Techmash

Tag: #Occult

  • The Devil is in the Details: Occult Horror Deckbuilder ‘The Killing Stone’ Hits Steam Early Access

    The Devil is in the Details: Occult Horror Deckbuilder ‘The Killing Stone’ Hits Steam Early Access

    The wait is over for fans of atmospheric horror and deep strategy. The Killing Stone, the latest project from Question—the visionary indie studio behind The Magic Circle and The Blackout Club—is officially available in Steam Early Access as of today, February 18, 2026.

    If you’ve been looking for a card-battler that trades the bright colours of Balatro for the chilling, candle-lit dread of a 17th-century seance, your ritual is complete.

    A Faustian Bargain in the Arctic

    Set in a remote mansion in the frozen Arctic Circle, The Killing Stone casts you as the Maven, a practitioner of the dark arts. Your task? To save the cursed Svangård family from a series of demonic contracts.

    Unlike many deckbuilders that focus solely on the “run,” The Killing Stone is deeply narrative-forward. Between card matches, you’ll explore the mansion in first-person, uncovering the mystery of Mariken Svangård’s death and interacting with family members—and their eerie animal familiars.

    Key Features at Launch

    The Early Access version isn’t just a vertical slice; it’s a substantial offering that includes:

    • Three Story Arcs: Play through the chapters of three different family members, each with their own unique decks and “sins” to cleanse.
    • The Fanghella Board: A tactile, living game board where you play cards to summon 3D magical figurines and cast spells.
    • The Reserve System: A unique mechanic that lets you stack units and buffs above the battle line for later deployment, adding a layer of strategic foresight.
    • Dual-Language Narrative: In a brilliant atmospheric touch, you can experience the story in either Modern English or authentic 17th-century Period English, complete with voice acting from industry legends like Emma Gregory (Baldur’s Gate 3) and Liam O’Brien (Critical Role).

    Why Early Access?

    Originally slated for a full 1.0 release, the developers at Question decided to pivot to Early Access to let the community shape the game’s narrative and balance.

    “Playtesters wanted more story, more voice-acted content, and more freedom to solve the mystery themselves,” the studio shared. “Early Access allows us to refine the experience alongside the players who are most invested in this world.”

    While the current version offers roughly 6-8 hours of gameplay, the final release (expected in about six months) will include a massive endgame arc titled “The Reckoning.”

    Beat the Devil at His Own Game

    If you’re ready to sign the contract, The Killing Stone is currently available on Steam with a 25% launch discount. Be warned, though: every choice in the ritual matters, and every boon comes with a bane.

    Are you ready to face the Fanghella?

    Find out more here – https://www.thekillingstone.com/

    #QuestionGames #Occult #Horror #Deckbuilder #TheKillingStone #SteamEarlyAccess #Steam #games #gaming #gamers #gameplay #demogame #videogames

  • High Noon in Hell: The Dark West Officially Announced for Steam

    High Noon in Hell: The Dark West Officially Announced for Steam

    Dust off your revolvers and brush up on your black magic—the frontier is getting a lot more crowded, and a lot more cursed. Newly formed independent studio Black Hand has officially pulled back the curtain on its debut project, The Dark West.

    Revealed via a grim new trailer, this occult Western ARPG promises to ditch the power-fantasy tropes of the genre in favor of a brutal, unforgiving journey through a land where the sun refuses to rise and the soil is soaked in sin.

    A Frontier Shaped by Sin

    Forget the romanticised tales of the Wild West. The Dark West is set in a decaying wasteland where faith has eroded, leaving behind a vacuum for something much older and fouler to fill. You’ll navigate a world scarred by greed and black magic, moving between dying towns and worked-out mines under an eternal dusk.

    The world is currently caught in a vice grip between two primary factions:

    • The Order: A group draped in hollow righteousness and armoured in dogma, often blind to the rot within their own ranks.
    • The Damned: Survivors who have embraced their curses, shaped by the very sins they were forced to commit to stay alive.

    Poker Hands and Dark Powers

    While the combat is described as “fast and unforgiving,” focusing on precision gunplay and situational awareness, the real standout is the character progression. The Dark West introduces a poker-inspired deck system that adds a layer of high-stakes strategy to your buildcraft.

    By forming recognisable card hands, players can unlock devastating bonuses and passive effects. Want to bet it all on a “Full House” of necromantic buffs? Or play a “Royal Flush” of projectile modifiers? The system is designed to reward long-term planning over short-term power spikes.

    “We made The Dark West because we love ARPGs and wanted to create the kind of game we have always wanted to play,” says the Game Director at Black Hand. “This is a game made with players, not just for them.”

    What to Expect in Early Access

    Black Hand has confirmed that the game will launch first in Steam Early Access later this year. The studio is taking a “community-first” approach, with plans to use player feedback to balance the loot economy, refine the endgame, and shape the narrative.

    FeatureDetails
    DeveloperBlack Hand
    Release DateTBA (Early Access Launch in 2026)
    PlatformPC (Steam)
    Key SystemsPoker-deck skill system, deep itemization, crafting
    AtmosphereIsometric, Occult, Hardcore ARPG

    The Road Ahead

    The developers estimate that The Dark West will remain in Early Access for roughly one year, with the full 1.0 release adding more acts, additional character classes, and a “unique and innovative” endgame.

    If you’re ready to see if you have the grit to survive when the “killing starts,” you can wishlist The Dark West on Steam now. Just remember: in this version of the West, the greatest threat isn’t the demon in the dark—it’s the person standing right behind you.

    Find out more here – https://playthedarkwest.com/

    #TheDarkWest #occult #Action #RPG #BlackHand #Western #ARPG #combat #playdarkwest #indiegame #games #gaming #gamers #videogames

  • Ritual Party summoning eldritch horrors has never been so… organized?

    Ritual Party summoning eldritch horrors has never been so… organized?

    If you’ve ever wondered what Overcooked would look like if the chefs were wearing cultist robes and trying to appease Cthulhu instead of a hungry Onion King, then Ritual Party by Hologram Monster is your next gaming obsession.

    The game is set to launch in Early Access on Steam on February 17, 2026. Here is a quick look at why you might want to gather your fellow cultists:

    The Premise: Chaos with a Dash of Cosmic Dread

    In this 1-4 player co-op party game, you and your friends are “wannabe cultists” attempting to perform increasingly absurd and unstable rituals. You’ll be drawing ritual circles, lighting candles, and offering sacrifices to summon Elder Gods—all while the universe tries its hardest to stop you.

    Key Features

    Chaotic Co-op: Work together (or accidentally set your friends on fire) through 11 playable levels at launch.

    Nosy Neighbours: It’s hard to summon an Outer God when the police are at the door or the “fish wife” next door is getting suspicious.

    Environmental Hazards: Manage limited space while dealing with mischievous ghosts, slippery blood spills, and sudden blackouts.

    Comedy Meets Horror: A darkly comedic aesthetic that balances the tension of Lovecraftian dread with the hilarity of a ritual spiralling out of control.

    “A game where rituals go wrong, neighbours get suspicious, and teamwork is the only way to survive.”

    Whether you’re a fan of high-pressure management games or just want to see how long your friendship survives a literal apocalypse, Ritual Party looks like a riot.

    Find out more here – https://ritualparty.net/

    #ritualparty #cult #Cthulhu #OnionKing #horror

    #HologramMonster #steam #occult #rutuals #games #gaming #gamers #videogames

  • Guards II Chaos in Hell is out today

    Guards II Chaos in Hell is out today

    This is one of those great turn-based games where players take a turn and swap heroes. This is the Guards II Chaos in Hell game, a brilliant pixel art style arcade game with lots of moves, tactics and skills to use, but at the end of the day, this is a game and players who love this type of game will take some beating. Anyone up for that? Guards II: Chaos in Hell is out now on PC.

    To find out more about the Guards II Chaos in Hell game, go to the games page on Steam here https://shorturl.at/vobiB

    #GuardsIIChaosinHell #demons #occult #steam #Guards #ChaosinHell #games #gaming #newgames #HeroCraftPC #BattlecruiserGames #biomes #heroes #hell #tactics

  • Equinox: Homecoming launching soon

    Equinox: Homecoming launching soon

    It is time to get on your horse and explore the Equinox: Homecoming open-world game. Players will set out on a trail, each one is different and each one has its own mysteries to be solved, such as the disappearance of your mother and the death of a local resident. This is one of those games that has a mix of the occult, mystery, murder and exploration. The Equinox: Homecoming game will be launching on the 8th of May on PC via Steam.

    To find out more about the Equinox: Homecoming game, go to the official game website here https://equinox.game/ or go to the games page on Steam here https://shorturl.at/Lkn52

    #EquinoxHomecoming #Equinox #newgame #games #gaimg #BlueScarabEntertainment #steam #earlyaccess #MMORPG #rpg #occult #mystery #multiplayer #gametrailer #openworld

  • Something New For Strange Antiquities

    Something New For Strange Antiquities

    There is something strange coming, but this is only to be expected when the game that we are talking about is the Strange Antiquities game. This is where players become the manager of a store that deals in the occult and anything strange in the small and somewhat gloomy town of Undermere, are you ready to take on this challenge?

    To find out more about the Strange Antiquities game and what is coming for the future of the game go to the official game website here https://www.iceberg-games.com/games/strange-antiquities/

    #StrangeAntiquities #IcebergInteractive #BadViking #Occult #Mystery #Magic #StrangeHorticulture #GameUpdate #Games #Gaming #Gamers

  • The Void game gets an update

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