TECHMASH

Tag: #Occult

  • Guns, Grimdark, and Gambling: The Dark West Teaser Trailer Drops on Steam

    Guns, Grimdark, and Gambling: The Dark West Teaser Trailer Drops on Steam

    Move over, Diablo, there is a new, much bleaker frontier in town. Independent developer Black Hand has officially unleashed a brand-new teaser trailer for The Dark West, their highly anticipated occult Action RPG (ARPG) coming to Steam.

    If you have ever wondered what would happen if you mixed the gothic misery of Grim Dawn, the occult monster-hunting of Van Helsing, and the gritty atmosphere of Red Dead Redemption, this is it.

    Check out the breakdown of the new teaser and what we know about this supernatural wild west so far.

    Welcome to the Cursed Frontier

    The Dark West drops players into a decaying, unforgiving frontier sitting beneath a sun that flat-out refuses to rise. In this world, human greed has unearthed something significantly fouler than death, leaving behind a wasteland corrupted by black magic.

    The teaser leans heavily into this atmospheric dread, showing off a world torn between two brutal, warring factions:

    • The Order: A group draped in hollow righteousness who wear justice like armour, conveniently ignoring the rot growing within their own ranks.
    • The Damned: Twisted survivors who have openly embraced black magic, cursed and completely unapologetic about what it has made of them.

    As Black Hand puts it, the real danger out on the plains isn’t just the monsters waiting in the pitch black—it’s who is standing behind you when the bullets start flying.

    Stacking the Deck: Poker & Tarot Build Customisation

    While the teaser gives us a taste of the game’s fast-paced, positioning-heavy combat, the most exciting mechanic in The Dark West is how you build your character. Forget standard, boring stat trees; Black Hand is introducing a unique Card Bonus System.

    Players will assemble a 5-card hand using a mix of a standard 52-card deck and mystical Tarot cards. By forming recognisable poker hands, you unlock massive passive bonuses that completely shift your playstyle.

    The Dead Man’s Hand Example: Equipping the legendary combination of two pairs of black aces and black eights (based on Wild Bill Hickok) grants your character a 20% Increased Card Effect, 10% Increased Weapon Damage, and a 5% Chance to restock ammo on a kill.

    Want a high-impact, explosive build? Throw in the Blasting Cap tarot card to turn your projectiles into devastating novas. Prefer to rely on pure chaos? The Balanced Boon tarot card will roll wide, volatile stat ranges across multiple attributes for the ultimate gambler’s run.

    Alcohol, Agility, and Aggressive Jackalopes

    Combat in The Dark West is built to be fast, unforgiving, and highly strategic. True to the Wild West theme, you can even use alcohol to your advantage. Downed booze will grant your character temporary, raw strength in battle—but it comes at the realistic cost of dulling your senses and altering your vision, forcing you to weigh the risk versus reward in tight spots.

    You’ll need every advantage you can get, too. The developer logs reveal some of the twisted wildlife you’ll be fighting off, including Harrows (corrupted, violet-eyed crows that dismantle horse-drawn carriages) and packs of aggressive, horned Jackalopes that dart through the scrub to gore unsuspecting players.

    Wishlist Now on Steam

    Black Hand—a studio comprised of hardcore, lifelong ARPG fans—is developing The Dark West side-by-side with community feedback, shaping everything from the UI to build variety around player input.

    There is no definitive release date just yet, but the teaser trailer is live, the dev logs are dropping hot details, and the game is officially available to Wishlist on Steam right now.

    Are you ready to John Wayne your way through a horde of demons? Let us know your thoughts on the teaser trailer in the comments below!

    Find out more here – https://s.team/a/3574750

    #BlackHand #TheDarkWest #ARPG #Steam #occult #action #games #gaming #gamers #techmash #n5dave

  • The Good, the Bad, and the Supernatural: Hard West 2 Saddles Up for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S

    The Good, the Bad, and the Supernatural: Hard West 2 Saddles Up for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S

    The “Weird West” is about to get a whole lot wider. Following its successful stint on PC, Klabater, Good Shepherd Entertainment, and Ice Code Games have officially announced that the supernatural turn-based strategy hit Hard West 2 is finally making the jump to current-gen consoles.

    If you’ve been waiting to hunt down the Devil himself from the comfort of your sofa, your time is coming.

    A Heist Beyond the Grave

    For the uninitiated, Hard West 2 isn’t your typical tumbleweed-and-ten-gallon-hat affair. You step into the dusty boots of Gin Carter, a notorious outlaw who bites off more than he can chew when he attempts to rob a legendary “Ghost Train.”

    As it turns out, the train isn’t carrying gold—it’s commanded by the Devil, and he’s more interested in your soul than your bounty. What follows is a desperate journey across a frozen, demon-infested frontier where occult magic and six-shooters are the only law.

    Key Gameplay Features:

    The Bravado System: Unlike traditional cover-based tactics games that reward caution, Hard West 2 rewards aggression. Scoring a kill completely refills your Action Points (AP), allowing you to chain together “Bravado” streaks that can clear an entire room in a single turn.

    A Supernatural Posse: You’ll lead a crew of outlaws, witches, and mysterious beings. The way you treat them matters—the “Unnatural Leader” mechanic means your choices impact loyalty and unlock new skills.

    Poker Hand Upgrades: Character progression is tied to a unique card-based system. By collecting mysterious playing cards and building high-value poker hands, you can radically alter your posse’s stats and abilities.

    Optimised for the New Generation

    While the PC version originally debuted in 2022, this console release isn’t just a simple port. The announcement highlights that the game will be optimised for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, targeting:

    4K Ultra HD resolution.

    60 FPS+ performance for smooth, tactical execution.

    DualSense and Controller Integration to bring the grit of the frontier to your fingertips.

    “The good, the bad and the supernatural—Hard West 2 is coming to consoles to bring its unique blend of Wild West gunfighting and occult themes to a whole new audience.” — Official Announcement, March 20, 2026.

    When Can You Play?

    While a concrete release date hasn’t been pinned down yet, the publishers have confirmed the game is “coming soon.” If you’re eager to get your hands on it, digital storefront pages are already live for wishlisting on both the PlayStation Store and the Microsoft Store.

    This partnership between Klabater (known for their recent console port of Showgunners) and Good Shepherd suggests a polished, high-quality transition for one of the most stylish strategy games of the decade.

    Find out more here on Steam – https://shorturl.at/uIjyT

    #Klabater #GoodShepherdEntertainment #IceCodeGames #HardWest2 #occult #WildWest #gameupdate #games #gaming #gamers #platformer #gameplay #demogame #videogames #arcadegames

  • 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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