TECHMASH

Tag: #socialdeduction

  • Liar, Liar, Camp’s On Fire! The Traitors-Inspired ‘Forest of Deceit’ Lands on Nintendo Switch

    Liar, Liar, Camp’s On Fire! The Traitors-Inspired ‘Forest of Deceit’ Lands on Nintendo Switch

    If your friendship group hasn’t fallen out over a game of Among Us or an episode of The Traitors recently, get ready to test your trust all over again. Indie developer Ghost Camp has proudly announced that their hit social deduction game, Forest of Deceit, is officially available on the Nintendo Switch!

    Having already made waves on Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox, Switch players can now join the paranoia for just £8.99 / €9.99.

    What is Forest of Deceit?

    Designed for 4 to 8 players, Forest of Deceit blends the casual, easy-to-pick-up accessibility of Jackbox party games with the high-stakes tension of classic hidden-role board games like Werewolf and Mafia.

    The premise is deceptively simple: you and your fellow players find yourselves stranded in a vast, ominous forest. A deadly storm is rapidly approaching, and your only hope of survival is to work together to gather resources and construct a secure shelter before time runs out.

    Sounds like a wholesome co-op survival game, right? Wrong. Hidden among your group are traitors whose sole goal is to sabotage the group’s efforts, waste precious time, and ensure the storm claims everyone. As you venture deeper into the woods to hunt for materials, every movement, decision, and split-second choice will be scrutinised by your teammates. Did your friend genuinely fail to find any timber, or are they secretly feeding you to the elements?

    Why It’s the Perfect Switch Title

    The Switch has long been the home of local and online party gaming, and Forest of Deceit fits right into the console’s library. Its Jackbox-esque party vibe makes it ideal for game nights, whether you’re sitting together on the couch screaming across the coffee table or playing online with friends across the globe.

    At under a tenner (£8.99 / €9.99), it’s an absolute steal for anyone looking to add some strategic chaos to their digital board game collection.

    Key Features:

    • 4-8 Player Social Deduction: Perfect for small gatherings or full virtual party lobbies.
    • Jackbox-Inspired Party Vibe: Easy to pick up, making it accessible for both hardcore gamers and casual party-goers.
    • High-Stakes Tension: Channel your inner Claudia Winkleman as you bluff, accuse, and scheme your way to survival.
    • Cross-Platform Availability: Now live on Nintendo Switch, PC (Steam), PlayStation, and Xbox.

    Are you ready to build a shelter, or will you backstab your way to victory? Forest of Deceit is available to download from the Nintendo eShop right now.

    Find out more here

    #ForestOfDeceit #NintendoSwitch #IndieGames #SocialDeduction #TheTraitors #JackboxVibes #GamingNews #CoOpGaming #GhostCamp #SwitchGames #TechMash

  • Trust No One Under the Blood Moon: Among Shadows Blends Soulslike Combat with Social Deduction

    Trust No One Under the Blood Moon: Among Shadows Blends Soulslike Combat with Social Deduction

    What happens when you fuse the fast-paced, visceral combat of action-RPGs with the paranoid, backstabbing tension of social deduction games like Among Us? You get Among Shadows, an upcoming asymmetric PvP title from developer TMXN Games that aims to completely reinvent how players approach trust, betrayal, and dark fantasy survival.

    If you are eager to get your hands on this unique hybrid before its full launch, you are in luck. A limited-time debut demo is live on PC via Steam right now through Monday, Aug. 31.

    A Blighted Land and an Internal Threat

    Set against the backdrop of an ancient, apocalyptic plague that has ravaged a once-prosperous realm, Among Shadows places players in the boots of Envoys belonging to the Order of the Secret Fire. Sent deep into blighted lands, your core mission is to investigate and cleanse sources of corruption—whether hidden in a quiet village well or deep within a dark cult gathering.

    As Envoys, players must fight off hordes of rotting undead, dark fanatics, cunning bandits, and terrifying wraiths. You will gather resources, solve environmental mechanisms, find spell scrolls, and craft powerful weapons. With ten distinct classes—ranging from blade-mastering Samurai to heavy-armoured Paladins and lightning-wielding Wind Talkers—the action-combat loop packs a serious punch.

    However, the deadly monsters wandering the land aren’t your biggest threat. The deadliest enemy is standing right beside you.

    The Art of Deception: Envoys vs. Apostles

    Infiltrating your squad are Underworld Apostles—traitors posing as loyal Envoys who are secretly working to spread the corruption.

    While the Envoys clear out infection points, Apostles sabotage progress from the shadows by laying hidden traps, corrupting objectives, or executing stealthy assassinations when allies wander off alone.

    • Nightly Judgments: At the end of each day, remaining players return to the church to convene around a table. Utilising in-game voice chat, players must share notes, track down suspicious behaviour, and attempt to vote out hidden Apostles before it’s too late.
    • The Blood Moon Evacuation: When the Blood Moon rises, the game shifts into high gear. The Order’s ultimate goal transforms into an escort mission: defend the Lord and his citizens as you push through endless waves of monsters toward an evacuation point. If the Order reaches the zone, they win. But if the Apostles manage to assassinate the Lord using ambushes and deceit before the convoy arrives, victory belongs to the dark.

    How to Play the Demo & Release Details

    Developer TMXN Games is offering a sneak peek of the dark fantasy mayhem with a playable demo running from now until Monday, Aug. 31.

    • Playable Demo: Available on Steam through Aug. 31
    • Early Access Release Date: Friday, Sept. 24, 2026
    • Platform: PC via Steam
    • Price: $10.99

    Whether you prefer mastering swordplay, casting high-tier magic spells, or orchestrating devious betrayals from the backlines, Among Shadows brings a fresh spin to asymmetric PvP gaming. Head over to Steam, grab your squad (or future targets), and test your survival instincts while the demo lasts!

    Find out more here

    #AmongShadows #TMXNGames #Steam #GamingNews #SocialDeduction #PvP #IndieGames #PCGaming #TechMash #DarkFantasy

  • Trust No One in Space: ‘Mimic’ Brings Shapeshifting Horror to Steam Early Access This October!

    Trust No One in Space: ‘Mimic’ Brings Shapeshifting Horror to Steam Early Access This October!

    If you think you’ve mastered the art of survival in asymmetrical multiplayer horror, think again. Independent developer Ryan Laley Games has officially announced that Mimic—an ambitious online social-deduction game designed to twist, contort, and completely redefine the genre—will be launching in Steam Early Access on October 27, 2026.

    Right in time for the Halloween season, Mimic promises to blend the paranoid tension of classic sci-fi thrillers with the unpredictable chaos of role-based multiplayer.

    A Doomed Spacecraft, Untold Horrors, and Trust Issues

    Set aboard a doomed spacecraft, Mimic places players in a desperate fight for escape. But the environment isn’t the only threat you have to worry about. Danger wears many faces in the dark corridors—including the faces of your fellow crewmates.

    Unlike traditional asymmetrical horror games where the killer is clearly defined from the start, Mimic injects intense social deduction into the mix. The entity lurking among you can shape-shift, contort, and impersonate other players, turning every routine task into a heart-pounding exercise in paranoia.

    • Is your teammate leading you to safety, or into an ambush?
    • Was that voice on the radio actually your friend?
    • Can you trust your own eyes when the monster looks identical to you?

    Single-Player Atmosphere Meets Multiplayer Chaos

    One of the standout goals of Mimic is capturing the genuine fear, isolation, and vulnerability usually reserved for single-player horror games (think Alien: Isolation or Dead Space) and bringing it directly into a multiplayer format.

    Key highlights gamers can look forward to:

    • Role-Based Mechanics: Work together using unique crew abilities to repair systems and prepare for escape.
    • Psychological Horror: The atmosphere is crafted to keep you on edge—dim lighting, spatial audio, and constant uncertainty.
    • Shapeshifting Mechanics: Monsters can mimic crew member appearances and voices, shattering group trust in seconds.
    • High-Stakes Replayability: No two matches play out the same as trust fractures and survival instincts take over.

    Mark Your Calendars for October 2026

    With its unique blend of asymmetrical horror and deduction, Mimic is shaping up to be a must-play title for fans of Among Us, Dead by Daylight, and Deceit.

    Prepare your crew, sharpen your intuition, and get ready to question everything when Mimic hits Steam Early Access on October 27, 2026.

    Will you work together to escape, or will the monster among you claim another victim? Head over to Steam now to add Mimic to your wishlist!

    Find out more here

    #MimicGame #RyanLaleyGames #IndieGame #HorrorGames #SteamEarlyAccess #SocialDeduction #PCGaming #SciFiHorror #TechMash #GamingNews

  • Trust No One: Jackbox-Style Party Game ‘Forest of Deceit’ Drops Today on PC and Consoles

    Trust No One: Jackbox-Style Party Game ‘Forest of Deceit’ Drops Today on PC and Consoles

    If you’ve ever watched The Traitors, stayed up late playing Werewolf, or simply thought, “I could absolutely trick my friends into a swift and sudden demise,” indie developer Ghost Camp has some fantastic news for you.

    Today officially marks the launch of Forest of Deceit, a Jackbox-esque social deduction party game built for 4 to 8 players. Best of all? It’s dropping almost everywhere—hitting Steam, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S right now.

    A Cursed Woods, A Looming Storm, and Total Betrayal

    The setup is brilliantly simple: you and your friends are lost in a dark, cursed forest with a massive storm brewing on the horizon. If you don’t gather resources and build a solid shelter in time, everyone perishes.

    The catch? The forest is actively driving some of your friends mad. A few players will secretly be designated as Traitors, tasked with sabotaging the shelter, stealing resources, and getting innocent players lost in the woods. Every round concludes with a tense, finger-pointing discussion where players vote to exile whoever they think is acting a bit too shady.

    No Extra Controllers? No Problem.

    Borrowing the best page out of the Jackbox Party Pack playbook, Forest of Deceit eliminates the hassle of passing around multiple controllers. Only the host needs to own a copy of the game. Everyone else can jump right into the lobby using their own smartphones, tablets, or web browsers to receive secret information, check their roles, and cast their underhanded votes.

    This makes it an incredibly accessible casual party game, accommodating everyone from hardcore strategy enthusiasts to non-gamer family members. It also features fully customizable house rules, giving it endless replay value for local couch co-op sessions or remote Discord game nights via screen-share.

    Oh, and there is a massive cherry on top for sci-fi and fantasy fans: the entire game is narrated by the legendary Sylvester McCoy (the Seventh Doctor in Doctor Who and Radagast the Brown in The Hobbit trilogy), adding a delightfully eccentric atmosphere to your impending doom.

    Launch Details, Pricing, and Nintendo Switch Status

    Forest of Deceit is available today with the following launch details:

    • Platforms Available Now: PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.
    • Steam Pricing: £8.99 / €9.99 (plus a 10% launch discount if you grab it early!).
    • Console Pricing: Expected to be essentially at parity with the Steam price, with minor regional adjustments.
    • What about Nintendo Switch? Ghost Camp has officially announced that the Switch version is on the way and is expected to release later this month.

    Gather your group, boot up your mobile browsers, and prepare to find out which of your friends is an absolute snake.

    Find out more here

    #ForestOfDeceit #GhostCamp #SocialDeduction #PartyGames #IndieGames #GamingNews #JackboxStyle #SteamGames #PlayStation #Xbox #NintendoSwitch

  • Trust No One: North Hunt Version 1.0 Drops Today Alongside Steam Social Deduction Fest!

    Trust No One: North Hunt Version 1.0 Drops Today Alongside Steam Social Deduction Fest!

    The ultimate game of deception just got a massive upgrade. Independent Tunisian developer NewGen Studio has officially announced that North Hunt is leaving Early Access and launching its highly anticipated Version 1.0 today, July 13.

    Even better? The full launch perfectly aligns with the kickoff of the Steam Social Deduction Fest, making today the absolute best time to grab your friends, sharpen your lying skills, and dive headfirst into a living Viking village full of paranoia.

    What is North Hunt?

    If you haven’t yet experienced the chaos, North Hunt takes the core foundation of social deduction and turns it into a high-stakes game of hide-and-seek. Set in a vibrant Viking settlement, players are split into two teams: Thieves and Chiefs.

    • The Thieves: Your job is to blend seamlessly into the environment. You’ll mimic NPC bot routines—chopping wood, fishing, praying, and playing music—all while secretly completing objectives. One wrong move, and your cover is blown.
    • The Chiefs: Armed with observation skills and sheer intuition, you must examine the village for any “un-NPC-like” behaviour and eliminate the impostors hiding in plain sight.

    What’s New in the Version 1.0 Launch?

    NewGen Studio has poured community feedback into this build, making Version 1.0 the game’s biggest milestone yet. Here is what you can expect when you log in today:

    Two Brand-New Roles

    • The Gnome (Thief): Shrink down to a tiny size to pull off sneaky deceptions and escape tight situations in ways the Chiefs won’t expect.
    • The Glider (Chief): Take to the skies! Patrol the Viking village from a bird’s-eye view to track down suspicious player movements from above.

    AI Bots for Both Teams

    No full lobby? No problem. Version 1.0 introduces smart bots for both sides, ensuring you can play complete, chaotic matches even if you’re flying solo or playing with a smaller group.

    Expanded Progression & Cosmetics

    Show off your status with 10 new player levels and 10 exclusive Chief skins to unlock. There are also Twitch Drops active starting today, giving players a chance to snag two exclusive cosmetic skins just by watching their favourite streamers play.

    Quality of Life & Polish

    The update brings vastly improved in-room communication, UI polish, better matchmaking algorithms, and an official community wiki accessible right from the main menu.

    “By launching during Steam Social Deduction Fest, NewGen Studio hopes to introduce more players to a different take on social deduction, one where success isn’t about hiding in the shadows, but convincing everyone you’re simply another villager.”

    Join the Hunt Today

    Whether you want to ruin lifelong friendships or build new ones through masterclass bluffing, North Hunt Version 1.0 is officially live on Steam. Don’t miss out on the launch day hype and the festive discounts running during Steam’s Social Deduction Fest!

    Have you played North Hunt yet? Are you going to be gliding through the skies or shrinking down as a gnome today? Let us know in the comments below!

    Find out more here

    #GamingNews #NorthHunt #SocialDeduction #IndieGames #SteamFest #NewGenStudio #VikingGaming #PCGaming #TechMash

  • Trust No One: Jackbox-Style Party Game ‘Forest of Deceit’ Brings Cursed Traitor Mayhem This July

    Trust No One: Jackbox-Style Party Game ‘Forest of Deceit’ Brings Cursed Traitor Mayhem This July

    If you’ve ever watched The Traitors or stayed up late playing Werewolf and thought, “I could definitely trick my friends into a swift and sudden demise,” indie developer Ghost Camp has some fantastic news for you.

    Today, the studio officially announced that Forest of Deceit, a Jackbox-esque social deduction party game built for 4 to 8 players, is officially launching on July 13th. Best of all? It’s dropping everywhere—hitting Steam, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

    Survival of the Fittest (and the Fakest)

    The premise of Forest of Deceit is brilliantly simple, yet custom-made for maximum friendship friction. You and your friends find yourselves stranded in a vast, sprawling forest. A lethal storm is brewing on the horizon, and if you can’t band together to construct a safe shelter in a matter of days, the entire group will perish.

    To survive, you’ll need to venture deep into the woods to gather crucial building resources. The catch? The forest itself is heavily cursed, and it has already driven some of your companions completely mad.

    If the Traitors successfully stall construction until the storm rolls in, they win. However, it wouldn’t be a true social deduction game without some heated finger-pointing. Every few days, the group will gather to discuss the recent chaos and vote out who they suspect is actively sabotaging the camp.

    No Controllers? No Problem.

    Borrowing the best page out of the Jackbox Party Pack playbook, Forest of Deceit eliminates the hassle of passing around multiple controllers. Only the host needs to own a copy of the game. Everyone else can jump right into the lobby using their own smartphones, tablets, or web browsers.

    This makes it an incredibly accessible casual party game, accommodating everyone from hardcore strategy enthusiasts to non-gamer family members. It also features fully customizable house rules, giving it endless replay value for local couch co-op sessions or remote Discord game nights via screen-share.

    Oh, and there’s a massive cherry on top for sci-fi and fantasy fans: the entire game is narrated by the legendary Sylvester McCoy (the Seventh Doctor in Doctor Who and Radagast the Brown in The Hobbit trilogy).

    Mark Your Calendars: Forest of Deceit releases on July 13th across PC and major consoles. Gather your group, boot up your browsers, and prepare to find out which of your friends is an absolute snake.

    What do you think?

    Are you ready to test your lying skills, or are you usually the first one voted out? Let us know down in the comments!

    Find out more here

    #ForestOfDeceit #GhostCamp #SocialDeduction #IndieGames #GamingNews #TheTraitors #PartyGames #JackboxStyle

  • Trust No One: Ghost Camp and Thomas Mackinnon Reveal ‘Forest of Deceit’

    Trust No One: Ghost Camp and Thomas Mackinnon Reveal ‘Forest of Deceit’

    If you’ve ever wanted to strand your friends in a cursed wilderness just to see who snaps first, your time is coming. Independent developer Ghost Camp and acclaimed creator Thomas Mackinnon—the mind behind experimental hits like THE CORRIDOR—have officially pulled back the curtain on their latest project: Forest of Deceit.

    Billed as a social deduction party game with a “Jackbox-esque” twist, Forest of Deceit is slated to haunt Steam in early Q3 2026.

    Survival or Sabotage?

    The premise is simple but high-stakes. You and a group of 4–8 players find yourselves lost in a dark, seemingly infinite forest. A massive storm is looming on the horizon, and your only hope for survival is to gather resources and build a sturdy shelter before the clouds break.

    There’s just one problem: the forest is cursed. As the days pass, the woods begin to warp the minds of your companions, turning some of them into Traitors.

    • The Innocents: Must work together to gather wood and supplies to finish the shelter.
    • The Traitors: Tasked with subtly sabotaging efforts, leading teammates into danger, and ensuring the storm claims everyone.

    A Jackbox-Style Experience

    What sets Forest of Deceit apart from traditional social deduction games is its accessibility. Following the “bring your own controller” model, players can join the game using their phones, tablets, or laptops via a web browser. This makes it a perfect pick for local parties or remote sessions over Discord.

    The game also features a striking hand-drawn art style that balances “cosy” with “creepy,” making the inevitable backstabbing feel just a little bit more personal.

    Key Features to Watch For:

    • Deep Customisation: Create your own “house rules” with fully adjustable game options to keep every round feeling fresh.
    • Social-First Gameplay: The focus is on discussion and psychology. Each day ends with a reveal of gathered resources, followed by a tense voting phase to expel suspected traitors.
    • Inclusive Play: Designed to be accessible for everyone, from hardcore gamers to your non-gaming family members.
    • Cross-Platform Connectivity: Because it uses browser-based controls, the barrier to entry is practically zero.

    Coming Soon to Steam

    With Thomas Mackinnon’s track record for subverting player expectations and Ghost Camp’s atmospheric design, Forest of Deceit is shaping up to be the next big “friendship-ender” of 2026.

    Keep your eyes peeled for more updates as we head toward the early Q3 2026 launch. In the meantime, you might want to start practising your “I was just gathering wood” excuse—you’re going to need it.

    Find out more here – https://s.team/a/2388580

    #GhostCamp #ThomasMackinnon #ForestofDeceit #socialdeduction #Jackboxesquegame #Steam #videogames #gamers #gaming #gametrailer #demogames