TECHMASH

Tag: #PCGaming

  • Flip, Nudge, and Destroy: Roguelike Pinball Sensation ‘Cult of PiN’ Locks In August Release Date

    Flip, Nudge, and Destroy: Roguelike Pinball Sensation ‘Cult of PiN’ Locks In August Release Date

    Move over Balatro and Peglin—there is a new heavy-hitting indie synergy addiction on the horizon, and it’s taking us straight back to the golden era of arcade cabinets and Windows 3D Pinball (Space Cadet).

    Independent developer KennyMakesGames has officially announced that Cult of PiN, the highly anticipated arcade pinball roguelike, will launch globally on Steam on August 10th, 2026. The announcement drops alongside an explosive new Release Date Trailer showcasing the game’s chaotic, high-intensity gameplay.

    Check out the official Release Date Trailer below:

    Pinball Physics Meets Modern Deckbuilding

    If you think this is just your standard high-score chaser, think again. Cult of PiN flips the classic genre on its head by turning pinball tables into battlefields. Instead of simply keeping the ball alive for points, your ball deals actual damage to the bumpers it strikes.

    Your goal? Demolish the handcrafted 3D tables, shatter cursed bumpers, and survive intense, gravity-defying showdowns against biomechanical Boss Bumpers.

    The real magic happens between rounds. Over a successful public demo campaign that has already captured the attention of over 120,000 players, the game has proven that its rogue-lite mechanics are incredibly deep. Players can draft from an expanding pool of over 130 unique upgrades, Glyphs, and Blessings to scale their damage multipliers into absolute absurdity.

    Key Features At A Glance:

    • True Build Synergy: Mix and match over 100 Glyphs to create game-breaking combos that turn your ball into a weapon of mass destruction.
    • 8 Playable Balls: Master distinct mechanics, specialised passive abilities, and powerful “Rituals” to trigger table-wide chaos.
    • Hand-Crafted 3D Tables: Discover 4 beautifully stylised, hand-drawn tables featuring hidden bonus zones, unique layouts, and unpredictable table mutations.
    • High-Intensity Sessions: Designed for quick 15-to-20-minute runs across 7 distinct difficulty levels, keeping the gameplay loop endlessly fresh.

    Play Anywhere: Full Steam Deck & Cross-Platform Support

    In a massive win for handheld gaming enthusiasts, KennyMakesGames has confirmed that Cult of PiN will launch with full native support for PC, Mac, Linux, and the Steam Deck.

    The game has been completely optimised for high-framerate portability, featuring native controller mapping and smooth performance built precisely with the Steam Deck in mind. Whether you are nudging your ball on a desktop or flipping targets on your morning commute, the tactile satisfaction travels with you.

    Pricing and Availability

    Cult of PiN will officially hit Steam on August 10th, 2026, for an incredibly reasonable $14.99 / £11.79 / €12.75. Even better news for early adopters: the game will feature a 15% discount during its launch week.

    If you can’t wait until August to start smashing tables, you can head over to Steam right now to try out the newly updated, heavily localised public demo and add the game to your wishlist.

    Find out more here

    #CultOfPiN #IndieGames #SteamDeck #GamingNews #Pinball #Roguelike #PCGaming #MacGaming #LinuxGaming #TechMash

  • Tiny Wheels, Big Secrets: Co-Op Adventure ‘WheelMates’ Drops Updated Demo Ahead of September PC Launch!

    Tiny Wheels, Big Secrets: Co-Op Adventure ‘WheelMates’ Drops Updated Demo Ahead of September PC Launch!

    If you’ve ever looked at your living room furniture and thought, “I could definitely do a sick flip off that bookshelf,” developer Firevolt has the perfect game for you.

    Revealed during the Future Games Show, the highly anticipated co-op adventure WheelMates has officially locked in its PC release date. Ready a fresh set of batteries, because this miniature, micro-sized journey is zooming onto Steam on Monday, 7 September.

    Even better news? You don’t have to wait until autumn to get behind the wheel. To celebrate Steam Next Fest, Firevolt has just deployed a freshly updated demo that you can download and play right now.

    Go Off-Road, Indoors!

    In WheelMates, you and a player-two answer a distress call from an eccentric, mysteriously missing scientist. The catch? The only way to navigate his massive, puzzle-filled home laboratory is by piloting a pair of tiny RC cars.

    This isn’t a racing game—it’s a true, collaborative physics playground inspired by classic RC games like Re-Volt and modern co-op masterclasses. You’ll need to work in tandem to drop vases from the kitchen table, whiz under the sofa, and turn mundane household appliances into epic stunt ramps.

    Co-Op over Competition: WheelMates features zero timers and no pressure to rush. It’s entirely focused on shared problem-solving, letting you and your co-driver uncover the house’s mysteries at your own preferred pace.

    What’s New in the Steam Next Fest Demo?

    Firevolt has listened closely to player feedback, packing this latest demo with massive quality-of-life upgrades:

    • Steam Deck Support: The demo now features full Steam Deck optimisation, making it absolutely perfect for a couch co-op night with a friend.
    • Upgraded Driving & Camera Controls: Expect much smoother handling options to make your RC car drift exactly the way you want, plus new camera controls (including a free camera) for a better view of the great indoors.
    • The Journal Feature: A brand-new story tracker that logs the clues you scan and collect throughout the house, helping you piece together the mystery of the professor’s whereabouts.

    Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

    As you delve deeper into the house—exploring the Kitchen, Garage, and Backyard—you’ll unlock wild experimental gadgets. From rope-swinging winches to magnetic wheels that let you drive upside down on metal surfaces, the game slowly unfolds into a miniature Metroidvania.

    Best of all, when the full game launches on 7 September, it will feature a Friends Pass—meaning only one of you needs to own the game for both of you to play online together.

    Head over to Steam, grab a partner, and test drive the updated demo today!

    Find out more here

    #WheelMates #Firevolt #SteamNextFest #FutureGamesShow #CoOpGames #IndieGames #GamingNews #PCGaming #SteamDeck #TechMash

  • Smash Piggies, Dodge Debt: ‘Bills Must Be Paid’ Locks In Official Release Date and Price!

    Smash Piggies, Dodge Debt: ‘Bills Must Be Paid’ Locks In Official Release Date and Price!

    If your real-life mailbox fills you with dread, Frankfurt-based indie developer Rike Games has the ultimate digital therapy for you. Their highly anticipated, deeply satisfying active incremental game, Bills Must Be Paid, finally has an official release date and price announcement—and the story behind its journey to launch is just as wild as its gameplay.

    Grab your hammers: Bills Must Be Paid is officially launching on Steam for PC and Mac on July 29, 2026.

    The Viral Story Behind the Launch

    If the title sounds familiar, it might be because the game accidentally went viral earlier this year under bizarre circumstances. A stolen build of the game’s demo was recompiled and uploaded onto Douyin (China’s TikTok), where it racked up massive views and ad revenue before Rike Games—a dedicated two-person studio—managed to successfully get the clone taken down.

    Now, the real, polished, and feature-packed version is ready to take its rightful spotlight.

    “We’re a two-person studio—I handle the code, my spouse handles the art,” the developer shared. “The last months have been quite crazy, and we are super excited to have the release date set now.”

    What is Bills Must Be Paid?

    The premise is beautifully simple yet addictively chaotic: You’re entirely broke, jumping piggy banks are taking over your desk, and you have bills to pay.

    Armed with a hammer, you smash various types of piggies (from “The Tourist” to “El Loco”) to collect random loot, rare coins, and cash. Every swing drains your stamina. When your hand gets too tired, the run ends.

    But don’t ignore the mail! If you fail to pay your bills, the debt collector will begin siphoning a cut of your earnings. Push it too far, and you’ll have to declare bankruptcy and start over under a completely new identity.

    What’s New in the Full Release?

    If you’ve played the free demo, Rike Games has added a massive haul of new content for the final build that the Chinese clone couldn’t dream of replicating:

    • The Prestige System: Earn special rings to customise your hand, unlocking unique power-ups.
    • The Desk Gadget Shop: Buy upgrades to automate your smashing and boost your stats.
    • More Hammers & Piggies: A wider variety of weapons, each with distinct trade-offs, and lazier or faster piggy variants to hunt down.
    • An Actual Ending: A concrete goal to reach beyond the infinite loop of debt.

    Price, Availability, and Launch Discount

    Rike Games is keeping this indie gem highly accessible.

    DetailInfo
    Release DateJuly 29, 2026
    PlatformsSteam (Windows & macOS)
    Base Price$6.99 USD (with regional adjustments)
    Launch Week Promo30% OFF during the first week
    Languages Supported12 (including English, German, French, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese)

    Try the Demo Today!

    Can’t wait until late July? You don’t have to. A free demo is currently live on Steam right now as part of Steam Next Fest. Head over, test your grip strength, and add it to your wishlist to catch that 30% launch-week discount.

    Find out more here

    #IndieGames #GamingNews #BillsMustBePaid #SteamNextFest #PCGaming #MacGaming #RikeGames #TechMash #IncrementalGames #SupportIndieDevs

  • Dark Souls Meets The Witcher: ‘The Relic: First Guardian’ Locks In July Launch Date!

    Dark Souls Meets The Witcher: ‘The Relic: First Guardian’ Locks In July Launch Date!

    Soulslike fans, clear your calendars. South Korean indie developer Project Cloud Games and publisher Perp Games have officially dropped a brand-new trailer confirming that their highly anticipated dark fantasy action-RPG, The Relic: First Guardian, will officially launch on July 31, 2026!

    The game is set to hit PlayStation 5 and PC via Steam first, with Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch 2 versions arriving later this summer. For the physical media collectors among us, a boxed PS5 version is also locked in for September 4th.

    Check out the blistering new release date trailer below to see why this game has skyrocketed to the top of our wishlists:

    Reclaiming the Cursed Realm of Arsiltus

    In The Relic: First Guardian, you step into the shoes of a guardian tasked with surviving Arsiltus—a once-prosperous world completely swallowed by a devastating void after its great relic was shattered. To restore peace, you’ll have to explore a collapsed, semi-open world, piece together forgotten memories, and face a brutal lineup of over 70 unique, tragic bosses twisted by curses and starvation.

    Why ‘The Relic’ is Shaking Up the Action-RPG Formula

    Project Cloud Games may be a small studio, but they have massive cinematic ambitions. The Relic isn’t just another clone in a crowded genre; it’s actively tearing up the traditional RPG rulebook with some incredibly fresh mechanics:

    • Attack Without Limits (No Attack Stamina): In a massive twist for the genre, stamina is reserved strictly for dodging and defending. Attacks do not deplete your stamina bar, and skills operate purely on cooldowns. This means you can maintain an aggressive, fluid offensive flow without constantly backing off to catch your breath.
    • Say Goodbye to Traditional Levelling: Forget grinding for XP. Character progression is tied entirely to collecting “Relics”—emotional fragments of those who lived before. With over 70 unique passive Relics to collect, you can fundamentally alter your skill behaviour, combat tempo, and weapon styles on the fly.
    • One-of-a-Kind Unique Loot: The game completely reimagines loot structures. Every single weapon and piece of armour exists only once in the entire game world. Each item is a singular, unrepeatable legendary artefact that carries its own dark, inherited history.
    • Deep Class Customisation: With 5 distinct weapon types to master and 12 exclusive skill trees, players have total freedom to blend abilities and craft a completely unique class tailored to their exact playstyle.

    Mark Your Calendars

    With an art style deeply rooted in Asian mythology and folklore, heavy cinematic flair, and a combat system built for pure, unadulterated flow, The Relic: First Guardian looks like it’s going to be the sleeper hit of the summer.

    Prepare your build, sharpen your blades, and get ready to dive into the ruins of Arsiltus on July 31st.

    Are you ready to become the First Guardian? Let us know what weapon type you’re planning to main in the comments below!

    Find out more here

    #TheRelicFirstGuardian #ProjectCloudGames #PerpGames #Soulslike #ActionRPG #PS5 #PCGaming #GamingNews #IndieGames #TechMash

  • King of the Hill: 150,000 Players Tear Up Funselektor’s ‘Over the Hill’ Steam Demo Over the Weekend

    King of the Hill: 150,000 Players Tear Up Funselektor’s ‘Over the Hill’ Steam Demo Over the Weekend

    If you spent your weekend getting bogged down in the mud, rescuing your friends with a portable winch, and taking polaroids of bald eagles, you definitely weren’t alone.

    Funselektor, the brilliant indie studio behind the critically acclaimed art of rally and Absolute Drift, just dropped the debut Steam demo for their highly anticipated 4×4 off-road adventure, over the hill. The response? Absolutely massive. Over 150,000 players traded the race tracks for the untamed wilderness over the weekend, proving that there is a massive appetite for a slower, more mindful kind of driving game.

    Moving at Nature’s Pace

    Unlike traditional racing games that demand white-knuckle speed and perfect apexes, over the hill shifts into low gear. This is a digital outdoor expedition simulator where the real enemy isn’t a timer or an aggressive AI driver—it’s the terrain itself.

    The Steam demo drops players directly into Emerald Lake, the opening area of the game’s Canada region. Inspired by the rugged, breathtaking beauty of British Columbia’s Valhalla mountain range, the map is a gorgeous blend of dense woodlands, tranquil lakesides, and treacherous, rocky alpine trails.

    Instead of hammering the throttle, players have to focus on:

    • Methodical Route Planning: Choosing the safest path through unpredictable environments.
    • Authentic Physics: Managing throttle control, momentum, and wheel placement across mud, rock, and steep inclines.
    • Resource Management: Utilising vital off-road gear like Repair Kits, Portable Winch Anchors, and Planks to cross dangerous gaps.

    “Over the hill lands closer to real love of the wheel: Funselektor understands it in a way that an awful lot of studios miss.” – PC Gamer

    4×4 Customisation and Co-Op Cruising

    The demo lets you test drive three classic off-road vehicles inspired by the golden age of cross-country expeditions (the 1960s through the 1980s). Each rig features its own distinct weight distribution, traction profile, and handling quirks. As you explore, you gather an in-game currency called “pebbles” and recover fallen meteorites to unlock cosmetic upgrades, roof racks, and fresh coats of paint at the local merchant.

    But the real magic happens when you bring a crew. Over the hill supports up to four-player cooperative multiplayer. You and three friends can venture out into the wild together, tackle gruelling Challenge Trails, or help pull each other out of a tight spot when someone invariably flips their rig trying to show off.

    When you need a break from the mechanical stress, the game features a built-in Camera Mode. Players have been flooding social media with gorgeous snapshots of the local wildlife—including moose, wolves, and black bears—to populate their in-game Compendiums.

    Community Feedback & What’s Next

    With 150,000 drivers hitting the trails simultaneously, the demo served as a massive stress test for the small indie studio. While the feedback on the game’s “cozy SnowRunner” vibes has been overwhelmingly positive, some players noted performance hitches on certain PC configurations.

    True to form, Funselektor has already been incredibly proactive. They’ve rolled out a hotfix patch addressing multiplayer bugs, fixing camera issues, and opening up a beta branch on Steam specifically aimed at testing early optimisation tweaks.

    Don’t Miss Out: The Clock is Ticking!

    If you haven’t played it yet, you need to act fast. This exclusive look at over the hill is part of Steam Next Fest and is only available until June 22nd.

    The full game is scheduled to launch on Steam later this year, with versions for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and the Nintendo Switch 2 to follow.

    Head over to Steam, grab your winch, and go see what’s waiting just over the hill.

    Find out more here

    #OverTheHill #Funselektor #SteamNextFest #IndieGames #PCGaming #OffRoading #GamingNews #CoOpGaming #ArtOfRally #TechMash

  • Inventory Management Meets Bullet Heaven: Cloudbreaker Soars into Steam Next Fest!

    Inventory Management Meets Bullet Heaven: Cloudbreaker Soars into Steam Next Fest!

    The June edition of Steam Next Fest is officially underway, and indie fans have a massive new addiction waiting for them in the skies. Nova Scotia-based duo Ballast Games has officially launched the demo for Cloudbreaker, an incredibly stylish sky-world roguelite that brilliantly mashes up intense survival-like action with a puzzle-heavy inventory management system.

    If you’ve ever wanted to pilot a heavily armed airship while organising your inventory like a high-stakes game of Resident Evil grid-fitting, this is the title to watch.

    Check out what makes Cloudbreaker an unmissable stop during your Next Fest demo diving:

    The Mission: Save Haven from the Depths

    In the world of Cloudbreaker, the last remnants of humanity reside in Haven, a sanctuary floating high above a treacherous, cloud-covered world. Haven is sinking, and it’s up to you to take to the skies, descend through dangerous cloud layers, and recover a mythical Bloil Crystal to secure humanity’s survival for generations to come.

    Standing in your way are hordes of Biotes—the lingering, aggressive biotechnology experiments of long-dead civilisations.

    Tetris Meets Turbo-Charged Airships

    While the combat serves up pure bullet-heaven dopamine as you tear through waves of enemies, the real magic happens in your ship’s hangar.

    Defeating Biotes allows you to gather raw Bloil, which your ship converts into unique Engine Parts. To upgrade your airship, you must install these parts into your Engine Grid—a dedicated inventory management puzzle system.

    • Grid Synergies: It’s not just about what parts you have; it’s about where you place them. Different components connect and interact across the grid to unlock massive stat boosts and weapon synergies.
    • Unique Fleets: As you progress, you’ll unlock entirely new airships, each featuring completely distinct Engine Grid layouts and core abilities that completely alter your build strategies.
    • Deep Progression: Tailor your playstyle using dedicated upgrade trees for both ships and weapons, giving you the edge needed to take down punishing bosses and mini-bosses.

    Play the Demo Today!

    Cloudbreaker successfully blends the tactical satisfaction of a grid-based puzzle game with the frantic, fast-paced survival mechanics of the best roguelite action titles. With its crisp aesthetic, satisfying loop, and endless build variety, it’s easily one of our top recommendations for this week’s festival.

    The Cloudbreaker demo is live right now on Steam for the duration of June Steam Next Fest, featuring full keyboard/mouse and controller support. Take it for a spin, test your best buildcraft in Endless Mode, and don’t forget to add it to your Steam Wishlist to support the developers!

    Find out more here

    #Cloudbreaker #SteamNextFest #IndieGames #Roguelite #BulletHeaven #BallastGames #PCGaming #TechMash

  • MineGeon: Renegades Drops Massive Steam Next Fest Demo Update Ahead of July Launch

    MineGeon: Renegades Drops Massive Steam Next Fest Demo Update Ahead of July Launch

    Bullet-hell enthusiasts and co-op fans, it’s time to rally the squad. As part of the ongoing Steam Next Fest, indie developer Kickstone Studio has deployed a massive major content update for the MineGeon: Renegades demo.

    If you haven’t been tracking this one, MineGeon: Renegades is a high-octane, co-op sci-fi bullet-hell roguelite that challenges players to descend into the treacherous depths of the planet PAIMO. The mission? Fight off swarms of enemies, mine valuable resources, and make it out alive.

    With the full game locked in for a July 14 release, this expanded demo gives players a massive taste of the chaos to come. Here is a breakdown of what’s waiting for you in the new Steam Next Fest build.

    What’s New in the MineGeon: Renegades Demo?

    Kickstone Studio hasn’t just tweaked a few numbers; they’ve injected a wealth of new content that fundamentally expands how the game plays:

    • New Playable Class (Marshall): Joining the roster is Marshall, a heavy-duty Tank class built for high durability. If you prefer getting up close and personal, his ultimate ability unleashes devastating fist-to-fist combat to clear out crowded screens.
    • The Scavengers Mini-Boss Fights: Survival just got tougher. The update introduces three new mini-boss encounters featuring the Scavengers—hostile locals desperate to halt your descent.
    • Expanded Progression & Combat Synergy: The demo adds brand-new Gadgets, Ultimates, and Enhancements, giving players vastly more options to theorycraft chaotic, screen-clearing builds during a run.
    • Base Customisation (Ship Basement): Between intense expeditions, players can now unlock and access the basement of their spaceship, utilising a base-decoration system featuring props and themed objects.
    • A Brand-New Cooking System: Scavenge for ingredients during your runs to whip up meals back on the ship, providing crucial stat buffs for your next dive into PAIMO.

    Risk It All for Riches

    The core loop of MineGeon: Renegades revolves around greed and teamwork. You can brave the depths solo or team up with up to two friends. The deeper you go, the more valuable the minerals—but the more punishing the bullet hell becomes. Players must constantly balance the risk of pushing further for better loot versus banking their hard-earned materials safely back at the ship for permanent upgrades.

    The updated demo is available to play right now on Steam for the duration of Steam Next Fest. Grab your crew, test out Marshall’s fists of fury, and get a head start before the full launch on July 14.

    Are you diving into PAIMO this week? Let us know your favourite class build in the comments below!

    Find out more here

    #MineGeonRenegades #SteamNextFest #IndieGames #PCGaming #CoOpGames #Roguelite #BulletHell #GamingNews #TechMash

  • PUBG Update 42.1 Is Live: Dynamic Smoke, Blue Zone Speedrun, and the SLR Metagame Shift

    PUBG Update 42.1 Is Live: Dynamic Smoke, Blue Zone Speedrun, and the SLR Metagame Shift

    PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS is throwing down one of its most disruptive patches in recent memory. Update 42.1 isn’t just about minor weapon tweaks or fresh skins—it directly attacks the core gameplay loops that players have relied on for years. From the way you use utility to how you rotate across the map, Krafton is forcing a massive evolution in player behaviour.

    If you’re loading into the battlegrounds this week, here is the breakdown of the major shifts arriving in Patch 42.1.

    1. Dynamic Smoke Physics: No More Magic Walls

    For years, smoke grenades in PUBG have acted as an impenetrable visual barrier. Throw a canister, wait a few seconds, and you have a reliable white wall to heal behind or cross an open field. Not anymore.

    Update 42.1 introduces Interactive Smoke. Frag grenades, vehicle explosions, and heavy gunfire will now physically displace and disperse smoke clouds in real-time.

    • The Tactical Shift: Throwing a frag into an enemy’s defensive smoke screen will now momentarily blast a hole right through it.
    • The Risk: If you are healing inside a smoke cloud, a well-placed enemy grenade won’t just damage you—it will strip away your cover, leaving you entirely exposed to line-of-sight gunfire.

    2. Blue Zone Rebalance: Say Goodbye to Downtime

    If you enjoy the slow, methodical “edge-of-the-zone” camping playstyle, it’s time to adapt. Krafton is rolling out a massive revamp to Blue Zone timings and pacing across major maps.

    The Goal: Reduce the mid-game “lull” where players spend ten minutes driving around looking for action.

    • Faster Phases: Mid-game circles will now shrink more quickly and travel faster, forcing squads into closer proximity much earlier in the match.
    • Smarter Shift Locations: The algorithm has been tweaked to minimise extreme, unplayable hard shifts that leave squads entirely stranded by RNG. Expect tighter, faster, and more aggressive rotations.

    3. Weapon Tuning: The SLR Reclaims the Throne

    The DMR meta is getting a significant shakeup. The SLR has received a targeted balance pass aimed at making it a premium choice for long-range precision taps.

    • Recoil Recovery: Recoil centring speed has been buffed, allowing for faster follow-up shots without losing your target tracking.
    • Damage Profile: Minor adjustments ensure that the SLR retains its terrifying stopping power over distance compared to its 5.56 counterparts.

    To offset this, minor stability tweaks have been applied to the Beryl M762 to keep the assault rifle category balanced, ensuring that players have to work a bit harder to laser opponents at mid-range.

    4. The Wildcard: AI Companion Testing (PC Arcade)

    For PC players running high-end rigs, Patch 42.1 introduces an experimental Ally Duo mode in Arcade Labs. This mode utilises localised hardware acceleration (including RTX-specific optimisations) to give you an intelligent AI teammate. Rather than acting like a mindless bot, this companion responds to pings, syncs up pushes, and acts as a genuine co-pilot for solo players looking for a duo experience.

    TechMash Verdict

    Update 42.1 proves that Krafton isn’t content letting PUBG coast on its legacy. By introducing interactive physics to smoke and speeding up the match pacing, they are forcing veterans to unlearn old habits. It makes the game faster, louder, and significantly less forgiving.

    Drop into the comments below: Are you a fan of the new fast-paced Blue Zones, or did you prefer the classic tactical crawl?

    Find out more here

    #PUBG #GamingNews #Battlegrounds #PatchReport42 #PCGaming #Xbox #PlayStation #TechMash #Esports #BattleRoyale

  • Next Stop, Terror: Why This Indie Train Simulator is a Ticket to Pure Horror

    Next Stop, Terror: Why This Indie Train Simulator is a Ticket to Pure Horror

    Imagine this: You’re working the night shift on a cross-country train. Your biggest worries should be restocking the stale chips, keeping the coffee hot, and dealing with the occasional rude commuter. You push your snack cart down the narrow aisle, asking for IDs and tickets.

    But as you look closer at the passenger in seat 4B, you notice something is off. Their blink is a fraction of a second too slow. Their skin looks a bit too much like latex under the flickering fluorescent lights.

    Welcome to Only Humans On Board, an upcoming indie simulation game that takes the mundane dread of retail and mixes it with skin-crawling cosmic horror.

    The Ultimate Customer Service Nightmare

    At its core, Only Humans On Board plays like a twisted love child of Papers, Please and Dead Space. Your day-to-day responsibilities look normal enough on paper:

    • Inventory Management: Buy your supplies, budget your earnings, and stock your cart with the snacks passengers crave.
    • Customer Service: Walk the aisles, serve refreshments, and keep the passengers happy.
    • Ticket & ID Verification: Scan identification cards and check tickets to ensure everyone belongs on the train.

    The catch? Some of your “customers” are only pretending to be human. They want your snacks, but they might want your flesh even more.

    Spot the Discrepancy, Stay Alive

    As a train vendor, your scanner and your sharp eye are your only weapons. You’ll need to cross-reference IDs, look for facial anomalies, and listen closely to how passengers speak.

    If you do your job right, you flag the impostor, call security, and survive to see the next station. But if you get complacent—if you skim an ID too quickly or ignore that weird, guttural click in a passenger’s voice just to hit your sales quota—your shift ends very, very differently. Let’s just say management won’t be accepting your resignation letter.

    Why We’re Hooked

    What makes Only Humans On Board look so promising is how it leverages psychological tension. It turns a claustrophobic, familiar setting—a train carriage—into a gauntlet of paranoia. Every passenger interaction becomes a high-stakes puzzle where a single customer service mistake is fatal.

    If you love tension-building detective games and don’t mind looking at a commuter train the same way again, this is definitely one to keep on your radar.

    What do you think? Could you spot a monster disguised as a tired businessman, or would you accidentally upsell a bag of peanuts to a shape-shifter? Let us know in the comments below!

    Find out more here

    #OnlyHumansOnBoard #IndieGames #GamingNews #HorrorGames #GamingCommunity #PCGaming #TechMash

  • Solo Dev Magic: Tactical PvP Card Battler ‘Astralight: Pilgrim’s Duel’ Hits Steam

    Solo Dev Magic: Tactical PvP Card Battler ‘Astralight: Pilgrim’s Duel’ Hits Steam

    The indie card game scene is about to get a lot more competitive, and this time, it’s coming from a solo powerhouse. Developer ShootingStar has officially opened the Steam page for Astralight: Pilgrim’s Duel, an upcoming free-to-play tactical PvP card battler that proves you don’t need a massive studio to build an ambitious, deeply strategic universe.

    If you are a fan of tight resource management, clever mind games, and deckbuilding, this is one indie title you need to add to your wishlist immediately.

    What is Astralight: Pilgrim’s Duel?

    At its core, Astralight: Pilgrim’s Duel is a turn-based 1v1 strategy game where board control and precise timing mean the difference between a glorious victory and a crushing defeat. Players choose a hero, manage a steadily growing mana pool, and fight to reduce the enemy hero’s health to zero.

    What sets it apart is the sheer variety of tools at your disposal across five major card types:

    • Characters: Your frontline fighters are tasked with attacking and defending the board.
    • Structures: Durable fortifications that shift the field’s geography and provide passive advantages.
    • Equipment: Direct stat-boosts and modifiers to empower your characters.
    • Spells: High-impact cards for instant damage, healing, or board clears.
    • Traps: Hidden, face-down cards that trigger on your opponent’s turn—perfect for baiting aggressive plays and completely reversing momentum.

    Build Your 30-Card Strategy

    The game skips over convoluted deck limitations in favour of a clean, hyper-focused rule: a legal deck consists of exactly 30 cards, with a maximum of 4 copies of any single card.

    When you first step into the world of Astralight, you’ll select one of three elemental starter paths—Fire, Water, or Forest—giving you a strong thematic foundation to experiment with. Combined with unique, mana-activated Hero Skills that can define your entire win condition, the tactical permutations are vast.

    A Massive Long-Term Vision

    While the game is launching as a tight, competitive 1v1 PvP battler, the developer has massive plans for the future. Astralight is designed to eventually evolve into a full online card RPG, with plans to introduce:

    • Co-op PvE roguelike expeditions
    • Auto expeditions and card trading systems
    • Shared social world features to connect the community

    Best of all? Every match you play—win or lose—rewards you with currency and crafting materials, keeping the free-to-play model firmly focused on progression and collection expansion rather than paywalls.

    Watchlist It Now!

    Astralight: Pilgrim’s Duel is listed as “Coming Soon,” and the Steam page is officially live for wishlists. Head over to Steam, check out the trailer, and support a solo indie developer trying to reshape the CCG landscape.

    Wishlist Astralight: Pilgrim’s Duel on Steam

    #TechMash #Astralight #IndieGames #CardBattler #PCGaming #SteamGames #FreeToPlay #CCG #SoloDev

  • Clock In, Grunts: ‘Goblin Company’ is Officially Out on Steam!

    Clock In, Grunts: ‘Goblin Company’ is Officially Out on Steam!

    Attention all prospective subterranean labourers! WHAAG MINING INC. has issued its final corporate update, and it’s time to pick up your shovels. Goblin Company, the chaotic co-op mining survival game from BitBorne Studio, has officially launched on Steam.

    If you’ve been coasting by on the free demo, we have some good news and some bad news. The bad news? The demo has officially closed its doors. The good news? The full, unhinged corporate mining experience is ready for you and your crew right now.

    The Corporate Hype is Real

    Management is thrilled to report that over 115,000 goblins wishlisted the game ahead of launch. That is a lot of expendable workforce ready to delve into the deep, dark, and dangerous caves for the glory of the company.

    To those who participated in the alpha and beta phases, WHAAG MINING INC. Management has released a brief, mandatory statement:

    “Thank you for your service. Now get back to work.”

    What to Expect on the Shift

    If you’re new to the team, Goblin Company blends the frantic resource-gathering of survival games with the absolute chaos of cooperative multiplayer. You and your friends will dig deep, fend off subterranean horrors, and try to make it out alive with enough loot to satisfy your corporate overlords.

    Grab your copy on Steam today and start your shift!

    Find out more here

    #GoblinCompany #BitBorneStudio #SteamGames #CoOpGaming #IndieDev #GamingNews #PCGaming #TechMash #WHAAGMining

  • Face the Cosmic Madness: The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu Demo Drops Today for Steam Next Fest!

    Face the Cosmic Madness: The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu Demo Drops Today for Steam Next Fest!

    The wait is officially over for horror fans looking to lose their minds—metaphorically and literally. NACON and ACE Team have announced that their highly anticipated cooperative horror game, The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu, is taking centre stage at Steam Next Fest from June 15 to June 22, 2026.

    Starting today, PC players can officially download a free playable demo and take their first terrifying steps into a cursed, 16th-century South American canopy. To celebrate the hands-on event, the developers have unleashed a chilling new trailer giving us a direct look at the game’s oppressive atmosphere, psychological tricks, and tense squad gameplay. Check it out below!

    Welcome to the Cursed Jungle

    Developed by the eccentric minds at ACE Team (Zeno Clash, The Eternal Cylinder), The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu moves away from typical Victorian gothic settings to plunge up to four players into a deeply hostile historical jungle.

    Your mission sounds simple on paper: set out from the safety of your galleon, take a rowboat to the mainland, complete high-stakes contracts, and recover legendary treasures. However, the supernatural forces dwelling within the jungle don’t just want to hunt you—they want to warp your mind.

    Key Gameplay Features to Expect in the Demo:

    • A Fragile Sanity System: As you venture deeper under the dense canopy, your sanity rapidly deteriorates. The game features highly individualised visual and auditory hallucinations. You might see the world drenched in blood, mistake deadly traps for mirages, or even see your teammates turn into monstrous entities.
    • Proximity Voice Chat is Mandatory: Clear communication is your literal lifeline. The game relies on spatial audio. If a player panics, wanders off, and loses vocal contact with the squad, isolation will accelerate their madness. Even worse? Succumb entirely, and you might turn into a hostile creature controlled by the jungle, tasked with hunting your former friends.
    • Trigger Discipline & Stealth: You are equipped with period-accurate gear like flintlock muskets, crossbows, and swords. Fire off a heavy musket, and the sheer noise risks awakening a reactive jungle that will aggressively hunt you down. Sometimes, running for your life back to the rowboat is the only real victory.

    “We always say it existed long before the players got there, and I think you feel that when you explore. There’s stuff here that has nothing to do with you, wonders that weren’t put there for you to find.” — Edmundo Bordeu, Art Director at ACE Team

    Play the Demo This Week, Launching This July!

    The Steam Next Fest demo serves as a massive open test following the game’s recent closed beta, offering a substantial chunk of gameplay to tackle with your friends.

    If you manage to survive the demo, you won’t have to wait long for the full expedition. The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu is scheduled to officially launch on July 15, 2026, coming to PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S with full cross-platform support.

    Head over to Steam, grab your crew, download the demo, and see if you have what it takes to tame the jungle before it devours you.

    Find out more here

    #TheMound #OmenOfCthulhu #SteamNextFest #CoOpHorror #IndieGames #NACON #ACETeam #GamingNews #PCGaming #Lovecraftian

  • Burn Rubber Early: Throttle Trace Drops a Surprise Playable Demo on Steam!

    Burn Rubber Early: Throttle Trace Drops a Surprise Playable Demo on Steam!

    The engines are roaring, the tyres are smoking, and the starting line is officially open. MicroProse and Unordered Games have just announced that a playable demo for their highly anticipated racer, Throttle Trace, is officially live on Steam for everyone to experience right now.

    If you’ve been itching for a racing game that perfectly balances high-octane speed with precision control, your weekend plans just sorted themselves out.

    What is Throttle Trace?

    For the uninitiated, Throttle Trace isn’t just another lap-around-the-track simulator. Developed by Unordered Games and published by the legendary strategy and simulation giants at MicroProse, this title aims to bring a fresh, adrenaline-fueled perspective to the racing genre.

    Think tight corners, heart-pounding drift mechanics, and tracks designed to test both your reflexes and your tactical racing lines. With MicroProse backing the project, you can bet there’s a deep appreciation for mechanical detail and satisfying gameplay loops underlying every single drift.

    What to Expect in the Steam Demo

    The developers aren’t just giving us a glorified benchmark test; this is a proper taste of the tarmac. By downloading the demo today, you’ll get to experience:

    • Responsive Handling: Get a feel for the game’s distinct physics engine.
    • Immersive Tracks: Tear through meticulously designed environments that demand your full attention.
    • A True Stress Test: Push your own limits (and your PC’s frame rates) before the full launch.

    How to Play: You don’t need a special beta key or a pre-order code. Simply head over to the Steam store, search for Throttle Trace, and hit the “Download Demo” button to get behind the wheel immediately.

    Why This Collaboration Matters

    MicroProse has been on an absolute tear lately, resurrecting the spirit of classic PC gaming while championing innovative indie talent. By partnering with Unordered Games for Throttle Trace, they are signalling a bold step into high-speed action. This demo is a statement of confidence—they want players to feel the weight of the cars and the rush of the race firsthand because they know the gameplay speaks for itself.

    Go grab your controller (or configure your wheel), head over to Steam, and lay down some rubber. Once you’ve set your best lap time, drop a comment below and let us know if Throttle Trace is living up to the hype!

    Find out more here

    #ThrottleTrace #MicroProse #UnorderedGames #SteamDemo #PCGaming #RacingGames #GamingNews #TechMash #IndieGames

  • Escape the Abyss: Dark Action-RPG ‘Lostbound’ Hits Steam Next Fest with a Brand-New Playable Demo

    Escape the Abyss: Dark Action-RPG ‘Lostbound’ Hits Steam Next Fest with a Brand-New Playable Demo

    The highly anticipated Steam Next Fest is officially here, running from June 15–22, and indie game fans have a major new title to add to their radar. Developer Tenkarider, alongside publisher Tambù Digital, has announced that their striking action-RPG roguelite, Lostbound, is participating in the event with a thrilling, freshly updated playable demo.

    If you are a fan of dark, tactical roguelites where every single decision dictates your survival, this is one demo you cannot afford to skip this week.

    Outrun the Hand, Manage Your Steps

    In Lostbound, the ground beneath your feet is your greatest asset—and your biggest liability. Set in a decaying world being aggressively consumed by a living entity of darkness known as The Hand, the game blends classic action-RPG combat with unpredictable roguelite mechanics.

    The core twist? Every movement leaves a permanent mark on the world map. Retrace your steps too frequently, and The Hand will physically erase the path behind you. As narrow corridors and safe routes vanish into the Abyss, your journey becomes a tense, calculated race against time and geography.

    What’s Inside the Steam Next Fest Demo?

    Tenkarider and Tambù Digital have loaded this updated demo with a substantial amount of content to give players a true taste of the abyss. Here is what you can expect when you download it this week:

    • The Opening Region: Take your first steps into a crumbling reality and experience the baseline tension of Lostbound’s exploration loop.
    • Two Distinct Modes: Choose between Adventure Mode or Campaign Mode, giving you different ways to tackle the story and its procedural elements.
    • Dungeon Diving: Risk entering dangerous, pitch-black dungeons to hunt for game-changing artefacts and weapon types before nightfall claims you.
    • Build Customisation: Experiment with diverse item synergies, multiple weapons, and permanent meta-progression upgrades fueled by gathering Dark Matter.

    Behind-the-Scenes Developer Broadcasts

    In addition to the hands-on demo, the development team will be hosting a special Steam Broadcast throughout the week. Players can tune in directly on the Steam page to watch live gameplay, gain insights into the dynamic procedural generation systems, and chat with the creators.

    Verdict: A Must-Play for Roguelite Fans

    Lostbound stands out in a crowded genre by making the map itself a predatory force. It demands smart resource management, flawless routing, and an appetite for risk.

    The Lostbound demo is available to download for free right now on Steam. Dive into the abyss, test your survival instincts, and don’t forget to hit that Wishlist button if you manage to escape The Hand!

    Interested? Check out the official trailer on the Lostbound Steam Page.

    #IndieGames #SteamNextFest #Lostbound #GamingNews #Roguelite #ActionRPG #Tenkarider #TambuDigital #PCGaming #TechMash