TECHMASH

Tag: #IndieGames

  • Mech Mayhem Refined: Brigador Killers Drops Surprise Demo Update Ahead of Steam Next Fest

    Mech Mayhem Refined: Brigador Killers Drops Surprise Demo Update Ahead of Steam Next Fest

    The masters of isometric destruction are back at it. Stellar Jockeys, the brilliant minds behind the critically acclaimed cult classic mech shooter Brigador: Up-Armoured Edition, have just deployed a hefty new update for their highly anticipated follow-up, Brigador Killers.

    If you’ve been putting the game’s public demo through its paces, you’re in for a treat. Dropping just ahead of the upcoming June Steam Next Fest, this surprise patch addresses a massive wave of community feedback, delivering essential quality-of-life (QoL) improvements and UI fixes to make your corporate-crushing rampages smoother than ever.

    Taming the Inventory Beast

    While the Brigador Killers demo has already won over fans with its gritty combat, deep customisation sandbox, and incredible industrial soundtrack by Makeup And Vanity Set, players quickly noticed that managing a private mercenary arsenal could get a bit… overwhelming.

    Stellar Jockeys listened. The headline changes in this update focus heavily on streamlining how you interact with the world and your gear:

    • Generous Inventory Drag-and-Drop: Tired of menu fumbling mid-firefight? You can now quickly drag-and-drop weapons and grenades directly into backpacks and containers. If you frantically grab a gun off the ground, the game will now intelligently snap it into any open weapon slot.
    • Invisible “Hands” for Vehicles: In a massive design shift, the team has given all vehicles the ability to directly interact with and pick up items from the ground. No more forcing players into rigid logistics friction just to load up a trunk.
    • Edge Highlighting: A new visual edge-highlight system lights up interactive objects—like abandoned vehicles, fresh corpses, and garage components—whenever you mouse over them.

    Prepping for Steam Next Fest and Early Access

    Beyond the inventory overhaul, the patch injects a fresh coat of polish across the board. Players can expect sleek UI and UX changes, a new superpad added to the garage, upgraded audio effects, and crisp new sprite renders for weapons and vehicles.

    This update arrives at a crucial time. With Steam Next Fest kicking off on June 15, thousands of new players are about to drop into Solo Nobre’s violent universe for the first time. Stellar Jockeys have made it clear that this represents the definitive version of the demo; after Next Fest concludes, the studio will pivot entirely toward preparing the game for its highly anticipated Steam Early Access launch.

    If you haven’t already, head over to Steam, download the Brigador Killers demo, and start hijacking tanks. Just remember to enjoy the sandbox while it lasts—the developers have confirmed that progress from the demo won’t carry over to Early Access, meaning everyone will start fresh when the full corporate warfare begins.

    Have you played the Brigador Killers demo yet? What do you think of the new inventory changes? Let us know in the comments below!

    Source – http://stellarjockeys.com/games/brigadorkillers

    #BrigadorKillers #StellarJockeys #SteamNextFest #IndieGames #MechGames #PCGaming #GamingNews #TechMash

  • Suds & Strategy: Why You Need to Play the Free Car Wash Simulator Demo Right Now

    Suds & Strategy: Why You Need to Play the Free Car Wash Simulator Demo Right Now

    If you’ve ever found yourself hypnotized by power-washing videos on TikTok or felt a strange surge of pride after making your own vehicle look showroom-shiny, listen up. There is a brand-new simulator on the horizon, and it’s about to turn your obsession with cleanliness into a full-blown business empire.

    A free demo of Car Wash Simulator is officially live on PC, giving players a taste of what it takes to rise from a humble scrubber to a car wash tycoon.

    Here is why this quirky indie title needs to be on your radar.

    From Soap Scum to CEO: What to Expect

    Car Wash Simulator isn’t just about spraying water at dirty sedans (though the spraying mechanics are incredibly satisfying). It’s a dual-layered experience that marries hyper-detailed, hands-on cleaning with deep tycoon management.

    1. Deep Cleaning Mechanics

    Forget just running a car through an automated tunnel. This game gets down and dirty. You’ll be managing a variety of tools to tackle different types of grime:

    • High-pressure washers to blast away thick mud.
    • Foam cannons for that perfect, satisfying lather.
    • Detailing tools to clean interior upholstery and polish rims until they gleam.

    2. Build Your Business Empire

    Once the water is turned off, the real strategy begins. You aren’t just an employee; you’re the boss. The demo gives you a sneak peek into:

    • Upgrading your equipment and buying better detergents.
    • Managing your shop’s finances and expanding your bays.
    • Hiring staff to automate the workflow so you can focus on the big picture.

    3. Reputation is Everything

    In the car wash business, word of mouth can make or break you. Treat a rare supercar with extra care, and your reputation will skyrocket, attracting high-end clientele who pay top dollar. Cut corners, and bad reviews will stall your business faster than a dead battery.

    When is the Full Release?

    If the demo leaves you craving more soap and strategy, you won’t have to wait too long for the full experience.

    Release Update: The full version of Car Wash Simulator is scheduled to launch later in 2026.

    While PC players get the first taste via the current Steam demo, console gamers aren’t being left in the dust. The developers have confirmed that the full launch will also be coming to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.

    The Verdict: Download It Today

    Simulation games are at their best when they take an everyday chore and turn it into an addictive, rewarding gameplay loop. Car Wash Simulator hits that sweet spot perfectly. It’s therapeutic, strategic, and entirely free to try right now.

    Head over to Steam, grab your pressure washer, and start building your empire today.

    Source – https://s.team/a/3883800

    #TechMash #CarWashSimulator #GamingNews #PCGaming #SimulationGames #IndieGames #PS5 #XboxSeriesX

  • Slacking Off at Work Just Got an Upgrade: Duelist: Idle Expedition Drops New Free Steam Demo Ahead of Steam Next Fest

    Slacking Off at Work Just Got an Upgrade: Duelist: Idle Expedition Drops New Free Steam Demo Ahead of Steam Next Fest

    If your boss asks why your productivity is looking a bit “automated” lately, you can officially blame developer One Interactive Studio and publisher Infini Fun.

    The duo has just unleashed an updated free Steam demo for Duelist: Idle Expedition, giving us an early look at the hand-drawn, JRPG-inspired pixel art auto-battler before it launches later this year. And yes, it is specifically designed to live right on your taskbar.

    With Steam Next Fest just around the corner, this updated slice of the game is the perfect excuse to assemble an elite squad of duelists and let them do all the heavy lifting while you “excel” at your actual day job.

    The Perfect Taskbar Companion

    Let’s be honest: the best idle games are the ones that respect your time (or lack thereof). Duelist: Idle Expedition embraces this completely. Your travelling Guild fights, grows, and adventures across the Continent completely automatically.

    While you are grinding through spreadsheets, your pixelated squad is grinding through monsters, collecting mountains of gold, and looting rare gear. When you check back in, you get all the dopamine of a massive RPG level-up without any of the carpal tunnel.

    But don’t let the “idle” tag fool you—there is a surprising amount of strategic depth cooked into this retro-styled world.

    Deep Customisation Meets Camp Management

    If you want to min-max your passive progress, Duelist: Idle Expedition gives you plenty of tools to play with:

    • Massive Team Variety: You can mix and match from 91 unique roles to find the ultimate combat synergies. Every single character features individual pixel animations and skill effects.
    • A Deep Loot Loop: There are over 200 items to hunt for, including 60+ class-exclusive Legendary Equipment pieces. Plus, an enchantment system lets you tailor gear stats to your exact strategy.
    • Camp Progression: Back at base camp, you’ll manage a growing economy. You can upgrade the Tavern to recruit new talent (and make money off their drinks), use the Blacksmith to forge superior gear, and let the Shopkeeper flip your battlefield spoils into cold, hard cash.

    What’s in the Updated Demo?

    The latest build refined the early-game tutorial flow, smoothed out combat balance, and optimised the UI based on early player feedback. It gives players a hefty hands-on look at the core loop: recruiting duelists, unlocking regional combat styles, upgrading facilities, and taking down rival Guilds.

    If you love retro JRPG aesthetics but simply don’t have 80 hours to actively sink into a traditional turn-based grind anymore, this is absolutely one to watch.

    Duelist: Idle Expedition is slated for a full release in Q3 2026. You can download the updated free demo right now and throw it on your Steam Wishlist ahead of Steam Next Fest.

    Source – https://s.team/a/4282780

    #TechMash #Gaming #IndieGames #SteamNextFest #IdleRPG #PixelArt #GamingNews #PCGaming #JRPG

  • Shuffle, Dodge, Win: The Golden Swirl Updated Demo is Now Live on Steam!

    Shuffle, Dodge, Win: The Golden Swirl Updated Demo is Now Live on Steam!

    Gamers, grab your decks and stretch those thumbs. If you’ve ever wondered what happens when you smash the tactical brainpower of a roguelike deckbuilder into the high-octane, sweat-inducing chaos of a bullet-hell evasion game, we have your answer.

    Snako Production and Infini Fun have officially dropped an updated Steam demo for their upcoming genre-defying title, Golden Swirl—and it is every bit as chaotic and addictive as it sounds.

    What is Golden Swirl?

    Let’s be honest: the indie gaming scene is flooded with deckbuilders right now. But Golden Swirl isn’t just trying to ride the wave—it’s actively making a splash.

    The developers describe it as a “mould-breaking fusion of deckbuilding strategy and action-combat evasion.” In practice, that means you aren’t just sitting back, calmly playing cards, and waiting for your turn. You are actively dodging incoming attacks in real-time while trying to draft the perfect synergy of cards to take down your foes. It’s a test of both mental strategy and physical reflexes. Think Slay the Spire meets your favourite high-intensity twitch-reflex arcade game.

    What’s New in the Updated Demo?

    If you played an earlier iteration of the game, it’s time to re-download. The teams at Snako Production and Infini Fun have been hard at work cooking up refinements based on community feedback. While they’re keeping some surprises close to the chest for the full release, this updated demo promises:

    • Smoother Combat Transitions: The handoff between card selection and real-time dodging feels more fluid than ever.
    • Rebalanced Card Pools: New synergies to discover and fewer “dead weight” drafts.
    • Polished Visuals and UI: It’s easier to read the battlefield when things get hectic (which is always).

    The Verdict: If you love the strategic depth of card games but occasionally crave the adrenaline rush of a rogue-lite action game, this is a must-play.

    How to Play

    The updated demo is free and available right now on Steam.

    Head over to the Steam store, search for Golden Swirl, and see how long you can survive the beautiful, golden chaos. Don’t forget to add it to your Wishlist if you want to support the developers!

    Have you played the new demo yet? What’s your ultimate card combo? Let us know in the comments below!

    Source – https://s.team/a/3353800

    #PCGaming #IndieGames #GoldenSwirl #Deckbuilder #SteamDemo #GamingNews #TechMash #SnakoProduction #InfiniFun

  • Surviving the Siege: Powerful Narrative RPG ‘Hollow Home’ Drops Free Steam Demo Ahead of Kickstarter Launch

    Surviving the Siege: Powerful Narrative RPG ‘Hollow Home’ Drops Free Steam Demo Ahead of Kickstarter Launch

    The indie gaming scene is about to get a massive dose of emotional depth and raw storytelling. Kyiv-based developer Twigames and publisher Crunchy Leaf Games have officially announced that their highly anticipated narrative survival RPG, Hollow Home, is joining the upcoming Steam Next Fest from June 15th to 22nd.

    Even better? You don’t have to wait to get a taste of this award-winning title. A brand-new, playable free demo is live on Steam right now, giving players a firsthand look at one of the most poignant indie projects of the year.

    What is Hollow Home?

    Hollow Home is a striking, isometric narrative RPG inspired by classics like Disco Elysium. However, it carries a weight that sets it apart: the game is deeply rooted in the real-world horrors of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, built by a development team that actually lived through the conflict.

    You step into the shoes of Maksym, a 14-year-old boy trapped inside a city under siege. His father is at the front lines, his mother is unreachable, and he is left entirely alone to navigate a rapidly crumbling world.

    Key Features to Look Out For in the Demo:

    • Zero Combat, Pure Survival: There are no weapons or grand battle sequences. Your survival depends entirely on managing scarce resources, maintaining relationships, and enduring the heavy psychological toll of war.
    • A Disappearing City: The map shifts constantly. As the days pass under occupation, districts get shelled, paths are blocked, and locations you visited on Day 1 might be entirely destroyed by Day 3.
    • Every Choice Carries Weight: With a strict “Resolve” and limited action point system, you cannot be everywhere or save everyone. You have to decide who to help, knowing you must live with the consequences of who you leave behind.
    • Skills Taught by the Community: Forget traditional RPG stat menus. Maksym learns critical survival skills—like medical aid, crafting, and cooking—directly through the people he interacts with and helps.

    Kickstarter and Full Release Windows Locked In

    The Steam Next Fest showcase is just the beginning of a massive push for the studio. Twigames has confirmed they will be launching a Kickstarter campaign in July 2026 to secure the final funding needed for the full release. Backers will get a chance to directly support development and unlock exclusive rewards.

    If all goes to plan, we won’t have to wait long for the finished product. The studio is aiming for a late 2026 launch window for the full game on PC via Steam.

    Given that Hollow Home has already swept up industry accolades—including Most Promising Game at the Indie Cup Ukraine and the Nordic Game Pitch Battle—this is absolutely an indie title to keep on your radar.

    Head over to Steam, download the free demo, and make sure to add it to your wishlist!

    Source – https://s.team/a/2362070

    #HollowHome #IndieGames #SteamNextFest #Twigames #CrunchyLeafGames #RPG #GamingNews #TechMash #PCGaming #SupportUkraine #Kickstarter

  • Magical Girls vs. Biblical Monsters: Kernel Hearts Slams Onto Consoles and PC This September

    Magical Girls vs. Biblical Monsters: Kernel Hearts Slams Onto Consoles and PC This September

    Indie developer Ephemera Games has dropped a massive double-whammy of news for anime action fans. Not only has their highly anticipated debut title, Kernel Hearts, locked in an official release window for September 2026, but players won’t have to wait until autumn to get another taste of the action. An updated, feature-packed demo is officially heading to Steam Next Fest on June 15th.

    Published by Whitethorn Games, this unique multiplayer co-op roguelike action RPG tasks players with a rather ambitious to-do list: eliminate legions of angels, scale the Tower of Babel, and transform into a magical girl to literally dethrone God.

    If you like your hack-and-slash gameplay mixed with deep customisation and high-stakes teamwork, this is definitely one to keep on your radar.

    Slay God, Upgrade Your OS, and Bond with Allies

    In Kernel Hearts, you control a member of the M.A.H.O.U. Unit, fighting to save a post-apocalyptic world currently drowning in ashes. The game effortlessly blends fast-paced, combo-heavy action with classic roguelike mechanics.

    Here is what you can look forward to when the full game drops later this year:

    • Co-Op Chaos: Team up with up to four friends in online multiplayer co-op to take down massive biblical monsters and intense domain guardians.
    • Magical Transformations: Dispel the Heavenly Curse to temporarily unlock your true, devastating magical girl form and turn the tide of battle.
    • 256KB of Customisation: Between runs, return to your lab holdout on the outskirts of humanity to spend your hard-earned rewards, equipping up to 256KB of custom stat-altering chips to your Unit’s MAHOU.OS.
    • Forge Deep Bonds: It’s not all endless fighting; you can interact with the unique inhabitants of the tower and give them gifts to deepen your relationships.

    Catch the Fresh Demo at Steam Next Fest

    If you missed the initial playtests or the early alpha builds, the upcoming Steam Next Fest on June 15th is your perfect entry point. Game Director Akira recently shared that the development team has been working hard to address player feedback from earlier versions. The upcoming Steam Next Fest build promises a heavily updated demo featuring crucial quality-of-life improvements, tighter mechanics, and a much cleaner look at what the final product will offer.

    The full game is shaping up to be an absolute treat for anime fans and roguelike veterans alike. Mark your calendars for the demo next week, and get ready for the full launch this autumn!

    Kernel Hearts will officially launch in September 2026 across PC (Steam and Epic Games Store), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch.

    Source – https://kernelhearts.com/

    #KernelHearts #EphemeraGames #WhitethornGames #SteamNextFest #IndieGames #GamingNews #CoOpGaming #ActionRPG #Roguelike #AnimeGames #MagicalGirl

  • Boot Up the Nostalgia: Village Studios Unveils ‘Hack ’95’ at PC Gaming Show—And the Demo is Live!

    Boot Up the Nostalgia: Village Studios Unveils ‘Hack ’95’ at PC Gaming Show—And the Demo is Live!

    Hold onto your floppy disks and fire up your dial-up modems, because the golden age of computing is making a massive, neon-soaked comeback.

    In a worldwide exclusive at the PC Gaming Show, developer Village Studios officially announced Hack ’95—a computer hacking RPG that brilliantly mashes up retro desktop simulation with tactical card-battling mechanics. If you’ve ever wanted to feel like an elite Hollywood hacker from a 90s thriller, this is your ticket back to yesteryear.

    Even better news? You don’t have to wait until the late nineties to play it. A free demo is live on Steam right now!

    Dialling Into the Plot: Geeks, Freaks, and Big Tech Conspiracy

    Set in a fictionalised, pixel-perfect reimagining of 1995, the game drops you into the shoes of an employee at the shady Axis Megasystems. Your elite hacker best friend, mega_hurtz, has gone missing under incredibly suspicious circumstances, and it’s up to you to navigate the corporate desktop infrastructure to uncover the truth.

    To solve the mystery, you’ll have to hack your way from underground IRC chatrooms straight to the heart of an evil tech startup and a shadowy government agency. The writing team features some serious industry pedigree, with the script overseen by veteran games journalist and bestselling author Keith Stuart, and game direction by Will Luton (formerly of SEGA and Rovio).

    According to Stuart:

    “The culture of the internet and videogames in this era was so weird and dark, yet wildly optimistic. And although it’s set in ’95, the story is really about rebelling against big tech and regaining the freedom of the net. It couldn’t be more timely.”

    Cyberpunk Meets Yu-Gi-Oh: How It Plays

    Instead of forcing you to memorise actual command lines or C++ strings, Hack ’95 translates cyber warfare into a highly addictive, pick-up-and-play deck-builder. Heavily inspired by 90s trading card games like Magic: The Gathering and Yu-Gi-Oh, you’ll draw scripts, viruses, and hijacked computer protocols to overpower the firewall defences of target devices.

    Outside of the card battles, the game is an immersive love letter to old-school operating systems. You’ll be browsing the web on “Navigate ’95,” dodging flaming GIFs, listening to licensed 90s dance bangers from artists like N-R-G and Nookie, and taking advice from Assistant Bert—an incredibly helpful, mildly incontinent virtual pug who acts as your Microsoft Clippy-style companion for federal cybercrimes.

    Jack In From Today

    Hack ’95 perfectly captures the thrill of exploring someone else’s desktop, discovering forbidden folders, and sticking it to the man—all while a CRT filter warms your eyes.

    The full game is coming to PC, but you can download the Hack ’95 Demo on Steam today to play through the opening sequence, test out your deck-building skills, and meet Assistant Bert.

    Let us know in the comments below: What’s your favourite piece of 90s tech nostalgia?

    Source

    #Hack95 #PCGamingShow #IndieGames #Deckbuilder #RetroGaming

  • Cults & Creatures: Why Monster Zoo Tycoon is the Darkly Comedic Management Sim We Need

    Cults & Creatures: Why Monster Zoo Tycoon is the Darkly Comedic Management Sim We Need

    Remember the golden era of management sims? You’d spend hours carefully placing paths, designing the perfect habitats, and making sure your guests had enough burger venues to stay happy.

    Well, throw out the cotton candy and grab your ritual robes. Revealed fresh out of the IGN Live Indie Loop showcase, Monster Zoo Tycoon is taking the classic tycoon formula and dragging it kicking and screaming into the underworld. Developed by Overpowered Team and published by indie.io, this upcoming title tasks you with building a bustling monster park… that doubles as a front for a literal secret cult.

    Talk about a corporate pivot.

    The Ultimate Two-Front Management Chaos

    On the surface, your job is simple: build a family-friendly destination featuring the world’s most spectacular supernatural entities. We’re talking vampires, zombies, werewolves, and full-blown world-ending horrors.

    But behind the scenes, you aren’t just managing ticket prices. You’re running a subterranean organisation dedicated to the Dark Lord.

    ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
?               MONSTER ZOO TYCOON LOOP                  ?
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                            ?
              ?????????????????????????????
              ?                           ?
      [ THE SURFACE FRONT ]     [ THE UNDERGROUND CULT ]
      • Exhibit Vampires & Co.  • Brainwash Unsuspecting Guests
      • Manage Diet (Blood/Souls)• Sacrifice for "Faith" points
      • Prevent Containment Chaos• Unlock Dark Lord's Favors

    Guest Management Takes on a Whole New Meaning

    In a normal tycoon game, an unhappy guest leaves a bad review. In Monster Zoo Tycoon, a guest is a resource. You can lure unsuspecting visitors through your gates and use devious traps—disguised as harmless park props—to capture them. Once you have them, you face some choices:

    • Feed them: Some of your high-tier monsters require a steady diet of brains or souls to stay happy.
    • Brainwash them: Turn them into loyal cultists to expand your behind-the-scenes workforce.
    • Sacrifice them: Offer them up to generate Faith, which unlocks powerful Dark Lord’s Favours, new facilities, and worse hazards.

    Navigating PR Disasters and Blood Rituals

    Naturally, keeping a lid on this operation isn’t going to be easy. If you thought a broken-down roller coaster was a headache, try managing a werewolf breakout during peak park hours.

    If containment fails, your escaped creatures will attack visitors, spreading absolute chaos and triggering disastrous chain reactions. If that wasn’t enough, you’ll also have to actively dodge nosy reporters, government investigators, and rival saboteurs who smell something fishy in the gift shop.

    “Between monster breakouts, suspicious disappearances, public relations disasters, and the occasional blood ritual, keeping the zoo running is easier said than done.”

    From sending cultists on wild expeditions to hunt down new legendary monsters to upgrading your roadside attraction into a global hub of supernatural terror, the gameplay loop looks incredibly addictive, deeply funny, and beautifully chaotic.

    Wishlist It Now

    If you’re ready to trade in your panda enclosures for vampire crypts and blood sacrifices, Monster Zoo Tycoon is officially available to wishlist on Steam. Keep your eyes on TechMash for more updates, trailers, and release date announcements as they drop.

    Are you going to run a clean park, or are you diving straight into the dark arts? Let us know in the comments below!

    Source

    #Gaming #MonsterZooTycoon #IndieGames #TycoonGames #Vampires

  • Booting Up the Horror: 90s-Inspired Digital Mystery ‘Desktop Explorer’ Confirms July Release Date

    Booting Up the Horror: 90s-Inspired Digital Mystery ‘Desktop Explorer’ Confirms July Release Date

    The Summer Game Fest hype train is officially leaving the station, and it’s already delivering some massive wins for indie horror fans. Announcing today during the Latin American Games Showcase: SGF Edition, developer Recurring Dream revealed that their highly anticipated retro-inspired, eerie point-and-click mystery, Desktop Explorer, is officially arriving on July 17 for PC and Mac via Steam.

    If you love digging through vintage operating systems, solving fragmented puzzles, and uncovering deeply unsettling digital secrets, this is one timeline you won’t want to clear from your cache.

    What is Desktop Explorer?

    In Desktop Explorer, you inherit an old, bulky 90s PC from your uncle. To your surprise, it boots up, but tucked away inside the outdated software is a letter tasking you with investigating a missing person’s case.

    Your gateway to the truth? A cryptic, pre-installed puzzle game that gives the project its name.

    To solve the mystery, you’ll have to rummage through abandoned user profiles, dig into corrupted applications, read through old chat logs, and play classic built-in computer games. The aesthetic perfectly captures that liminal, nostalgic tech vibe—but underneath the pixelated charm lies a heavy, psychological horror narrative.

    Backed by Indie Royalty

    If the premise alone doesn’t hook you, the powerhouse team backing the project certainly will. Desktop Explorer is co-funded by Outersloth (the massive indie fund launched by Among Us creator Innersloth) alongside Casey Yano, the co-founder of Mega Crit (Slay the Spire). With that kind of creative backing, expectations are understandably sky-high for this retro nightmare.

    Play the Demo Right Now!

    Can’t wait until July? You don’t have to. Ahead of the upcoming Steam Next Fest, Recurring Dream has dropped a free playable demo right now on Steam. It gives players a chance to explore the opening chapter, test out classic OS tools, and solve the first 10 puzzles to get a taste of the eerie atmosphere.

    TechMash Tip: Grab your headphones for this one. The demo features a brilliantly nostalgic, unsettling soundtrack filled with old-school computer whirs and clicks that elevate the tension beautifully.

    More News Coming This Week

    The showcase hype doesn’t stop here. Desktop Explorer is also locked in to make an appearance during Fellow Traveller’s Story-Rich Showcase.

    • When: June 6 at 10 AM PT / 6 PM BST.
    • What to expect: A deeper dive into the narrative and mechanics of this digital mystery.

    Make sure to head over to Steam, try the demo, and hit that wishlist button ahead of its July 17 launch!

    #IndieGames #DesktopExplorer #HorrorGaming #SGF2026 #SteamNextFest

  • Dark Rituals and Autobattles: Order Automatica Haunts the ID@Xbox Summer Showcase

    Dark Rituals and Autobattles: Order Automatica Haunts the ID@Xbox Summer Showcase

    The shadows are lengthening, the gears are turning, and an eerie mechanical hum is filling the air. If you tuned into the recent ID@Xbox Indie Selects Summer Edition showcase, you likely caught a glimpse of something wonderfully sinister.

    Order Automatica, the highly anticipated dark auto-battler, officially took centre stage—and it’s safe to say the mysterious rituals are about to begin.

    Enter the Machine Age of Dark Magic

    Developed by the twisted geniuses at New Beings and published by the indie champions at better. publishing, Order Automatica is not your average strategy game. It strips away the colourful, bright aesthetics often found in the auto-battler genre and replaces them with a grim, atmospheric world governed by arcane machinery and occult rites.

    In Order Automatica, players assemble a grotesque syndicate of mechanised minions and cultist constructs. Your job? Program their behaviours, position them strategically, and watch them execute your dark will in automated, high-stakes combat.

    Watch the Brand-New Trailer

    To celebrate its feature in the ID@Xbox showcase, the developers dropped a gorgeous, spine-chilling new trailer. It gives players a deeper look into the game’s grimdark aesthetic, its hauntingly beautiful soundtrack, and the complex tactical layers awaiting those brave enough to command the automatons.

    Check out the eerie vibe and tactical depth on display:

    “The ritual requires precise calibration. One wrong gear, one misplaced rune, and the machine turns on its master.”

    Play the Demo on Xbox Today!

    Can’t wait to start your own mechanical cult? You don’t have to.

    Xbox players can dive into the darkness right now. A brand-new playable demo is officially live on the Xbox Store, allowing you to get a hands-on feel for the game’s unique blend of strategy, resource management, and haunting atmosphere.

    Whether you are a seasoned auto-battler veteran or a sucker for a great gothic sci-fi aesthetic, this is one demo you shouldn’t sleep on. Download it today, test your strategies, and prepare yourself for the full ritual.

    Find out more here

    #OrderAutomatica #IDatXbox #IndieGames #XboxGaming #AutoBattler

  • Brave the Tempest: Stormforge Announces Public Playtest and Drops Stunning New Trailer

    Brave the Tempest: Stormforge Announces Public Playtest and Drops Stunning New Trailer

    The survival crafting genre is about to get a serious jolt of magical energy. Roboto Games, the brilliant minds behind the highly anticipated fantasy open-world survival crafter Stormforge, has officially announced that its first public playtest will kick off this July.

    If you’ve been itching to test your mettle against a world literally being torn apart by mystical weather, your time has come.

    To make the announcement even sweeter, the studio unveiled a gorgeous new gameplay trailer during the Women-Led Games Showcase (part of the Summer Game Fest lineup). The trailer gave fans a dazzling look at Stormforge’s vibrant, cel-shaded art style, deadly new biomes, and the terrifyingly chaotic elemental storms that define the game.

    Check out everything we know so far about the upcoming playtest and why this title needs to be firmly at the top of your Steam wishlist.

    Surviving the Squall: What is Stormforge?

    Stormforge drops up to eight players into a procedurally generated high-fantasy world overrun by malevolent, magical storms. These aren’t just moody skyboxes with a bit of rain; the tempests in Stormforge are living, breathing hazards.

    We’re talking about tornadoes that literally rip buildings apart and hurl rocks, trees, and enemies through the air, and brutal dust storms that blind you while draining your health. But where there is danger, there is power. Players must venture directly into the eyes of these storms to harvest the rare, magical resources needed to craft top-tier gear and build fortified bases.

    ? Quick Stats: 
• Players: 1–8 player co-op (or solo play)
• Available Skills: 100+ unlockable abilities
• Release Window: Early Access in 2026
• Playtest Window: July 2026

    Play It Your Way: Class-Blending Combat

    One of the most exciting reveals alongside the trailer is Stormforge’s incredibly flexible class system. You’ll start your journey as a classic Warrior, Mage, or Ranger. However, as you explore the world of Sorana and defeat formidable bosses, you’ll unlock entirely new classes.

    Instead of locking you into a rigid role, Roboto Games is giving players total freedom. You can mix and match skills from any unlocked tree to create wild, hybrid playstyles. Want to play a sneaky Warrior with stealth mechanics? Or a Mage who crushes crowd control with a heavy jump attack? The choice is entirely yours.

    “Giving players the freedom to decide how to play Stormforge has been our top priority since the very beginning. If you would like to play as a warrior with sneaking abilities, you can… You can mix and match abilities and skills from your classes, and play Stormforge your way.” — Mathilde Pignol, Co-Founder & Chief Creative Officer at Roboto Games

    What to Expect in the July Playtest

    Roboto Games has confirmed that the upcoming July playtest will offer a meaty chunk of gameplay (roughly 5 to 10 hours, or even more if you get hopelessly addicted to the base-building mechanics).

    Testers will get a first-hand look at:

    • 8-Player Multiplayer Co-op: Team up with your squad to divide and conquer the storm-ravaged landscape.
    • Terrifying New Flora & Fauna: Keep an eye out for magically enhanced predators like Mistwolves, which can phase into a mist-like state to ambush you.
    • Extreme Weather: Face off against three distinct types of item-hurling, base-destroying tornadoes.
    • Epic Boss Battles: Test your hybrid builds against two challenging boss encounters.

    How to Sign Up

    Ready to brave the storm? Registration for the public playtest is live right now. Head over to the Stormforge Steam Page and hit the “Request Access” button to throw your hat in the ring for the July build.

    Don’t forget to wishlist the game to stay up to date ahead of its planned Steam Early Access launch!

    #Stormforge #RobotoGames #SurvivalCrafting #CoOpGaming #IndieGames

  • Descend into Madness: Indie Roguelike ‘HELLEVATORS’ Drops Free Steam Demo on June 8th

    Descend into Madness: Indie Roguelike ‘HELLEVATORS’ Drops Free Steam Demo on June 8th

    If you’ve ever thought your daily commute was a nightmare, solo developer Kohl Meek is about to show you just how good you actually have it.

    Get ready to swap your Oyster card for a shotgun, because HELLEVATORS—a blistering, fast-paced bullet hell action-roguelike—is officially letting players board its infernal public transit system for the very first time.

    Next Stop: Bullet Hell

    In HELLEVATORS, Hell isn’t just a pit of fire; it’s a chaotic, ever-shifting transit network. Players will have to fight their way through waves of demonic entities, dodging a relentless barrage of projectiles while navigating the tight, claustrophobic confines of the underworld’s elevators and subway cars.

    As a roguelike, death is just part of the schedule. You can expect to die, upgrade your arsenal, and jump right back in for another frantic commute.

    Catch the Demo at Steam Bullet Fest

    The exciting news lands just ahead of Steam’s Bullet Fest, a week-long celebration of all things high-velocity and bullet-heavy running from June 8th through June 15th.

    • What: A free, playable public demo of HELLEVATORS.
    • When: Launching June 8th.
    • Where: Exclusively on Steam.

    This will be the first time the public can get their hands on the game’s tight mechanics and experience the adrenaline-fueled chaos firsthand.

    When is the Full Release?

    While the demo will give us a delicious, stress-inducing taste of the action this month, we’ll have to wait a little longer for the full itinerary. Kohl Meek has slated the full release of HELLEVATORS for Q4 2026.

    Judging by the premise, it looks well worth the wait for any fan of Enter the Gungeon, Vampire Survivors, or classic arcade bullet hells.

    TechMash Verdict: Mark your calendars for June 8th, head over to Steam, and make sure you don’t miss your stop. This is one public transit system you’ll actually want to get stuck in.

    Source

    #Hellevators #IndieGames #SteamBulletFest #BulletHell #PCGaming