TECHMASH

Tag: #Playtest

  • The New Tank on the Block – Why ‘Tyr’ is a Shooter to Watch

    The New Tank on the Block – Why ‘Tyr’ is a Shooter to Watch

    Strategy First: Stoke Games Unveils ‘Tyr’

    In a gaming landscape crowded with fast-paced, reflex-driven shooters, a new contender has just rolled onto the scene with a refreshing, strategic focus. Developer Stoke Games, founded by veterans from hit titles like Valorant and StarCraft 2, has officially unveiled Tyr, an upcoming free-to-play, team-based tank shooter that promises to prioritise your brain over your trigger finger.

    This isn’t your average twitch-shooter. Tyr is positioning itself as a game where strategy beats twitch reflexes, and the core mechanics back that up in fascinating ways.

    What Makes Tyr Different?

    Tyr is an 8v8 vehicular combat game that blends the hero-shooter model with a heavy dose of tactical gameplay. Here are the key features that set it apart:

    The Roster of Armoured Titans

    Forget generic tanks. Tyr introduces a roster of specialised armoured vehicles—from heavy-treaded behemoths to agile hovercraft—each piloted by a unique character with distinct powers.

    • Unique Vehicle Powers: Each vehicle boasts a powerful, unique ability. Imagine a tank that can blink (teleport) short distances, another that deploys a sonar pulse to reveal enemy positions, or one that can overcharge its engine for a devastating ramming attack. This makes team composition and coordinated ability use absolutely crucial.
    • Deep Customisation: Every vehicle has its own tech tree and customisation slots for ammo and components. This means you can truly tailor your ride and its unique keystone technology to your preferred playstyle and the needs of your team.

    The ‘Play for Vision’ System

    The most unique and exciting mechanic is the spotting system. In Tyr, you and your opponents are only visible when within a certain range or while making enough noise.

    This fundamentally alters how you approach the battlefield:

    • The Element of Surprise: Firing your main cannon or aggressively boosting forward will reveal your position to the enemy team. Deciding when to push and when to fire from cover is a constant, high-stakes trade-off.
    • Teamwork is Key: Successful teams will be those that effectively use their vision-granting abilities (like sonar) to create openings for their damage dealers, allowing for calculated pushes rather than chaotic brawls.

    The Road Ahead

    Stoke Games has been quietly running private playtests for two years, and the official announcement trailer serves as an open invitation to a wider audience. If the promise of a strategic, teamwork-focused vehicular shooter appeals to you, now is the perfect time to get involved.

    The developers are actively looking to expand their closed playtest community, giving players a direct role in shaping the game before its launch on Steam.

    Are you ready to swap rapid-fire for tactical mastery? Tyr is shaping up to be a powerful and thoughtful addition to the multiplayer shooter genre. Keep your comms open and your armour patched—this is one battle you don’t want to miss.

    Tyr – https://playtyr.com

    #Tyr #StokeGames #freetoplay #multiplayer #tankshooter #strategy #combat #strategy #tactics #battles #tanks #scifi #games #gaming #gamers #videogames #playtest #demogame

  • Embrace the Chaos: First Look at the Swarm Me Playtest

    Embrace the Chaos: First Look at the Swarm Me Playtest

    Hey there, survivalists and indie game aficionados!

    We’ve just had a chance to dive into the closed playtest for Swarm Me, and if you thought all “horde survival” games were about blasting your way out, think again. This game flips the script on the genre, delivering a high-stakes, minimalist arcade experience where the greatest weapon you possess is your footwork and your mind.

    The Core Concept: Outwit the Swarm

    Swarm Me is a brilliant exercise in controlled panic. The premise is deceptively simple: you are trapped in a minimalist arena, and you are relentlessly hunted by an ever-growing, ever-faster swarm of drones.

    The Twist? You have no weapon to shoot back.

    That’s right. Your primary goal is not to kill, but to survive. This one single rule immediately forces a paradigm shift for anyone used to bullet-hell or twin-stick shooters. Instead of focusing on your damage per second (DPS), you are entirely focused on your movement, positioning, and crowd control.

    The Art of Kiting and Trapping

    So, how do you beat a swarm if you can’t shoot? The game provides the tools for tactical evasion and strategic elimination.

    1. Kite the Horde: The action is a masterclass in kiting. You must constantly run, weave, and bait the drones. Every inch of movement is vital, forcing you to think several seconds ahead about where the swarm will be, not just where it is now. It’s a dance of life and death, rewarding high-skill, precise movement.
    2. Baiting Traps: Your survival relies on the deadly contraptions scattered or deployed across the arena. You need to lure the massive drone blob into the kill zone of a Fire Wall, a crackling Electric Fence, or the focused beam of a Laser Turret. Successfully obliterating a huge chunk of the pursuing enemy is one of the most satisfying moments the game offers.
    3. Upgrade Your Defences: Between waves or during brief moments of respite, you can strategically invest in permanent and temporary defences. Choosing the right upgrade path—whether it’s boosting a specific trap’s effectiveness or improving your personal speed and defence—is crucial for long-term survival.

    The Playtest Experience: Pure Adrenaline

    The beauty of the Swarm Me playtest is how quickly it ramps up the intensity. The early minutes are deceptively calm, allowing you to learn the movement and the trap placements. But as the clock ticks, the titular swarm becomes denser, faster, and truly overwhelming.

    • The Stress: Managing a huge blob of enemies and constantly calculating the best escape route is a constant source of stress, but the good kind—the adrenaline-fueled, high-focus kind.
    • The Flow: When you hit that sweet spot—weaving through a narrow gap, dropping a powerful defence, and watching the drones follow you right into the grinder—the game enters a true flow state. It’s less about button-mashing and more about pure spatial awareness.
    • Minimalist Aesthetic: The game’s clean, minimalist visual style is perfectly suited to the gameplay, ensuring that even in the most chaotic moments, you can clearly see the drones, your player, and the active trap zones.

    Ready to Join the Swarm?

    Swarm Me is an exciting breath of fresh air in the crowded survival arena genre. By stripping away offensive weapons, it distils the experience down to its most challenging and rewarding elements: skill, strategy, and pure chaos.

    If you’re tired of the same old shooters and are looking for a game that will genuinely test your reflexes and strategic thinking, keep a close eye on Swarm Me. This playtest shows a game with immense potential and a high ceiling for competitive, leaderboard-chasing fun.

    Have you managed to request access to the playtest? What are your go-to trap strategies? Let us know in the comments below!

    Swarm Me Playtest https://shorturl.at/cD9Oi

    #SwarmMe #Playtest #KBGSGames #games #gaming #gamers #indiegames #pcgames #minimalist #horde #survival #swarm

  • Shapeshifting Chaos: Diving into the Morbid Metal Playtest!

    Shapeshifting Chaos: Diving into the Morbid Metal Playtest!

    The digital arena is buzzing, and it’s all thanks to the recent playtest for Morbid Metal, the upcoming hack ‘n’ slash action roguelite from developer SCREEN JUICE and publisher Ubisoft. After tearing through the demo myself, I can confidently say this game is an absolute rush of high-octane, cyberpunk-infused combat!

    If you missed the hype, Morbid Metal is a fast-paced action game where the core mechanic revolves around real-time shapeshifting between multiple unique characters. You’re not just switching weapons; you’re fundamentally changing your combat style, and chaining these transformations is the key to mastering the brutal, semi-procedurally generated levels.

    Here’s a breakdown of what makes this playtest a must-try experience.

    1. Combat That Sings: The Shapeshifting Synergy

    The immediate takeaway from the demo is the sheer fluidity and style of the combat. It’s a blend that feels inspired by games like Devil May Cry or Bayonetta, all wrapped up in a dark, neon-soaked future.

    The playtest gave us access to two characters, each a polar opposite:

    • Flux: The nimble, razor-fast katana wielder. Perfect for quick strikes, air combos, and evasion.
    • Ekku: The heavy-hitter, slow but devastating. His powerful glaive strikes land with a satisfying thud and is great for breaking shields.

    The magic happens when you realise you can swap characters mid-combo. Starting an air juggle with Flux and instantly switching to Ekku for a massive slam attack is incredibly satisfying. It transforms every encounter into a high-speed, choreographed dance of destruction. The combat is genuinely addictive, forcing you to think strategically about synergy, not just button-mashing.

    2. A Solid Roguelite Foundation

    Beyond the flashy combat, Morbid Metal plants itself firmly in the roguelite genre. The loop is immediately recognisable:

    • Clear rooms and waves of enemies.
    • Collect upgrade cards to enhance your characters, boosting damage, abilities, or even adding new mechanical quirks.
    • Die, and it’s all gone.

    However, the game adds a brilliant layer of complexity with the upgrades. Since you’re building out two characters at once (and eventually up to four in the full game), you’re constantly looking for upgrades that not only benefit the individual but also synergise with the other members of your squad. Do you go all-in on Flux’s speed, or balance it with Ekku’s raw power?

    The addition of the high-risk, high-reward “Deal with the Devil” statues further spices up the run, offering massive buffs paired with equally crippling debuffs.

    3. Style and Atmosphere

    Visually, Morbid Metal nails its cyberpunk aesthetic. The environments are a stunning mix of futuristic tech and atmospheric decay. The character designs—sleek, expressive robotic warriors—are a feast for the eyes.

    It’s a game that doesn’t rely on deep, verbose lore (at least in this slice), and that’s okay. Morbid Metal is all about the spectacle, handing you a ridiculously stylish sword and saying, “Be cool. Don’t die.”

    Early Impressions: A Recipe for Success

    The Morbid Metal playtest is more than just a promising demo; it’s a confident proof-of-concept for a deeply engaging action system. While minor things like camera behaviour and combat readability could see polish, the foundation is rock-solid.

    If you’re a fan of stylish action games, high-speed combat, or a roguelite loop that keeps you coming back for “just one more run,” you absolutely need to have Morbid Metal on your radar.

    Morbid Metal is slated to launch into Early Access soon. Get ready to shapeshift, slaughter, and try to survive just one more time.

    Morbid Metal Playtest https://screen-juice.com/

    #MorbidMetalPlaytest #MorbidMetal #Playtest #games #gaming #gamers #steamearlyaccess #hacknslash #roguelite #SCREENJUICE #Ubisoft

  • A Deep Dive into Arkheron: The “Ascension Royale” That’s Redefining PvP

    A Deep Dive into Arkheron: The “Ascension Royale” That’s Redefining PvP

    The world of competitive gaming is about to get a new challenger. Bonfire Studios, a team of industry veterans including former Blizzard CCO Rob Pardo, has finally unveiled its first game, and it’s something special. Forget what you think you know about battle royales; Arkheron is twisting the genre into a new form they’re calling an “Ascension Royale.”

    So, what is Arkheron? At its core, it’s a fast-paced, dynamic PvP game where 15 teams of three players compete to climb a mysterious tower. The catch? This isn’t just a race to the top. The tower itself is a shifting, surreal dimension built from the memories of the players’ past lives. As “Echoes”—amnesiac, ghostly beings—your goal is to ascend, defeat rival teams, and ultimately find peace.

    But the real magic lies in the gameplay loop. Unlike games with pre-defined classes or heroes, in Arkheron, the items are the heroes. Players start each match unarmed and must scavenge for “Relics”—powerful weapons, crowns, and amulets. Each Relic comes with its own unique abilities, allowing you to create a new build on the fly. This “what you carry defines you” philosophy means no two matches are ever the same. You’ll constantly be adapting, experimenting with different combinations, and fighting with a playstyle that’s truly yours for that specific run.

    The main mode, “Ascension Royale,” is an intense, floor-by-floor elimination. Teams must fight to secure beacons to ascend to the next level before a destructive storm covers the floor. This creates a high-stakes game of “musical chairs,” forcing teams into close-quarters combat and strategic decisions. As you climb, the player pool shrinks, leading to a climactic final showdown at the very top.

    One of the most innovative features is the combat itself. While it’s an isometric, top-down game, Arkheron features a unique free-aim camera that feels more like a shooter. This allows for precise aiming, dodging, and strategic positioning, making every engagement a test of skill and awareness.

    Bonfire Studios has been a bit of a mystery for years, but now we’re seeing the results of their long-term development. With a blend of ideas from games like Diablo, Dark Souls, and PUBG, Arkheron aims to be a deep, competitive experience that can sustain hundreds, if not thousands, of hours of play. They’re already holding public playtests, and the feedback from these early sessions will be crucial in shaping the game’s future.

    Arkheron is more than just a new battle royale; it’s a genre-bending experience that promises a fresh take on team-based PvP. If you’re looking for a game that rewards adaptability, strategic thinking, and moment-to-moment skill, you’ll want to keep an eye on this one. The ascent is just beginning.

    Arkheron https://www.arkheron.com

    #Arkheron #games #gaming #gamers #scifi #BonfireStudios #AscensionRoyale #pvp #gametrailer #playtest #demogame #battleroyale

  • Cole Hunter: Payback Playtest Teaser Trailer

    Cole Hunter: Payback Playtest Teaser Trailer

    It has to be said that we do like a bit of 2D pixel art game news, and in this case, we are talking about Cole Hunter: Payback, a classic shoot-’em-up roguelite set in space where players spend most of the game trying to avoid the debt collectors looking to collect the debts that you have run up. There is, of course, only one thing to do, pay or run! Wishlist Cole Hunter: Payback on Steam before the game is released in early 2026.

    To find out more about Cole Hunter: Payback, go to the official game page here https://colehunterpayback.com or go to the games page on Steam here https://shorturl.at/l4zqx

    #ColeHunterPayback #ColeHunter #Payback #games #gaming #gamers #newgames #gametrailers #playtest #OldwaysStudiosAB #Roguelite #indiegames #indiedev

  • Playtest for Blind Descent now on Steam

    Playtest for Blind Descent now on Steam

    At first sight, Mars appears to be a dry and almost dead planet, but miles below the surface, there is a strange and wonderful ecosystem just waiting to be explored. This is Blind Descent, a game of survival and discovery in a world that has remained untouched for a long time, until a failed mission to the planet leaves a single survivor in this vast underground world.

    To find out more about Blind Descent, go to the official website here https://blinddescent.net/ or go to the games page on Steam here https://shorturl.at/YgV72

    #Playtest #BlindDescent #Steam #games #gaming #gamers #newgames #METAPublishing #OwlcatGames #scifi #survival #Pokuch #Martian #mars #alien #exploration #underground

  • Investment should accelerate Vaultbreakers development

    Investment should accelerate Vaultbreakers development

    Sometimes games can take a while to come to market and in the case of the Vaultbreakers this should not be a problem as recent investment from Square Enix will enable the developers, BetaDwarf, to release a trailer and even launch a playtest for players to get to know the game.

    To find out more about the Vaultbreakers, go to the official game website here vaultbreakers.com or go to the games page on Steam here https://shorturl.at/mFmql

    #Vaultbreakers #games #gaming #newgames #actiongames #rpg #brawlercombat #lostrelics #PvE #PvPvE #BetaDwarf #Playtest #gametrailer #gamedemo #SquareEnix #indiegame

  • Vaultbreakers gameplay trailer and playtest

    Vaultbreakers gameplay trailer and playtest

    There is a lot happening in the development of Vaultbreakers. First up, the developers, BetaDwarf, have received an investment from Square Enix. This means the games development can be accelerated; furthermore, there is a new gameplay trailer and players can take part in the public playtest too until the 9th of July.

    To find out more about Vaultbreakers, go to the official game website here http://vaultbreakers.com or go to the games page on Steam here https://shorturl.at/DG8kD

    #Vaultbreakers #BetaDwarf #games #gaming #gamers #rpg #actiongames #pve #pvpve #brawler #gamedevelopment #newgames #Gameplay #GameTrailer #Playtest #SquareEnix

  • Arms of God invite to open playtests

    Arms of God invite to open playtests

    It may be a contradictory term, but the Arms of God is a futuristic medieval game where players take on the role of the last warrior capable of saving the people from the powerful enemy. The role requires players to develop skills and build a collection of weapons, then rebuild the order and fight off the legions of demons that threaten everything that stands in their way.

    To find out more about the Arms of God game, go to the official game website here https://darkjay.com/armsofgod/ or go to the games page on Steam here https://shorturl.at/1JUVU

    #ArmsofGod #playtest #games #gaming #gametrailer #steam #newgames #DarkJayStudio #futuristic #medieval #autoshooter #roguelite #autoshooter #Cathedral #stronghold #TemplarOrder

  • The Dreamworld: The Infinite Sandbox MMO

    The Dreamworld: The Infinite Sandbox MMO

    Here is a chance to check the DreamWorld game and get a close-up look at the game where players use tools to build structures, explore the map, search for resources and battle with the bosses. The developers of the DreamWorld game will be releasing a free playtest for players and all they need to do is request access on Steam now and make sure to add to their wishlist at the same time.

    To find out more about the DreamWorld game go to the official game website here playdreamworld.com or go to the games page on Steam here https://shorturl.at/jRr7a

    #DreamWorld #Gameplay #NewGames #Games #Gaming #MMO #Steam #Playtest #Steam #SteamEarlyAccess #DreamworldTheInfiniteSandboxMMO #DreamForge #Discord

  • Exoborne playtest starting next month

    Exoborne playtest starting next month

    There is a great thing about game playtests and that is getting to know the game before its fully launched. In this case, the game is Exoborne an open-world tactical extraction shooter game set on a planet that has become a victim of severe forces of nature. In this playtest players will be able to take advantage of all of the game’s features and resources in order to find out what all the fuss is about. The Exoborne playtest will be running from February 12th to the 17th and will be available on Steam for PC players.

    To find out more about the Exoborne game go to the official game website here https://www.exoborne.com/en/ or go to the games page on Steam here https://shorturl.at/WxOKj

    #Exoborne #Playtest #NewGame #Games #Gaming #SciFi #Sharkmob #OpenWorld #TacticalExtractionShooter #Survivors #PvP #PvE #Combat

  • Project Archipelago Pre-Alpha PC Playtest

    Project Archipelago Pre-Alpha PC Playtest

    Gamers who know Rebellion will also know about the Sniper Elite game where you are behind enemy lines on mission to cause as much havoc and destruction as possible, well now there is the Project Archipelago game a sniper battle royale game that will really push your skills to the limit and beyond. The good news is that this new game is going into a Pre-Alpha PC Playtest. So check it out on the official page and sign up for the three-day Pre-Alpha Access that will be running from Aug 16th to the 18th starting at 20:00-24:00 CEST are you ready for this?

    Find out more about the Project Archipelago Pre-Alpha PC Playtest here on the official sign-up page https://archipelago.antidote.gg/?n=ryt

    #gaming #rebelliondevelopments #gamingnews #playtest #sniperbattleroyale #battleroyale #games #gamers #sniper #battleroyale #pcgames #newgames #ProjectArchipelago #rebellion