TECHMASH

Tag: #Roguelike

  • Cats, Mechs, and Mayhem: Tech Titans Join Forces for ‘Cats in the Shell’

    Cats, Mechs, and Mayhem: Tech Titans Join Forces for ‘Cats in the Shell’

    When veterans from China’s biggest rival gaming giants—Tencent and NetEase—leave their corporate strongholds to team up, the industry takes notice. But no one quite predicted what their newly minted collective, Raven Studio, would build as their debut project.

    Alongside global publisher Infini Fun, Raven Studio has officially pulled back the curtain on Cats in the Shell, a frantic, highly strategic mech-building roguelike auto battler coming to PC via Steam Early Access in Q4 2026.

    If you’ve ever wanted to pilot a towering, steel-clad instrument of absolute destruction as a whiskered feline, your highly specific dream is finally coming true.

    The Birth of Raven Studio

    Raven Studio isn’t just another indie outfit. Founded by a powerhouse collective of industry veterans pulling experience from Tencent, NetEase, and SNK, the studio was built with a specific mandate: break away from predictable, formulaic corporate production and prioritize pure, experimental gameplay.

    By partnering with Infini Fun, a global multi-platform publisher established in 2024, the developers have been given the runway to bring one of their wildest ideas to life.

    “Cats in the Shell’s detail-oriented, satisfying mech building and roguelike randomness will keep you on your toes. More than 1,000 modules provide near-infinite choices in exhilarating combat instances.” — Alex Dong, Director of Raven Studio

    Tactical Customisation Meets Feline Fury

    At its core, Cats in the Shell is all about build-crafting. The loop is a satisfying blend of deep mechanical tinkering and roguelike unpredictability.

    1. Six Mech Archetypes & Whiskered Helmsmen

    Players can choose from six distinct mech types, each serving as a blank metal canvas. However, a giant war machine is only as good as its pilot. You’ll recruit a variety of feline fighters, each sporting exclusive active abilities and unique strategic focuses that heavily alter how your machine behaves on the battlefield.

    2. Over 1,000 Component Modules

    As you progress through runs and navigate random in-game events, you will collect weapons, armor, and specialized component parts. With over 1,000 modules available, the sheer depth of theory-crafting is massive.

    3. Inventory Management & Synergy Slots

    You can allocate modules into five core slots. However, inventory space is strictly limited. The strategy lies in managing your tight inventory, arranging parts in a precise order, and unlocking hidden synergies that trigger explosive chain reactions.

    Automated Chaos and Global PvP

    Once your feline pilot is buckled in and your mech is armed to the teeth, it’s time to step onto the battlefield. Cats in the Shell splits its action across two main fronts:

    • The Story Campaign: Battle through four distinct futuristic biomes, adapting your loadout to handle environmental hazards and squaring off against towering, screen-filling bosses.
    • Asynchronous PvP: Want to test your build against the world? Take your machine into an asynchronous PvP gauntlet. You will fight AI-controlled versions of mechs meticulously assembled by actual players worldwide. The ultimate goal? Survived the gauntlet to secure 10 cumulative victories.

    Because it’s an auto battler, your job is done once the countdown hits zero. You get to sit back and watch your engineering masterclass—or catastrophic design flaws—play out in real-time automated clashes of steel, lasers, and flying fur.

    Launch Details & Public Playtest

    Cats in the Shell is slated to hit Steam Early Access in Q4 2026. Raven Studio is already aiming for a massive global audience right out of the gate, promising localization support for 11 languages, including English, German, French, Russian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and both Simplified and Traditional Chinese.

    Can’t wait until Q4? You don’t have to. To celebrate the announcement, Raven Studio and Infini Fun have launched a seven-day public playtest right now on Steam. Head over to their store page, request access, and start building your ultimate mechanical kitty today.

    What do you think of this unexpected gaming crossover? Let us know your thoughts on Raven Studio’s debut in the comments below!

    Find out more here

    #CatsInTheShell #RavenStudio #InfiniFun #SteamEarlyAccess #PCGaming #MechGames #AutoBattler #Roguelike #GamingNews #TechMash

  • Plug In and Power Up: Innovative Roguelike ‘HYPERWIRED’ Launches Today on PC and Consoles!

    Plug In and Power Up: Innovative Roguelike ‘HYPERWIRED’ Launches Today on PC and Consoles!

    Indie gaming fans, it’s time to clear your schedules. If you’ve been looking for a fresh, adrenaline-pumping challenge to test your reflexes and spatial awareness, your next obsession has officially arrived.

    Developer SIDRALGAMES, alongside co-publishers Selecta Play and Entalto Publishing, are thrilled to announce that HYPERWIRED is out TODAY! This highly anticipated 2D action roguelike space shooter is available right now across Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4|5, and Xbox.

    Check out the chaotic action in the official trailer below, check out the game on Steam, and dive into the media assets via the press kit link:

      Survive the Void on a Leash: The Ultimate Risk-Reward Mechanic

      HYPERWIRED separates itself from the crowded bullet-hell genre with a brilliant, high-voltage gameplay twist: your ship is physically tethered by a power cable to an energy source.

      In a galaxy plunged into total darkness, your life support and weaponry are entirely dependent on Space Sockets scattered throughout the procedurally generated sectors.

      • The Catch: To recharge your energy and unleash maximum firepower, you must plug in.
      • The Danger: The moment you are tethered, your movement is restricted by the length of your cable.

      This creates a frantic, gripping risk-and-reward dynamic. Do you stay anchored to keep your mega-lasers firing while dodging incoming enemy swarms? Or do you unplug, sacrifice firepower, and scramble for safety?

      Game Features at a Glance

      • Deep Build Customisation: Pick up batteries to discover over 250+ bullet modifier combinations and hunt down chips for temporary upgrades.
      • Permanent Progression: Choose from more than 40 permanent ship upgrades, allowing you to optimise your recharge times, boost firepower, or permanently extend your cable length.
      • A Fleet to Choose From: Unlock and pilot 10+ unique ships, each tailored to different playstyles—from heavy-hitting stealth builds to fast skirmishers.
      • Rescue an Army: Save stranded pilots lost in the void and watch them join the fray to fight right alongside you.
      • Elite Boss Battles: Test your skills against screen-filling, monstrous bosses at the end of every galaxy.
      • Futuristic Slow-Mo System: Feeling overwhelmed by the bullet hell? Activate your ship’s reality-bending slow-motion system to dodge the impossible. Kill enemies to juice it back up!

      Beautifully Retro, Unapologetically Fast

      Wrapped in a gorgeous 2D pixel-art style and driven by an intense synthwave-infused soundtrack, HYPERWIRED perfectly captures that classic retro arcade adrenaline while offering modern roguelite depth.

      Whether you’re playing on the couch with your PlayStation or Xbox, taking the chaos on the go with the Nintendo Switch, or aiming for the leaderboards on PC via Steam, HYPERWIRED is ready to push your gaming skills to the absolute limit.

      Don’t get stranded in the void. Grab your copy today, plug in, and master the breach!

      Find out more here

      #Hyperwired #IndieGames #Roguelike #GamingNews #Steam #NintendoSwitch #PlayStation #Xbox #SIDRALGAMES #SelectaPlay #EntaltoPublishing #BulletHell #SciFiGaming

    • Build Your Ultimate Fighter: ‘Poly Fighter’ Hits the Montreal Comic Con Indie Zone This Weekend

      Build Your Ultimate Fighter: ‘Poly Fighter’ Hits the Montreal Comic Con Indie Zone This Weekend

      Get ready to step into the digital ring, Montreal! Local developer HeartLoop Games has officially announced that its highly anticipated debut title, Poly Fighter, will be fully playable at Montreal Comic Con 2026.

      Taking place from July 3–5 at the Palais des congrès de Montréal, the massive pop-culture celebration is playing host to some of the brightest minds in independent game development—and Poly Fighter is stepping up as a certified heavyweight in this year’s Indie Zone lineup.

      What is Poly Fighter?

      If you haven’t been keeping an eye on this one via Steam, Poly Fighter is a brilliant, single-player roguelike fighting game that completely flips the genre script.

      Instead of picking a veteran warrior who already knows every combo in the book, you start from the absolute bottom. Every time you defeat an opponent in tense, retro-arcade 1v1 duels, you get the chance to learn, adapt, and literally steal or upgrade moves to build your fighter’s style from scratch.

      Whether you want to construct a zoning tactician, a grappling powerhouse, or an aggressive rushdown menace, the game lets you build the ultimate, custom-tailored (and beautifully broken) fighter.

      Why We’re Hyped: It offers a pure, expressive arcade experience built entirely for solo play. No ranked online ladder anxiety, no toxic lobbies—just deep, rewarding systems that appeal to casual players and fighting game veterans alike. Plus, the low-poly 90s aesthetic and snappy animations look absolutely gorgeous in motion.

      Go Check Out HeartLoop Games

      What makes this showcase even sweeter is that HeartLoop Games is a homegrown Montreal studio, founded by a group of industry veterans dedicated to iterative, player-first game design.

      If you are attending the convention this weekend to catch the celebrity panels, the legendary Masquerade cosplay contest, or the comic book guest stars, make sure you take a detour to Floor 2’s gaming area. Head straight over to the Indie Zone, get your hands on the Poly Fighter demo, and meet the incredibly talented local team behind it. Who knows, you might even find your new favourite character (we’re looking at you, Muscle Horse).

      Montreal Comic Con runs from Friday, July 3 to Sunday, July 5, 2026. If you can’t make it out to the Palais des congrès this weekend, you can still download the free demo and wishlist the game right now on Steam ahead of its late 2026 launch.

      Find out more here

      #PolyFighter #HeartLoopGames #MontrealComicCon #MTLComicCon #IndieGames #GameDev #FightingGames #FGC #Roguelike #TechMash

    • Save 20% on Serpent’s Gaze: The Co-Op Soulslike Taking Over the Steam Summer Sale!

      Save 20% on Serpent’s Gaze: The Co-Op Soulslike Taking Over the Steam Summer Sale!

      If you and your gaming squad have been itching for a brutal new challenge, indie developer Feeble Minds has some incredible news. Their critically acclaimed 1-4 player Early Access co-op soulslike, Serpent’s Gaze, is officially joining the Steam Summer Sale with a fantastic 20% discount!

      For a limited time, you can dive into its punishing, sand-swept world for just $11.99 / €12.79 / £11.

      What is Serpent’s Gaze?

      Launched into Early Access just last month, Serpent’s Gaze has already locked down a 90% “Very Positive” user review rating on Steam. The game seamlessly blends the tactical, high-stakes combat of a classic third-person soulslike with the dynamic, unpredictable build-crafting of a roguelike.

      You play as a Scion brought to life by the withering tree god, Magnolia. Your mission? Venture out into an ancient, imposing desert filled with relentless bosses, rival factions, and deep-seated secrets, to take down the usurper gods who rule the lands.

      Whether you choose to face the brutal challenges alone or team up with up to three friends, Serpent’s Gaze demands smart stamina management, aggressive counter-attacks, and strategic build coordination.

      Custom Builds and Brutal Defeat

      No two runs through the game’s handcrafted levels feel the same. Along your pilgrimage, you can gather blessings from strange deities, gifts from your patron, and powerful relics to customise your playstyle:

      • Aspect of the Plague: Perfect for agile glass-cannon players, giving you temporary stat boosts every time you secure a quick kill.
      • Aspect of the Bold: Made for the ultimate avenger, scaling your damage output higher for every point of health you are missing. Pair it with a massive health pool and a health-sacrificing relic to turn your pain into your enemy’s punishment.

      However, the gods aren’t entirely generous. The game’s unique Curse system introduces random variables into every run—ranging from environmental hazards to terrifying mini-bosses hunting you down—ensuring that every single attempt stays fresh and deeply challenging.

      A Look at the Roadmap

      Feeble Minds isn’t slowing down anytime soon. Alongside the sale announcement, the team dropped a massive roadmap tracking the game’s journey toward its 1.0 launch:

      • Short-Term Goals: Focus on game stability, community-driven balancing patches, and a few surprise gameplay content additions.
      • Mid-Term Goals: Introducing a wider pool of weapons, classes, upgrades, curses, blessings, and unique quests.
      • The Journey to 1.0: A massive content drop that will introduce an entirely new domain featuring 4 new levels, 4 new bosses, plenty of fresh enemy archetypes, and dedicated Steam achievements.

      TechMash Verdict: If you love Elden Ring, Dark Souls, or Remnant, but want a rogue-lite twist you can tackle with your friends, Serpent’s Gaze is an absolute steal at this price point. Grab your discount before the sale ends and see if you have what it takes to make the desert bloom again.

      Head over to Steam to check out the Serpent’s Gaze Summer Sale Trailer and grab your copy today!

      Find out more here

      #SerpentsGaze #FeebleMinds #SteamSummerSale #Soulslike #IndieGames #CoOpGaming #GamingDeals #PCGaming #EarlyAccess #Roguelike

    • Forget Cosy Games: Comrade Bear Undermines The Motherland is a Satirical, Aggressive Rebellion on Steam

      Forget Cosy Games: Comrade Bear Undermines The Motherland is a Satirical, Aggressive Rebellion on Steam

      If you’ve been feeling a bit fatigued by the endless wave of cosy, pastel-hued farming simulators dominating the indie scene lately, developer Indifferent Penguin has exactly what you need.

      Announced with a striking exclusive trailer on IGN, Comrade Bear Undermines The Motherland is a chaotic, unapologetically aggressive, and satirical roguelike action-miner that aims a heavy artillery shell directly at reality.

      Check out everything we know so far about this brilliant mashup of mechanics and political satire.

      The Pitch: Dome Keeper Meets FTL (With a Dash of Revolution)

      In Comrade Bear Undermines The Motherland, you play as an anthropomorphic bear who finds himself as the sole survivor of a sunken submarine. Betrayed and left for dead by a corrupt regime, you aren’t going to lie down and take it. Instead, you are going to survive, rebuild, and make them pay.

      The gameplay loop balances intensive logistics with high-stakes panic management:

      • Deep-Sea Excavation: Dig through the seabed to secure vital resources, manage weight mechanics, and construct intricate paths using ladders, platforms, and automated transit systems.
      • Submarine Engineering: Transform your rusty wreck into an interconnected underwater fortress. You will need to wire rooms, manage power flow, and upgrade systems to keep your ship moving.
      • Strategic Combat: This isn’t a twitch-reflex shooter. Defence relies on tactical decision-making. You will use your sonar to prioritise incoming threats—including waves of corrupt military fleets and gigantic, terrifying krakens—while directing your automated defences to open fire.

      “I didn’t want to make another cozy-game to escape reality; I wanted to provide a place to give vent to real-world frustrations.” > — Indifferent Penguin, Developer

      A Bite of Sharp Satire

      The game takes an unapologetic nod to the sinking of the Kursk and the grim political realities of modern history. Rather than pulling its punches, Comrade Bear leans heavily into its premise: you are actively mining for vengeance with the ultimate goal of blowing the Kremlin sky-high.

      The aesthetic beautifully marries a gritty, high-stakes atmosphere with dark, absurd humour, making it a highly anticipated therapeutic release for players looking to channel real-world frustrations into a genuinely fun, strategic loop.

      When Can You Play?

      Comrade Bear Undermines The Motherland is slated for a PC release via Steam. While an official release date hasn’t been set in stone yet, the announcement trailer is live, and the Steam store page is officially open for wishlisting.

      If you love the base-building anxiety of Dome Keeper, the crisis control of FTL: Faster Than Light, and the creative structural freedom of Terraria, this is absolutely one indie project to keep on your radar.

      What do you think of Comrade Bear’s rebellion? Let us know in the comments below!

      Find out more here

      #ComradeBear #IndifferentPenguin #IndieGames #GamingNews #SteamGames #Roguelike #DomeKeeper #FTL #PCGaming #TechMash

    • Prepare for Battle: Tears of Metal Slashes Onto Steam and Microsoft Store This July!

      Prepare for Battle: Tears of Metal Slashes Onto Steam and Microsoft Store This July!

      Great news for roguelike fans and hack-and-slash enthusiasts! Montreal-based indie studio Paper Cult—the brilliant minds behind the critically acclaimed action game Bloodroots—has officially announced the Early Access release date for their highly anticipated title, Tears of Metal.

      Mark your calendars: the medieval co-op hack-and-slash roguelike is set to launch on July 22 on both Steam and the Microsoft Store.

      Lead Your Battalion to Victory

      In Tears of Metal, players are thrown into a gorgeous, war-torn landscape where they must carve through massive hordes of enemies to reclaim their island home. Following a mysterious “Dragon Stone Meteor” event that brought ruthless occupiers to their shores, you are tasked with leading a formidable Scottish battalion into the trenches.

      The game successfully blends intense, large-scale hack-and-slash combat with the unpredictable, high-stakes progression of a roguelike.

      What to Expect in Early Access

      Paper Cult isn’t holding back for this launch. The Early Access build is arriving with a substantial amount of content right out of the gate:

      • Three Full Acts: Each act introduces distinct environments, unique enemy types, elite encounters, and punishing boss fights.
      • Playable Heroes & Combinations: Choose between multiple unique heroes and combine your skills with over 100 different artefacts to create devastating, custom builds.
      • Persistent Upgrades: Between campaigns, return to your settlement to expand it, unlock new vendors, and permanently upgrade your soldiers so they grow stronger with every run.
      • Solo or Co-op Play: Team up with friends or take on the enemy hordes alone across more than 45 handcrafted environments.

      Xbox Game Pass & Launch Details

      For PC players using the Microsoft Store, there’s an extra treat: Tears of Metal will be available on PC Game Pass from day one. If you prefer console gaming, Paper Cult has confirmed that an Xbox Series X|S version is currently slated to land before the end of the year.

      Last Chance for the Demo: If you want a free taste of the combat before the official release, act fast! Paper Cult will be retiring the current Steam demo on July 6 to prepare for the massive Early Access launch.

      Official pricing details will be fully dynamic upon the storefronts going live on launch day, so keep your eyes peeled to your preferred platform.

      With over 400,000 wishlists already accumulated on Steam since its initial reveal, Tears of Metal is shaping up to be one of the biggest indie hits of the summer. Head over to Steam or the Microsoft Store to add it to your wishlist now!

      Are you ready to lead your battalion into the fray? Let us know if you’ll be playing solo or teaming up in co-op this July!

      Find out more here

      #TearsOfMetal #PaperCult #IndieGames #GamingNews #SteamEarlyAccess #PCGamePass #HackAndSlash #Roguelike #CoOpGaming #TechMash

    • Clock In, Pray Hard: Satirical Deckbuilder ‘PrayPal’ Turns Divine Intervention into a Corporate Nightmare

      Clock In, Pray Hard: Satirical Deckbuilder ‘PrayPal’ Turns Divine Intervention into a Corporate Nightmare

      If you’ve ever looked at your corporate HR handbook and thought, “Wow, this feels like an eternity in purgatory,” then we have some good news. Well, “good news” depending on how much you love dark humour, roguelike deckbuilders, and crushing bureaucratic dread.

      Publishers GCORES PUBLISHING and developer Yith Game have officially announced PrayPal—a satirical roguelike deckbuilder where faith isn’t a spiritual journey; it’s a monetised KPI.

      According to the official press release, the teams are “thrilled (and legally obligated by HR to say they are thrilled)” to bring this divine corporate nightmare to life.

      Welcome to Heaven, Inc.

      In PrayPal, you aren’t fighting monsters for glory. You are navigating the ultimate corporate ladder: the afterlife.

      Instead of traditional mana or energy, you’ll be managing Divine Capital. Your cards aren’t magic spells—they are bureaucratic mandates, prayer subscriptions, and HR-approved miracles. Want to smite a rival department? That’s going to require three rounds of approvals and a synergy meeting.

      Key Features to Sync About:

      • Synergise Your Deck: Build a deck of “Miracle Manifestos” and “Compliance Clauses” to survive tactical turn-based grid encounters.
      • Corporate Roguelike Progression: Every run changes as you climb the corporate celestial ladder. Fail your performance review, and it’s back to the mailroom (or worse, the mortal realm).
      • Dark Satirical Humour: A sharp, witty critique of modern corporate culture, microtransactions, and tech-bro jargon, all wrapped in a beautifully polished indie aesthetic.

      Capitalise on the Trailer

      The developers have dropped a teaser that perfectly captures the aesthetic: a mix of clean, sterile corporate UI and chaotic, god-tier bureaucracy. Check it out to see how your next quarterly review might just determine the fate of your soul.

      Whether you’re a fan of Slay the Spire or just someone who has answered one too many emails that “could have been a meeting,” PrayPal looks to be a hilariously bleak addition to your Steam wishlist.

      Stay tuned to TechMash for a definitive release date and hands-on impressions. Until then, remember to log your hours, optimise your prayers, and circle back with us later.

      Find out more here

      #PrayPal #IndieGames #Roguelike #Deckbuilder #GCORES #YithGame #GamingNews #TechMash #PCGaming #Satire #SteamGames

    • 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

    • Magical Girls vs. Biblical Monsters: Kernel Hearts Slams Onto Consoles and PC This September

      Magical Girls vs. Biblical Monsters: Kernel Hearts Slams Onto Consoles and PC This September

      Indie developer Ephemera Games has dropped a massive double-whammy of news for anime action fans. Not only has their highly anticipated debut title, Kernel Hearts, locked in an official release window for September 2026, but players won’t have to wait until autumn to get another taste of the action. An updated, feature-packed demo is officially heading to Steam Next Fest on June 15th.

      Published by Whitethorn Games, this unique multiplayer co-op roguelike action RPG tasks players with a rather ambitious to-do list: eliminate legions of angels, scale the Tower of Babel, and transform into a magical girl to literally dethrone God.

      If you like your hack-and-slash gameplay mixed with deep customisation and high-stakes teamwork, this is definitely one to keep on your radar.

      Slay God, Upgrade Your OS, and Bond with Allies

      In Kernel Hearts, you control a member of the M.A.H.O.U. Unit, fighting to save a post-apocalyptic world currently drowning in ashes. The game effortlessly blends fast-paced, combo-heavy action with classic roguelike mechanics.

      Here is what you can look forward to when the full game drops later this year:

      • Co-Op Chaos: Team up with up to four friends in online multiplayer co-op to take down massive biblical monsters and intense domain guardians.
      • Magical Transformations: Dispel the Heavenly Curse to temporarily unlock your true, devastating magical girl form and turn the tide of battle.
      • 256KB of Customisation: Between runs, return to your lab holdout on the outskirts of humanity to spend your hard-earned rewards, equipping up to 256KB of custom stat-altering chips to your Unit’s MAHOU.OS.
      • Forge Deep Bonds: It’s not all endless fighting; you can interact with the unique inhabitants of the tower and give them gifts to deepen your relationships.

      Catch the Fresh Demo at Steam Next Fest

      If you missed the initial playtests or the early alpha builds, the upcoming Steam Next Fest on June 15th is your perfect entry point. Game Director Akira recently shared that the development team has been working hard to address player feedback from earlier versions. The upcoming Steam Next Fest build promises a heavily updated demo featuring crucial quality-of-life improvements, tighter mechanics, and a much cleaner look at what the final product will offer.

      The full game is shaping up to be an absolute treat for anime fans and roguelike veterans alike. Mark your calendars for the demo next week, and get ready for the full launch this autumn!

      Kernel Hearts will officially launch in September 2026 across PC (Steam and Epic Games Store), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch.

      Source – https://kernelhearts.com/

      #KernelHearts #EphemeraGames #WhitethornGames #SteamNextFest #IndieGames #GamingNews #CoOpGaming #ActionRPG #Roguelike #AnimeGames #MagicalGirl

    • The Clock is Ticking: Hell Clock Strikes PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Drops ‘Cursed War’ This July!

      The Clock is Ticking: Hell Clock Strikes PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Drops ‘Cursed War’ This July!

      Action RPG fans, synchronise your watches. The diabolical, fast-paced roguelike ARPG Hell Clock finally has an official console release date. Developers Rogue Snail and publisher Mad Mushroom have announced that the highly acclaimed “Exile-like” will officially launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S on July 14, 2026.

      But that’s not all. In a massive double-drop, the game’s highly anticipated first major expansion, Cursed War, is launching on the exact same day across consoles and Steam.

      If you’ve been waiting to take this dark, historical hack-and-slash on the go or to your living room setup, your time has officially come.

      What is Hell Clock?

      For the uninitiated, Hell Clock took the PC gaming world by storm with its unique premise and breakneck speed. Billed as a love letter to Path of Exile and Diablo, but packed into digestible, high-octane roguelike runs, the game is a dark fantasy reimagining of 19th-century Brazilian history—specifically the War of Canudos.

      You play as Pajeú, a warrior trapped in a cursed purgatory, battling hordes of undead oppressors and demons. The catch? The literal “Hell Clock” is always ticking. You have to balance the risk of diving deeper for legendary loot against a strict time limit, crafting unstoppable builds from ancient relics and blessings before your time runs out.

      With an “Overwhelmingly Positive” community reception on Steam, it’s safe to say console players are in for an absolute treat.

      Welcome to the ‘Cursed War’ Expansion

      The console launch isn’t just a simple port; it’s arriving alongside Cursed War, a major expansion that expands the lore and takes players into the grim horrors of the war in Paraguay.

      The expansion is set to dramatically shake up the meta by introducing six brand-new skills to help you tear through the forces of Hell. Here is a sneak peek at what you’ll be adding to your arsenal:

      • Tupã’s Wrath: The ultimate ARPG “Spark” style skill. Zero aiming required—just flood the entire screen with chaotic, bouncing projectiles.
      • Jaguar Spear: A long-reach melee skill that pierces straight through enemy lines, perfect for crowd control.
      • Lead Sermon: Fires electrified projectiles that bounce between targets. Better yet, reloading brings a whole new “sermon” of destruction to your foes.
      • Holy Fire: A classic fireball archetype. Scale up your projectiles to ignite the screen and watch the demons burn.
      • Cilada: A tactical trap skill that immobilises enemies, inflicts severe debuffs, and sets them up for massive bleed damage.
      • Carcará Dive: Leap high into the air and slam down, dealing massive fire impact damage. It’s fantastic for both high mobility and heavy burst damage.

      Mark Your Calendars

      Whether you’re a hardcore Path of Exile veteran looking for a fresh, snappy alternative or a roguelike fanatic who loves the adrenaline of Hades, Hell Clock is tailoring itself to be a must-play this summer.

      Get ready to race against time. Hell Clock and the Cursed War expansion drop on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam on July 14, 2026.

      Are you ready to face the demons of the past? Let us know in the comments below which build you’ll be crafting first!

      Find out more here

      #HellClock #ARPG #Roguelike #PS5 #XboxSeriesX

    • Boxing Rings & Slip-and-Slides: ‘Rogue Maze’ Reinvents Tower Defense Chaos

      Boxing Rings & Slip-and-Slides: ‘Rogue Maze’ Reinvents Tower Defense Chaos

      The tower defence genre is getting a serious dose of absurdity, and honestly, we are 100% here for it. Indie studio Bionic Wombat Games has just announced their debut title, Rogue Maze, a tower defence roguelike that swaps out your traditional, boring stone walls for pure, unadulterated chaos.

      If you’ve ever wanted to defend your base by forcing your enemies to navigate a maze made of slip-and-slides and boxing rings, your highly specific wish has just been granted.

      Redefining the “Tower” in Tower Defence

      In Rogue Maze, you aren’t just placing standard turrets and hoping for the best. Your primary goal is to design purposefully chaotic, winding pathways to completely bamboozle, exhaust, and defeat your underlings.

      Instead of just blasting enemies with lasers, you get to manipulate the environment using a hilarious arsenal of traps and distractions.

      • The Slippery Slope: Lay down tactical slip-and-slides to send enemies hurtling backwards or sliding face-first into danger.
      • The Squared Circle: Drop boxing rings right in the middle of the path to force invading creeps into unexpected melee showdowns.
      • Roguelike Randomness: Because it’s a roguelike, no two runs are the same. You’ll adapt your chaotic maze on the fly based on the wacky upgrades and layouts you pull each round.

      Why it works: By combining the strategic depth of mazing with the unpredictable synergy of a roguelike, Rogue Maze ensures that failure is just as entertaining as winning.

      Play the Demo Right Now!

      You don’t have to take our word for how wonderfully frantic this game is. Bionic Wombat Games has officially dropped a free demo on Steam, available to download today.

      It’s time to channel your inner mad architect. Head over to Steam, grab the demo, and start building the most exhausting theme park of doom your underlings have ever seen.

      Source – https://s.team/a/3563500

      #RogueMaze #IndieGames #TowerDefense #Roguelike #SteamDemo

    • Set Your Inner Demons Ablaze: Isometric Horde Survivor ‘Ignitement’ Drops Steam Demo!

      Set Your Inner Demons Ablaze: Isometric Horde Survivor ‘Ignitement’ Drops Steam Demo!

      Indie solo developer Sørb has officially turned up the heat on Steam, launching the highly anticipated playable demo for Ignitement. If you are a fan of bullet-hell action, rogue-lite progression, and turning screens full of monsters into absolute ash, this is one indie title you need to put on your radar immediately.

      At its core, Ignitement is an isometric 2D horde survivor roguelite, but it sets itself apart from the crowded genre by wrapping its intense combat in a deeply atmospheric, psychological premise.

      Fight Your Demons (Literally)

      In Ignitement, you step into the role of a lone Fire Shaman, embarking on a solitary, meditative journey into a metaphysical underworld. This isn’t just a random fantasy dungeon; the realms you traverse—from the dead herbage of the Soul to the maze-like Mind and the organic structures of the Heart—are born entirely from the protagonist’s inner grief, regret, and rage.

      The hordes of enemies trying to swarm you aren’t just mindless monsters either. They are the physical manifestations of your darkest inner thoughts, topped off by intense, psychological boss battles like The Horned Devil and The Smoke of Regret.

      Stunning 2D Fluid Simulation Fire Effects

      What truly makes Ignitement pop on screen is its incredible visual flair. Sørb has built a custom-made, real-time 2D fluid simulation system specifically for the game’s fire VFX.

      Whether you are casting fireball projectiles, using defensive flamethrowers, or watching smoke, fog, and embers react dynamically to your positioning, the fire looks and acts alive. The flames naturally flow and shift with your camera movements, creating a gorgeous visual feast amidst chaotic combat.

      +-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                       IGNITEMENT GAMEPLAY FEATURES                     |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
| • Explosive Fire Magic: Dynamic 2D fluid simulation fire VFX.         |
| • Skill-Based Combat: Tight isometric movement where every dash counts. |
| • Ancient Masks: Equip masks like Impatience or Fury to alter stats.  |
| • Meta-Progression: Collect soul-coins to unlock permanent upgrades.  |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+

      Try the Demo Today

      With fast-paced 20-minute runs, deep customisation via mystical masks, and challenging rogue-lite progression, Ignitement is shaping up to be an absolute treat for action fans ahead of its full 2026 launch.

      You can head over to Steam right now to download the free demo, test your skills against the inferno, and add the game to your wishlist!

      Source – https://s.team/a/3845350

      #Ignitement #IndieGames #Roguelike #SteamDemo #GamingNews