Deep inside a forgotten machine, data has a life of its own. Independent studio Pet The Dog has officially launched the free demo of Dataclysm, its striking retro pixel-art trading card game, right now as part of Steam Next Fest.
Where Old Files Become Fierce Fighters
Dataclysm drops you into a mesmerising digital realm — the heart of an abandoned PC where fragments of code, half-finished scripts, and dormant data have awakened to wage war for control of the Motherboard. This isn’t just a card game — it’s a journey through a decaying but living world, where every card tells a piece of a larger, unfolding story.
“From swarming Sandbags to monstrous Dragons, every archetype brings its own distinct playstyle, and every card adds another piece to the story of this decaying digital world,” the team explains.
Built on Pixel Passion
The first thing you’ll notice is the look: Dataclysm’s vivid retro pixel art is the work of five-plus artists, giving every card, character, and battleground a distinct, hand-crafted personality that feels both nostalgic and fresh. It’s a love letter to classic gaming aesthetics with a modern, sharp-edged soul.
What Awaits in the Demo & Beyond
The full game promises a rich, deep experience — 128 cards at launch, with another 128 already planned for post-release updates. You’ll command more than 10 distinct archetypes, from fast-swarming minions to slow, devastating behemoths, each supporting wildly different strategies. When it arrives, the game will include both single-player story mode and online PvP, so you can battle the world or dive deep into the lore at your own pace.
Right now, the Steam Next Fest demo gives you a generous taste of the card combat, deck-building, and tactical depth — completely free, no strings attached.
From Turin With Love
Pet The Dog is an indie studio based in Turin, Italy — and Dataclysm is their heartfelt vision of what a digital card game can be: creative, characterful, and built entirely with passion, not corporate scale. There’s no announced full release date yet, but the demo is the perfect way to follow development, leave feedback, and add the game to your Steam wishlist so you don’t miss the launch.
The machine is waking up — are you ready to take control?
More Info: Dataclysm
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