TECHMASH

Tag: #SteamNextFest

  • Angry Birds to Angry Battlers: Why Warena is Your Next PC Gaming Obsession

    Angry Birds to Angry Battlers: Why Warena is Your Next PC Gaming Obsession

    The tactical card battler genre is about to get a serious shake-up, and it’s arriving from a very unexpected, highly pedigree’d source.

    If you spent any part of the 2010s flinging furious fowls at green pigs, you’re already familiar with the work of Tuomas Erikoinen—the original artist behind the iconic Angry Birds characters. After conquering the mobile world and racking up over 50 million downloads across various projects, Erikoinen and his indie studio, Part Time Monkey, are trading mobile screens for PC monitors.

    Their latest creation? Warena, a real-time tactical card battler that launches on Steam today (July 14, 2026), and it looks set to steal your sleep.

    Real-Time Chaos: No Turns, No Waiting

    Forget everything you know about traditional card games where you politely wait for your opponent to figure out their move. Warena throws etiquette out the window in favour of simultaneous, real-time chaos.

    Both players act at the exact same time. Your objective is simple but intense: manage your mana pool, deploy troops, cast devastating spells, and push down lanes to tear down the enemy base before they do the same to yours. It’s a high-stakes tug-of-war where reading your opponent’s intent and timing your counters is everything.

    “I love short, round-based games like Rocket League where you always want to go for one more round,” says creator Tuomas Erikoinen. “I played a lot of Clash Royale and kept thinking: this would work on PC if you built it right. Warena is that game.”

    The Ultimate Hybrid: Clash Royale Meets Traditional RTS

    Warena beautifully bridges the gap between two distinct gaming worlds, offering a unique hybrid experience:

    • The Speed and Immediacy of Clash Royale: Matches are fast, punchy, and instantly engaging. It’s built for that “just one more game” loop that will have you looking at the clock, suddenly realising it’s 3 AM.
    • The Strategic Depth of a Classic RTS: Don’t let the quick match times fool you; there is serious tactical weight here. With mid-match deck evolution via “Runes” and unique “Hero Skills” chosen at the start of the game, the deck you finish with will look wildly different from the one you started with.

    Built for Pure Competition

    In a refreshing move for the modern gaming landscape, Warena is entirely built around skill. Every single card in the game is earned purely through play. There are no pay-to-win mechanics or hidden stat advantages here—just visible stats, clever strategies, and split-second decision-making.

    Whether you want to test your mettle against the AI in the single-player campaign or climb the competitive ladder in ranked 1v1 PvP, victory relies entirely on your brainpower and reflexes.

    If you’re looking for a competitive strategy fix that doesn’t require a hardcore, hundreds-of-hours time commitment to enjoy, Warena is calling your name. Head over to Steam, grab the deck, and prepare for battle.

    Find out more here

    #Warena #IndieGames #PCGaming #SteamNextFest #CardBattler #RTS #GamingNews #TechMash #PartTimeMonkey

  • Dynasty on Delay: Why The Guild – Europa 1410 Pushing Its Early Access to September is the Right Move

    Dynasty on Delay: Why The Guild – Europa 1410 Pushing Its Early Access to September is the Right Move

    If you were polishing your blacksmithing hammer or practising your medieval political bribes in anticipation of The Guild – Europa 1410 dropping into Early Access next week, you might want to put down the ledger. THQ Nordic and Ashborne Games have officially announced that they are moving the game’s Early Access launch from July 16 to September 2026.

    While a delay right before the finish line is always a bit of a bummer, this is one of those times when a step back is actually a massive leap forward for the final product.

    The Power of the Public Demo

    The decision comes directly on the heels of Steam Next Fest, where The Guild – Europa 1410 absolutely crushed it. Out of more than 4,000 playable titles, it ranked as the 25th most-played demo. Tens of thousands of strategy fans flooded the historical streets of Kuttenberg to build up early businesses, and more importantly, thousands left detailed, constructive feedback.

    Instead of ignoring that wave of data and pushing a flawed build into the wild, the dev team is listening. To ensure the Early Access experience is smooth, stable, and satisfying right out of the gate, they are using the extra two months to polish the core loop.

    A Good Business Needs Patience: Originally, the content coming in September was planned as the game’s first major post-launch update. Instead, that content—plus a few extra community-requested features—will now be baked directly into Day 1 of the Early Access launch.

    What’s Being Added to the September Build?

    The extra dev time isn’t just for bug squashing; it’s bringing immediate tangible upgrades to the launch build:

    • A Brand-New Tutorial Area: A dedicated city section designed to help new players learn the ropes of complex medieval economics.
    • UI Improvements: Streamlining menus and data tracking to make running your criminal or mercantile empire much smoother.
    • Enhanced Animations: Better visual representation of what your workers are actually doing throughout the day.
    • Expanded Language Support: Adding more text options right at launch.

    Is the Roadmap Still Safe?

    Naturally, fans might worry that pushing the initial launch date cascades into delaying the rest of the game’s features. Thankfully, Ashborne Games has confirmed that the overall roadmap remains unchanged.

    Major features like multiplayer functionality (supporting up to 12 players), additional maps, extra professions, and deeper political/dynastic mechanics are all still locked in for post-launch updates as the game marches toward its targeted Summer 2027 full release.

    If you’re eager to see what they are cooking up, you won’t have to wait until autumn. The developers plan to drop an updated version of the Steam demo relatively soon, giving players a sneak peek at some of these incoming UI and animation adjustments.

    It takes a lot of backbone to delay a game days before launch, but for a franchise as beloved and complex as The Guild, ensuring the economic foundation is rock-solid is just good business. Stay tuned to TechMash for more updates as we get closer to September!

    Find out more here

    #TheGuildEuropa1410 #MedievalStrategy #SteamNextFest #GamingNews #PCGaming #TechMash

  • Ready to Ascend? Bonfire Studios Drops Arkheron Closed Beta This July!

    Ready to Ascend? Bonfire Studios Drops Arkheron Closed Beta This July!

    The wait is officially over for one of the most anticipated competitive action games of the year. Bonfire Studios—the heavy-hitting independent developer headed by former Blizzard Chief Creative Officer Rob Pardo—has announced that the Closed Beta for Arkheron will officially kick off on July 15, 2026.

    If you managed to get a taste of this fast-paced, isometric PvPvE brawler during Steam Next Fest back in February, you already know how chaotic and thrilling it is. For everyone else, get ready: you have exactly two weeks to jump into the Tower, test your builds, and experience a massive wave of post-playtest upgrades.

    What is Arkheron?

    If you haven’t been keeping tabs on it, Arkheron is a unique blend of team-based MOBA dynamics, battle royale tension, and action RPG mechanics. Teams of three fight their way up a surreal, shifting Tower constructed from fragmented memories.

    The big twist? There are no fixed heroes or classes. In Arkheron, your items are your heroes. You loot, combine, and adapt your abilities mid-match on the fly. What you carry defines your playstyle, allowing you to completely pivot your strategy to counter rival teams as you scale the floors.

    What’s New Since Steam Next Fest?

    Bonfire Studios hasn’t just been sitting on its hands since February. They’ve taken a ton of player data and community feedback to overhaul the core experience. Here is what to look out for in the Closed Beta:

    • Massive Performance Optimisation: The engineers went deep under the hood to parallelise GPU rendering simulation and rewrote the VFX system. Translation? Smoother framerates, zero stutter, and much better performance on your GPU.
    • Introducing “Spires” (3v3 Arena): A brand-new mode built around pure combat and build creativity. You’ll load into a ready room, select your gear, battle it out in a best-of-three, and see how high you can climb before your run resets.
    • Learning Spires: Totally new to the game? This onboarding mode lets you fight bots in a step-by-step introduction to the complex item system, giving you the space to learn without getting instantly obliterated by veterans.
    • Ascension Mode: The peak competitive, multi-team experience where 15 teams battle to ascend the Tower is back with upgraded pacing, better UI, and sharper gameplay clarity.

    How to Get Into the Beta

    The Closed Beta runs from July 15 to July 26, 2026.

    TechMash Tip: If you get an invite via Steam, check your library—the “Arkheron Playtest” will automatically convert to the “Arkheron Closed Beta.” Even better? Being invited automatically grants you three extra Steam friend invites so you can assemble your squad right away.

    Servers will be live 24/7 for the Spires mode, while the hardcore Ascension queue will be open during peak regional windows (7 PM – 11 PM BST for UK and European players) on select days.

    Head over to the Arkheron Steam Page right now to request access and secure your spot in the Tower.

    Find out more here

    #Arkheron #BonfireStudios #GamingNews #PCGaming #Xbox #ClosedBeta #PvP #IndieGames #SteamNextFest #TechMash #Gaming

  • The Final Chapter Awaits: Final Trailer Drops for Handmade Fantasy RPG Veritas Tales: Witch of the Dark Castle

    The Final Chapter Awaits: Final Trailer Drops for Handmade Fantasy RPG Veritas Tales: Witch of the Dark Castle

    If you’ve been craving a return to the golden age of tabletop gaming, your next obsession is right around the corner. Developer Digitalis Publishing and publisher 15 Industry have officially released the final pre-launch trailer for Veritas Tales: Witch of the Dark Castle—and it looks like an absolute dream for classic fantasy fans.

    Described as a “reading-style” fantasy adventure, the game heavily channels the spirit of The NeverEnding Story, tasking players with interacting with a living, breathing digital gamebook.

    Check out everything you need to know about this unique indie project ahead of its impending launch.

    Watch the Final Trailer

    The final trailer offers a stunning look at the gameplay highlights and the immaculate care poured into the title. It features atmospheric Japanese voice narration with English subtitles, perfectly setting the mood for a dark, choice-driven fantasy.

    A 100% Handmade Passion Project

    What makes Veritas Tales truly special is the incredible human story behind its development. The game is the brainchild of Yoshio Nishimura, a 30-year industry veteran who served as Chief of Background Art for the original Monster Hunter at Capcom before working on gorgeous Vanillaware classics like Odin Sphere, Dragon’s Crown, and 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim.

    Nishimura left the bustling studio life behind, moving to a remote Japanese mountain village to tend to fields and craft this game entirely on his own over the course of six long years.

    • No Generative AI: Every single one of the 300+ illustrations was meticulously drawn by Nishimura’s own hand.
    • Legendary Music: The soundtrack is composed by the legendary Hitoshi Sakimoto (Final Fantasy Tactics, Vagrant Story), ensuring a sweeping, nostalgic auditory experience.
    • Pure Human Soul: The developers proudly state that the game “has a soul that can only be found in something truly handmade.”

    “Once you open this book, you are no longer just a reader.”

    Gameplay: Nostalgia Meets Modern Design

    Inspired by iconic gamebooks like GrailQuest, Sorcery!, and Fighting Fantasy, Veritas Tales blends visual novel storytelling with old-school RPG systems.

    You aren’t just reading passive text; you are actively shaping the narrative. As you turn the pages, you’ll roll dice, track your stats via an on-screen pencil and eraser UI, and make critical choices. Whether you want to charge in with a sword, talk your way out of a terrifying encounter, or completely ignore the danger and keep walking—the choice is entirely yours.

    FeatureDetails
    Playtime20+ Hours of core gameplay
    ReplayabilityHeavily branching paths with new outcomes on second playthroughs
    Text VolumeOver 15,000 words of rich story
    FrictionOld-school design means true danger; wrong choices can lead to sudden death!

    Launching Very Soon!

    If you want a taste of the magic early, a “Very Positive” rated demo is currently available on Steam, allowing you to play the first 30 minutes as either Havelock the warrior or Paneri the mage.

    The full digital gamebook opens its pages on July 8th (PT) / July 9th on PC via Steam. Head over to their Steam page, check out the trailer, and get your digital dice ready!

    Find out more here

    #VeritasTales #WitchOfTheDarkCastle #IndieGames #PCGaming #SteamNextFest #Vanillaware #Gamebook #TabletopRPG #DigitalisPublishing #15Industry #RPG #HandcraftedArt

  • “The Weirdest Camping Trip You’ve Ever Been On”: Icelandic Ocean Survival Game ‘Nokai’ Drops Playable Demo

    “The Weirdest Camping Trip You’ve Ever Been On”: Icelandic Ocean Survival Game ‘Nokai’ Drops Playable Demo

    The survival genre is filled with games that ask you to chop down a forest, build a massive fortress, and stay put. But what if a survival game forced you to keep moving through a beautiful, decaying world?

    Icelandic solo developer Hrafnkell “Keli” Þrastarson and indie studio Pretty Potato Games have just dropped a playable Steam demo for Nokai, a gorgeous, eerie, open-world ocean survival adventure that flips the script on traditional survival tropes.

    What is Nokai?

    Set 700 years after a mysterious calamity drowned the world, Nokai washes you ashore with no memory in a world ruled by violent storms, twisted wildlife, and rusted machinery rotting beneath the waves.

    To survive, you must rebuild a ship, sail through treacherous waters, and hunt an ancient evil that is actively poisoning the ocean.

    According to Þrastarson, the game is meant to channel a very specific vibe:

    “I wanted to make something that feels like the weirdest camping trip you’ve ever been on with your friends, with something in the water that is constantly watching and pushing you or your group to keep moving through the world.”

    Survival with Forward Momentum

    Unlike games where you settle down permanently, Nokai is entirely focused on forward momentum and exploration.

    Your ship acts as your primary vehicle and mobile base, requiring constant repairs, customisations, and crucial upgrades to reach more distant, dangerous islands. Instead of a mega-base, you’ll establish temporary camps across the world to gather resources, recover, and prepare for the perilous journey north.

    Key Features to Check Out in the Demo:

    • Solo or 5-Player Co-op: Take on the unforgiving ocean alone or crew a ship with up to four friends in online co-op.
    • Handcrafted Exploration: Discover diverse, uncharted islands packed with unique resources, hidden secrets, and environmental storytelling.
    • Intense Maritime Combat: Fight off unique, bizarre creatures and enemies across different oceanic regions.
    • Ship Progression: Upgrade and customise your vessel to survive harsher weather and deadlier waters.

    Supported by Innovation, Heading to Steam Next Fest

    Development on Nokai began back in 2021, backed by Iceland’s prestigious Rannís innovation grant. The game is currently gearing up for a major showcase at the Steam Next Fest in October 2026, ahead of its planned Early Access launch.

    If you want a taste of this hauntingly beautiful oceanic odyssey, the playable demo is available to download right now on PC via Steam. Go grab your crew, upgrade your ship, and see how long you can survive what lurks beneath the waves.

    Have you played the Nokai demo yet? Let us know what you think of this fresh take on ocean survival in the comments below!

    Find out more here

    #Nokai #PrettyPotatoGames #IndieGames #SurvivalGames #GamingNews #CoOpGaming #PCGaming #SteamNextFest #TechMash

  • Massive 1M-Player Web Hit ‘Soulbound’ Storms Steam Next Fest Ahead of July Release

    Massive 1M-Player Web Hit ‘Soulbound’ Storms Steam Next Fest Ahead of July Release

    Indie developer Spiderware has some massive news for MMO and roguelite fans. Their smash-hit, web-based pixel-art MMORPG, Soulbound: Online, is officially making the leap to PC—and you can play it right now.

    To celebrate its upcoming storefront launch, Spiderware has dropped a massive playable demo for Steam Next Fest, giving players a huge head start before the game’s official release on July 21st.

    From Browser Sensation to Steam Heavyweight

    If you haven’t heard of Soulbound yet, you’re missing out on a certified underground phenomenon. Originally launched as a native browser and Discord title, this indie darling has quietly amassed an incredible community of over 1,000,000 players without the traditional backing of a major storefront launcher.

    Now, London-based Spiderware is taking things to the next level. The Steam Next Fest demo isn’t just a tiny vertical slice; it offers over 7 hours of playable content, introducing newcomers to the game’s opening story chapters, solo play, and 3-player co-op action.

    What to Expect: Bullet Heaven Fuses with Classic MMO Meta

    Soulbound masterfully splits its loop into two distinct experiences: a shared overworld filled with quests and a player-driven economy, and brutal, fast-paced roguelite dungeons.

    • Build Your Ultimate Pioneer: Forget rigid class locks. Soulbound features deep skill trees and over 100 swappable ability paths. You can build a traditional heavy Tank, a crucial Healer, a high-damage DPS character, or a hybrid of your own design, with the freedom to respec instantly between runs.
    • Survive the Bullet Heaven Dungeons: Once you step inside the instanced dungeons, the game shifts into a chaotic, action-packed survivor experience. Face massive enemy swarms and procedurally escalating boss phases. No two runs are identical.
    • Establish Your Base of Operations: Your customizable home base isn’t just a cosmetic flex. It serves as your main hub for progression, where you upgrade salvaged materials, craft legendary gear, and manage your economy.
    • The Threat of The Anima: Story-wise, you awaken in a digital reality hunted by malevolent entities known as The Anima. Saved by a friendly robotic companion, it is up to you—either solo or with a 3-player squad—to gear up, form guilds, and push back the corruption.

    Grab the Demo Today!

    With an established million-user player base and a highly anticipated Steam leaderboard to climb, Soulbound is shaping up to be one of the summer’s most addictive indie multiplayer releases.

    Head over to the Soulbound Steam Page right now to dive into the 7+ hour Next Fest demo, test your builds, and add it to your wishlist before it officially drops on July 21st.

    Are you diving into the Soulbound demo this week? Let us know your favourite character builds in the comments below!

    Find out more here

    #Soulbound #SteamNextFest #IndieGames #MMORPG #Spiderware #Roguelite #GamingNews #TechMash

  • Special Delivery: Run a Cosy Feline Post Office in Cat Mail Co. – Demo Out Now!

    Special Delivery: Run a Cosy Feline Post Office in Cat Mail Co. – Demo Out Now!

    Cosy gaming fans, it is time to check your mailboxes. Independent Belgian developer Maracas Studio has officially unveiled its latest project, Cat Mail Co., a delightfully relaxing simulation game that places you in charge of a bustling post office in a charming world inhabited entirely by cats.

    If your idea of a perfect evening involves a warm drink, soft aesthetics, and a completely stress-free gameplay loop, this upcoming indie title needs to be firmly on your radar. Even better news? The game’s official Steam page is officially live, and a playable demo is available right now for Steam Next Fest, running from June 15 to June 22.

    Check out what we know about this adorable postal adventure below.

    Rain, Sleet, or Shine—The Mail Must Flow (At Your Own Pace)

    In Cat Mail Co., you arrive at Cat’s Island only to find the local post office in complete disarray following the mysterious disappearance of the former postman. Parcels are piling up to the ceiling, locals are waiting, and it’s up to you to restore the service to its former glory—one package at a time.

    Unlike chaotic management sims that stress you out with ticking clocks, Cat Mail Co. is designed from the ground up as a zen experience. There are no timers and no penalties. Instead, the game focuses on the satisfying tactile rhythm of daily postal work:

    • Weighing & Sorting: Make sure every package is routed correctly.
    • Stamping & Labelling: Decorate and organise mail using a variety of whimsical stamps.
    • Expanding the Network: Gradually unlock new destinations, better tools, and unique feline abilities to optimise your workflow.

    A Magical Twist After Dark

    The routine takes a mysterious turn when the sun goes down. Cat Mail Co. features a meaningful day/night cycle where the night shift introduces magical mechanics. Under the glow of the moonlight, certain parcels reveal unusual, hidden properties, adding a layer of supernatural discovery to your organising routine and slowly uncovering a story hidden within the backlog of undelivered mail.

    Deliver Solo or in 4-Player Co-op

    Want some extra paws on deck? You don’t have to manage the chaos alone. Cat Mail Co. features up to 4-player online cooperative gameplay. You and your friends can team up to divide and conquer the mailroom backlog, or simply hang out together and enjoy the cosy atmosphere as a team.

    “In an ever-changing and often unpredictable video game industry, we believe there is still a place for small indie games with strong creative vision. With Cat Mail Co., we wanted to offer players a truly relaxing experience…” — Sophie Schiaratura, Co-founder of Maracas Studio

    Play the Demo This Week!

    With a full release slated for July 6, 2026, the Steam Next Fest demo is the perfect opportunity to get an early taste of island life. Head over to the Cat Mail Co. Steam Page before June 22 to download the free demo, find your rhythm, and make sure to add it to your Steam Wishlist!

    #CatMailCo #MaracasStudio #CozyGames #IndieDev #SteamNextFest #CatGames #CozySim #GamingNews #PCGaming #TechMash

  • Wield the Beat: Alpha Nomos Drops Stunning New Gameplay Trailer

    Wield the Beat: Alpha Nomos Drops Stunning New Gameplay Trailer

    Indie studio RibCage Games has just dropped a brand-new gameplay trailer for their highly anticipated title, Alpha Nomos. If you’ve been craving a game that seamlessly blends the pulse-pounding precision of Hi-Fi Rush with the unpredictable, addictive loop of Hades, this is the title you need to put on your radar immediately.

    Check out the fresh trailer and see why music isn’t just a backing track in this world—it’s the absolute law.

    Combat Where the Soundtrack Is Your Weapon

    In Alpha Nomos, you step into the strings of Cello, a tiny puppet adventurer navigating a vibrant, melody-twisted world overrun by rogue, corrupted puppets. A mysterious force has silenced the world’s music, and it’s up to you to hack, slash, and orchestrate absolute chaos to bring the rhythm back.

    What sets this rhythm-action roguelite apart is its uncompromising “music-as-mechanic” philosophy. The developers didn’t just bolt a rhythm meter onto a standard action game; everything lives and breathes on the beat.

    Here is what makes Alpha Nomos strike a chord:

    • Rhythm-Driven Combat: Timing your attacks to the beat unlocks devastating combos and ramps up your damage. Missing a beat? The game plays a literal wrong note on purpose to let you know you’re out of tune.
    • Live-Recorded Musical Weapons: Forget standard swords and shields. You’ll be wielding instruments (like the mighty SaXword) where every sound has been recorded live by real musicians.
    • Audio-Effect Powerups: Roguelite runs will grant you powerups based on real-world audio effects like Reverb, Flanger, and Delay. These don’t just change your combat stats—they literally alter how your attacks sound.
    • Runs That Compose Themselves: Because every weapon and power-up alters the audio landscape, every single roguelite run generates a completely unique musical track based on how you play.

    “We didn’t want rhythm bolted on top of an action game; we wanted it to be the action. Every hit, every dodge, every upgrade lives on the beat.” > — RibCage Games

    Play the Demo Right Now!

    If the trailer whets your appetite, you won’t have to wait to get your hands on it. RibCage Games has released an updated, expanded demo on Steam featuring a tighter combat loop, new enemy encounters, and a chance to test out Cello’s rhythm-driven arsenal for yourself.

    The full game is slated for a Q3 2026 launch on PC, so head over to Steam, try the demo, and get it on your wishlist today!

    What do you think of the new trailer? Let us know in the comments below if you’ll be playing the demo!

    Find out more here

    #AlphaNomos #RibCageGames #IndieGames #RhythmGame #Roguelite #GamingNews #SteamNextFest #PCGaming #TechMash #Gaming

  • Ready to Spin? Dark Arcade Puzzler ‘Spinning Scarecrow’ Drops Fresh Demo for Steam Next Fest!

    Ready to Spin? Dark Arcade Puzzler ‘Spinning Scarecrow’ Drops Fresh Demo for Steam Next Fest!

    The line between a frantic arcade rush and a brain-melting puzzle game is about to get delightfully twisted. IV Productions, in partnership with Power Up Publishing, has officially announced that their darkly surreal title, Spinning Scarecrow, is stepping into the spotlight for the latest Steam Next Fest—and they’re bringing a freshly updated demo along for the ride.

    If you’ve been looking for something that challenges both your reflexes and your problem-solving skills, this is one indie showcase you won’t want to skip.

    What is Spinning Scarecrow?

    At its core, Spinning Scarecrow is a unique hybrid that refuses to fit neatly into a single box. It combines precision puzzle-solving with the high-energy, high-stakes momentum of fast-paced arcade action.

    But what truly sets it apart is its atmosphere. The game plunges players into a darkly surreal world design that is as mesmerising as it is unsettling. You aren’t just solving puzzles; you are navigating a hauntingly beautiful, stylised nightmare where every move requires absolute precision.

    What’s New in the Steam Next Fest Demo?

    While a version of the game has been teased before, this isn’t just a rehashed build. The developers have rolled out a freshly updated demo specifically tailored for Steam Next Fest. Players can expect:

    • Refined Mechanics: Tighter controls to match the demanding precision gameplay.
    • Polished Visuals: Enhanced atmospheric effects that make the surreal world pop.
    • A Deeper Taste of the Madness: A curated look at how the arcade pacing escalates alongside the puzzle complexity.

    Dive into the Nightmare Today

    Steam Next Fest is the ultimate playground for discovering your next favourite indie obsession, and Spinning Scarecrow is shaping up to be a major standout for fans of stylised, challenging gameplay.

    The demo is live right now on Steam. Head over, add it to your wishlist, and see if you have the precision to survive the spin.

    Find out more here

    #SpinningScarecrow #SteamNextFest #IndieGames #GamingNews #PCGaming #IVProductions #PowerUpPublishing #ArcadePuzzle #TechMash

  • Answer the Call: Win a Custom Gaming PC in the ZeroSpace Galactic War During Steam Next Fest!

    Answer the Call: Win a Custom Gaming PC in the ZeroSpace Galactic War During Steam Next Fest!

    The real-time strategy genre is about to get a massive shakeup. Starlance Studios is officially throwing down the gauntlet, challenging players to jump into a persistent galactic war right now through June 22.

    As part of the ongoing Steam Next Fest, players can download the highly anticipated RTS-RPG hybrid ZeroSpace demo and compete for a chance to win incredible real-world gear—including custom-built gaming PCs.

    If you’ve been waiting for a game that blends StarCraft-style tactical combat with a Mass Effect-esque branching narrative, your time has come.

    How to Play and Win Big

    Starlance Studios isn’t just letting you sample their game; they are rewarding you for dominating the cosmos. By installing the free demo and completing just one game per day in the Galactic War mode, you earn a daily entry to win.

    The Loot on the Line:

    • Custom ZeroSpace Gaming PCs (One awarded to a player from each alliance)
    • Limited Steam Next Fest animated profile pictures and frames
    • Physical hand-painted Titan statues and medals
    • A $5,000 cash prize pool for the top players in the concurrent Next Fest Masters Tournament taking place over the weekend.

    What’s Inside the ZeroSpace Demo?

    This isn’t a bare-bones alpha test. The Steam Next Fest slice of ZeroSpace is packed with content to keep strategy fans hooked until the event concludes on June 22:

    • Galactic War Mini-Season: The centrepiece of the event. Pledge your loyalty to one of three cross-faction alliances—The Eden Accord (Grell), The Obsidian Order (Legion), or The Keeper Council (Protectorate)—and fight alongside other players to conquer a persistent galaxy map.
    • Campaign Preview: Try out 3 immersive story missions to experience how your choices shape the galaxy.
    • Versus Ladder: Test your mettle in 1v1 or 2v2 skirmishes, mixing and matching 3 Factions, 5 Mercenary groups, and 11 unique Heroes.
    • Survival & Custom Modes: See how long you can hold off the relentless insectoid Grell onslaught, or customise matches against friends and adaptive AI.

    “Pick a side. The galaxy isn’t going to conquer itself.”

    The Road to Early Access

    Backed by over $500,000 in crowdfunding and featuring asset designs from former Homeworld artist Aaron Kambeitz, ZeroSpace is shaping up to be a true heavyweight in modern RTS.

    If you like what you play this week, you won’t have to wait long for the full experience. Starlance Studios has confirmed that ZeroSpace will officially launch into Steam Early Access on July 20, 2026, bringing a 13-mission campaign, a fourth major faction (the Xol), and expanded multiplayer features.

    Head over to Steam, download the free demo, and secure your daily entries before the war ends on June 22.

    Find out more here

    #ZeroSpace #SteamNextFest #RTSGames #StarlanceStudios #PCGaming #GamingNews #SciFiRTS #TechMash

  • Leafy Corner: Fireline Games Set a July Release Date for Their Cosy Plant Simulator

    Leafy Corner: Fireline Games Set a July Release Date for Their Cosy Plant Simulator

    The cosy gaming genre is about to get a serious injection of greenery. Fireline Games, a talented wife-and-husband independent development duo, has officially announced that their highly anticipated plant shop simulation game, Leafy Corner, will launch on July 30, 2026.

    If you’ve been looking for a low-stress, beautifully aesthetic escape, this passion project needs to be firmly rooted at the top of your wishlist.

    Check out the official release date trailer below:

    Sprouting Success: From Passion Project to Multi-Platform Launch

    Developed by Kasia and Kacper, the two-person team behind Fireline Games, Leafy Corner is a true labour of love. The duo recently made waves during the Summer Game Fest, showcasing the title as part of both the Women-Led Games Steam Event and the Green Games Showcase.

    Following an incredibly well-received public demo during the Steam Next Fest—which earned a “Very Positive” reception from thousands of players—the duo has confirmed that the game isn’t just coming to PC. When Leafy Corner arrives on July 30, it will simultaneously debut across almost every major platform, including PC (Steam and Microsoft Store), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

    What is Leafy Corner?

    At its heart, Leafy Corner is a cosy shop management game where players step into the shoes of a plant shop owner. Instead of high-stakes, stressful economic mechanics or punishing survival elements, the focus here is entirely on relaxation, creativity, and the joy of nurturing life.

    What the game does NOT offer: Hardcore management, stressful staff hiring, complex economy curves, or punishing plant-death penalties. It is designed purely to be played at your own pace.

    Key Features to Look Forward To:

    • A Green Thumb’s Paradise: Grow, care for, and sell over 100 unique, real-life houseplants. Watch them grow realistically over time, unfolding leaf by leaf.
    • Discover Rare Variants: Patient gardeners will have the chance to discover rare plant variegations as they nurture their stock.
    • Deep Customisation: Build and decorate your storefront exactly how you want. The game features a massive variety of unlockable pots, shelves, and furniture options, with seamless colour-swapping tools to match your exact aesthetic mood.
    • Charming Neighbourhood Requests: Serve a cast of quirky local customers who drop by with specific, sometimes unusual, plant requests to challenge your matchmaking skills.
    • Character Customisation: Design your own avatar to run the shop.

    A Breath of Fresh Air for the Cosy Genre

    What makes Leafy Corner stand out in a crowded indie landscape is just how polished and intuitive it feels, a testament to the dedication of its husband-and-wife creators. The physics engine allows you to simply click and drag to water your plants or rearrange furniture dynamically without clunky “build modes.” It’s a seamless, tactile experience that perfectly captures the therapeutic nature of real-world gardening.

    Whether you want to build a sprawling succulent empire that requires minimal watering or transform your virtual shop into a lush, tropical jungle filled with Monsteras and Alocasias, Leafy Corner gives you the freedom to create your perfect sanctuary.

    Mark your calendars for July 30, 2026, and get ready to cultivate something beautiful.

    Find out more here

    #LeafyCorner #FirelineGames #CozyGames #IndieDev #PlantSimulation #GamingNews #NintendoSwitch #PS5 #Xbox #SteamNextFest #TechMash

  • Nostalgia on the Workbench: Y2K Repair Sim ‘ReStory’ Hits Steam This Summer

    Nostalgia on the Workbench: Y2K Repair Sim ‘ReStory’ Hits Steam This Summer

    Indie publisher tinyBuild and developer Mandragora have officially announced that ReStory, the highly anticipated, cosy electronics repair simulator set in Y2K-era Japan, will launch on PC via Steam this summer.

    If you’ve been looking for a new gaming obsession that perfectly blends tactile, satisfying gameplay with a heavy dose of turn-of-the-millennium nostalgia, this is one to put on your radar.

    Check out the official Steam Next Fest trailer below to see the game’s distinct aesthetic in action:

    Turn-of-the-Millennium Tinkering

    ReStory transports players back to the mid-2000s, placing you in charge of a quaint, easygoing tech repair shop nestled in an urban Japanese setting. The core gameplay revolves around the strangely therapeutic process of bringing vintage electronics back to life.

    You will spend your days carefully unscrewing, cleaning, soldering, and reassembling a massive variety of nostalgic gadgets from the era, including:

    • Retro Gaming Gear: Take apart classic video game consoles and handhelds. Thanks to an official partnership with Atari, you’ll even get to restore licensed hardware like the Atari 2600 and Jaguar.
    • Millennial Tech: Fix up classic flip phones, chunky digital cameras, portable music players, home appliances, and virtual pets.
    • The Hunt for Parts: Need a specific component to finish a job? Boot up a beautifully recreated, old-school, in-game web browser to scour the internet for rare spare parts.

    Deep Customisation and Branching Stories

    It isn’t just about turning screws and clearing out dust bunnies. ReStory weaves a rich, non-linear narrative into your daily workflow. Every piece of tech brought into your shop belongs to a unique customer with their own background.

    As you interact with a memorable cast of characters, the choices you make will directly influence a branching storyline. You might find yourself uncovering secrets hidden on a former gangster’s old mobile phone, or helping a lovestruck student figure out how to approach their crush.

    Additionally, the developers have introduced an airbrush drawing tool and custom colour palettes, allowing you to completely repaint and customise hardware to create one-of-a-kind tech skins before handing them back to your clients.

    Play the Steam Next Fest Demo Right Now

    The game has already built massive momentum ahead of its release, amassing over 400,000 wishlists and welcoming more than 300,000 players during its initial playtest phases.

    If you don’t want to wait until the official summer launch window to get your hands dirty, a brand-new, expanded demo is live right now as part of Steam Next Fest. The demo features a first look at the new customisation tools as well as the “Patento BS”—a new in-game handheld gadget heavily inspired by one of gaming’s most legendary dual-screen portables.

    Head over to the ReStory Steam Store Page to download the demo and add it to your wishlist today.

    #ReStory #tinyBuild #Mandragora #CozyGames #SimulationGames #Y2KTech #RetroGaming #IndieGames #SteamNextFest #PCGaming

  • Saturday Morning Cartoons Meet Co-op Chaos: Good Heavens! Drops a New Steam Next Fest Demo

    Saturday Morning Cartoons Meet Co-op Chaos: Good Heavens! Drops a New Steam Next Fest Demo

    If you miss the days of waking up early, pouring a giant bowl of sugary cereal, and parking yourself in front of bizarre, brightly animated Saturday morning cartoons, you are in for a massive treat.

    Nowhere Studios has officially unleashed a brand-new Steam Next Fest demo for their highly anticipated upcoming fantasy survival craft RPG, Good Heavens! Blending gorgeous, expressive 2D animation with deep mechanics and an absolute refusal to take itself seriously, this is one indie title you need to put on your radar immediately.

    Don’t Starve Together Meets Thank Goodness You’re Here!

    How do you describe Good Heavens!? Imagine the rich, accessible, and delightfully chaotic co-op survival loop of Don’t Starve Together, then inject it with the surreal, laugh-out-loud British humour of Thank Goodness You’re Here! You play as the “Chosen Ones”—or, you know, you can just entirely ignore the prophecy if you feel like it. Dropped onto the fractured, floating islands of Xant-Rar by a god named Rar (who can barely hold his own realm together), you and up to seven friends are tasked with saving the world. Or, more accurately, building an epic citadel, beating up “kitbashed” creatures like pigeon-deer and fox-salmon, and finding the nearest tavern to avoid doing any actual work.

    Unlike survival games that force you to obsessively babysit hunger and thirst meters, Good Heavens! focuses heavily on progression, exploration, and outright experimentation.

    What’s Waiting for You in the Steam Next Fest Demo?

    The newly updated demo gives players a massive, blissful taste of what life in this imperfect paradise will look like when the full game hits Early Access in August 2026.

    Here is what you can get stuck into right now:

    • Explore the First Biome: Once your spaceship lands, you are free to explore, harvest resources, and meet the bewildered locals.
    • Try Out Six Tech Trees: Level up your character using Warfare, Trickery, Sorcery, Homesteading, Exploration, and Influence (perfect for building your own cult of personality).
    • Build Your Settlement: Claim a patch of land, build workshops and farms, and decorate your space to turn a podunk hamlet into a thriving citadel.
    • Raid Dungeons: Team up to take down formidable bosses guarding high-tier loot.

    Play the Demo Today!

    The Steam Next Fest is the perfect excuse to gather your gaming crew, download the Good Heavens! demo, and start causing some beautifully animated, procedurally generated chaos.

    Head over to Steam, download the free demo, and make sure to hit that wishlist button to support Nowhere Studios ahead of their August launch!

    Play the Demo & Wishlist:Good Heavens! on Steam

    #GoodHeavensGame #SteamNextFest #IndieGames #PCGaming #CoOpSurvival #SurvivalRPG #NowhereStudios #GamingNews #TechMash

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

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

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

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

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

    Go Off-Road, Indoors!

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

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

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

    What’s New in the Steam Next Fest Demo?

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

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

    Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

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

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

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

    Find out more here

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