiny 250MB footprint and full offline support, it’s a perfect candidate for the Steam Deck or an older laptop at a barcade night.

    When Can We Get the Full Game?

    The full version of Scales of Silence is slated for release on September 7, 2026.

    It promises to expand the universe significantly with 450 additional levels, 10 distinct biomes (including vision-obscuring forests and poisonous swamps), and a “Snake Royale” mode. Best of all? The developer has committed to a “player-first” model: one purchase ($9.99 USD), zero microtransactions.

    You can download the demo for free right now on the Scales of Silence Steam Page. Your progress from the demo will even carry over to the full game, so there’s no reason not to start growing your tail today.

    Are you ready to test your friendships in the pit? Let us know what you think of the demo in the comments!

    Find out more here – https://s.team/a/4602160

    #AggroGames #ScalesOfSilence #indiegame #couchcoop #localmultiplayer #indiegametrailer #partygames #videogames #gamers #gaming