TECHMASH

Tag: #IndieGames

  • Smash Piggies, Dodge Debt: ‘Bills Must Be Paid’ Locks In Official Release Date and Price!

    Smash Piggies, Dodge Debt: ‘Bills Must Be Paid’ Locks In Official Release Date and Price!

    If your real-life mailbox fills you with dread, Frankfurt-based indie developer Rike Games has the ultimate digital therapy for you. Their highly anticipated, deeply satisfying active incremental game, Bills Must Be Paid, finally has an official release date and price announcement—and the story behind its journey to launch is just as wild as its gameplay.

    Grab your hammers: Bills Must Be Paid is officially launching on Steam for PC and Mac on July 29, 2026.

    The Viral Story Behind the Launch

    If the title sounds familiar, it might be because the game accidentally went viral earlier this year under bizarre circumstances. A stolen build of the game’s demo was recompiled and uploaded onto Douyin (China’s TikTok), where it racked up massive views and ad revenue before Rike Games—a dedicated two-person studio—managed to successfully get the clone taken down.

    Now, the real, polished, and feature-packed version is ready to take its rightful spotlight.

    “We’re a two-person studio—I handle the code, my spouse handles the art,” the developer shared. “The last months have been quite crazy, and we are super excited to have the release date set now.”

    What is Bills Must Be Paid?

    The premise is beautifully simple yet addictively chaotic: You’re entirely broke, jumping piggy banks are taking over your desk, and you have bills to pay.

    Armed with a hammer, you smash various types of piggies (from “The Tourist” to “El Loco”) to collect random loot, rare coins, and cash. Every swing drains your stamina. When your hand gets too tired, the run ends.

    But don’t ignore the mail! If you fail to pay your bills, the debt collector will begin siphoning a cut of your earnings. Push it too far, and you’ll have to declare bankruptcy and start over under a completely new identity.

    What’s New in the Full Release?

    If you’ve played the free demo, Rike Games has added a massive haul of new content for the final build that the Chinese clone couldn’t dream of replicating:

    • The Prestige System: Earn special rings to customise your hand, unlocking unique power-ups.
    • The Desk Gadget Shop: Buy upgrades to automate your smashing and boost your stats.
    • More Hammers & Piggies: A wider variety of weapons, each with distinct trade-offs, and lazier or faster piggy variants to hunt down.
    • An Actual Ending: A concrete goal to reach beyond the infinite loop of debt.

    Price, Availability, and Launch Discount

    Rike Games is keeping this indie gem highly accessible.

    DetailInfo
    Release DateJuly 29, 2026
    PlatformsSteam (Windows & macOS)
    Base Price$6.99 USD (with regional adjustments)
    Launch Week Promo30% OFF during the first week
    Languages Supported12 (including English, German, French, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese)

    Try the Demo Today!

    Can’t wait until late July? You don’t have to. A free demo is currently live on Steam right now as part of Steam Next Fest. Head over, test your grip strength, and add it to your wishlist to catch that 30% launch-week discount.

    Find out more here

    #IndieGames #GamingNews #BillsMustBePaid #SteamNextFest #PCGaming #MacGaming #RikeGames #TechMash #IncrementalGames #SupportIndieDevs

  • Dark Souls Meets The Witcher: ‘The Relic: First Guardian’ Locks In July Launch Date!

    Dark Souls Meets The Witcher: ‘The Relic: First Guardian’ Locks In July Launch Date!

    Soulslike fans, clear your calendars. South Korean indie developer Project Cloud Games and publisher Perp Games have officially dropped a brand-new trailer confirming that their highly anticipated dark fantasy action-RPG, The Relic: First Guardian, will officially launch on July 31, 2026!

    The game is set to hit PlayStation 5 and PC via Steam first, with Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch 2 versions arriving later this summer. For the physical media collectors among us, a boxed PS5 version is also locked in for September 4th.

    Check out the blistering new release date trailer below to see why this game has skyrocketed to the top of our wishlists:

    Reclaiming the Cursed Realm of Arsiltus

    In The Relic: First Guardian, you step into the shoes of a guardian tasked with surviving Arsiltus—a once-prosperous world completely swallowed by a devastating void after its great relic was shattered. To restore peace, you’ll have to explore a collapsed, semi-open world, piece together forgotten memories, and face a brutal lineup of over 70 unique, tragic bosses twisted by curses and starvation.

    Why ‘The Relic’ is Shaking Up the Action-RPG Formula

    Project Cloud Games may be a small studio, but they have massive cinematic ambitions. The Relic isn’t just another clone in a crowded genre; it’s actively tearing up the traditional RPG rulebook with some incredibly fresh mechanics:

    • Attack Without Limits (No Attack Stamina): In a massive twist for the genre, stamina is reserved strictly for dodging and defending. Attacks do not deplete your stamina bar, and skills operate purely on cooldowns. This means you can maintain an aggressive, fluid offensive flow without constantly backing off to catch your breath.
    • Say Goodbye to Traditional Levelling: Forget grinding for XP. Character progression is tied entirely to collecting “Relics”—emotional fragments of those who lived before. With over 70 unique passive Relics to collect, you can fundamentally alter your skill behaviour, combat tempo, and weapon styles on the fly.
    • One-of-a-Kind Unique Loot: The game completely reimagines loot structures. Every single weapon and piece of armour exists only once in the entire game world. Each item is a singular, unrepeatable legendary artefact that carries its own dark, inherited history.
    • Deep Class Customisation: With 5 distinct weapon types to master and 12 exclusive skill trees, players have total freedom to blend abilities and craft a completely unique class tailored to their exact playstyle.

    Mark Your Calendars

    With an art style deeply rooted in Asian mythology and folklore, heavy cinematic flair, and a combat system built for pure, unadulterated flow, The Relic: First Guardian looks like it’s going to be the sleeper hit of the summer.

    Prepare your build, sharpen your blades, and get ready to dive into the ruins of Arsiltus on July 31st.

    Are you ready to become the First Guardian? Let us know what weapon type you’re planning to main in the comments below!

    Find out more here

    #TheRelicFirstGuardian #ProjectCloudGames #PerpGames #Soulslike #ActionRPG #PS5 #PCGaming #GamingNews #IndieGames #TechMash

  • King of the Hill: 150,000 Players Tear Up Funselektor’s ‘Over the Hill’ Steam Demo Over the Weekend

    King of the Hill: 150,000 Players Tear Up Funselektor’s ‘Over the Hill’ Steam Demo Over the Weekend

    If you spent your weekend getting bogged down in the mud, rescuing your friends with a portable winch, and taking polaroids of bald eagles, you definitely weren’t alone.

    Funselektor, the brilliant indie studio behind the critically acclaimed art of rally and Absolute Drift, just dropped the debut Steam demo for their highly anticipated 4×4 off-road adventure, over the hill. The response? Absolutely massive. Over 150,000 players traded the race tracks for the untamed wilderness over the weekend, proving that there is a massive appetite for a slower, more mindful kind of driving game.

    Moving at Nature’s Pace

    Unlike traditional racing games that demand white-knuckle speed and perfect apexes, over the hill shifts into low gear. This is a digital outdoor expedition simulator where the real enemy isn’t a timer or an aggressive AI driver—it’s the terrain itself.

    The Steam demo drops players directly into Emerald Lake, the opening area of the game’s Canada region. Inspired by the rugged, breathtaking beauty of British Columbia’s Valhalla mountain range, the map is a gorgeous blend of dense woodlands, tranquil lakesides, and treacherous, rocky alpine trails.

    Instead of hammering the throttle, players have to focus on:

    • Methodical Route Planning: Choosing the safest path through unpredictable environments.
    • Authentic Physics: Managing throttle control, momentum, and wheel placement across mud, rock, and steep inclines.
    • Resource Management: Utilising vital off-road gear like Repair Kits, Portable Winch Anchors, and Planks to cross dangerous gaps.

    “Over the hill lands closer to real love of the wheel: Funselektor understands it in a way that an awful lot of studios miss.” – PC Gamer

    4×4 Customisation and Co-Op Cruising

    The demo lets you test drive three classic off-road vehicles inspired by the golden age of cross-country expeditions (the 1960s through the 1980s). Each rig features its own distinct weight distribution, traction profile, and handling quirks. As you explore, you gather an in-game currency called “pebbles” and recover fallen meteorites to unlock cosmetic upgrades, roof racks, and fresh coats of paint at the local merchant.

    But the real magic happens when you bring a crew. Over the hill supports up to four-player cooperative multiplayer. You and three friends can venture out into the wild together, tackle gruelling Challenge Trails, or help pull each other out of a tight spot when someone invariably flips their rig trying to show off.

    When you need a break from the mechanical stress, the game features a built-in Camera Mode. Players have been flooding social media with gorgeous snapshots of the local wildlife—including moose, wolves, and black bears—to populate their in-game Compendiums.

    Community Feedback & What’s Next

    With 150,000 drivers hitting the trails simultaneously, the demo served as a massive stress test for the small indie studio. While the feedback on the game’s “cozy SnowRunner” vibes has been overwhelmingly positive, some players noted performance hitches on certain PC configurations.

    True to form, Funselektor has already been incredibly proactive. They’ve rolled out a hotfix patch addressing multiplayer bugs, fixing camera issues, and opening up a beta branch on Steam specifically aimed at testing early optimisation tweaks.

    Don’t Miss Out: The Clock is Ticking!

    If you haven’t played it yet, you need to act fast. This exclusive look at over the hill is part of Steam Next Fest and is only available until June 22nd.

    The full game is scheduled to launch on Steam later this year, with versions for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and the Nintendo Switch 2 to follow.

    Head over to Steam, grab your winch, and go see what’s waiting just over the hill.

    Find out more here

    #OverTheHill #Funselektor #SteamNextFest #IndieGames #PCGaming #OffRoading #GamingNews #CoOpGaming #ArtOfRally #TechMash

  • Flip the Fairway: Tilt It! Golf Launches on Steam and Android

    Flip the Fairway: Tilt It! Golf Launches on Steam and Android

    Mini-golf is getting a major physics-based shake-up. If you are tired of the same old “pull back and aim” mechanic found in every standard golf simulator, indie publisher Untold Tales and developer Kutki Cave have the perfect remedy.

    Their brand-new, bite-sized puzzle game, Tilt It! Golf, has officially launched on Steam and Android, completely flipping the genre on its head. Literally.

    What is Tilt It! Golf?

    Instead of controlling a golf club to swing at a ball, Tilt It! Golf gives you control over the entire course. By tilting the environment itself, you have to use a mix of momentum, gravity, and precise angles to safely guide your golf ball straight into the hole.

    It sounds simple enough, but it quickly evolves into a chaotic, highly addictive puzzle-platformer.

    Key Features at a Glance:

    • Total Control: Tilt the entire level to roll your ball through complex hazards.
    • Massive Content: Feature 300 mind-bending holes spread across 15 distinct, vibrant biomes.
    • Trick-Shot Heaven: Built entirely on robust physics, rewarding clever angles and daring momentum plays.
    • Bite-Sized Design: Includes instant restarts, making it perfect for quick casual sessions or chasing the perfect “motion-in-one” run.
    • Wallet-Friendly: Positioned as an affordable budget experience, priced roughly around the cost of a cup of coffee.

    Nintendo Switch and Huawei Coming Soon

    If you prefer playing your mobile games via the AppGallery or want to utilise the physical gyro-controls of the Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons, you won’t have to wait very long. While the game is currently live for PC via Steam and mobile via Android, the developers have confirmed that dedicated launches for Nintendo Switch and Huawei platforms will follow soon after.

    Given how perfectly a physics-tilting mechanic fits the Switch’s hardware and casual on-the-go gaming setups, it is bound to be a massive hit on Nintendo’s hybrid console.

    The Verdict

    For the price of a fancy latte, Tilt It! Golf offers a ton of replayability, great visual charm, and an inventive mechanic that turns golf into an incredibly fun puzzle. You can grab your copy right now on Steam or the Google Play Store to start tilting your way to victory.

    Find out more here

    #TiltItGolf #IndieGames #MobileGaming #SteamReleases #AndroidGaming #NintendoSwitch #GamingNews #KutkiCave #UntoldTales #TechMash

  • Inventory Management Meets Bullet Heaven: Cloudbreaker Soars into Steam Next Fest!

    Inventory Management Meets Bullet Heaven: Cloudbreaker Soars into Steam Next Fest!

    The June edition of Steam Next Fest is officially underway, and indie fans have a massive new addiction waiting for them in the skies. Nova Scotia-based duo Ballast Games has officially launched the demo for Cloudbreaker, an incredibly stylish sky-world roguelite that brilliantly mashes up intense survival-like action with a puzzle-heavy inventory management system.

    If you’ve ever wanted to pilot a heavily armed airship while organising your inventory like a high-stakes game of Resident Evil grid-fitting, this is the title to watch.

    Check out what makes Cloudbreaker an unmissable stop during your Next Fest demo diving:

    The Mission: Save Haven from the Depths

    In the world of Cloudbreaker, the last remnants of humanity reside in Haven, a sanctuary floating high above a treacherous, cloud-covered world. Haven is sinking, and it’s up to you to take to the skies, descend through dangerous cloud layers, and recover a mythical Bloil Crystal to secure humanity’s survival for generations to come.

    Standing in your way are hordes of Biotes—the lingering, aggressive biotechnology experiments of long-dead civilisations.

    Tetris Meets Turbo-Charged Airships

    While the combat serves up pure bullet-heaven dopamine as you tear through waves of enemies, the real magic happens in your ship’s hangar.

    Defeating Biotes allows you to gather raw Bloil, which your ship converts into unique Engine Parts. To upgrade your airship, you must install these parts into your Engine Grid—a dedicated inventory management puzzle system.

    • Grid Synergies: It’s not just about what parts you have; it’s about where you place them. Different components connect and interact across the grid to unlock massive stat boosts and weapon synergies.
    • Unique Fleets: As you progress, you’ll unlock entirely new airships, each featuring completely distinct Engine Grid layouts and core abilities that completely alter your build strategies.
    • Deep Progression: Tailor your playstyle using dedicated upgrade trees for both ships and weapons, giving you the edge needed to take down punishing bosses and mini-bosses.

    Play the Demo Today!

    Cloudbreaker successfully blends the tactical satisfaction of a grid-based puzzle game with the frantic, fast-paced survival mechanics of the best roguelite action titles. With its crisp aesthetic, satisfying loop, and endless build variety, it’s easily one of our top recommendations for this week’s festival.

    The Cloudbreaker demo is live right now on Steam for the duration of June Steam Next Fest, featuring full keyboard/mouse and controller support. Take it for a spin, test your best buildcraft in Endless Mode, and don’t forget to add it to your Steam Wishlist to support the developers!

    Find out more here

    #Cloudbreaker #SteamNextFest #IndieGames #Roguelite #BulletHeaven #BallastGames #PCGaming #TechMash

  • MineGeon: Renegades Drops Massive Steam Next Fest Demo Update Ahead of July Launch

    MineGeon: Renegades Drops Massive Steam Next Fest Demo Update Ahead of July Launch

    Bullet-hell enthusiasts and co-op fans, it’s time to rally the squad. As part of the ongoing Steam Next Fest, indie developer Kickstone Studio has deployed a massive major content update for the MineGeon: Renegades demo.

    If you haven’t been tracking this one, MineGeon: Renegades is a high-octane, co-op sci-fi bullet-hell roguelite that challenges players to descend into the treacherous depths of the planet PAIMO. The mission? Fight off swarms of enemies, mine valuable resources, and make it out alive.

    With the full game locked in for a July 14 release, this expanded demo gives players a massive taste of the chaos to come. Here is a breakdown of what’s waiting for you in the new Steam Next Fest build.

    What’s New in the MineGeon: Renegades Demo?

    Kickstone Studio hasn’t just tweaked a few numbers; they’ve injected a wealth of new content that fundamentally expands how the game plays:

    • New Playable Class (Marshall): Joining the roster is Marshall, a heavy-duty Tank class built for high durability. If you prefer getting up close and personal, his ultimate ability unleashes devastating fist-to-fist combat to clear out crowded screens.
    • The Scavengers Mini-Boss Fights: Survival just got tougher. The update introduces three new mini-boss encounters featuring the Scavengers—hostile locals desperate to halt your descent.
    • Expanded Progression & Combat Synergy: The demo adds brand-new Gadgets, Ultimates, and Enhancements, giving players vastly more options to theorycraft chaotic, screen-clearing builds during a run.
    • Base Customisation (Ship Basement): Between intense expeditions, players can now unlock and access the basement of their spaceship, utilising a base-decoration system featuring props and themed objects.
    • A Brand-New Cooking System: Scavenge for ingredients during your runs to whip up meals back on the ship, providing crucial stat buffs for your next dive into PAIMO.

    Risk It All for Riches

    The core loop of MineGeon: Renegades revolves around greed and teamwork. You can brave the depths solo or team up with up to two friends. The deeper you go, the more valuable the minerals—but the more punishing the bullet hell becomes. Players must constantly balance the risk of pushing further for better loot versus banking their hard-earned materials safely back at the ship for permanent upgrades.

    The updated demo is available to play right now on Steam for the duration of Steam Next Fest. Grab your crew, test out Marshall’s fists of fury, and get a head start before the full launch on July 14.

    Are you diving into PAIMO this week? Let us know your favourite class build in the comments below!

    Find out more here

    #MineGeonRenegades #SteamNextFest #IndieGames #PCGaming #CoOpGames #Roguelite #BulletHell #GamingNews #TechMash

  • Test Your Friendship in Retro-Futurism: We Were Here Tomorrow Drops Free Steam Next Fest Demo!

    Test Your Friendship in Retro-Futurism: We Were Here Tomorrow Drops Free Steam Next Fest Demo!

    Co-op fans, grab your walkie-talkies and find your most reliable gaming partner. Total Mayhem Games is back to test the absolute limits of your communication skills. The highly anticipated next entry in their critically acclaimed cooperative puzzle series, We Were Here Tomorrow, has officially dropped a playable demo on Steam as part of Steam Next Fest!

    If you and your player two are looking for your next obsession, the gates to the mystery are open right now.

    Welcome to the Norcek Facility

    Breaking away from the icy, medieval terrors of Castle Rock from the previous games, We We Here Tomorrow plunges players into a striking, retro-futuristic setting.

    In the Steam Next Fest demo, you and your partner wake up trapped in separate pods inside the enigmatic Norcek Facility. Surrounded by strange, unfamiliar machinery and high-tech puzzles, your only guide is a calm, confident, yet deeply mysterious voice pushing you through a series of assignments. Why are you here? What is the purpose of this facility? That is for you to find out.

    The Golden Rule: Just like its predecessors, communication is your ultimate lifeline. You are split up, meaning you each see completely different clues, rooms, and mechanics. With only a walkie-talkie connecting you, progress completely relies on how well you can describe what you see.

    What’s New in We Were Here Tomorrow?

    Total Mayhem Games is shaking up the formula while keeping the core teamwork mechanics that fans love. Here is what you can expect from the demo and the upcoming full release:

    • Distinct Character Abilities: For the first time, you aren’t just relying on your walkie-talkie. Both explorers are equipped with unique tools and distinct abilities that must be combined to bypass obstacles.
    • Asymmetrical Brain-Teasers: Success requires complete synergy. Because your screens show entirely different perspectives, you literally have to become each other’s eyes and ears.
    • A Narrative-Driven Mystery: The sci-fi, retro-future setting brings a fresh narrative depth to the franchise, trading dark fantasy for advanced, uncharted technology and hidden corporate secrets.

    Play the Demo Now, Full Launch Coming Later This Year!

    The We Were Here Tomorrow demo is available to play for free on Steam from June 15 to June 22 during Steam Next Fest. Total Mayhem Games has spent the last few weeks polishing the experience based on community feedback, making this the perfect time to dive in.

    Don’t worry if you aren’t a PC player—the full game will feature full cross-platform multiplayer when it launches. The full version of We Were Here Tomorrow is scheduled to launch later this year and is officially available to wishlist right now across Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.

    Go grab your partner, download the demo, and see if your friendship can survive the Norcek Facility!

    Find out more here

    #WeWereHereTomorrow #SteamNextFest #TotalMayhemGames #CoOpGaming #PuzzleGames #IndieGames #GamingNews #SteamDemos #PS5 #XboxSeriesX #TechMash

  • Get Ready to Dilly-Dally: Big Walk Officially Confirmed for Nintendo Switch 2 with New Release Date Trailer!

    Get Ready to Dilly-Dally: Big Walk Officially Confirmed for Nintendo Switch 2 with New Release Date Trailer!

    The brilliant, chaotic minds behind the viral sensation Untitled Goose Game are back, and they’re trading in the pesky goose honks for something a little more cooperative. Melbourne-based developer House House, alongside publisher Panic, has dropped a brand-new release date trailer for their highly anticipated multiplayer adventure, Big Walk.

    Even better news for Nintendo fans? The game has been officially locked in for the Nintendo Switch 2, and it’s hitting the next-gen hybrid console on August 4, 2026!

    Check out everything we know so far about this gorgeous, communication-driven indie darling.

    What is Big Walk?

    If competitive, sweat-inducing multiplayer shooters have left you burnt out, Big Walk is the exact antidote you need. Described by the developers as a cooperative game about “teamwork and talking,” Big Walk drops you and a group of absurdly round, charming characters into a lush, wide-open island.

    The goal? There isn’t a massive rush. It’s a hand-crafted, 10-to-15-hour adventure meant to be played from start to finish with friends. You’ll tackle cerebral puzzles, figure out how to navigate the terrain, and—most importantly—just hang out.

    Watch the Release Date Trailer

    The new trailer highlights the absolute joy of doing a whole lot of nothing (and a whole lot of everything) with your mates. From navigating vibrant, mysterious structures to literally stealing your friend’s binoculars and kicking them into the ocean, the trailer perfectly captures House House’s signature brand of effortless charm and lighthearted mischief.

    Key Features We’re Excited For

    • Proximity Voice Chat is King: The game relies heavily on a brilliant in-game chat system. Voices fade across distances, echo down corridors, and muffle through walls. (They even recommend not being in the same physical room as your real-life friends to get the full experience!).
    • Hilarious Communication Tools: When voice chat cuts out or you find yourself separated, you can use binoculars, walkie-talkies, megaphones, laser pointers, whiteboards, or even a giant golden head to get your point across.
    • Flail Those Arms! If all else fails, you can wave, point, or flail your character’s arms around wildly to communicate.
    • Flexible Party Sizes & Crossplay: You can play as a focused duo or gather a massive crew of up to 12 players for absolute, beautiful chaos. Best of all, Big Walk supports full crossplay, meaning you can explore with friends on PC, Mac, and PS5 right from your Switch 2.

    A Perfect Match for the Nintendo Switch 2

    Big Walk is exactly the kind of game that showcases why we love Nintendo’s ecosystem. It thrives on community, accessible fun, and pure aesthetic joy. The fact that House House and Panic confirmed it as a cornerstone indie title for the Nintendo Switch 2 proves that the upcoming hardware is going to be a fantastic home for gorgeous, stylised indie worlds.

    Mark your calendars, round up your gaming crew, and prepare to get thoroughly lost when Big Walk launches on August 4, 2026.

    Are you excited to take a hike with your friends on the Switch 2? Let us know in the comments below!

    Find out more here

    #BigWalk #NintendoSwitch2 #Switch2 #HouseHouse #PanicGames #IndieGames #CoOpGaming #GamingNews #TechMash

  • Next Stop, Terror: Why This Indie Train Simulator is a Ticket to Pure Horror

    Next Stop, Terror: Why This Indie Train Simulator is a Ticket to Pure Horror

    Imagine this: You’re working the night shift on a cross-country train. Your biggest worries should be restocking the stale chips, keeping the coffee hot, and dealing with the occasional rude commuter. You push your snack cart down the narrow aisle, asking for IDs and tickets.

    But as you look closer at the passenger in seat 4B, you notice something is off. Their blink is a fraction of a second too slow. Their skin looks a bit too much like latex under the flickering fluorescent lights.

    Welcome to Only Humans On Board, an upcoming indie simulation game that takes the mundane dread of retail and mixes it with skin-crawling cosmic horror.

    The Ultimate Customer Service Nightmare

    At its core, Only Humans On Board plays like a twisted love child of Papers, Please and Dead Space. Your day-to-day responsibilities look normal enough on paper:

    • Inventory Management: Buy your supplies, budget your earnings, and stock your cart with the snacks passengers crave.
    • Customer Service: Walk the aisles, serve refreshments, and keep the passengers happy.
    • Ticket & ID Verification: Scan identification cards and check tickets to ensure everyone belongs on the train.

    The catch? Some of your “customers” are only pretending to be human. They want your snacks, but they might want your flesh even more.

    Spot the Discrepancy, Stay Alive

    As a train vendor, your scanner and your sharp eye are your only weapons. You’ll need to cross-reference IDs, look for facial anomalies, and listen closely to how passengers speak.

    If you do your job right, you flag the impostor, call security, and survive to see the next station. But if you get complacent—if you skim an ID too quickly or ignore that weird, guttural click in a passenger’s voice just to hit your sales quota—your shift ends very, very differently. Let’s just say management won’t be accepting your resignation letter.

    Why We’re Hooked

    What makes Only Humans On Board look so promising is how it leverages psychological tension. It turns a claustrophobic, familiar setting—a train carriage—into a gauntlet of paranoia. Every passenger interaction becomes a high-stakes puzzle where a single customer service mistake is fatal.

    If you love tension-building detective games and don’t mind looking at a commuter train the same way again, this is definitely one to keep on your radar.

    What do you think? Could you spot a monster disguised as a tired businessman, or would you accidentally upsell a bag of peanuts to a shape-shifter? Let us know in the comments below!

    Find out more here

    #OnlyHumansOnBoard #IndieGames #GamingNews #HorrorGames #GamingCommunity #PCGaming #TechMash

  • Solo Dev Magic: Tactical PvP Card Battler ‘Astralight: Pilgrim’s Duel’ Hits Steam

    Solo Dev Magic: Tactical PvP Card Battler ‘Astralight: Pilgrim’s Duel’ Hits Steam

    The indie card game scene is about to get a lot more competitive, and this time, it’s coming from a solo powerhouse. Developer ShootingStar has officially opened the Steam page for Astralight: Pilgrim’s Duel, an upcoming free-to-play tactical PvP card battler that proves you don’t need a massive studio to build an ambitious, deeply strategic universe.

    If you are a fan of tight resource management, clever mind games, and deckbuilding, this is one indie title you need to add to your wishlist immediately.

    What is Astralight: Pilgrim’s Duel?

    At its core, Astralight: Pilgrim’s Duel is a turn-based 1v1 strategy game where board control and precise timing mean the difference between a glorious victory and a crushing defeat. Players choose a hero, manage a steadily growing mana pool, and fight to reduce the enemy hero’s health to zero.

    What sets it apart is the sheer variety of tools at your disposal across five major card types:

    • Characters: Your frontline fighters are tasked with attacking and defending the board.
    • Structures: Durable fortifications that shift the field’s geography and provide passive advantages.
    • Equipment: Direct stat-boosts and modifiers to empower your characters.
    • Spells: High-impact cards for instant damage, healing, or board clears.
    • Traps: Hidden, face-down cards that trigger on your opponent’s turn—perfect for baiting aggressive plays and completely reversing momentum.

    Build Your 30-Card Strategy

    The game skips over convoluted deck limitations in favour of a clean, hyper-focused rule: a legal deck consists of exactly 30 cards, with a maximum of 4 copies of any single card.

    When you first step into the world of Astralight, you’ll select one of three elemental starter paths—Fire, Water, or Forest—giving you a strong thematic foundation to experiment with. Combined with unique, mana-activated Hero Skills that can define your entire win condition, the tactical permutations are vast.

    A Massive Long-Term Vision

    While the game is launching as a tight, competitive 1v1 PvP battler, the developer has massive plans for the future. Astralight is designed to eventually evolve into a full online card RPG, with plans to introduce:

    • Co-op PvE roguelike expeditions
    • Auto expeditions and card trading systems
    • Shared social world features to connect the community

    Best of all? Every match you play—win or lose—rewards you with currency and crafting materials, keeping the free-to-play model firmly focused on progression and collection expansion rather than paywalls.

    Watchlist It Now!

    Astralight: Pilgrim’s Duel is listed as “Coming Soon,” and the Steam page is officially live for wishlists. Head over to Steam, check out the trailer, and support a solo indie developer trying to reshape the CCG landscape.

    Wishlist Astralight: Pilgrim’s Duel on Steam

    #TechMash #Astralight #IndieGames #CardBattler #PCGaming #SteamGames #FreeToPlay #CCG #SoloDev

  • Face the Cosmic Madness: The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu Demo Drops Today for Steam Next Fest!

    Face the Cosmic Madness: The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu Demo Drops Today for Steam Next Fest!

    The wait is officially over for horror fans looking to lose their minds—metaphorically and literally. NACON and ACE Team have announced that their highly anticipated cooperative horror game, The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu, is taking centre stage at Steam Next Fest from June 15 to June 22, 2026.

    Starting today, PC players can officially download a free playable demo and take their first terrifying steps into a cursed, 16th-century South American canopy. To celebrate the hands-on event, the developers have unleashed a chilling new trailer giving us a direct look at the game’s oppressive atmosphere, psychological tricks, and tense squad gameplay. Check it out below!

    Welcome to the Cursed Jungle

    Developed by the eccentric minds at ACE Team (Zeno Clash, The Eternal Cylinder), The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu moves away from typical Victorian gothic settings to plunge up to four players into a deeply hostile historical jungle.

    Your mission sounds simple on paper: set out from the safety of your galleon, take a rowboat to the mainland, complete high-stakes contracts, and recover legendary treasures. However, the supernatural forces dwelling within the jungle don’t just want to hunt you—they want to warp your mind.

    Key Gameplay Features to Expect in the Demo:

    • A Fragile Sanity System: As you venture deeper under the dense canopy, your sanity rapidly deteriorates. The game features highly individualised visual and auditory hallucinations. You might see the world drenched in blood, mistake deadly traps for mirages, or even see your teammates turn into monstrous entities.
    • Proximity Voice Chat is Mandatory: Clear communication is your literal lifeline. The game relies on spatial audio. If a player panics, wanders off, and loses vocal contact with the squad, isolation will accelerate their madness. Even worse? Succumb entirely, and you might turn into a hostile creature controlled by the jungle, tasked with hunting your former friends.
    • Trigger Discipline & Stealth: You are equipped with period-accurate gear like flintlock muskets, crossbows, and swords. Fire off a heavy musket, and the sheer noise risks awakening a reactive jungle that will aggressively hunt you down. Sometimes, running for your life back to the rowboat is the only real victory.

    “We always say it existed long before the players got there, and I think you feel that when you explore. There’s stuff here that has nothing to do with you, wonders that weren’t put there for you to find.” — Edmundo Bordeu, Art Director at ACE Team

    Play the Demo This Week, Launching This July!

    The Steam Next Fest demo serves as a massive open test following the game’s recent closed beta, offering a substantial chunk of gameplay to tackle with your friends.

    If you manage to survive the demo, you won’t have to wait long for the full expedition. The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu is scheduled to officially launch on July 15, 2026, coming to PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S with full cross-platform support.

    Head over to Steam, grab your crew, download the demo, and see if you have what it takes to tame the jungle before it devours you.

    Find out more here

    #TheMound #OmenOfCthulhu #SteamNextFest #CoOpHorror #IndieGames #NACON #ACETeam #GamingNews #PCGaming #Lovecraftian

  • Craft on the Fly, Extract, Repeat: Expendabots Unveiled at Future Games Show!

    Craft on the Fly, Extract, Repeat: Expendabots Unveiled at Future Games Show!

    The Future Games Show: Summer Showcase just dropped a major bombshell for co-op horror fans. Independent developer Collision Games and acclaimed publisher Blue Brain Games (the masterminds behind The House of Da Vinci series) have officially pulled back the curtain on Expendabots—a frantic, 4-player co-op horror extraction game that promises to test your nerves and your teamwork.

    If you love high-stakes extraction loops, clunky robotic protagonists, and atmospheric dread, this is one title you need on your radar.

    Welcome to the Custody Zone

    In an alternate universe, the Custody Zone is a forbidden archipelago sealed off from civilisation. It’s a beautifully handcrafted, procedurally generated nightmare filled with abandoned facilities, unstable machinery, and technology that defies explanation.

    To salvage what’s left, the mega-corporation Nullshore Consortium sends in the Expendabots—disposable, clunky robotic units engineered to dive into the dark, scavenge for valuable relics, and get the heck out before the island is lost entirely.

    But you aren’t alone out there. The Zone’s ancient defence systems are still highly active, and the terrifying entities patrolling the halls react to both sight and sound.

    Check out the core features revealed at the showcase:

    • Frantic 1-4 Player Co-op: Team up with friends or go it alone on PC and Mac via Steam.
    • On-the-Fly 3D Printing: Each Expendabot carries a portable 3D printer on its back. Scavenge raw materials mid-run to fabricate vital survival gear, emergency power cells, or decoys to lure threats away.
    • Deadly Proximity Chat: Communication is key, but be careful—the enemy NPCs can hear you screaming over the proximity mic.
    • Heart-Pounding Respawn System: In Expendabots, you are replaceable, but the mission isn’t. If a teammate falls, you can physically harvest their “heart” and carry it to a massive 3D printer to spawn them into a shiny new chassis.
    • Procedural Peril: Featuring 5 distinct dungeon types, no two expeditions into the Custody Zone will ever lay out the same.

    High Stakes, No Refunds

    What sets Expendabots apart is its distinct blend of charmingly clunky robotic design with genuinely tense, atmospheric horror. The progression system revolves around upgrading your robotic limbs, unlocking new abilities and mechanics to survive deeper dives into the facilities.

    It’s all about the risk vs reward: do you stay a few minutes longer to loot one last room, or do you extract with your squad before the island collapses?

    Wishlist Now!

    Following its stellar world premiere, Expendabots is officially available to wishlist on Steam. If you are ready to assemble your squad of scrap-metal heroes, head over to their official page, check out the debut trailer, and prepare for a wild, chaotic extraction experience.

    What do you think of the Expendabots reveal? Let us know if your squad will be diving into the Custody Zone in the comments below!

    Find out more here

    #Expendabots #CollisionGames #BlueBrainGames #FutureGamesShow #CoOpGames #HorrorGames #ExtractionShooter #IndieGames #GamingNews #TechMash

  • Crash the Yokai Party: Twilight Parade: Moonlit Mononoke Gets a Physical PS5 Release This July!

    Crash the Yokai Party: Twilight Parade: Moonlit Mononoke Gets a Physical PS5 Release This July!

    Physical game collectors and retro enthusiasts, clear some space on your shelves! Funbox Media Ltd has officially announced that they are bringing the vibrant, chaotic world of Twilight Parade: Moonlit Mononoke to the PlayStation 5 in a physical edition.

    Mark your calendars: this physical release is set to drop across Europe and the Americas on July 31, 2026.

    If you love nostalgic pixel art, chaotic bullet-hell action, and quirky Japanese folklore, this is one launch you won’t want to skip.

    What is Twilight Parade: Moonlit Mononoke?

    Originally released digitally by Eastasiasoft and developed by Super16bits, Twilight Parade: Moonlit Mononoke is a side-scrolling bullet-hell shoot-’em-up (SHMUP) that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

    The premise is simple but hilarious: Every year, the spirits and monsters of Japan take to the streets to celebrate the Hyakki Yagy? (the Night Parade of the Hundred Yokai). But this year? They intentionally didn’t invite the rowdy Oni twins. Naturally, the only logical response is to crash the party and completely ruin it!

    Key Features:

    • Playable Yokai Heroines: Take control of four beautiful pixel-art characters—including the sweet-loving Blue Oni Sister and the hot-headed Red Oni Sister—each featuring their own distinct companion assistant (and yes, beachwear variants!).
    • Retro Bullet-Hell Action: Battle your way through 5 chaotic, yokai-infested levels.
    • Massive Boss Fights: Face down giant, screen-filling bosses at the end of every stage.
    • Accessible Fun: With gorgeous 16-bit retro aesthetics and an infinite continue system, it’s a blast for hardcore arcade veterans and SHMUP newcomers alike.

    A Packed 3-in-1 Disc: The Bonus Games!

    Funbox Media Ltd isn’t just giving us a standard physical release; they are packing the disc with incredible value. To complement the main game, the physical edition includes two fantastic bonus games right on the disc:

    1. Tiny Pixels Vol. 1 – Ninpo Blast: A fast-paced, retro vertical shoot-’em-up where you’ll fight off swarms of mythical insect baddies using shurikens, bombs, and hoverbikes. It features permanent weapon upgrades and online leaderboards for the ultimate arcade chase.
    2. Overpowered 1 – Mars Infestation: Ready for a change of scenery? Jump into the year 2050 in this top-down, twin-stick sci-fi shooter. Exterminate aggressive alien threats on Mars using over-the-top firepower, fluid pixel art animations, and a pumping soundtrack.

    “This release celebrates not only a wonderful main title, but also includes two fantastic bonus games that showcase diverse gameplay styles. It’s a great value package and a must-have for collectors.” — Funbox Media Ltd

    Final Thoughts

    In a digital-first era, physical releases like this are a true love letter to collectors. By bundling a beautiful side-scrolling SHMUP with a vertical ninja-themed shooter and a twin-stick sci-fi survival game, Funbox Media is offering massive arcade variety in one single box.

    Keep your eyes peeled for pre-orders at your favourite retailers ahead of the July 31, 2026, launch date!

    Are you planning to add this to your PS5 physical collection? Which character are you choosing first? Let us know in the comments below!

    Find out more here

    #GamingNews #PS5 #PhysicalGames #TwilightParade #SHMUP #BulletHell #RetroGaming #FunboxMedia #IndieGames #Yokai #TechMash

  • Burn Rubber Early: Throttle Trace Drops a Surprise Playable Demo on Steam!

    Burn Rubber Early: Throttle Trace Drops a Surprise Playable Demo on Steam!

    The engines are roaring, the tyres are smoking, and the starting line is officially open. MicroProse and Unordered Games have just announced that a playable demo for their highly anticipated racer, Throttle Trace, is officially live on Steam for everyone to experience right now.

    If you’ve been itching for a racing game that perfectly balances high-octane speed with precision control, your weekend plans just sorted themselves out.

    What is Throttle Trace?

    For the uninitiated, Throttle Trace isn’t just another lap-around-the-track simulator. Developed by Unordered Games and published by the legendary strategy and simulation giants at MicroProse, this title aims to bring a fresh, adrenaline-fueled perspective to the racing genre.

    Think tight corners, heart-pounding drift mechanics, and tracks designed to test both your reflexes and your tactical racing lines. With MicroProse backing the project, you can bet there’s a deep appreciation for mechanical detail and satisfying gameplay loops underlying every single drift.

    What to Expect in the Steam Demo

    The developers aren’t just giving us a glorified benchmark test; this is a proper taste of the tarmac. By downloading the demo today, you’ll get to experience:

    • Responsive Handling: Get a feel for the game’s distinct physics engine.
    • Immersive Tracks: Tear through meticulously designed environments that demand your full attention.
    • A True Stress Test: Push your own limits (and your PC’s frame rates) before the full launch.

    How to Play: You don’t need a special beta key or a pre-order code. Simply head over to the Steam store, search for Throttle Trace, and hit the “Download Demo” button to get behind the wheel immediately.

    Why This Collaboration Matters

    MicroProse has been on an absolute tear lately, resurrecting the spirit of classic PC gaming while championing innovative indie talent. By partnering with Unordered Games for Throttle Trace, they are signalling a bold step into high-speed action. This demo is a statement of confidence—they want players to feel the weight of the cars and the rush of the race firsthand because they know the gameplay speaks for itself.

    Go grab your controller (or configure your wheel), head over to Steam, and lay down some rubber. Once you’ve set your best lap time, drop a comment below and let us know if Throttle Trace is living up to the hype!

    Find out more here

    #ThrottleTrace #MicroProse #UnorderedGames #SteamDemo #PCGaming #RacingGames #GamingNews #TechMash #IndieGames

  • Escape the Abyss: Dark Action-RPG ‘Lostbound’ Hits Steam Next Fest with a Brand-New Playable Demo

    Escape the Abyss: Dark Action-RPG ‘Lostbound’ Hits Steam Next Fest with a Brand-New Playable Demo

    The highly anticipated Steam Next Fest is officially here, running from June 15–22, and indie game fans have a major new title to add to their radar. Developer Tenkarider, alongside publisher Tambù Digital, has announced that their striking action-RPG roguelite, Lostbound, is participating in the event with a thrilling, freshly updated playable demo.

    If you are a fan of dark, tactical roguelites where every single decision dictates your survival, this is one demo you cannot afford to skip this week.

    Outrun the Hand, Manage Your Steps

    In Lostbound, the ground beneath your feet is your greatest asset—and your biggest liability. Set in a decaying world being aggressively consumed by a living entity of darkness known as The Hand, the game blends classic action-RPG combat with unpredictable roguelite mechanics.

    The core twist? Every movement leaves a permanent mark on the world map. Retrace your steps too frequently, and The Hand will physically erase the path behind you. As narrow corridors and safe routes vanish into the Abyss, your journey becomes a tense, calculated race against time and geography.

    What’s Inside the Steam Next Fest Demo?

    Tenkarider and Tambù Digital have loaded this updated demo with a substantial amount of content to give players a true taste of the abyss. Here is what you can expect when you download it this week:

    • The Opening Region: Take your first steps into a crumbling reality and experience the baseline tension of Lostbound’s exploration loop.
    • Two Distinct Modes: Choose between Adventure Mode or Campaign Mode, giving you different ways to tackle the story and its procedural elements.
    • Dungeon Diving: Risk entering dangerous, pitch-black dungeons to hunt for game-changing artefacts and weapon types before nightfall claims you.
    • Build Customisation: Experiment with diverse item synergies, multiple weapons, and permanent meta-progression upgrades fueled by gathering Dark Matter.

    Behind-the-Scenes Developer Broadcasts

    In addition to the hands-on demo, the development team will be hosting a special Steam Broadcast throughout the week. Players can tune in directly on the Steam page to watch live gameplay, gain insights into the dynamic procedural generation systems, and chat with the creators.

    Verdict: A Must-Play for Roguelite Fans

    Lostbound stands out in a crowded genre by making the map itself a predatory force. It demands smart resource management, flawless routing, and an appetite for risk.

    The Lostbound demo is available to download for free right now on Steam. Dive into the abyss, test your survival instincts, and don’t forget to hit that Wishlist button if you manage to escape The Hand!

    Interested? Check out the official trailer on the Lostbound Steam Page.

    #IndieGames #SteamNextFest #Lostbound #GamingNews #Roguelite #ActionRPG #Tenkarider #TambuDigital #PCGaming #TechMash

  • Get a Grip! Heave Ho 2 Swings Onto PC and Nintendo Consoles This July

    Get a Grip! Heave Ho 2 Swings Onto PC and Nintendo Consoles This July

    If you and your friends haven’t finished arguing over who ruined your last couch co-op session, it’s time to patch things up. Publisher Devolver Digital and developer Le Cartel are absolutely buoyant to announce that Heave Ho 2—the highly anticipated sequel to the smash-hit, physics-based party game—is bounding onto PC, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2 on July 16 for a wallet-friendly $9.99.

    More Hands, More Chaos, and Online Play!

    The original Heave Ho won our hearts by tasking up to four players with a simple, yet agonisingly funny goal: grab onto each other, stretch, swing, and absolutely do not fall to your death.

    Heave Ho 2 takes that brilliant, slapstick formula and cranks the dial to eleven. The headline feature this time around? Online multiplayer support. For the very first time, you’ll be able to take the absolute pandemonium of your living room couch and bring it online to test friendships across the globe.

    What’s New in Heave Ho 2?

    Le Cartel isn’t just serving up a re-skin. The sequel introduces a whole host of gravity-defying upgrades:

    • Eight Wild Themed Worlds: From the floaty mechanics of weightless space to absolute cookery chaos in the kitchen, each world introduces unique hazards.
    • Fresh Mechanics and Gadgets: Players can expect new scenarios that require pushing, pulling, shooting, and squeezing through fiendish obstacles.
    • Nintendo Switch GameShare Support: Switch 2 players can take advantage of local or online GameShare, meaning only one person needs to own the game to share the madness with up to three additional players.

    Try the PC Demo Right Now

    Can’t wait until July 16 to start dangling over a bottomless void? You’re in luck. A playable demo is live right now on Steam, giving you a taste of the precise timing and terrible teamwork that awaits.

    Whether you’re looking for the ultimate party night experience or just want a reason to scream at your friends via Discord, Heave Ho 2 is shaping up to be the summer’s essential multiplayer title. Grab your copy on PC or Nintendo consoles this July for just $9.99!

    Are you ready to lose your grip all over again? Let us know in the comments below!

    Find out more here

    #HeaveHo2 #DevolverDigital #LeCartel #IndieGames #NintendoSwitch #NintendoSwitch2 #SteamGames #PCGaming #CoOpGaming #PartyGames #GamingNews #TechMash