Tag: #IndieGames

  • Cosmic Horror Meets Space Battles: Hell Galaxy Drops Gripping New Gameplay Trailer Ahead of V1.0 Launch

    Cosmic Horror Meets Space Battles: Hell Galaxy Drops Gripping New Gameplay Trailer Ahead of V1.0 Launch

    The void of space just got a whole lot more terrifying. Milanese indie developer and publisher Italian Games Factory has officially unleashed a brand-new gameplay trailer for their dark sci-fi shooter, Hell Galaxy.

    Giving players their deepest look yet into a deeply twisted, transhumanist universe, the new footage sets the stage for epic cosmic battles and eerie psychological horrors just before the game leaves Steam Early Access for its highly anticipated full V1.0 launch later this summer.

    Check out everything we know so far about this gorgeous, gritty space odyssey.

    What is Hell Galaxy?

    If you ever wondered what would happen if you blended traditional space operas, post-apocalyptic survival, and psychological cosmic horror, Hell Galaxy is the answer.

    In this single-player space shooter, humanity is a distant memory. You take on the role of a Raider—an ex-convict whose consciousness has been fused into a mechanical bio-ship and exiled for eternity to the cursed, hostile Galaxy of Neterun.

    Survival in Neterun isn’t just about having the biggest laser cannons; it’s about managing your resources, continuously upgrading and customising your ship from the cockpit out, and holding onto your remaining sanity against ghostly, supernatural terrors.

    “Forget Your Humanity. Flesh and bone are gone. Your survival depends on a fully customizable ship.”

    What the New Trailer Reveals

    The newly dropped gameplay trailer shines a bright light on the narrative core of the game while showcasing its unique blend of fast-paced dogfights and RPG progression. Key highlights include:

    • Colossal Abominations: Breathtaking glimpses of giant Colossi—monstrous alien titans that look set to offer punishing, multi-stage boss fights.
    • Shifting Combat Stances: A look at the dynamic combat mechanics that allow players to switch mental focus on the fly between balanced, aggressive, or defensive setups to exploit enemy weaknesses.
    • Haunting Atmospheres: Visually stunning but deeply unsettling environments filled with ancient alien ruins, rival scavenger outcasts, and spectral entities that threaten your ship’s stability.

    Heading Toward V1.0 This Summer

    Having spent nearly a year gathering community feedback in Steam Early Access, Italian Games Factory is in the final stretch of development.

    Recent updates have heavily expanded the game’s worldbuilding, introduced refined exploration mechanics, and tightened up the dogfighting systems. The upcoming V1.0 update promises to be the definitive edition of this unique “weird fiction” odyssey.

    If you love gritty sci-fi, complex ship customisation, and space combat that actually challenges your nerve, Hell Galaxy is definitely one to watch. You can jump into the Early Access build right now on Steam or add it to your wishlist ahead of its full summer launch.

    What do you think of the new trailer? Are you ready to trade your humanity for a bio-ship? Let us know in the comments below!

    Find out more here

    #HellGalaxy #ItalianGamesFactory #SciFiGaming #SpaceShooter #IndieGames #PCGaming #SteamGames #GamingNews #CosmicHorror

  • From Viral Sensation to Steam Launch: ‘Mythic Love: Iberian Legends’ is Out Now!

    From Viral Sensation to Steam Launch: ‘Mythic Love: Iberian Legends’ is Out Now!

    The wait is officially over for indie game fans and folklore enthusiasts alike. After capturing the hearts of millions on social media and amassing a staggering 33,000+ wishlists on Steam, independent studio Platonic Games has officially launched its highly anticipated debut PC title: Mythic Love: Iberian Legends.

    The game officially dropped on Steam on June 23rd, and the indie community is already buzzing.

    The Road to Viral Success

    It is no secret that breaking through the crowded indie game market is tough. Yet, Platonic Games managed to do exactly that, turning captivating gameplay snippets and stunning art into a viral social media phenomenon.

    By tapping into the rich, underexplored world of Iberian mythology, the developers struck a chord with gamers looking for something deeply unique. The massive wave of TikTok and X (formerly Twitter) momentum translated directly into over 33,000 Steam wishlists—a monumental milestone for a debut title from a boutique studio.

    What is ‘Mythic Love: Iberian Legends’?

    Mythic Love: Iberian Legends seamlessly blends captivating narrative choices, romance, and rich cultural lore. Players are invited to step into a beautifully illustrated world inspired by the ancient myths, legends, and folklore of the Iberian Peninsula.

    Key Features:

    • Rich Mythological Lore: Encounter gods, spirits, and legendary creatures deeply rooted in Iberian history.
    • Player-Driven Narrative: Your choices dictate the branching storylines, alliances, and romantic outcomes.
    • Stunning Visual Style: A gorgeous, hand-crafted aesthetic that brings the magical landscapes to life.
    • Atmospheric Soundtrack: An immersive audio experience that perfectly captures the mystery and romance of the setting.

    “We wanted to create a game that not only tells a compelling story but also shines a light on the beautiful folklore of our heritage. Seeing the community’s response has been absolutely surreal.” – Platonic Games

    Available Now on Steam

    Whether you were one of the 33,000 people who had this bookmarked or you’re just discovering it today, Mythic Love: Iberian Legends promises an unforgettable narrative journey.

    Head over to Steam right now to grab your copy, support an incredible indie studio, and dive into the legends today!

    Find out more here

    #IndieGames #GamingNews #MythicLove #IberianLegends #PlatonicGames #SteamRelease #PCGaming #TechMash

  • Massive Mechs in a Dieselpunk Desert: SAND: Raiders of Sophie Drops Into Steam Early Access Today!

    Massive Mechs in a Dieselpunk Desert: SAND: Raiders of Sophie Drops Into Steam Early Access Today!

    The wait is officially over for fans of alternate history, giant walking war machines, and high-stakes extraction shooters. Publisher tinyBuild, alongside indie co-developers Hologryph and TowerHaus have officially launched their highly anticipated multiplayer FPS, SAND: Raiders of Sophie, into Steam Early Access today!

    If you are looking for a fresh take on the extraction genre that swaps out brutal learning curves for high-powered, customizable mech combat, this is a wasteland you’ll want to explore.

    Check out the official launch trailer on Steam and read on for everything you need to know about dominating the dunes.

    Welcome to Planet Sophie: An Alternate 1910

    Set in an alternate-history version of 1910, SAND: Raiders of Sophie transports players to a fallen, post-apocalyptic colony planet. Once a resource-rich jewel promised to space-faring pioneers of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, a mysterious ecological catastrophe has evaporated Sophie’s vast oceans.

    What remains is a sprawling, procedurally generated desert world filled with sunken ruins, abandoned cities, shipwrecks, and supernatural dangers. To survive the heat and rival scavengers, humanity relies on Tramplers—titanic, modular mechanical moving fortresses.

    Key Features: Forge, Fight, and Extract

    • Build Your Moving Fortress: The heart of SAND is the Trampler Editor. Players can design and customise their massive walking mechs from scratch to suit their exact playstyle. Whether you want a small, agile scout ship, a colossal walking tank armed to the teeth with mounted turrets and flak cannons, or a heavily armoured mobile base to store your treasure, the modular building system leaves it up to your creativity.
    • PvPvE Extraction Action: Deploy solo or squad up with friends to scour the desert for hidden riches, weapons, and priceless artefacts. But stay sharp—you aren’t alone. You will need to fend off rival players looking to board your ship, as well as the Upiors, mysterious and deadly supernatural entities haunting the ruins.
    • No More Offline Raids: Survival fans can finally breathe a sigh of relief. Unlike traditional survival games, where you risk losing everything while logged off, your Trampler extracts safely with you at the end of every session. Your hard-earned loot is yours to keep.
    • Choose Your Risk Level: * Voyage Mode: A lower-stress, open environment perfect for exploring, farming resources, and testing out experimental Trampler blueprints with friends at your own pace.
      • Storm Dive Mode: The ultimate high-stakes competitive mode. Face escalating dangers and an encroaching sandstorm that forces rival crews together for intense PvP combat, all for the chance to extract with top-tier legendary loot.

    Grab a Limited-Time Launch Discount

    To celebrate today’s Early Access launch, tinyBuild is offering a special 21% introductory discount for the first two weeks! You can jump into the cockpit right now on Steam for just $19.74 / £15.74 / 15,74€.

    The development teams at Hologryph and TowerHaus have emphasised that this is just the beginning of the journey, with plans to work hand-in-hand with the community to shape the roadmap all the way to the version 1.0 release.

    Are you going solo or gathering a crew to pilot your first Trampler? Let us know your ultimate mech build ideas in the comments below!

    Find out more here

    #SAND #RaidersOfSophie #tinyBuild #Hologryph #TowerHaus #IndieGames #PCGaming #SteamEarlyAccess #Dieselpunk #MechFPS #ExtractionShooter #GamingNews #TechMash

  • Bullet-Hell Meets Dungeon Scroller: ‘Dark Scrolls’ is Out Now on PC and Switch!

    Bullet-Hell Meets Dungeon Scroller: ‘Dark Scrolls’ is Out Now on PC and Switch!

    If you’ve spent any time enjoying the monochromatic mech-cat madness of Gato Roboto or the gritty, action-packed mechanics of Gunbrella, you already know that developer Doinksoft doesn’t miss. Now, they are back alongside the chaotic-good publishers at Devolver Digital to drop their next retro-infused obsession: Dark Scrolls.

    The fantasy-themed action platformer has officially landed on PC and Nintendo Switch, and it’s bringing an absolute whirlwind of shmup-style chaos for the incredibly friendly price of just $9.99.

    Check out the official launch trailer below to see what you’re up against:

    What is Dark Scrolls?

    Imagine the relentless, forced side-scrolling pressure of arcade classics like SonSon or Super Ghouls ‘n Ghosts, fused seamlessly with modern roguelite progression and bullet-hell adrenaline. That is the formula for Dark Scrolls.

    The game drops you into procedurally generated runs stitched together from hand-crafted dungeon rooms. The screen advances automatically, forcing you to think on your feet, dodge waves of projectiles, and take down brutal screen-filling bosses before the environment itself crushes you.

    Key Features to Expect:

    • Arcade Shmup Chaos: This isn’t your typical slow-paced dungeon crawler. You’ll need razor-sharp reflexes to survive hordes of enemies firing patterns that wouldn’t look out of place in a classic shoot-’em-up.
    • A Wild Rogue’s Gallery: You start with a few basic heroes—like a spell-slinging Mage or a burly Berserker, but you can eventually unlock a roster of 9 playable characters. Yes, that includes a cute dog and a saxophone-playing rat. Each has entirely unique weapons, movement styles, and trinkets.
    • Local & Online Co-op: Don’t want to brave the darkness alone? Bring a friend along via local or online co-op to chain elemental powers together, combine perk builds, and revive each other when the screen inevitably gets too hectic.
    • The “Rage” Mechanic: Collect coins during your runs to buy powerful perks from the in-stage merchants, Bruce & Goose. These upgrades stack to unlock screen-wiping abilities tied to a unique star/rage meter.

    Bonus Launch Day Treat: If you are picking up the game on Steam, keep an eye out for the Dark Scrolls Launch Bundle. Devolver is currently running a promotion where you can score Doinksoft’s previous hits, Gato Roboto and Gunbrella, alongside the new release for an absolute steal!

    The TechMash Verdict

    For under a tenner, Dark Scrolls is a no-brainer for indie game lovers looking for a fast, punchy, and highly repeatable challenge to share with a friend. It looks like a classic 8-bit game of yore, but plays with the modern responsiveness and mechanical depth you expect from a premium Devolver joint.

    Dark Scrolls is available right now on Steam and the Nintendo eShop for $9.99.

    Find out more here

    #DarkScrolls #Doinksoft #DevolverDigital #IndieGames #NintendoSwitch #PCGaming #GamingNews #Roguelite #Shmup #TechMash

  • Evolved Animals & Galactic Action: Solo Dev Chris Considine Announces ‘Endangered’

    Evolved Animals & Galactic Action: Solo Dev Chris Considine Announces ‘Endangered’

    The indie gaming scene is about to get a wild new addition. Solo developer Chris Considine has officially announced Endangered, a fast-paced, roguelite action game that turns the tables on sci-fi tropes.

    Centuries ago, Earth’s animals did what humans couldn’t: they evolved, built spaceships, and left our dying planet behind for the stars. Now, they’re coming back.

    The Premise: Earth is Reclaimed

    In Endangered, you don’t play as a space marine or a cybernetic soldier. Instead, you step into the paws, claws, and talons of highly evolved animal heroes. Having thrived in the cosmos, these specialised creatures are returning to a ruined Earth to reclaim their ancestral home from the synthetic and mutated threats that now occupy it.

    What to Expect From the Gameplay

    As a solo project, Endangered punches well above its weight class with a focused, high-energy loop:

    • Lightning-Fast Roguelite Action: Expect high-stakes, twitch-reflex combat where positioning and speed are everything.
    • Diverse Animal Heroes: Each evolved creature comes packed with unique traits, abilities, and playstyles tailored to different tactical approaches.
    • Dynamic Run Progression: True to the roguelite genre, no two descents onto Earth will look the same. Collect cosmic upgrades, adapt to hostile biomes, and build the ultimate build to survive the wasteland.

    Why it matters: Solo game development is a massive undertaking, but it often yields the most unique, uncompromising creative visions. Considine’s blend of anthropomorphic sci-fi with punishing, rewarding roguelite mechanics makes Endangered a title indie fans should absolutely keep on their radar.

    Gear Up for the Return

    Whether you’re a fan of fast-paced shooters, deep roguelite progression, or just want to play as a highly intelligent, heavily armed animal, Endangered is shaping up to be a thrilling ride.

    Stay tuned to Techmash for more updates, gameplay deep dives, and release window announcements as development progresses.

    What animal hero are you hoping to play as? Let us know in the comments below!

    Find out more here

    #IndieGames #GamingNews #EndangeredGame #SoloDev #Roguelite #SciFiGaming #Techmash #PCGaming #GameDev

  • Noir on the Go: Award-Winning Thriller ‘The Drifter’ Hits Nintendo Switch & Switch 2!

    Noir on the Go: Award-Winning Thriller ‘The Drifter’ Hits Nintendo Switch & Switch 2!

    Pulp fiction, murder mysteries, and gritty point-and-click adventures—if these get your gaming gears turning, we’ve got some fantastic news for your Nintendo handhelds today.

    Independent game studio Powerhoof has officially announced that its critically acclaimed pulp adventure thriller, The Drifter, is out now digitally on both the Nintendo Switch and the next-gen Nintendo Switch 2 via the eShop!

    What is The Drifter?

    For the uninitiated, The Drifter is a tense, narrative-driven roller coaster that wears its pulp-thriller inspirations proudly on its sleeve. You step into the worn-out shoes of Mick Carter, a drifter who happens to witness a brutal murder, gets framed for it, is killed, and then… wakes up alive again just moments before it all happened.

    What follows is a desperate, dark, and beautifully animated race against time as Mick tries to unravel a massive conspiracy before his luck—and his lives—run out.

    Why You Should Care

    • Award-Winning Pedigree: Powerhoof (the brilliant minds behind Crawlers) have crafted a narrative that has already hooked critics and players alike during its PC run.
    • Perfect for Handheld: The atmospheric pixel art and gripping story make it the ideal game to curl up with in handheld mode.
    • Next-Gen Ready: Whether you are still rocking the trusty original Switch or have upgraded to the power of the Switch 2, you can dive into the mystery seamlessly.

    Pricing & Availability

    The Drifter is available right now on the eShop. Grab your copy at the following regional launch prices:

    RegionPrice
    Australia$29.50 AUD
    United States$19.99 USD
    United Kingdom£16.75 GBP

    TechMash Verdict: If you’re looking for a gripping, mature story to sink your teeth into this weekend, The Drifter is well worth the admission price. Head over to the eShop and grab it now!

    Find out more here

    #TheDrifter #Powerhoof #NintendoSwitch #NintendoSwitch2 #eShop #IndieGames #GamingNews #TechMash

  • “The Weirdest Camping Trip You’ve Ever Been On”: Icelandic Ocean Survival Game ‘Nokai’ Drops Playable Demo

    “The Weirdest Camping Trip You’ve Ever Been On”: Icelandic Ocean Survival Game ‘Nokai’ Drops Playable Demo

    The survival genre is filled with games that ask you to chop down a forest, build a massive fortress, and stay put. But what if a survival game forced you to keep moving through a beautiful, decaying world?

    Icelandic solo developer Hrafnkell “Keli” Þrastarson and indie studio Pretty Potato Games have just dropped a playable Steam demo for Nokai, a gorgeous, eerie, open-world ocean survival adventure that flips the script on traditional survival tropes.

    What is Nokai?

    Set 700 years after a mysterious calamity drowned the world, Nokai washes you ashore with no memory in a world ruled by violent storms, twisted wildlife, and rusted machinery rotting beneath the waves.

    To survive, you must rebuild a ship, sail through treacherous waters, and hunt an ancient evil that is actively poisoning the ocean.

    According to Þrastarson, the game is meant to channel a very specific vibe:

    “I wanted to make something that feels like the weirdest camping trip you’ve ever been on with your friends, with something in the water that is constantly watching and pushing you or your group to keep moving through the world.”

    Survival with Forward Momentum

    Unlike games where you settle down permanently, Nokai is entirely focused on forward momentum and exploration.

    Your ship acts as your primary vehicle and mobile base, requiring constant repairs, customisations, and crucial upgrades to reach more distant, dangerous islands. Instead of a mega-base, you’ll establish temporary camps across the world to gather resources, recover, and prepare for the perilous journey north.

    Key Features to Check Out in the Demo:

    • Solo or 5-Player Co-op: Take on the unforgiving ocean alone or crew a ship with up to four friends in online co-op.
    • Handcrafted Exploration: Discover diverse, uncharted islands packed with unique resources, hidden secrets, and environmental storytelling.
    • Intense Maritime Combat: Fight off unique, bizarre creatures and enemies across different oceanic regions.
    • Ship Progression: Upgrade and customise your vessel to survive harsher weather and deadlier waters.

    Supported by Innovation, Heading to Steam Next Fest

    Development on Nokai began back in 2021, backed by Iceland’s prestigious Rannís innovation grant. The game is currently gearing up for a major showcase at the Steam Next Fest in October 2026, ahead of its planned Early Access launch.

    If you want a taste of this hauntingly beautiful oceanic odyssey, the playable demo is available to download right now on PC via Steam. Go grab your crew, upgrade your ship, and see how long you can survive what lurks beneath the waves.

    Have you played the Nokai demo yet? Let us know what you think of this fresh take on ocean survival in the comments below!

    Find out more here

    #Nokai #PrettyPotatoGames #IndieGames #SurvivalGames #GamingNews #CoOpGaming #PCGaming #SteamNextFest #TechMash

  • Prepare for Battle: Tears of Metal Slashes Onto Steam and Microsoft Store This July!

    Prepare for Battle: Tears of Metal Slashes Onto Steam and Microsoft Store This July!

    Great news for roguelike fans and hack-and-slash enthusiasts! Montreal-based indie studio Paper Cult—the brilliant minds behind the critically acclaimed action game Bloodroots—has officially announced the Early Access release date for their highly anticipated title, Tears of Metal.

    Mark your calendars: the medieval co-op hack-and-slash roguelike is set to launch on July 22 on both Steam and the Microsoft Store.

    Lead Your Battalion to Victory

    In Tears of Metal, players are thrown into a gorgeous, war-torn landscape where they must carve through massive hordes of enemies to reclaim their island home. Following a mysterious “Dragon Stone Meteor” event that brought ruthless occupiers to their shores, you are tasked with leading a formidable Scottish battalion into the trenches.

    The game successfully blends intense, large-scale hack-and-slash combat with the unpredictable, high-stakes progression of a roguelike.

    What to Expect in Early Access

    Paper Cult isn’t holding back for this launch. The Early Access build is arriving with a substantial amount of content right out of the gate:

    • Three Full Acts: Each act introduces distinct environments, unique enemy types, elite encounters, and punishing boss fights.
    • Playable Heroes & Combinations: Choose between multiple unique heroes and combine your skills with over 100 different artefacts to create devastating, custom builds.
    • Persistent Upgrades: Between campaigns, return to your settlement to expand it, unlock new vendors, and permanently upgrade your soldiers so they grow stronger with every run.
    • Solo or Co-op Play: Team up with friends or take on the enemy hordes alone across more than 45 handcrafted environments.

    Xbox Game Pass & Launch Details

    For PC players using the Microsoft Store, there’s an extra treat: Tears of Metal will be available on PC Game Pass from day one. If you prefer console gaming, Paper Cult has confirmed that an Xbox Series X|S version is currently slated to land before the end of the year.

    Last Chance for the Demo: If you want a free taste of the combat before the official release, act fast! Paper Cult will be retiring the current Steam demo on July 6 to prepare for the massive Early Access launch.

    Official pricing details will be fully dynamic upon the storefronts going live on launch day, so keep your eyes peeled to your preferred platform.

    With over 400,000 wishlists already accumulated on Steam since its initial reveal, Tears of Metal is shaping up to be one of the biggest indie hits of the summer. Head over to Steam or the Microsoft Store to add it to your wishlist now!

    Are you ready to lead your battalion into the fray? Let us know if you’ll be playing solo or teaming up in co-op this July!

    Find out more here

    #TearsOfMetal #PaperCult #IndieGames #GamingNews #SteamEarlyAccess #PCGamePass #HackAndSlash #Roguelike #CoOpGaming #TechMash

  • Sharpen Your Blades: Kusan: City of Wolves Nintendo Switch Demo Out Now!

    Sharpen Your Blades: Kusan: City of Wolves Nintendo Switch Demo Out Now!

    If you’ve been itching for a new dose of high-octane, neon-drenched adrenaline, your wait just got a whole lot shorter. Publisher PQube and developer CIRCLEfromDOT have officially dropped a playable Nintendo Switch demo for their highly anticipated title, Kusan: City of Wolves.

    Switch players can finally dive into the game’s brutal, top-down action ahead of its multi-platform launch on July 30, 2026.

    Check out what to expect from this intense Asian-noir thriller below!

    Welcome to the Neon Underworld of Kusan

    In Kusan: City of Wolves, you step into the combat boots of Jin—an ex-soldier turned gun-for-hire. Your mission? Navigate a rain-soaked, corrupt metropolis to protect a young girl carrying a massive threat: a city-grade atomic weapon.

    If you’re a fan of the hyper-violent, twitch-reflex gameplay of Hotline Miami, this should be right up your alley. The game relies heavily on flow-state combat, where one single mistake means instant death. You will have to master a lethal dance of precision gunplay, parries, and devastating melee attacks using your cybernetic “War Hand” and the legendary Quantum Knife.

    Key Features to Look Out For:

    • Stylish Hardcore Combat: A seamless blend of firearms and melee weaponry that rewards aggressive, flawless execution.
    • 54 Hand-Crafted Stages: The full game features dozens of tightly designed arenas, complete with skill-based puzzles and challenges designed for high-score chasers hunting that elusive S-Rank.
    • Graphic-Novel Storytelling: The gritty story of betrayal and survival unfolds through beautifully stylised, dynamic comic-panel cutscenes.
    • Beastly Boss Battles: Towering foes with intricate, high-stakes attack patterns will push your timing and adaptation to the absolute limit.
    • Adrenaline-Pumping Beats: The entire experience is backed by a heavy, head-bopping score from acclaimed Korean hip-hop producer Loptimist.

    TechMash Verdict: Kusan: City of Wolves is shaping up to be one of the most stylish indie action titles of the summer. Having this frantic gameplay on a portable layout feels like a perfect match for the Nintendo Switch.

    How to Play

    The free demo is available to download right now via the Nintendo eShop. If you aren’t gaming on the go, don’t worry—demos are also live on PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.

    Get your practice in now, because the full game unleashes chaos on July 30, 2026!

    Have you downloaded the demo yet? Let us know your high scores and impressions in the comments below!

    Find out more here

    #KusanCityOfWolves #NintendoSwitch #PQube #CIRCLEfromDOT #IndieGames #GamingNews #TopDownShooter #NeonNoir #TechMash

  • Loop, Shoot, Repeat: Orangepixel’s Space Grunts: Chrono Shard Hits PC with Switch 2 Version Confirmed!

    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

  • Neon, Noir, and Nowhere to Hide: Why ‘Midnight Manhunt’ is Your Next Cyberpunk Obsession

    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

  • Slurp It Up! Ramen Simulator Officially Launches on Steam Today

    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

  • Mind-Bending Dimensions: ‘THANKS, LIGHT.’ is Bringing Portal-Style Shadow Puzzles to PS5 and Steam This September

    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

  • Rom-Com Meets the Undead: Why Cute & Dead is the Wackiest VR Shooter You Need This Summer

    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