Tag: #IndieGames

Loop, Shoot, Repeat: Orangepixel’s Space Grunts: Chrono Shard Hits PC with Switch 2 Version Confirmed!
Retro-gaming fans and tactical masterminds, brace yourselves. Solo indie developer Orangepixel has officially dropped Space Grunts: Chrono Shard onto Steam and the Epic Games Store. Merging high-stakes tactical depth with high-velocity retro-arcade energy, this time-looping tactical shooter is out to test your trigger fingers and your brainpower.

If that isn’t enough to get you excited, a Nintendo Switch 2 version has also been officially confirmed for the future. Here is everything you need to know about your next indie addiction.

The Story: Stopping the Galactic Ooze

In Space Grunts: Chrono Shard, a sentient Ooze is devouring the galaxy by hopping through a hijacked network of deep-space HyperGates. As a member of the elite Space Grunts tactical unit, you are dropped directly into “time bubbles” on procedurally generated space stations and moon bases. Your mission? Shut down the gates and contain the spread—at any cost.

Break the Loop (or Use It to Your Advantage)

The star of the show is the Chrono Loop mechanic. Utilising the titular Chrono Shard, you have the power to rewind the clock. However, death isn’t just a reset screen here.

Any items you drop, resources you scavenge, or changes you make to the environment stay exactly where they are for your next attempt. Essentially, you can seed the battlefield with gear and traps to strategically collaborate with past versions of yourself.

Key Features:
- Rapid-Fire Strategy: Forget slow, bloated menus. This game retains the classic, fast-paced Space Grunts arcade energy but frames it in a tight, turn-based format that rewards rapid thinking.
- Deep Crafting & Sub-Classes: Find specialised crafting stations to scrap useless loot and build an unstoppable arsenal. You can also invest in unique skill trees to shape your grunt into sub-classes like Sniper, Gadget, Engineer, or Veteran.
- Kinetic Combat: Bullet spread patterns and explosive shockwaves physically manipulate the battlefield. You can launch enemies into hazards or blow open paths to the next HyperGate.
Nintendo Switch 2 On The Horizon

While PC players can jump into the time loop right now, handheld gaming enthusiasts have a massive reason to celebrate. Orangepixel has officially confirmed that Space Grunts: Chrono Shard is headed to the Nintendo Switch 2.

Given the next-generation handheld’s boosted capabilities, navigating the game’s procedurally generated space stations with snappy performance and pixel-perfect clarity on the go is going to be an absolute treat.

Available Now

Space Grunts: Chrono Shard is available on PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, complete with a launch discount. Grab your blaster, master the timeline, and stop the Ooze!

Are you jumping into the loop on PC, or waiting for the Switch 2 version? Let us know in the comments below!

Find out more here

#IndieGames #RetroGaming #SpaceGruntsChronoShard #Orangepixel #PCGaming #Steam #EpicGames #NintendoSwitch2 #Switch2 #GamingNews #TacticalShooter #SciFiGaming
23rd June 2026
Neon, Noir, and Nowhere to Hide: Why ‘Midnight Manhunt’ is Your Next Cyberpunk Obsession
The rain-slicked neon streets of Neo-Veridia look beautiful, but don’t let them distract you. In Midnight Manhunt, the latest turn-based tactics game making waves on the indie scene, beauty is a trap. Every shadow could hold a corporate assassin, and every move you make is being calculated by an omnipresent digital god.

If you miss the high-stakes tension of XCOM but want it wrapped in a gritty, synthwave aesthetic, welcome to your next obsession.

The Premise: You vs. LUCi

In Midnight Manhunt, you aren’t just fighting rival gangs or corrupt corporate enforcers; you are fighting the city itself. Neo-Veridia is governed by LUCi, an ominous, all-seeing AI that tracks every single footstep, heartbeat, and biometric spike.

The core loop of the game is a tense game of cat-and-mouse. You control a ragtag crew of cybernetically enhanced rebels trying to survive the night, complete high-stakes heists, and expose the truth behind the city’s digital dictatorship. But there’s a catch: no one is safe from the all-seeing eye.

Gameplay: Turning the Grid Against the God in the Machine

What sets Midnight Manhunt apart from standard turn-based tactics games is the Prediction & Stealth Mechanic.
- The Surveillance Meter: Every action you take—running, hacking, firing a weapon—increases your digital footprint. If your footprint gets too high, LUCi deploys elite hunter-killer units directly to your position.
- Environmental Hacking: To survive, you have to use the city against its master. You can hack into local sub-nets to blind security cameras, manipulate streetlights to create shadows, or redirect corporate drones to fight each other.
- Permadeath & Cybernetics: If a squad member falls, they’re gone. However, if you manage to drag their body to a back-alley ripper doc, you can exchange lost limbs for powerful cybernetic augmentations—assuming you have the credits.
A Masterclass in Cyberpunk Atmosphere

Visually and sonically, Midnight Manhunt nails the brief. The game features a striking low-poly, high-contrast art style where the glowing pinks and cyans of the neon signs cut through pitch-black shadows.

Pair that with a driving, bass-heavy synthwave soundtrack that dynamically speeds up as LUCi closes in on your position, and you have an incredibly stressful—yet addictive—atmosphere.

The Verdict: Can You Outsmart the Ultimate AI?

Midnight Manhunt is a brilliant evolution of the turn-based tactics genre. It forces you to think three steps ahead, balancing immediate survival against your long-term digital footprint. It’s brutal, it’s beautiful, and it will keep you up until the actual midnight hour.

The only question left is: Can you survive the night, or will you become just another data point for LUCi?

Midnight Manhunt is available now on PC and consoles. Have you tried outsmarting LUCi yet? Let us know your best survival strategies in the comments below!

Find out more here

#MidnightManhunt #Cyberpunk #TurnBasedTactics #IndieGames #GamingNews #LUCiIsWatching #SciFiGaming #TechMash
22nd June 2026
Slurp It Up! Ramen Simulator Officially Launches on Steam Today
If you’ve ever looked at a steaming bowl of noodles and thought, “I could turn this into a culinary masterpiece (or a structural hazard),” today is your lucky day. Publisher Flyhigh Works and developer SECRET CHARACTER (the brilliant, hungry minds behind Yakiniku Simulator) have officially released Ramen Simulator on Steam today, 22nd June!

To celebrate the launch, the game is serving up a delicious 20% introductory discount, bringing the price down to just $4.79 / £3.99.

Check out the official launch trailer to see the noodle-crafting madness in action:

Ramen is the Universe: What to Expect

Following the casual, satisfyingly hyper-focused footsteps of Yakiniku Simulator, this latest release throws out the restaurant management stress and puts all the focus on the artistry of the bowl. Your ramen bowl is your canvas. From selecting the perfect rich broth and noodle thickness to layering aroma oils, the level of customisation is staggering.
- 100+ Ingredients & Toppings: Go traditional with classic Chashu pork and soft-boiled eggs, or get completely avant-garde with quirky, unconventional toppings.
- “More More Mode”: Ever wanted to see how high you can stack toppings before physics throws a fit? This mode lets you build a sky-high ramen mountain. Best of all? It’s zero calories.
- Free Mode: Unleash your pure creativity with zero limits, snap photos of your delicious masterpieces, and save them to your in-game gallery.
- Speed Eat Mini-Game: Tap into your inner competitive eater and see how fast you can clear four bowls of ramen to smash the leaderboard.
- Quests & Shop: Complete daily missions to unlock exclusive, rare ingredients and shop items to take your bowls to the next level.
Get the Ultimate Simulator Combo

If you don’t already own the developer’s previous hit, Flyhigh Works has put together a special “Yakiniku + Ramen” Bundle. The bundle stacks an extra discount on top, giving you the ultimate digital Japanese BBQ and noodle pairing for a casual gaming night.

Ramen Simulator is lightweight, highly addictive, and playable right now on PC via Steam. Grab your chopsticks, head over to the store page, and start crafting your dream bowl today!

Find out more here

#RamenSimulator #FlyhighWorks #IndieGames #SteamReleases #GamingNews #PCGaming #SimulationGames #TechMash
22nd June 2026
Mind-Bending Dimensions: ‘THANKS, LIGHT.’ is Bringing Portal-Style Shadow Puzzles to PS5 and Steam This September
Puzzle fans, get your thinking caps ready. Game Source Entertainment (GSE) has officially announced that THANKS, LIGHT., a brilliant 3D portal-like puzzle-platformer, is locked in for a global release on PlayStation®5 and Steam in September 2026.

Developed by the talented South Korean indie studio Lightersgames, this title is already turning heads in the indie community, having earned accolades at Korea’s INDIECRAFT event and a coveted spot in the Selected Indie 80 showcase at the Tokyo Game Show.

If you’ve spent the last few years searching for a game to fill the Portal, Superliminal, or The Talos Principle shape in your heart, this might just be your next obsession.

The Mechanic: Shift Between 2D and 3D

At its core, THANKS, LIGHT. plays with a deceptively simple yet mind-melting mechanic: the manipulation of light, shadow, and substance. Wielding a flashlight, you explore a surreal, menacing, and beautifully minimalist complex where your perception dictates reality.
- Shine the Light to Create 3D Mass: Pointing your light at a 2D silhouette transforms it into a tangible, physical 3D object. A flat line on the wall suddenly unfolds into a staircase or a towering pillar with mass, weight, and collision.
- Absorb the Light to Flatten Reality: By absorbing the light, you switch physics off. A rolling boulder instantly loses its volume and freezes as a flat 2D shadow. A wall that blocked your path suddenly becomes a flat surface you can bypass entirely.
As you dive deeper into its 3-chapter, 60+ stage campaign, the rules escalate. You’ll soon find yourself juggling mirrors that duplicate objects, lenses that resize structures, and merging mechanics that fuse entirely different forms together.

“Like Portal and The Talos Principle, this game features solid puzzle mechanics that enable interaction with distant objects.” > — Jeep Barnett, Former Valve Portal Developer

A World That Watches You Solve It

The game takes place in an eerie, liminal space built by an enigmatic entity known as the “Administrator.” The aesthetic flows beautifully from pristine marble museums to corporate offices that repeat just a little too often, eventually fracturing into a glitch-laced, black-and-white space where reality leaks through the walls.

Worse yet? You aren’t entirely alone. There are things hiding in the shadows, and the architecture itself feels alive, watching your every move.

Play the Demo Right Now

Can’t wait until September 2026? You don’t have to. Lightersgames recently rolled out a major content expansion for their free playable Steam demo. The updated demo includes a first look at Chapter 3, freshly optimised gameplay, and an immersive new soundtrack to get you entirely lost in the atmosphere.

Head over to Steam, add it to your wishlist, and start training your brain for the full release this autumn.

Game Details
- Title: THANKS, LIGHT.
- Developer: Lightersgames
- Publisher: Game Source Entertainment (GSE)
- Platforms: PlayStation®5, PC (Steam)
- Release Date: September 2026
- Genre: 3D Puzzle-Platformer / First-Person Adventure
Find out more here

#IndieGames #GamingNews #ThanksLight #PS5 #SteamGames #PuzzlePlatformer #GSE #Lightersgames #PortalLike #TechMash
22nd June 2026
Rom-Com Meets the Undead: Why Cute & Dead is the Wackiest VR Shooter You Need This Summer
If you told us a few years ago that the developers behind the gritty, hyper-realistic physics of Hellsplit: Arena would follow it up with a bright, chaotic VR zombie shooter about a nerd trying to secure a prom date during the apocalypse, we probably would have assumed you’d spent too much time in the headset.

Yet, here we are. Deep Type Games has officially unveiled Cute & Dead, and it is exactly the kind of beautifully unhinged gaming mashup the VR world needs right now. Blending the fast-paced, nostalgic energy of 90s couch co-op classics like Zombies Ate My Neighbors with modern VR technology and a literal dating simulator twist, this title is shaping up to be pure, unadulterated fun.

The Premise: Apocalypse? Sure. But Can I Get Her Number?

In Cute & Dead, you don’t play as a gruff, grizzled military survivor. Instead, you step into the shoes of a typical school nerd. The world has gone to absolute ruin, and flesh-eating hordes are roaming the streets, but you have your priorities straight: you are going to ask the hottest girl in school out on a date.

To do that, you just have to find her. And rescue her. Along with 30 unique potential “girlfriends” scattered across the game’s maps.

The loop is brilliant: you fight your way through colourful, stylised environments, gun down wacky undead variants, rescue a classmate, and then head to the club to dance the night away and build your relationship. Oh, and did we mention you get a loyal dog companion who fights right alongside you? Because you do.

Nostalgic Chaos Blended with Modern VR

The combat in Cute & Dead is fast, chaotic, and intentionally slapstick. It completely discards grimdark survival tropes in favour of arcade-style thrill.
- The Arsenal: You’ll be using everything from improvised, everyday gadgets to high-powered weaponry across 10 different weapon varieties to fend off 8 distinct enemy types.
- The Vibe: The top-down, frantic energy of Zombies Ate My Neighbours translates beautifully into roomscale VR. It’s colourful, frantic, and requires you to keep moving.
- The Collectable Element: With 8 unique maps to explore and 30 characters to unlock and meet, there is a massive checklist for completionists who want to rescue everyone and find every easter egg.
Our Take: It’s refreshing to see a VR developer lean entirely into the “just plain fun” territory. The mechanics look sharp, the aesthetic is wonderfully vibrant, and the juxtaposition of arcade violence with a dating sim is comedy gold.

When Can You Play It?

The wait won’t be long at all. Cute & Dead is scheduled to drop first on the Meta Horizon Store in July 2026, with full compatibility for Quest 2, Quest 3, Quest Pro, and the upcoming Quest 3S.

If you are a PCVR purist, hang tight—the game is slated to arrive on Steam VR in the second half of 2026. (As for PSVR2? The developers haven’t planned it just yet, but they haven’t ruled it out for the future either).

If you’re ready to lock, load, and lock down a date, keep your eyes on TechMash for our full review when the game launches next month!

Find out more here

#CuteAndDead #VRExperience #MetaQuest3 #ZombieShooter #IndieGames #DatingSim #VRGaming #GamingNews #DeepTypeGames #ZombiesAteMyNeighbors #TechMash
22nd June 2026
Crowned Sun: IndigoWare Reveals Afro-Brazilian Fantasy MMORPG on Steam
The MMORPG space is about to get a massive infusion of fresh culture and classical mechanics. IndigoWare has officially announced Crowned Sun, an upcoming free-to-play 3D isometric MMORPG rooted deeply in Yoruba, Candomblé, and Afro-Brazilian mythology.

If you’ve been waiting for an online RPG that steps away from traditional Eurocentric fantasy, this is the one to watch. The game’s Steam page is officially live, and players can now add it to their wishlists ahead of its planned Early Access launch.

A Love Letter to Classic MMOs

For veterans of the genre, Crowned Sun is going to feel like a warm, nostalgic embrace. IndigoWare is explicitly pitching the game as a love letter to iconic isometric classics like Ragnarok Online and Tree of Savior, while drawing structural inspiration from modern giants like Final Fantasy XIV.

The game features a beloved staple of old-school progression: a classic dual-levelling system. Players will scale their character’s power across two parallel tracks—a Base Level earned through raw exploration and combat, and a Job Level that defines their specific class specialisation and mechanical path.

Step Into the Mirage Kingdom

Set in a vibrant, cel-shaded fantasy world called the Mirage Kingdom, Crowned Sun moves away from typical tropes to explore a rich cultural tapestry built with genuine care, rather than exoticism. The setting features lush biomes, ancient stone shrines wrapped in greenery, and an original soundtrack heavily influenced by Afro-diasporic rhythms.

Players will begin their journey by choosing one of four distinct playable peoples, each carrying their own unique lore, identity, and combat feel:
- Humans: Highly versatile and resilient.
- Iwin: Forest-touched spirits intimately connected to nature.
- Egbere: Shadow-bound damage dealers who happily trade defensive stats for raw power.
- Ere: Childlike spirits that introduce unique tactical twists to the battlefield.
Deep Progression and Spirit Wars

At the heart of the game’s mechanics is the “Orisha Echoes” system—a progression mechanic woven directly into the world and storytelling that pays homage to the forces of the orixás.

Crowned Sun isn’t cutting corners on standard MMO features either. IndigoWare is promising a complete suite of social and competitive systems right out of the gate, including:
- Parties, Guilds, and a dedicated Party Finder
- Pets, Mounts, and Mercenaries to aid you in battle
- Instanced Spirit Trials for cooperative PvE challenges
- Large-scale Spirit War battles for competitive players
Development in the Open

Crowned Sun is targeting a full 1.0 release in 2027, but PC players will get their hands on it much sooner via Steam Early Access. Crucially, it features cross-platform support across Windows, macOS, and Linux/SteamOS, meaning Steam Deck users can take the Mirage Kingdom on the go.

IndigoWare intends to develop the game “in the open,” working closely alongside the community to tune job balance, shape end-game Spirit War content, and design entirely new mythology-inspired regions.

Ready to join the hunt? You can head over to the Crowned Sun Steam Page right now to check out the initial trailers, review system requirements, and add the game to your wishlist!

Find out more here

#Gaming #MMORPG #CrownedSun #IndigoWare #IndieGames #Steam #FreeToPlay #PCGaming #AfroBrazilian #GamingNews #RagnarokOnline
22nd June 2026
Medieval Zombie Survival Gets Serious: God Save Birmingham Drops Dev Update 3 Ahead of Today’s Closed Beta
The plague is spreading, and 14th-century England is looking remarkably grim. Kakao Games and Ocean Drive Studio have just released their third Developer Update video for the highly anticipated medieval zombie survival simulator, God Save Birmingham.

The new video drops just in time for the game’s highly anticipated global Closed Beta Test (CBT), which officially kicks off today, 22 June, and runs until 29 June.

If you’ve been itching to hack through undead hordes with historically accurate melee tools while struggling against the brutal elements of the Dark Ages, here is everything revealed in Dev Update 3 that you can experience in the beta right now.

Re-Engineered, Brutal Combat

Following feedback from February’s Closed Alpha, Ocean Drive Studio has focused heavily on refining the game’s tactile, physics-based combat.
- Snappier Animations: Attack animations are now quicker, and character controls feel far more responsive.
- Tougher Foes: To keep things balanced, the zombies are now a bit more durable, forcing you to think strategically before swinging.
- New Weapon Types: Say hello to spears, one-handed swords, and heavy-hitting halberds. Keep an eye on your weapon durability and sharpness—dull blades deal less damage and break when you least want them to.
- The Shouting Mechanic: Players can now literally shout at zombies to lure them in a specific direction, perfect for setting up tactical ambushes or clearing a tight alleyway.
Deepened Medieval Survival Mechanics

Surviving the apocalypse in the 1300s requires a lot more than just a sharp sword. The beta introduces complex new layer systems for keeping your character alive:
- Foraging & Livestock: You can now forage for berries in the forest, harvest vegetables from village gardens, and tend to chickens, which will provide a steady supply of eggs.
- Thirst & Intoxication: You can pull drinking water straight from the local river, but untreated water carries the risk of a severe upset stomach. Alternatively, you can indulge in historically accurate medieval ale. While alcohol quenches thirst and lowers your character’s mental stress, drinking too much results in full-blown intoxication, making combat a hilarious nightmare.
Dynamic Weather and Lethal Fire Physics

The famed English weather is just as dangerous as the undead. The overhauled weather system introduces direct impacts on survival:
- Rain and Fog: Rain drops the temperature and threatens your health, but heavy fog impairs the vision of zombies, making it the perfect cover for a stealth run.
- Fire Hazards: To escape the cold, you can light indoor fires to warm up. However, physics-based fire can now spread dynamically to nearby wooden objects. Stand too close or manage your camp poorly, and you’ll suffer severe burns.
“While the team would love to include and showcase more features in the game, we believe that making things well is more important than making a lot,” said production director Soonook Shin. “Therefore we intend to focus on creating a great game by continuously developing, testing and refining content.”

What to Know Before You Play

Before you rush over to Steam, the developers have noted a couple of important details for this specific testing phase:
- No Save Feature Yet: Progression saves are not active for this build. If you need a break, the devs recommend hitting “ESC” to pause and leaving the game running in the background.
- Co-op is Coming: While the final game will feature online co-op, this CBT is strictly focused on testing the solo experience, game balance, and core physics.
How to Join the Closed Beta

The God Save Birmingham Closed Beta is officially live today! To throw yourself into the dark ages:
1. Head over to the official God Save Birmingham Steam Page.
2. Click the green “Request Access” button.
3. If selected, a download option will appear in your Steam library. (Note: Previous Core Group Testers automatically have access!)
Are you ready to survive 14th-century Birmingham? Watch the full Dev Update 3 video on Ocean Drive Studio’s YouTube channel, grab your halberd, and let us know your thoughts on the beta in the comments below!

Find out more here

#GodSaveBirmingham #KakaoGames #OceanDriveStudio #ZombieSurvival #IndieGames #PCGaming #SteamBeta #GamingNews #MedievalHorror
22nd June 2026
Massive 1M-Player Web Hit ‘Soulbound’ Storms Steam Next Fest Ahead of July Release
Indie developer Spiderware has some massive news for MMO and roguelite fans. Their smash-hit, web-based pixel-art MMORPG, Soulbound: Online, is officially making the leap to PC—and you can play it right now.

To celebrate its upcoming storefront launch, Spiderware has dropped a massive playable demo for Steam Next Fest, giving players a huge head start before the game’s official release on July 21st.

From Browser Sensation to Steam Heavyweight

If you haven’t heard of Soulbound yet, you’re missing out on a certified underground phenomenon. Originally launched as a native browser and Discord title, this indie darling has quietly amassed an incredible community of over 1,000,000 players without the traditional backing of a major storefront launcher.

Now, London-based Spiderware is taking things to the next level. The Steam Next Fest demo isn’t just a tiny vertical slice; it offers over 7 hours of playable content, introducing newcomers to the game’s opening story chapters, solo play, and 3-player co-op action.

What to Expect: Bullet Heaven Fuses with Classic MMO Meta

Soulbound masterfully splits its loop into two distinct experiences: a shared overworld filled with quests and a player-driven economy, and brutal, fast-paced roguelite dungeons.
- Build Your Ultimate Pioneer: Forget rigid class locks. Soulbound features deep skill trees and over 100 swappable ability paths. You can build a traditional heavy Tank, a crucial Healer, a high-damage DPS character, or a hybrid of your own design, with the freedom to respec instantly between runs.
- Survive the Bullet Heaven Dungeons: Once you step inside the instanced dungeons, the game shifts into a chaotic, action-packed survivor experience. Face massive enemy swarms and procedurally escalating boss phases. No two runs are identical.
- Establish Your Base of Operations: Your customizable home base isn’t just a cosmetic flex. It serves as your main hub for progression, where you upgrade salvaged materials, craft legendary gear, and manage your economy.
- The Threat of The Anima: Story-wise, you awaken in a digital reality hunted by malevolent entities known as The Anima. Saved by a friendly robotic companion, it is up to you—either solo or with a 3-player squad—to gear up, form guilds, and push back the corruption.
Grab the Demo Today!

With an established million-user player base and a highly anticipated Steam leaderboard to climb, Soulbound is shaping up to be one of the summer’s most addictive indie multiplayer releases.

Head over to the Soulbound Steam Page right now to dive into the 7+ hour Next Fest demo, test your builds, and add it to your wishlist before it officially drops on July 21st.

Are you diving into the Soulbound demo this week? Let us know your favourite character builds in the comments below!

Find out more here

#Soulbound #SteamNextFest #IndieGames #MMORPG #Spiderware #Roguelite #GamingNews #TechMash
19th June 2026
Pack Your Bags for Purr-fect Paradise: Cosy Pixel-Art Management Game ‘Cat Isle’ Launches This July!
The cosy gaming renaissance is in full swing, and indie developers are continuing to prove that some of the best experiences come from the smallest teams. Case in point: PixelDuckoo and DomkeGames, a talented two-person indie development powerhouse, have officially announced that their highly anticipated management game, Cat Isle, is scheduled to launch on July 20, 2026.

If you’ve been looking for a charming, low-stress title to add to your wishlist, this beautifully hand-drawn pixel-art adventure is looking like an absolute must-play.

What is Cat Isle?

Inspired by Japan’s world-famous real-life “Cat Islands,” Cat Isle transports players to a quiet, isolated train platform island right in the middle of the ocean. Your goal? Take this sleepy, seaside platform and gradually transform it into a bustling, vibrant, and utterly adorable coastal town entirely dedicated to feline residents and visitors.

The core gameplay beautifully blends light simulation and city-builder elements with a heavy emphasis on atmosphere, player expression, and—most importantly—pure relaxation.

Key Features to Look Forward To:
- Chill Management Mechanics: Keep your eye on your shops. You’ll need to balance supply and demand while learning the unique quirks and culinary preferences of your cat clientele (some might crave fresh sashimi, while others just want tea and a warm spot for a nap!).
- Deep Customisation: Build up to 17+ unique buildings and unlock over 100 hand-drawn pixel-art decorations.
- The Gashapon Machine: Spin the in-game Gashapon machine to unlock random capsules containing plants, shop ornaments, and cosy items to inject personality into your island town.
- 4 Distinct Levels & Sandbox Mode: Follow structured goals across 4 themed areas or completely unwind in the sandbox mode.
- Vibe and Fish: When you aren’t managing the shops, you can take a breather, do some fishing, interact directly with the cats, or simply sit back and watch the sunset over the water.
Made by Two, Loved by Many

What makes Cat Isle even more impressive is its development story. Crafted entirely by a two-person team, the game focuses heavily on quality over artificial length, promising a highly polished, deeply therapeutic 2 to 4 hours of gameplay that leaves you feeling warm and fuzzy inside.

If you want a taste of the island life before the full launch, a playable demo is currently live on Steam. It’s already garnered a 97% positive rating from players who praise its incredibly soothing soundtrack, gorgeous aesthetic, and overall cosy vibes.

Release Date and Platforms

Cat Isle is officially set to unlock on July 20, 2026. It will be available for Windows PC and Mac via Steam, with full language support for English, Japanese, and Simplified Chinese.

Make sure to head over to Steam, try out the demo, and hit that wishlist button to support this fantastic duo of indie creators!

Are you ready to catch a train to Cat Isle? Let us know your favourite cosy indie games in the comments below!

Find out more here

#CatIsle #IndieGames #CozyGaming #PixelArt #SteamGames #PCGaming #MacGaming #IndieDev #GamingNews #PixelDuckoo #DomkeGames
19th June 2026
Light the Beacons! ‘The Gate Must Stand’ Launches on Steam
Dark fantasy fans and strategy tacticians, unite! Yogscast Games and Gamersky Games have officially joined forces to unleash The Gate Must Stand onto PC via Steam. Developed by Senmu Studio, this highly anticipated indie title drops players right into the final, desperate defence of the fallen Kingdom of Belrak.

If you love the chaotic pressure of Survivors-likes, the tactical depth of Tower Defence, and the addictive loop of Action Roguelites, this is the blend you’ve been waiting for.

Hold the Line Against Impossible Odds

In The Gate Must Stand, the continent has fallen, the demonic invasion is at your doorstep, and you are the city of Belrak’s absolute last line of defence.

Unlike traditional tower defence games, where you safely manage lines from a bird’s-eye view, this game puts you right in the thick of the meat grinder. You will control a powerful hero, fighting hand-to-hand alongside your forces to defend a single, critical chokepoint: the city gate.

Your allies can fall, revive, and regroup, but remember: if the gate falls, it’s game over.

“Heroes can fall, but the gate must stand.”

Key Features At A Glance
- Four Unique Heroes: Take control of diverse archetypes, from savage berserkers to devastating spellcasters, each featuring entirely distinct combat styles.
- Insane Build Variety: Experiment with 149 Hero Skills and 150 Follower Skills to unlock massive, battlefield-clearing synergies.
- Evolving Armies: Recruit from 19 base followers and use hard-won demonic relics to mutate them into 38 terrifying Ultimate Forms.
- Apocalyptic Boss Fights: Face off against brutal demonic bosses every 5 minutes. Defeat them to claim game-changing perks—if you survive.
- True Roguelite Progression: When your defence inevitably crumbles, use your blood-stained experience to purchase permanent meta-upgrades and fortify your next run.
Out Now with an Introductory Discount!

The Gate Must Stand is officially live on Steam for a base price of $9.99 / £8.50. To celebrate the launch, Yogscast and Gamersky are offering a 30% introductory discount, making it the perfect time to grab your sword and rally the troops on a budget. Special bundle deals are also available if you want to pair it with other indie strategic hits!

Will you adapt, conquer, and keep the horrors at bay? Or will your defences collapse into panic and fire? Head over to Steam, grab your copy, and find out if you have what it takes to make the stand.

Find out more here

#TheGateMustStand #YogscastGames #GamerskyGames #IndieGames #SteamReleases #GamingNews #DarkFantasy #TowerDefense #Roguelite #ActionStrategy #TechMash
19th June 2026
Here Comes The Swarm Drops Massive Early Access Update: Meet the New Deity, Yangwu!
Surviving the alien hordes in Ulora just got a serious strategic upgrade. Indie developer CableHook Games has officially rolled out its third major content update for the Steam Early Access hit, Here Comes The Swarm.

Marking the successful completion of the team’s initial development roadmap, this latest drop is packed to the brim with meta-changing mechanics, massive quality-of-life improvements, and a brand-new deity designed to supercharge your resource management.

If you’ve been looking for an excuse to dive back into this tense, tactical-pause survival RTS, this is it. Here is everything you need to know about the latest update.

Bow Down to Yangwu: The Ultimate Economic Powerhouse

The star of this update is undoubtedly Yangwu, an all-new deity tailored specifically for players who love optimising their economy and settlement layout. If your strategy relies on massive resource production and creating late-game synergies, Yangwu is about to become your go-to choice.

Yangwu introduces an entire suite of economy-boosting blessings and mechanics:
- The Yangwu Workshop: A brand-new buildable workshop that increases the production of nearby buildings by a whopping 30%.
- Hand of Yangwu: Start your skirmish with Yangwu’s Bracelet, a powerful relic that earns Tribute from kills, chests, and shrines. Deposit this Tribute at your workshop to unlock massive global buffs.
- Disconnected Efficiency: In a brilliant twist for base layout flexibility, Yangwu’s blessings allow production buildings not connected to your main Core to operate with an additional 30% effectiveness.
- Resource Abundance: From spawning an extra Geyser near your Core to offering a 20% refund value on dead units and demolished buildings, Yangwu ensures your war chest stays full.
New Essences & Tactical Overhauls

Alongside Yangwu, CableHook Games has expanded the game’s roguelike customisation with a variety of new Essences. You can now experiment with boons like Compound Interest (which increases your production income based on stored resources) or Tent Subsidies to generate extra Blood Rubies from your dwellings.

Furthermore, the mechanics for disconnected structures have been completely reworked across the board. Previously, any building cut off from your Core would shut down entirely. Now, they will continue to operate at a baseline of 40% efficiency—keeping your economy alive even when the Swarm breaches your perimeter.

Quality-of-Life Upgrades: Better Intelligence, Smoother Battles

You can’t fight what you can’t see, and this update gives players much better tools to anticipate incoming attacks. The minimap has received a major overhaul:
- Wave Visibility: Enemy waves and their exact spawn ranges are now permanently visible on your minimap.
- Early Warning System: Wave locations are now announced a full two minutes in advance across all difficulty settings, giving you ample time to position your armies and fortify your walls.
- Clarity Timers: New countdown timers and tooltips display exactly how much preparation time you have left before the bugs arrive.
The patch also brings extensive under-the-hood performance optimisations (specifically targeting rendering jitter and Ballista projectiles) alongside a long list of community-requested bug fixes, including fixes for unit pathfinding and clipping.

What’s Next for Here Comes The Swarm?

With the initial roadmap officially cleared, CableHook Games isn’t slowing down. The developers have already updated the in-game roadmap to tease what’s on the horizon—including three more major content updates and a highly anticipated, fully-fledged story campaign.

Have you tried out Yangwu yet? Let us know your ultimate economy builds in the comments below!

Here Comes The Swarm successfully blends the intense, nail-biting survival of They Are Billions with the tactical flexibility of a roguelike deckbuilder. If you haven’t played it yet, you can grab it right now on Steam Early Access—and yes, there’s currently a playable demo if you want to test your defences first!

Find out more here

#GamingNews #HereComesTheSwarm #CableHookGames #SurvivalRTS #IndieGames #SteamEarlyAccess #PCGaming #RTSTactics #GamingUpdate #TechMash #Gaming
19th June 2026
Return to Liamson: ‘Afterimages’ DLC for Award-Winning Adventure ‘Until Then’ Out Now
Get ready to have your heart broken and beautifully mended all over again. Publisher Maximum Entertainment, in partnership with indie developer Polychroma Games, has officially dropped Afterimages—a brand-new, highly anticipated downloadable content expansion for the critically acclaimed, award-winning narrative adventure Until Then.

The DLC is available right now across all major platforms, meaning you can dive back into its stunningly detailed, Philippine-inspired world on PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox Series X/S

Emotional Scars & New Beginnings: What is Afterimages About?

For those who played the base game, Until Then left an indelible mark with its “Overwhelmingly Positive” storytelling, striking pixel-art aesthetics, and bittersweet exploration of adolescence, memory, and trauma. Afterimages promises to deepen that emotional resonance across two brand-new narrative chapters that explore grief and the quiet persistence of life in the wake of loss.

The expansion splits its focus between two beloved central characters navigating their separate journeys forward:
- Sofia returns home, forced to confront the haunting memories and ghosts of the past she thought she left behind.
- Mark finds his world shifting once again as he encounters both a new love interest and a familiar old friend, trying to figure out how to move on while carrying the weight of absence.
Bonus for Physical Collectors: If you prefer keeping your games on a shelf, Maximum Entertainment also revealed that a physical edition of Until Then will launch on 3 September. This physical release will handily include both the base game and the Afterimages DLC on one disc/cartridge!

New Minigames and Phone Features

It wouldn’t be Until Then without some incredibly immersive, everyday slice-of-life mechanics. Alongside the heavy emotional narrative, Afterimages introduces a variety of fresh interactive activities and expanded features to play with:
- Fresh Interactive Minigames: Tap into the mystical with all-new tarot reading mechanics, or clear your mind with a cosy baking minigame.
- Upgraded In-Game Phone: Mark’s smartphone features have been expanded significantly, allowing players to scroll through newly integrated dating apps and dedicated video platforms that flesh out the game’s modern, digital world.
- Familiar & New Faces: Reconnect with the original cast you fell in love with while crossing paths with entirely new characters.
Whether you’re looking to dive straight back into the digital trauma on Steam and consoles today, or holding out for the physical release this September, Afterimages is a must-play companion to one of the finest modern narrative adventures in recent memory.

Until Then: Afterimages is available now for $4.99 / £3.99 on your digital storefront of choice.

Find out more here

#UntilThenGame #AfterimagesDLC #PolychromaGames #MaximumEntertainment #IndieGames #NarrativeAdventure #GamingNews #VisualNovel #CozyGaming #Steam #PS5 #NintendoSwitch #Xbox
19th June 2026
All Aboard! Fogpiercer Brings Post-Apocalyptic Train Battles to PC Next Month
The strategy masterminds at Hooded Horse and indie developers Mad Cookies Studio have dropped a massive announcement that is bound to heat up your summer gaming schedule. Get ready to engineer your deck, load your miniguns, and brace for impact: the highly anticipated roguelite train-battling deckbuilder, Fogpiercer, officially pulls into the station next month!

Mark your calendars for July 17, 2026, because a post-apocalyptic summer of intensely tactical, card-modding, bandit-blasting fun is headed straight your way.

What is Fogpiercer?

Imagine a world swallowed by a deadly, perpetual fog where humanity’s last hope rests on the tracks of a rampaging armoured locomotive. In Fogpiercer, you are the conductor of this high-octane survival expedition.

Unlike traditional deckbuilders, your deck is directly tied to the construction of your train. Every locomotive, carriage, and driver you choose adds distinct tactical tools and cards to your hand. As you travel through bandit-infested wastelands, you’ll gather resources to customise, upgrade, and expand your train to survive a relentless onslaught.

Key Gameplay Features to Get Excited For:
- Tactical Grid Combat: Engage in turn-based battles where positioning is everything. With limited action points, you’ll need to outsmart convoys that outnumber and surround you.
- Environmental Devastation: Use the battlefield to your advantage. Ram bandits off cliffs, deploy shields, or use heavy artillery to send a leading enemy vehicle tumbling backwards, causing explosive chain reactions into the convoy behind them.
- Endless Customisation: With over 170 cards, a deep modding system, and various status effects, you can craft a deck that perfectly matches your playstyle—whether you prefer brute-force firepower or high-tech hacking and decoys.
- Branching Post-Apocalyptic Routes: Fine-tune your journey across hazardous regions filled with unique modifiers, random narrative encounters, and ruthless boss battles.
Where and When to Play

You won’t have to wait long to take the engineer’s seat. Version 1.0 of Fogpiercer will be officially released on July 17, 2026.

The game will be available for PC across all major storefronts, so you can pick it up exactly where you like to play:
- Steam
- GOG
- Microsoft Store (including Xbox App for PC / PC Game Pass)
Whether you are a seasoned roguelite tactician or a deckbuilding enthusiast looking for a high-speed twist on the genre, Fogpiercer looks like it’s going to be a must-play title for the summer. Head over to your storefront of choice and add it to your wishlist today to make sure you don’t miss the departure!

Are you ready to fight through the fog? Let us know your thoughts on the trailer and your ultimate train-deck strategy in the comments below!

Find out more here

#GamingNews #Fogpiercer #HoodedHorse #MadCookiesStudio #Deckbuilder #Roguelite #PCGaming #Steam #GOG #XboxPC #IndieGames #StrategyGames #TechMash
19th June 2026
Drift Into the Discount: Cult Indie Hit ‘Parking Garage Rally Circuit’ Skids Onto Nintendo Switch!
Retro arcade racing fans, it is time to start your engines and warm up those tyres. Polish indie publisher Pineapple Works and brilliant American solo-developer Walaber have officially dropped their cult hit, Parking Garage Rally Circuit, onto the Nintendo Switch!

Even better? It’s hitting the eShop alongside its brand-new European Tour DLC and a sweet -15% launch discount to kick off the high-speed celebrations.

Retro Vibes Meet Precision Drifting

If you miss the golden, low-poly era of 90s Sega Saturn arcade racers mixed with addictive Mario Kart physics, this is your next gaming obsession. The premise is as gloriously simple as it is chaotic: tight, precision rally racing held across re-purposed, multi-story parking structures in major cities.

With incredibly snappy controls, dynamic “smash-into-things” physics, and a thrilling ska soundtrack, it’s a brilliant love letter to retro gaming that will have you hooked on beating your best time-trial records.

What’s Included in the Switch Launch?
- The Base Game: Race through uniquely challenging parking garages across the USA, dodging obstacles like falling rocks and sudden power cuts.
- The European Tour DLC: Expand your global racing footprint with all-new international multi-story circuits right out of the box.
- Seamless Leaderboards: Beat the gold trophies and automatically download ghost cars of rivals just ahead of you for that “just one more round” addiction.
- Multiplayer Action: Dust off your controllers and relive the glory days with 2-4 player split-screen multiplayer.
TechMash Verdict: Parking Garage Rally Circuit is a pure, unadulterated hit of nostalgic dopamine. Designed beautifully by a solo developer, its tight drifting mechanics and frantic pacing make it an absolute perfect fit for the portable Switch lifestyle.

Grab the Deal Before It’s Gone!

The game and its expansion DLC are now globally available as a digital download on the Nintendo eShop. Don’t wait around on the starting line—head over and secure your -15% launch discount today!

Find out more here

#ParkingGarageRallyCircuit #NintendoSwitch #IndieGames #RetroRacing #ArcadeRacer #Walaber #PineappleWorks #GamingNews #TechMash
19th June 2026
Wield the Beat: Alpha Nomos Drops Stunning New Gameplay Trailer
Indie studio RibCage Games has just dropped a brand-new gameplay trailer for their highly anticipated title, Alpha Nomos. If you’ve been craving a game that seamlessly blends the pulse-pounding precision of Hi-Fi Rush with the unpredictable, addictive loop of Hades, this is the title you need to put on your radar immediately.

Check out the fresh trailer and see why music isn’t just a backing track in this world—it’s the absolute law.

Combat Where the Soundtrack Is Your Weapon

In Alpha Nomos, you step into the strings of Cello, a tiny puppet adventurer navigating a vibrant, melody-twisted world overrun by rogue, corrupted puppets. A mysterious force has silenced the world’s music, and it’s up to you to hack, slash, and orchestrate absolute chaos to bring the rhythm back.

What sets this rhythm-action roguelite apart is its uncompromising “music-as-mechanic” philosophy. The developers didn’t just bolt a rhythm meter onto a standard action game; everything lives and breathes on the beat.

Here is what makes Alpha Nomos strike a chord:
- Rhythm-Driven Combat: Timing your attacks to the beat unlocks devastating combos and ramps up your damage. Missing a beat? The game plays a literal wrong note on purpose to let you know you’re out of tune.
- Live-Recorded Musical Weapons: Forget standard swords and shields. You’ll be wielding instruments (like the mighty SaXword) where every sound has been recorded live by real musicians.
- Audio-Effect Powerups: Roguelite runs will grant you powerups based on real-world audio effects like Reverb, Flanger, and Delay. These don’t just change your combat stats—they literally alter how your attacks sound.
- Runs That Compose Themselves: Because every weapon and power-up alters the audio landscape, every single roguelite run generates a completely unique musical track based on how you play.
“We didn’t want rhythm bolted on top of an action game; we wanted it to be the action. Every hit, every dodge, every upgrade lives on the beat.” > — RibCage Games

Play the Demo Right Now!

If the trailer whets your appetite, you won’t have to wait to get your hands on it. RibCage Games has released an updated, expanded demo on Steam featuring a tighter combat loop, new enemy encounters, and a chance to test out Cello’s rhythm-driven arsenal for yourself.

The full game is slated for a Q3 2026 launch on PC, so head over to Steam, try the demo, and get it on your wishlist today!

What do you think of the new trailer? Let us know in the comments below if you’ll be playing the demo!

Find out more here

#AlphaNomos #RibCageGames #IndieGames #RhythmGame #Roguelite #GamingNews #SteamNextFest #PCGaming #TechMash #Gaming
19th June 2026
Kartboard Dash Locked In: Zatun Confirms July Early Access for PC and Mobile
Independent game development studio Zatun has officially locked in the trajectory for its highly anticipated arcade racer. The studio confirmed this week that Kartboard Dash™ remains firmly on track to launch into Early Access across both PC and Mobile platforms in July 2026.

The announcement follows hot on the heels of a fresh visual rebrand, with Zatun recently unveiling a bolder, more playful logo that mirrors the chaotic energy of the game’s unique DIY aesthetic.

Crafting Chaos From Cardboard

If you’ve been craving a racer that prioritises immediate, skill-based fun over hyper-realistic tyre wear simulation, Kartboard Dash wants your attention. The game transports players into vibrant, handcrafted cardboard-inspired worlds where tracks, karts, and props look like they’ve been meticulously fashioned from layered corrugated board and masking tape.

But don’t let the charming, playful art style fool you—the competition under the hood is fierce.

Key Features to Expect in Early Access:
- Cross-Platform Multiplayer: PC and mobile players can go head-to-head instantly in a unified, crossplay matchmaking ecosystem.
- Handcrafted Cardboard Tracks: Race through dynamic environments filled with sharp turns, hidden shortcuts, and massive ramps (including a recently teased Airport track built from sketch to 3D).
- Unpredictable Lap Modifiers: To keep things chaotic, the final two laps of a race introduce random modifiers—like speed surges, bumper madness, and hazard trails—ensuring no two races play out the same way.
- Deep Customisation: A growing roster of unique characters and collectable karts that players can fine-tune to match their specific racing style.
“Every milestone has brought us closer to the experience we originally envisioned,” said the Kartboard Dash development team in a recent press statement. “We’re incredibly excited to see players finally jump into the world we’ve been building. The finish line is now in sight, and we can’t wait to share the official release date with the community.”

The Road to July

Zatun—an indie veteran studio with nearly two decades of development experience—is treating Kartboard Dash as a major milestone for its portfolio of original IP. Designed to follow a live-ops model, the free-to-play title will eventually feature seasonal content, rotating special events, and fresh rewards to give both casual and competitive players a reason to keep coming back.

While the exact calendar day for the July drop is still being kept under wraps, Zatun has promised a steady stream of gameplay showcases, creator content reveals, and official launch updates over the coming weeks.

PC players looking to secure their spot on the starting grid can already find the official Kartboard Dash Steam Page live to add the game to their wishlists ahead of next month’s launch.

#KartboardDash #Zatun #IndieGames #ArcadeRacer #MobileGaming #PCGaming #GamingNews #TechMash
18th June 2026