Attention, strategy fans and insect enthusiasts! Hive Blight, the buzzy roguelite autobattler from indie studio OptizOnion, is officially crawling into Early Access. If you’ve ever wanted to command a legion of beetles and wasps to take down a fungal plague, your time is coming.
The Core Loop
The world is being consumed by a fungal corruption brought on by the mysterious Fungomancer. To save the kingdom, you’ll need to:
Draft & Adapt: Choose from over 30 unique insect units—each inspired by real-life biology—to build your perfect swarm.
Synergise: Combine units from different clans (like the fearless Vespada or the rhythmic Sweet Symphoney) to unlock game-breaking combos.
Survive the Blight: Manage your Elixir (your life essence) as you navigate a perilous map filled with shops, forges, and sacred altars.
Key Dates & Details
Early Access Launch: March 9, 2026
Platform: PC (Steam)
Current Event: If you can’t wait until March, a demo is live now through February 14th as part of the Tiny Roguelike Festival on Steam!
Why Early Access?
The devs plan to stay in Early Access for about a year to fine-tune the balance and add even more content, including new bosses, items, and mechanics. Supporting the game now also means a lower entry price as a thank you for helping shape the hive.
“Unite the clans, build your synergies, and push back the Blight.”
Find out more here on Steam – https://shorturl.at/rQGXZ
If you’re tired of the usual sprawling fantasy worlds and massive space epics, prepare to shrink down and get a fresh perspective on adventure. We’re talking about Buddy Bug, the cooperative 2D action roguelite that has you trading in your knight armour for a beetle’s carapace and your broadsword for a modified lighter!
What is Buddy Bug?
Developed by Wildfire Game, the studio behind Eastern Exorcist, Buddy Bug plunges players into a microscopic insect world hidden within the corners of a bustling city. You are a brave insect, like Buddy the scarab beetle, and the everyday detritus of the human world becomes your colossal arsenal and battlefield.
It’s a cooperative, rogue-lite journey where you and a friend (local or eventually online co-op) must fight for survival and territory against gangs of hostile bugs in an oppressive, yet incredibly creative, environment.
The World: Colossal Junk, Incredible Potential
Imagine a world where a thumbtack is a roadblock, a water stain is an electrical conductor, and a bottle cap is a fortified dome. That’s the visual genius of Buddy Bug. The developers have masterfully crafted a setting where scale is everything. The “Cardboard Citadel,” with its towering delivery boxes and cockroach-infested garbage piles, feels as claustrophobic and dangerous as any dark fantasy dungeon.
This isn’t just a backdrop—it’s integral to the combat.
Combat: Elemental Chaos and Ingenious Gadgets
The core of Buddy Bug lies in its exhilarating combat system, built on three key pillars:
Physics Reactions: Knockback, recoil, and terrain are crucial. Using a heavy weapon like the Pile Driver or the recoil from a modified Lighter, you can manipulate enemies and the environment.
Elemental Effects: Water, Oil, Electricity, and Fire are your tools. Smart players will use the environment to their advantage—igniting oil spills with a Lighter or conducting electricity through water stains with an electromagnetic gun creates powerful, devastating chain reactions.
Roguelite Buildcrafting: With each run, you’ll experiment with different Specialisation Classes, weapons, and a growing collection of unique, handcrafted gadgets. Combining abilities and gear is key to creating game-breaking builds.
In co-op, the synergy is where the fun truly explodes. Coordinating elemental attacks with your partner turns skirmishes into chaotic, strategic masterpieces.
How to Get Started
The developers are actively building this gem with an incredible focus on community feedback.
The free public demo of Buddy Bug is currently available on Steam! It’s the perfect chance to:
Experiment with a taste of the weapons and gadgets.
Face off against newly designed enemies.
Get a feel for the unique Class system.
If you enjoy fast-paced 2D action, creative environments, and the deep replayability of the roguelite genre, Buddy Bug is a title you absolutely cannot miss. Grab a buddy (bug pun intended!) and jump into this miniature world of massive danger.
This is Insectum – Epic Battles of Bugs and it is what you might expect from a game that revolves around insects and bugs, this game has them all and it is all about battling it out and gaining territory. Each group has strengths and weaknesses, it is up to you which you choose and how you get on in the fight of underworld. Insectum – Epic Battles of Bugs will be available on consoles from the 27th of September and on Steam from October the 24th.
To find out more about the Insectum – Epic Battles of Bugs game head on over to the official website here https://www.devilishgames.com/ or check it out on Steam here https://store.steampowered.com/app/2996640/Insectum__Epic_Battles_of_Bugs/
