TECHMASH

Tag: #Soulslike

  • Praise the Sun—And Bring Your Friends: Serpent’s Gaze Slithers Into Steam Early Access

    Praise the Sun—And Bring Your Friends: Serpent’s Gaze Slithers Into Steam Early Access

    If you’ve ever stared down a towering, hyper-aggressive boss in a Soulslike and thought, “Man, I wish my friends were here to share this misery,” independent developer Feeble Minds has some excellent news for you.

    The studio has officially launched Serpent’s Gaze into Steam Early Access. Dropping the lonely melancholy typical of the genre, this dark fantasy title offers a brutal, punishing 1-4 player co-op Soulslike experience that wants you and your squad to bleed, adapt, and conquer together.

    Here is why you should grab your favourite build-crafting buddies and head into the desert today.

    Welcome to the Desert, Scion

    In Serpent’s Gaze, you step into the shoes of a Scion—a warrior brought to life by the fading tree god Magnolia. Your explicit mission? To overthrow the usurper gods ruling the land and make the desert bloom again. Unsurprisingly for a Soulslike, the only tool at your disposal to achieve this divine restoration is absolute, tactical violence.

    Players will hack, slash, and dodge-roll through a world divided by distinct, hostile factions. You’ll navigate everything from the harsh, sweeping sands of the nomadic Majin to the imposing, shadow-drenched cathedrals of the proud Attar’Esh.

    A Soulslike Combat System with a Roguelike Twist

    Feeble Minds is blending heavy, high-stakes third-person combat with distinct roguelike progression hooks. While the environments themselves are beautifully handcrafted rather than procedurally generated, your journey through them will change every single time.

    • Divine Blessings & Relics: As you fight your way through the levels, you’ll amass power-ups, gifts from your patron, and blessings from strange deities to customise your build on the fly.
    • The Curse System: The gods aren’t just letting you steal their power passively. A dynamic Curse system introduces unpredictable variables to each run. You might suddenly find yourself hunted across the map by aggressive minibosses or forced to navigate devastating environmental hazards.
    • The Awareness System: Think you’ve got a handle on the challenge? Think again. The game features an Awareness system that ensures each successful run makes the next one progressively more punishing.

    Co-op Camaraderie or Solo Suffering?

    While the game scales and functions beautifully as a solo endeavour for the purists who want to tackle the challenge at their own pace, it truly shines as a cooperative multiplayer experience. Rallying up to three friends allows you to coordinate builds, cover each other’s weaknesses, and draw the aggro of some truly relentless bosses.

    As Feeble Minds CEO Jannik Reuterberg noted at launch, the Early Access period is designed to be a “cooperative endeavour” in more ways than one, with the team looking to heavily involve the community’s feedback on the road to version 1.0.

    Available Now

    If you’re ready to test your reflexes and your friendships, Serpent’s Gaze is available on PC via Steam Early Access right now. Bring your best roll finger—you’re going to need it.

    #CoOpGaming #Soulslike #IndieGames #SerpentsGaze #EarlyAccess

  • Cut the Exploration, Crave the Combat: Soulslike Indie ‘Die Deep’ Drops a Hardcore PC Demo

    Cut the Exploration, Crave the Combat: Soulslike Indie ‘Die Deep’ Drops a Hardcore PC Demo

    If your favourite part of a Soulslike is the sweat-inducing, palm-twitching tension of a brutal boss fight, Taiwanese indie developer PINIX has a treat for you. The studio has officially launched a free Steam demo for its upcoming hardcore action title, Die Deep, offering a pure, unadulterated dose of high-stakes combat.

    Billed by the devs as a “Boss Rush with a stage-like experience,” the game strips away the typical fluff. There is no sprawling map to get lost in, no obscure puzzles to solve, and absolutely no filler. The focus here is entirely on your ability to read an enemy, time your parries, and survive.

    What’s in the Demo?

    The free Steam demo gives players a solid 20 to 40 minutes of playtime (heavily dependent on how many times you face the “You Died” screen) and features:

    • Standard Chapter Level: A complete basic tutorial and a starter stage designed to get you up to speed with the game’s mechanics.
    • Boss Challenge Stage: The real meat of the experience. A high-difficulty, punishing encounter designed for combat purists who want to master a boss’s moveset and perfect their run.
    • Two Playable Characters: Test out two distinct fighters—a one-eyed warrior built for heavy shield parries, and an agile rogue built for high-speed dual-blade offence.

    Inspired by Hollow Knight and Silksong

    PINIX hasn’t hidden its inspirations. The team notes that the game’s rapid, demanding combat rhythm is heavily influenced by Hollow Knight—specifically the high-intensity, back-to-back challenges found in the legendary Colosseum of Fools and Godhome gauntlets.

    If you get greedy with your attacks or mistime a single dodge, the Abyss will reclaim you instantly. You play as a wandering soul who has forgotten its purpose, lured down into the deep by a primal desire to fight, purely to prove your heart is still beating.

    Heading to BitSummit PUNCH 2026

    Alongside the demo launch, PINIX has confirmed they will be returning to Kyoto, Japan, for the second consecutive year to showcase Die Deep at BitSummit PUNCH, Japan’s premier international indie game festival. If you happen to be attending the event, you’ll be able to test your skills at their booth and see how the game has evolved ahead of its planned Q4 2026 full release.

    For the rest of us looking to scratch that hardcore combat itch from the comfort of our desks, the free demo is available to download right now on PC and Mac via Steam.

    Find out more here – https://s.team/a/3211560

    #PINIX #action #DieDeep #Soulslike #combat #pcgames #steam #bitsummitpunch #techmash #n5dave #gamingnews #videogames #games #gaming #gamers

  • A Desert Full of Teeth: Serpent’s Gaze Hits Steam Early Access on May 25th

    A Desert Full of Teeth: Serpent’s Gaze Hits Steam Early Access on May 25th

    If you thought your friend group was tight, prepare to have those bonds tested in the shifting sands of an ancient, unforgiving desert. Developer Feeble Minds has officially announced that their debut title, Serpent’s Gaze, is slithering onto Steam Early Access on May 25th, 2026.

    Blending the high-stakes, tactical combat of a soulslike with the “just one more run” addiction of a roguelike, Serpent’s Gaze isn’t just another entry in a crowded genre. It’s a 1-4 player co-op experience built by a team of industry veterans—including talent behind the critically acclaimed Satisfactory and the chaotic Goat Simulator series.

    Soulslike Combat Meets Roguelike Chaos

    In Serpent’s Gaze, you play as a Scion, a being brought to life by the withering tree god Magnolia. Your mission? To dismantle the usurper gods ruling over a sun-drenched wasteland. While the combat is heavy, deliberate, and punishing, the game introduces a brilliant Curse and Blessing system to keep every run feeling fresh:

    • Handcrafted Worlds: Forget procedural generation. The levels are meticulously designed, from the ruins of the Majin nomads to the towering cathedrals of the Attar’Esh.
    • The Curse System: Success breeds hostility. The “Awareness” system tracks your progress, applying stacking difficulty modifiers. You might find yourself hunted by relentless minibosses or dealing with environmental hazards that weren’t there ten minutes ago.
    • Deity Blessings: To counter the curses, you’ll find relics and gifts from your patron. Whether you’re building a “Plague” character that gains stat points on kills or a “Bold” tank that deals more damage as their health drops, the build variety looks massive.

    Play Your Way (Or With Three Friends)

    While the game is fully playable solo for the “true” souls experience, it’s clearly designed with co-op in mind. Coordination is key when facing bosses that can wipe a party in seconds.

    For those who want to support the developers from day one, Feeble Minds is also launching a Supporter Pack DLC alongside the game. This pack includes exclusive skins for each of the four playable characters—a nice way to show off while you’re getting crushed by a desert deity.

    Early Access Roadmap

    Feeble Minds expects to stay in Early Access for roughly 1-2 years. During this time, they plan to add:

    1. A brand-new faction with unique enemies and bosses.
    2. More weapons, classes, and upgrades.
    3. General polish and community-requested features.

    “We believe the game will launch in a good state, but developing more content with community input will bring it to greater heights,” the developers shared on their Steam page.

    Mark your calendars for May 25th. If you’re a fan of Remnant, Risk of Rain, or simply enjoy being told “You Died” in new and interesting ways, Serpent’s Gaze should be firmly on your wishlist.

    Are you planning to brave the desert alone, or are you bringing a full squad of Scions? Let us know in the comments!

    Find out more here – https://s.team/a/3069050

    #FeebleMinds #coop #soulslike #SerpentsGaze #SteamEarlyAccess #techmash #n5dave #gamingnews #videogames #games #gaming #gamers

  • Lost in the Abyss: Sci-Fi Action RPG ‘2nd EVE’ Hits Early Access

    Lost in the Abyss: Sci-Fi Action RPG ‘2nd EVE’ Hits Early Access

    In the vast, cold reaches of space, something has gone terribly wrong. Developer Gamer Cloud has officially launched their debut title, 2nd EVE, into Early Access, inviting players to step aboard a colony vessel that was supposed to be humanity’s salvation but has instead become a floating nightmare.

    Set in a future where Earth is on a collision course with a shattered Moon, the last of humanity fled on three massive colony ships bound for Proxima B. You play as Sister Superior Zola, a high-ranking officer and psychiatrist tasked with overseeing the mental health of the crew. But when the vessel—the Argos—attempts a hyperspace jump, reality doesn’t just bend; it breaks.

    A Ship Divided by Madness

    The Argos is no longer the pristine beacon of hope it once was. Lost in the “Abyss” of hyperspace, its corridors are now haunted by:

    • Twisted Crew: Survivors who have mutated into nightmare beings.
    • Rogue Machines: Automated security and maintenance bots that now hunt anything with a heartbeat.
    • Spatial Anomalies: Reality-warping tears that make navigating the ship a puzzle in itself.

    Your mission is simple yet harrowing: survive the descent into madness, protect the thousands of colonists still frozen in cryosleep, and uncover the truth behind what hyperspace did to your ship.

    Tactical Souls-like Combat

    Don’t expect a typical “hack-and-slash” experience. 2nd EVE leans into a tactical, 2.5D side-scrolling style that rewards patience and positioning.

    • No Fixed Classes: In a refreshing move, the game ditches rigid class systems. You can adapt Zola’s abilities on the fly—channelling devastating spells, mastering close-quarters staff combat, or picking off threats with ranged precision.
    • Cooldown-Based Strategy: Combat is governed by cooldowns rather than a traditional stamina bar, forcing you to time your parries, dashes, and heavy attacks with surgical precision.
    • Minimalist Design: The UI is stripped back to keep you immersed in the haunting atmosphere, focusing on the flickering lights and distant echoes of the ship rather than cluttered menus.

    The Early Access Roadmap

    The version available now on Steam and the Epic Games Store features the first three chapters of what is planned to be a ten-chapter epic. Gamer Cloud expects the game to remain in Early Access for roughly 10 to 12 months, using player feedback to balance the tactical combat and expand the narrative.

    “As a small, self-funded indie studio, Early Access provides an essential opportunity for us to develop the game alongside our players,” says the developer.

    Launch Details

    • Platforms: PC (Steam / Epic Games Store)
    • Price: £12.79 / $14.99 (currently featuring a 10% launch discount)
    • Technical: Verified for Steam Deck with support for nine languages.

    If you’re a fan of atmospheric sci-fi horror and “Souls-lite” tactical combat, the Argos is waiting for you. Just remember: in hyperspace, even faith might not be enough to save your soul.

    For more indie gaming news and the latest tech updates, stay tuned to TechMash.

    Find out more here – https://s.team/a/3516780

    #2ndEve #IndieGame #GameplayTrailer #SoulsLike #GamerCloud #scifi #action #RPG #games #gaming #gamers

  • The Shadows of Tombwater Is Available Now on PC

    The Shadows of Tombwater Is Available Now on PC

    Dust off your revolvers and prepare your psyche for a trip to the frontier of madness. The Shadows of Tombwater, the highly anticipated 2D Wild West Soulslike from developer Moth Atlas and publisher Midwest Games, has officially launched today on PC.

    If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if Bloodborne had a head-on collision with A Link to the Past in a cursed mining town, this is the answer.

    A Town Drowned in Eldritch Madness

    Set in the decaying streets of Tombwater, you step into the spurs of a lone gunslinger searching for a missing friend, Sheriff Elliott Flintwood. This isn’t your standard spaghetti western; the town’s thriving silver mines have unearthed something ancient and terrible. The residents haven’t just moved away—they’ve been consumed by a creeping madness that turns men into monsters.

    Key Features: Survival on the Frontier

    • Top-Down Soulslike Combat: Experience the punishing, methodical combat of the Souls genre from a nostalgic 2D perspective.
    • Gunslinging and Sorcery: With over 50 weapons and 40 spells, you can build your character to be a traditional sharpshooter, a heavy-hitting soldier, or an Occultist wielding dark magic.
    • The Madness Meter: It’s not just your health you need to watch. The environment and enemies will push your “Lucidity” to the brink, forcing you to manage your sanity to survive.
    • Massive World: Explore 16 unique biomes—from scorched scrublands to claustrophobic mines—and face off against 25 gruesome bosses that will test your reflexes and your resolve.
    • Deep Crafting: Utilise an “Apothecary” system to brew tonics and explosives from materials scavenged in the Wilds.

    Choose Your Archetype

    Before you head into the shadows, you’ll need to pick your path. The game offers several distinct starting classes:

    ClassPrimary FocusStarting Gear Highlights
    GunslingerPrecision & SpeedHigh-damage revolver with the fastest fire rate.
    SoldierDurability & MeleeDragoon Saber and high Strength/Life stats.
    OccultistMagic & SanityRune Knife and high resistance to Madness.
    TinkererCrafting & UtilityStarts with multiple consumables and high Alchemy.
    SpellbladeHybridA balance of melee strength and utility spells.

    Direct Storytelling in a Dark World

    While many Soulslikes rely solely on item descriptions for lore, Tombwater leans into a more direct narrative. As you explore, you’ll encounter “puddles of blood” that act as windows into the past, showing you the events that led to the town’s downfall. You’ll also experience flashbacks that flesh out your character’s history, making your journey feel personal rather than just a crawl through a graveyard.

    Now Available on PC

    Developed by Max Mraz (creator of Ocean’s Heart and the Bloodborne demake Yarntown) and Jake Wagner, The Shadows of Tombwater is the result of four years of dedicated development.

    The game is available now on Steam and GOG for $24.99 (approx. £19.99), with a limited-time 20% launch discount. If you’re looking for a challenge that smells like gunpowder and old leather, the gates of Tombwater are open.

    TechMash Tip: If you’re a Steam Deck user, Tombwater is a perfect fit for handheld play, offering that “one more run” gameplay loop that’s hard to put down.

    Find out more here – https://shorturl.at/aT8Xj

    #MidwestGames #MothAtlas #Tombwater #2D #WildWest #Soulslike #games #gaming #gamers #horror #pcgames #steam

  • The Collective Dream Calls… Are You Ready to Wake Up?

    The Collective Dream Calls… Are You Ready to Wake Up?

    The wait is over, Dreamers. The Being and Becoming open playtest is LIVE NOW on Steam!

    Dive into a world where gorgeous, handcrafted pixel art meets a nightmare that warps reality itself. As a rare lucid dreamer, you are the only hope to defy the prophecy of The Word and consume the spirits of the corrupted to save what remains of a dying kingdom.

    What’s waiting for you in the Playtest?

    • The Beginning of the Nightmare: Play through the game’s intro and explore multiple hauntingly beautiful locations.
    • Master Your Arsenal: Experiment with a redesigned combat system featuring stamina mechanics and both light/heavy weapon archetypes (like the Exalted Axe and Cleaver).
    • Face the Corruption: Challenge two epic bosses and a variety of regular enemies, including the swarm-heavy “Ghosts.”
    • New Movement Abilities: Test out the new Slide move, ledge-clinging, and improved platforming responsiveness.

    How to Join:

    1. Head over to the Being and Becoming Steam page.
    2. Look for the “Join the Being and Becoming Playtest” banner.
    3. Click “Request Access” and dive into the Collective Dream!

    Release Window Update: We are also thrilled to announce that the full journey begins in 2026!

    Don’t let the beauty of the forest or the grandeur of the cathedral lull your vigilance—the deeper you descend, the more treacherous it becomes.

    Play the Playtest & Wishlist on Steam: https://s.team/a/1917990

    #BeingAndBecoming #Ichthys #Metroidvania #Playtest #PixelArt #Soulslike #CRITICALREFLEX #CRChannel #games #gaming #gamers #videogames

  • The new Code Vein II overview trailer just dropped and it is STUNNING

    The new Code Vein II overview trailer just dropped and it is STUNNING

    Bandai Namco is not playing it safe with Code Vein II! The latest trailer confirms this is way more than just a sequel.

    We’re moving beyond the “Anime Dark Souls” tag with massive new mechanics:

    • Wield Time as a Weapon: The story centres on navigating past and present versions of a collapsing world.
    • Enhanced Combat: Introduction of Formae (Weapon, Bequeathed, and Defensive) and the new Jails system for tactical advantages.
    • The Partner System: Our new ally, Lou, looks like she’ll be central to the mystery of the Luna Rapacis.

    Pre-orders are live now, and the demo arrives next week (January 23). Your custom Revenant transfers to the full game, so start planning your “drip” now!

    Release Date: January 30, 2026 Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC

    Find out more here – https://en.bandainamcoent.eu/code-vein/code-vein-2

    #games #gaming #gamers #videogames #CodeVein2 #Gameplay #BandaiNamco #Soulslike #CodeVein #GamingNews #demogame

  • Something dark stirs in the shadows in SPARROW WARFARE

    Something dark stirs in the shadows in SPARROW WARFARE

    From the visionaries at @A44Games comes The Blood of Dawnwalker, a journey into a world where light is a luxury and survival is earned in blood. If you loved the soul-shifting combat of Ashen and the explosive rhythm of Flintlock, you aren’t ready for what’s coming next.

    Sharpen your blades. The dawn is farther away than you think.

    A new legend is being forged in the dark.

    The Blood of Dawnwalker is officially on our radar. A44 Games is back to redefine the ARPG genre with their signature style and visceral combat.

    Who else is ready to face the night?

    Find out more – https://dawnwalkergame.com/gb/en/home

    #BloodOfDawnwalker #A44Games #ActionRPG #arpg #rpg #GamingCommunity #IndieDev #SoulsLike #NewGame #games #gaming #gamers #videogames

  • Back to the Old School: Why We’re Excited for Of Ash and Steel

    Back to the Old School: Why We’re Excited for Of Ash and Steel

    In a world full of open-world RPGs vying for our attention, one upcoming title is looking to stand apart by taking a page straight out of the genre’s classics: Of Ash and Steel. Developed by Fire & Frost and published by tinyBuild, this third-person, open-world action RPG promises a return to the no-hand-holding, pure-exploration experience of beloved 2000s games.

    Set for release on PC (Steam and GOG) on November 6, 2025, Of Ash and Steel is shaping up to be a game for those who fondly remember a time before glowing quest markers dictated every move.

    A Low-Fantasy World That Doesn’t Hold Your Hand

    Of Ash and Steel places you on the island of the Kingdom of the Seven, a realm that has fallen into disrepair and is plagued by the threat of volcanic ash. You start not as a mighty hero, but as Tristan, a humble orphan-turned-cartographer whose main skill, ironically, fails him when his expedition’s ship is wrecked on the shores of Grayshaft.

    This focus on a “zero-to-hero” journey is central to the experience. The developers at Fire & Frost have made a bold commitment: there are no quest markers or compasses. You must pay attention to in-world directions, landmarks, and your own instincts to navigate the dangerous, fixed-level world. This commitment to player-driven exploration is perhaps the game’s most compelling feature, encouraging a level of immersion and discovery often missing in modern titles.

    Challenging Combat and Deep Customisation

    Getting around is one thing, but surviving is another. The game features challenging action-RPG combat, utilising swords, bows, and even basic magic. This isn’t a power fantasy right out of the gate—initial encounters can be lethal, a stark reminder that Tristan is a novice.

    The combat system offers depth with three different stances and a variety of weapon types (axes, swords, rapiers, etc.). As you progress, you’ll invest in attributes like Strength, Dexterity, Stamina, Insight, and Fortitude, allowing you to truly tailor your fighting style and unlock abilities. The survival elements, requiring you to stay fed and watered, further ground the experience in a gritty, low-fantasy reality.

    The Soul of the Classics

    The developers cite inspiration from classics like Gothic, The Witcher, and Fable, and it shows in the game’s DNA:

    • No Level Scaling: Just like classic RPGs, enemies inhabit fixed locations with set levels. Wander off the beaten path too early, and you’ll find yourself quickly overwhelmed—a thrilling risk-reward structure.
    • NPC Reactivity: Characters in the world won’t treat you like a legendary saviour from the start. They react to your fame, armour, and accomplishments, meaning your journey from vagrant cartographer to respected force is acknowledged by the inhabitants of Grayshaft.
    • Skill-Based Progression: Beyond combat, skills extend to professions like crafting, cooking, and alchemy, offering various ways to survive, earn money, and prepare for your next dangerous venture.

    Ready to Forge Your Path?

    Of Ash and Steel is a breath of fresh air for fans of demanding, richly detailed RPGs. It challenges you to slow down, explore, and learn the world’s secrets through sheer grit and observation. If you’re tired of being led by the hand and crave a world that pushes back, this low-fantasy epic from Fire & Frost and tinyBuild should be high on your wishlist.

    Are you ready to dive into the ash and steel and forge your own legend? Let us know what you think of this old-school approach in the comments!

    Of Ash and Steel https://www.ofashandsteel.com/

    #OfAshandSteel #FireandFrost #rpg #tinyBuild #pcgames #steam #SteamNextFest #IndieRPG #OpenWorldRPG #Soulslike #ArenaMode #FantasyRPG

  • Mortal Rite Unleashed Today for PC

    Mortal Rite Unleashed Today for PC

    The time has come for the excellent Mortal Rite to be unleashed for players on PC, this game is said to be a crossover between a souls-like and a roguelike game, bringing in all of the elements that make a game great as you take on the bodies of resurrected champions on a quest to reclaim the shattered lands. Make no mistake this is a game that uses a melee-style combat system, so every blow will count. The Mortal Rite game is available now on Steam Early Access.

    To find out more about the Mortal Rite game you can head on over to the games page on Steam here https://store.steampowered.com/app/1655990/Mortal_Rite/ or go to the official game website here https://mortalrite.com/

    #MortalRite #PC #Steam #Soulslike #Roguelike #RoundToastStudios #SteamEarlyAccess #Games #Gaming #Gamers #SciFi #CoopGames #NewGames

  • Step into the Darkness Kingdom of Fallen The Last Stand

    Step into the Darkness Kingdom of Fallen The Last Stand

    This is the Kingdom of Fallen: The Last Stand game where the idea is to gather clues, fight off the enemies and find your daughter, this is more than a game it is a quest and you are going to use all of your skills of deduction and fighting in order to get through this game and find your missing daughter. The game has been developed by a team of four at Digital Souls, but you would not know that as this game is quality and has some serious graphics that will blow your mind.

    Find out more about the Kingdom of Fallen: The Last Stand game here; https://store.steampowered.com/app/2618360/Kingdom_of_Fallen_The_Last_Stand/

    #indiegame #unrealengine #survivalgame #StepintotheDarkness #KingdomofFallen #TheLastStand #KingdomofFallenTheLastStand #Survival #Soulslike #DigitalSouls #Steam