TECHMASH

Tag: #KnifingMantis

  • Hold the Line — Houston, We Have a Spungus Is Tower Defence Against One Unstoppable Space Fungus!

    Hold the Line — Houston, We Have a Spungus Is Tower Defence Against One Unstoppable Space Fungus!

    Houston, we have a problem — and it’s huge, it’s hungry, and it’s spreading. Independent studio Knifing Mantis has today unveiled Houston, We Have a Spungus, a fresh twist on tower defence where you don’t fight waves — you fight one relentless, growing organism from deep space. The game’s Steam page and announcement trailer are live right now, with release slated for early 2027.

    The Spungus Is Coming — and It Won’t Stop

    This isn’t your typical tower defence. There are no goblins, no mechs, no endless ranks of enemies marching in formation. Instead, a massive space-born fungus — the Spungus — erupts from a wormhole and spreads across the map like a living tide:

    • Millions of simulated cells form a single, cohesive biomass that advances, branches, and swallows territory
    • It cannot be destroyed — every cell you kill is replaced; new growth pushes forward at full strength
    • Your only goal: buy time — hold the line long enough for headquarters to lock coordinates and launch a nuke at the source
    • Consume colonies = game over — if the Spungus reaches key settlements, it’s over. Defend every inch

    Every second counts. Every tower placement matters. And the biomass never, ever sleeps.

    Defend, Delay, Survive

    With outright victory impossible, your strategy is all about sustained resistance:

    • 15 towers across 5 schools — Assault, Thermal, Siege, Energy, and Utility — each with distinct roles and upgrade paths
    • 9 orbital abilities — call down napalm, laser strikes, and orbital barrages when the frontline buckles
    • Earn resources from biomass — destroy cells to fund towers and build up your defences before the next surge
    • 400+ permanent upgrades — carry progress across runs to unlock stronger towers, better economy, and advanced orbital support
    • Choose your loadout — only 6 turret types per run; adapt your strategy to the map and the Spungus’s behaviour

    Key Details

    • Developer: Knifing Mantis
    • Genre: Tower Defence / Strategy
    • Release: Early 2027
    • Platform: PC via Steam
    • Steam Page: Live now — wishlist to stay updated
    • Announcement Trailer: Available on the Steam store page

    The Spungus is growing. The clock is ticking. Will you hold the line?

    Houston We Have A Spungus

    #HoustonWeHaveASpungus #KnifingMantis #TowerDefense #IndieDev #StrategyGame #PCGaming #Steam #SpaceFungus #Techmash #Gaming

  • Two Players, One Mech: Knifing Mantis Unveils Chaos-Driven ‘Split Circuit Arena’

    Two Players, One Mech: Knifing Mantis Unveils Chaos-Driven ‘Split Circuit Arena’

    If your co-op gaming sessions don’t involve enough screaming, arguing, and unintentional sabotage, indie developer Knifing Mantis has just the antidote. The studio has officially unveiled Split Circuit Arena, an early-stage, physics-driven co-op arena combat game heading to PC via Steam—with official Steam Deck support locked in as a development target.

    Forget sweaty competitive metas and toxic matchmaking. Split Circuit Arena is a PvE experience entirely built around shared chaos, communication, and completely uncoordinated mechanical warfare.

    Two Drivers, One Wheel (Literally)

    The central hook of Split Circuit Arena is beautifully simple yet deliberately infuriating: two players must pilot a single combat robot together.

    Instead of splitting roles by driver and gunner, the controls are split right down the middle of the machine. One player commands the left side of the robot (including its wheel and left-mounted weapons), while the other player has sole control over the right side.

    Want to drive in a straight line? You and your partner need to apply the exact same amount of gas. Want to turn left? Your partner needs to back off while you accelerate. Want to jump or execute an attack? You both need to hit the button at the exact same millisecond. Even the most basic navigation turns into a frantic boardroom meeting in the middle of a warzone.

    Pure Physics-Driven Mayhem

    Once you manage to move, you’ll have to survive. The game dumps players into hostile arenas to face off against smart, aggressive AI-controlled rival bots.

    Rather than relying on artificial stats or gear scores, combat is entirely physics-driven. Players will have to coordinate in real time to ram, shove, flip, and smash through opponents. The environment itself is just as lethal, packed with hazards like rotating weapons, slamming traps, and fire pits that you can either push your enemies into, or accidentally drive yourself into because your partner panicked.

    Couch Co-Op and Handheld Play

    Knifing Mantis is building the game with flexibility in mind. Players will be able to team up locally for classic couch co-op or connect online to test the limits of their friendships remotely.

    Crucially for handheld enthusiasts, the developers have already stated that Steam Deck support is a core target for development, meaning you’ll be able to take this beautifully uncoordinated death machine on the go.

    The project is currently in its early prototype stage, with the dev duo continuing to refine the physics, damage models, enemy behaviour, and level hazards. If you want to check out the initial trailer or add the game to your wishlist, the official Steam page is live now.

    Find out more here

    #SplitCircuitArena #KnifingMantis #IndieGames #CoOpGaming #PCGaming #SteamDeck #GamingNews #TechMash