TECHMASH

Tag: #handdrawn

  • All Doors Now Open — Riddlewood Manor Exits Early Access, Full Haunt Live on Meta Quest

    All Doors Now Open — Riddlewood Manor Exits Early Access, Full Haunt Live on Meta Quest

    The wait is over. Peanut Button — the acclaimed indie studio behind The Secret of Retropolis and Retropolis 2: Never Say Goodbye — has officially released the complete version of Riddlewood Manor on the Meta Quest Store. Priced at $14.99, this hand-drawn VR horror-comedy has graduated from Early Access with the full story, fresh areas, quality-of-life upgrades, and secrets waiting for every kind of explorer.

    What Is Riddlewood Manor?

    The manor wants you dead. That’s not a figure of speech — it’s the premise. Every creaking floorboard, locked door, and shadowed corner hides a trap. Yet somehow, it’s all delivered with a twinkle in its eye: this is horror-comedy at its most charming, blending spooky atmosphere with dry wit, hand-painted visuals, and puzzles that test your brain more than your nerves.

    You arrive at the gloomy estate with one goal: uncover the tragic truth behind the Riddlewood family — and get out alive. What began as a slice of Early Access back in April 2026 has swelled into a full, sprawling adventure that rewards returning players with everything they asked for.

    What’s New in the Full Release?

    This isn’t just a polish pass — it’s the game Peanut Button always intended to make:

    • The complete story — every chapter, secret, and twist now woven into one cohesive narrative
    • New areas to explore — previously sealed wings, hidden passages, and shadowed chambers have been thrown open
    • Brand-new map system — never get lost again; track your progress across the manor’s maze-like layout
    • Secret endings — your choices shape how the haunting concludes; multiple outcomes await sharp-eyed players
    • Full voice acting — every ghost, ghoul, and grumpy presence speaks with character and personality
    • Localised for 12 languages — English, Simplified Chinese, Dutch, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Brazilian Portuguese, and Spanish

    Built for VR — Comfort and Choice

    Riddlewood Manor runs beautifully across the entire Meta Quest family — Quest 2, Quest 3, Quest 3S, and Quest Pro — and respects how you want to play:

    • Seated or standing — no motion sickness required
    • Controllers or hand tracking — point, gesture, or grip; your call
    • Jump scare warning toggle — keep the atmosphere without the surprise
    • Early Access owners upgrade for free — already bought it? You get the full version at zero extra cost

    From Retropolis to Riddlewood

    Peanut Button has carved out a reputation for stylish, thoughtful adventures. Their Retropolis duology earned praise for vibrant worlds, sharp writing, and unforgettable characters. With Riddlewood Manor, they’ve traded sci-fi neon for gothic gloom — but kept every bit of that signature heart. The art style remains instantly recognisable: hand-drawn, expressive, and packed with personality. The tone? Equal parts spooky, silly, and sincerely touching.

    The Verdict — Worth the Wait

    Early Access feedback directly shaped this release. The map system? Player-requested. The expanded areas? Driven by community hunger for more. The result is a game that doesn’t just feature an audience — it was built with one. At $14.99 for a complete story with multiple endings, it stands as one of the most distinctive VR adventures of the year.

    Step Inside — If You Dare

    The Meta Quest Store page is live right now. Whether you’re returning to finish what you started or stepping across the threshold for the very first time, the doors are open. Just remember: the manor has a sense of humour. It might not be a nice one.

    More Info: Riddlewood Manor

    #RiddlewoodManor #PeanutButton #MetaQuest #VRGaming #HorrorComedy #IndieDev #PointAndClick #AdventureGame #HandDrawn #Retropolis #Quest3 #QuestPro #Techmash

  • Rivals in the Sky — Castle Away Demo Soars With Asynchronous Multiplayer & Relics for Steam Next Fest

    Rivals in the Sky — Castle Away Demo Soars With Asynchronous Multiplayer & Relics for Steam Next Fest

    Your fortress has a new horizon. Renegade Games, the independent studio based in Utrecht, The Netherlands, has deployed a massive feature update to the playable demo of Castle Away — the hand-drawn roguelite autobattler where you build, arm, and pilot a flying stronghold toward an epic showdown with the Archdemon — just in time for Steam Next Fest. The update is live right now, free for all players.

    Build Your Fortress. Defy the Archdemon.

    Castle Away reimagines the autobattler by placing you in command of a custom-designed flying castle. You place rooms, defences, and units across your keep, then watch as your creation takes to the skies — fighting through waves of foes, gathering resources, and growing in power with every run. It’s part sky-city builder, part tactical autobattler, part roguelite — and every journey is different.

    This Steam Next Fest update doesn’t just polish the experience — it fundamentally expands what you can do.

    What’s New — The Full Breakdown

    Rivals — Asynchronous Multiplayer

    The headline addition: Rivals mode lets you clash with castles built by real players — live, no matchmaking required. Instead of facing only demon bosses, you’ll now encounter other people’s fortresses in flight. And Renegade warns: “Some of these player-built castles are so tough, they’ll make the Archdemon look like a mid-boss.” It’s a chance to test your design against the community’s best — and see what truly unbreakable looks like.

    Relics — A New Layer of Strategy

    At the start of every run, the mysterious merchant Fishy now grants you a Relic — a powerful unique item that reshapes your entire approach to building. One Relic might favour aggressive, high-damage layouts; another rewards dense, impenetrable defence; a third might unlock wild experimental strategies. Collect more Relics as you progress and suddenly no two journeys — or two castles — will ever feel the same.

    Customise Your Commander

    Your avatar now stands out with unlockable cosmetic options, letting you personalise the face of your flying fortress. Stand tall, look the part, and match your style to your strategy.

    Speed Controls — Your Pace, Your Call

    Tired of waiting through drawn-out battles? New speed toggles let you crank up the tempo — blaze through skirmishes or slow things down to study every tactical detail.

    Quality of Life Everywhere

    From clearer UI to smoother animations and behind-the-scenes polish, the whole demo feels tighter, friendlier, and more satisfying to play.

    Hand-Drawn Heart, Deep Strategic Soul

    Every asset in Castle Away is lovingly hand-illustrated — giving the world a warm, storybook charm that contrasts beautifully with the high-stakes tactical warfare. Beneath that gentle look lies serious depth: room placement, unit synergy, and Relic selection all combine to create systems that reward experimentation and clever planning.

    Wishlist & Play Now — Full Release Coming 2027

    The updated demo is free to download and play right now via Steam during Next Fest. The full version of Castle Away is scheduled to launch in Q1 2027, published by Renegade Games in partnership with WhisperGames. Join the Discord, share your toughest castle designs, and help shape the game as it evolves toward release.

    Build high. Fly far. Defy the Archdemon — and any rival that dares cross your path.

    More Info: Castle Away

    #CastleAway #RenegadeGames #SteamNextFest #Roguelite #Autobattler #IndieDev #DutchDev #PCGaming #StrategyGame #HandDrawn #Techmash

  • Pinball Prince — Croak Leaps to Xbox & PC March 2027, Day One on Game Pass

    Pinball Prince — Croak Leaps to Xbox & PC March 2027, Day One on Game Pass

    Get ready to stick the landing. WoodRunner Games unveiled Croak during the ID@Xbox Showcase, confirming this gorgeously hand-drawn 2D precision platformer will hop onto Xbox Series X|S and PC in March 2027 — and it arrives day one with Xbox Game Pass, including Xbox Play Anywhere support across console and PC.

    A Prince, Turned Amphibian — With a Very Useful Tongue

    Once a prince, now a round and lovably chubby frog, our hero has one extraordinary tool: his stretchy, springy tongue. This isn’t just for catching flies — it’s your grappling hook, your bungee cord, and your flipper all in one. Launch yourself, latch onto surfaces, bounce off walls, and ricochet through hundreds of hand-crafted rooms like a living pinball. Master the SuperBonk ability and you’ll chain tongue-grabs into high-speed, hair-raising flows where momentum is everything.

    Hand-Drawn Magic From Industry Talents

    Every frame of Croak is a labour of love, brought to life by animators whose previous credits include Cuphead and Rick & Morty. The result is a vibrant, storybook world brimming with personality — fluid, expressive, and packed with charm that feels alive in every hop and bounce.

    Biomes, Bosses, and BMX Beavers

    Your journey takes you across distinct, whimsical realms — each with its own visual style, traversal quirks, and standout encounters:

    • Meet unusual bosses — including a beaver showing off BMX tricks
    • Collect coins, uncover secrets, and hunt for hidden paths tucked away in every corner
    • Ultra-hard challenge stages await those who conquer the main route — perfect for speedrunners and perfectionists
    • Global speedrunning leaderboards — race your friends and the world to claim the fastest frog crown

    Game Pass Day One — Platforms & Perks

    Croak launches March 2027 across:

    • Xbox Series X|S — included in Game Pass
    • PC via Steam & Microsoft Store — also Game Pass on day one
    • Xbox Play Anywhere — buy once, play on console and PC at no extra cost

    Wishlist it now on Steam to be notified the moment it leaps into view.

    A Fractured Fairy Tale With Heart

    Croak isn’t just about reflexes — it’s a warm, whimsical adventure through a kingdom cursed and rewritten. The cast is quirky, the story is full of surprises, and beneath every bouncy, breathless moment lies a tale about finding your way home.

    Stick, bounce, and leap — the Frog Prince is coming.

    More Info: Croak

    #Croak #WoodRunnerGames #IDXbox #GamePass #IndieDev #Platformer #HandDrawn #Xbox #PCGaming #Speedrunning #Techmash

  • Roll the Dice, Beat the Odds — Jinx It Turns Bad Luck Into Victory

    Roll the Dice, Beat the Odds — Jinx It Turns Bad Luck Into Victory

    Ever felt like luck just isn’t on your side? Brazilian indie developer Manabrew Studios and publisher Odd Loop Games are turning that idea right on its head with Jinx It — a brand-new hand-drawn roguelike dicebuilder heading to PC via Steam.

    When You Bet Your Life and Lose

    Jinx It drops you into a wonderfully whimsical, rubber-hose animated world filled with strange tables, down-on-their-luck characters, and matches where the stakes couldn’t be higher. The story begins with a crushing defeat: you bet everything against Jinx, the Unlucky One — and lost. But this isn’t where your story ends. To earn your shot at a rematch, you must fight your way back to his table, facing every gambler who dared to challenge him and fell short.

    Every opponent you meet has their own grudge, their own style of play, and their own tricks — and they’re all standing between you and the one who took it all.

    Roll, Forge, Conquer — Dicebuilding Reimagined

    This isn’t your average game of chance. Jinx It blends dice manipulation with deep strategy and endless variety:

    • Roll smart — arrange your results into Straights and Sets, where a single die can fuel multiple scoring combinations at once
    • Forge your perfect dice — change faces, adjust weights, add bonuses, and unlock Legendary upgrades to craft truly broken builds
    • Stack your luck — collect Lucky Charms, visit the Seer, and choose Blessings to shift fortune firmly in your favour
    • 50+ unique dice, 100+ Charms, 10 distinct Tables, and 17 boss encounters mean no two runs ever play the same way

    Each gambler across the table fights back with escalating powers, forcing you to adapt your strategy on the fly. Their Rage builds round by round — so as you get stronger, so do they.

    Hand-Drawn Heart, Brazilian Soul

    With charming hand-drawn visuals inspired by classic rubber-hose animation, Jinx It brings its cast of misfortunate characters and surreal tables to life with bags of personality. Fully localised into English plus 11 additional languages, it’s built to welcome players everywhere — and the team at Manabrew Studios and Odd Loop Games are proud to bring this distinctly Brazilian creation to the global stage.

    Jinx It is coming soon to Steam — wishlist it now so you don’t miss your turn. The house might have won the first round, but you’ve got everything you need to flip the odds.

    More Info: Jinx It

    #JinxIt #ManabrewStudios #OddLoopGames #Dicebuilder #Roguelike #IndieGame #BrazilianDev #HandDrawn #SteamGames #TurnBadLuckIntoVictory #Techmash

  • Descend, SMUSH, Survive — UnderMire Emerges Nov 13 in Cosy After Dark Reveal

    Grab your friends, SMUSH your arsenal, and step into the dark. Indie developer and publisher Table Knight Games has officially lifted the lid on UnderMire, their hand-drawn co-op roguelite horror adventure — and it’s emerging on Friday, 13 November 2026 via Steam. The news dropped alongside a brand-new trailer debuting during the Cosy After Dark Showcase, proving cosy and chaotic can go hand-in-hand.

    What Is UnderMire?

    Beneath an old English manor lies a magical bunker warped by fear. It shifts, it adapts, and it hunts. You and up to three friends descend into its depths — or brave it entirely solo — armed with nothing but scavenged junk, bizarre homemade weapons, and a very sassy ginger cat named McClane.

    “Delve deep, don’t panic and descend under the mire.” — Table Knight Games

    It’s a roguelite built on three pillars: hand-drawn charm, panicked co-op fun, and a fear system that doesn’t just haunt you — it changes the world around you.

    SMUSH — Fight With Whatever You Can Find

    The signature mechanic says it loud: SMUSH. One person’s trash is your best weapon. Scavenge junk from every corner, cobble it together into absurd elemental tools, and hurl it back at whatever’s chasing you:

    Arsenal ExampleWhat It Does
    Camcorder — capture the perfect SHOTBlast enemies with light and lens flare
    Piggy Bank — make deposits with blasts to the faceCoin-firing explosive percussion
    Tome — every chapter a new can of whoop-assUnleash arcane blasts
    The Bat — does bat thingsSmack, stun, and scatter foes

    Each playable character — including newly revealed Rawiah — brings a totally unique toolkit, turning every run into a fresh tactical puzzle.

    The Bunker — It Breathes. It Fights Back.

    No two descents are the same:

    • Procedurally generated biomes twist and shift between runs
    • Fear Gauge — the longer you linger, the more aggressive the bunker becomes; monsters grow bolder, traps deadlier
    • Strange objectives — secure generators, uncover secrets, change McClane’s kitty litter — all while hunted
    • Proximity voice chat — hear your friends panic exactly when they’re right beside you, or nowhere to be found

    Meet Your Guide — McClane

    You’re not going alone. McClane — a ginger cat with zero patience and all the sass — is your companion, your commentator, and your critic:

    “A cat has absolute emotional honesty. Human beings may hide their feelings — but a cat does not.” — Ernest Hemingway, quoted in-game

    He’s along for the ride, trading quips, judging your aim, and reminding you exactly who’s the star of this expedition.

    Reveal & Release Details

    DetailInformation
    StudioTable Knight Games (Manchester, UK)
    Showcase DebutCosy After Dark Showcase — Oct 12 2026
    Release DateFriday, 13 November 2026
    PlatformPC — Steam
    Players1–4 online co-op + solo
    DemoAvailable right now on Steam — free to play
    LanguagesEnglish, Arabic, Portuguese-Brazil, Simplified Chinese, Japanese, French, German, Spanish, Russian
    Controller SupportFull — Xbox & PlayStation layouts
    Storage8 GB required
    Minimum SpecWindows 10; i5-4460; GTX 1050; 8 GB RAM

    Why It Stands Out

    UnderMire takes horror roguelite tropes and colours them differently — literally. Every monster, weapon, and corridor is hand-drawn (no generative AI, the team proudly notes), giving the fear personality rather than just gore. It balances genuine tension with slapstick co-op energy: you’ll be screaming one minute and laughing the next. And on Friday the 13th? There could not be a more perfect date for a descent into the dark.

    “The bunker is waiting. Are you brave enough — or foolish enough — to go in?”

    More Info:

    https://www.undermire.com

    #UnderMire #TableKnightGames #CozyAfterDark #Roguelite #CoOpGaming #HorrorGame #HandDrawn #IndieDev #Steam #PCGaming #Techmash

  • Creatures, Contracts, and Consequence — The Sky Project: Land of Noris Opens Its First Playtest!

    Creatures, Contracts, and Consequence — The Sky Project: Land of Noris Opens Its First Playtest!

    Your bond is forever — or it’s gone forever. Enthariel Games has officially unleashed the first-ever public playtest for their stunning hand-drawn monster collector, The Sky Project: Land of Noris, alongside a brand-new intro trailer, with a Kickstarter campaign set to follow on October 13. For the first time, players can step into this beautiful, perilous world — and every choice will weigh on you.

    Over 200 Noris. One Chance Each.

    The Sky Project isn’t your typical monster-catching adventure. It’s built on bonds that matter: meet the Noris, magical mana-infused creatures you forge pacts with across four vast, vertically stacked planes — Celestia, Noreth, The Depths, and Infernia. With more than 200 unique Noris across six types, including legendary and rare alternate-colour variants, every discovery feels meaningful. Raise them, evolve them, and watch them transform — but protect them fiercely.

    Permadeath Means Every Battle Counts

    Combat unfolds in strategic 3v3 turn-based clashes where your whole team shares a single mana pool — resource management is just as vital as raw power. Every Nori carries two innate abilities plus a third skill that shifts each turn, opening up fresh combos across 300+ discoverable abilities and powerful relics. And here’s the kicker: if a Nori falls, they’re gone for good. No revives, no do-overs — only a grave left behind.

    Explore Celestia Right Now

    The new playtest — live now — delivers several hours of gameplay covering the entire opening plane of Celestia, home to over 60 discoverable Noris, fully voiced cutscenes, an original soundtrack, and the plane’s climactic boss. It’s the first taste of a world shaped by over 2,000 years of history, where you play as Kael, searching for your soulbonded partner Aeris across realms.

    Kickstarter Launches October 13

    Want to help shape the journey? The official Kickstarter campaign goes live October 13, aiming to bring this full-time development to life. You can already sign up to be notified the moment it launches.

    The playtest is live on Steam right now — request access and step into the sky. Just remember: who you save, and who you lose, is entirely up to you.

    Find out more on Kickstarter or Steam

    #TheSkyProject #LandOfNoris #MonsterCollector #IndieGame #HandDrawn #Permadeath #TurnBasedRPG #SteamPlaytest #Kickstarter #EntharielGames #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

  • Nocturnal 2 is a masterclass in atmosphere

    Nocturnal 2 is a masterclass in atmosphere

    Showing off the game’s stunning hand-drawn art.

    The flame returns.

    I’ve been diving into Nocturnal 2, and the hand-drawn animation is absolutely breathtaking. There is nothing more satisfying than the “Fire Starter” mechanic—striking a torch to imbue your blade with light and slicing through the gloom of Yran.

    If you loved the first game’s challenge but wanted more exploration and non-linear paths, this is it. The world feels bigger, the shadows feel darker, and the combat is tighter than ever.

    Who else is playing? Let’s talk builds in the comments!

    Find out more here – https://store.steampowered.com/app/2847780/Nocturnal_2/

    #Nocturnal2 #Metroidvania #SunnysideGames #games #gaming #gamers #IndieGames #GamingCommunity #HandDrawn #videogames

  • New game trailer for Vindilis

    New game trailer for Vindilis

    You don’t seem to get many hand-drawn games coming out these days, but with the Vindilis game, that is one of the main features, its artwork and story, of course. The story is about an island that has fallen under the influence of an evil that is out to destroy everything in its path. Only you, your trusty sword and your sister can stop this from happening. Take on the five levels and the five bosses in order to bring this chaos to an end.

    To find out more about the Vindilis game, go to the games page on Steam here https://shorturl.at/ZQgHM

    #Vindilis #games #gaming #gamers #newgames #handdrawn #HaiGames #gametrailer #steam #pcgames #2Dgames #gameplay #island #survival #levels #bosses #swords

  • Artis Impact Handcrafted Pixel Art RPG

    Artis Impact Handcrafted Pixel Art RPG

    Here is a lovely art-driven game that will push gamer’s skills and tactics to the limit. This is Artis Impact a hand-drawn role-playing game with a retro arcade feel to it. Players will find themselves in a world that has been through the apocalypse and the survivors will be facing combat and decisions as solo players, there is no help here, players will need to make their decisions and take a chance. The Artis Impact game has a fully playable demo on Steam right now.

    To find out more about the Artis Impact game go to the official game website here https://www.artisimpact.com/ or go to the games page on Steam here https://shorturl.at/X30ag

    #ArtisImpact #Handcrafted #PixelArt #DeepNarratives #RPG #FGS #games #gaming #newgames #Mas #steam #art #artist #handdrawn #apocalypse #endoftheworld #scifi #comic