TECHMASH

Tag: #SteamNextFest

  • Smash Piggies, Dodge Debt: ‘Bills Must Be Paid’ Locks In Official Release Date and Price!

    Smash Piggies, Dodge Debt: ‘Bills Must Be Paid’ Locks In Official Release Date and Price!

    If your real-life mailbox fills you with dread, Frankfurt-based indie developer Rike Games has the ultimate digital therapy for you. Their highly anticipated, deeply satisfying active incremental game, Bills Must Be Paid, finally has an official release date and price announcement—and the story behind its journey to launch is just as wild as its gameplay.

    Grab your hammers: Bills Must Be Paid is officially launching on Steam for PC and Mac on July 29, 2026.

    The Viral Story Behind the Launch

    If the title sounds familiar, it might be because the game accidentally went viral earlier this year under bizarre circumstances. A stolen build of the game’s demo was recompiled and uploaded onto Douyin (China’s TikTok), where it racked up massive views and ad revenue before Rike Games—a dedicated two-person studio—managed to successfully get the clone taken down.

    Now, the real, polished, and feature-packed version is ready to take its rightful spotlight.

    “We’re a two-person studio—I handle the code, my spouse handles the art,” the developer shared. “The last months have been quite crazy, and we are super excited to have the release date set now.”

    What is Bills Must Be Paid?

    The premise is beautifully simple yet addictively chaotic: You’re entirely broke, jumping piggy banks are taking over your desk, and you have bills to pay.

    Armed with a hammer, you smash various types of piggies (from “The Tourist” to “El Loco”) to collect random loot, rare coins, and cash. Every swing drains your stamina. When your hand gets too tired, the run ends.

    But don’t ignore the mail! If you fail to pay your bills, the debt collector will begin siphoning a cut of your earnings. Push it too far, and you’ll have to declare bankruptcy and start over under a completely new identity.

    What’s New in the Full Release?

    If you’ve played the free demo, Rike Games has added a massive haul of new content for the final build that the Chinese clone couldn’t dream of replicating:

    • The Prestige System: Earn special rings to customise your hand, unlocking unique power-ups.
    • The Desk Gadget Shop: Buy upgrades to automate your smashing and boost your stats.
    • More Hammers & Piggies: A wider variety of weapons, each with distinct trade-offs, and lazier or faster piggy variants to hunt down.
    • An Actual Ending: A concrete goal to reach beyond the infinite loop of debt.

    Price, Availability, and Launch Discount

    Rike Games is keeping this indie gem highly accessible.

    DetailInfo
    Release DateJuly 29, 2026
    PlatformsSteam (Windows & macOS)
    Base Price$6.99 USD (with regional adjustments)
    Launch Week Promo30% OFF during the first week
    Languages Supported12 (including English, German, French, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, and Simplified Chinese)

    Try the Demo Today!

    Can’t wait until late July? You don’t have to. A free demo is currently live on Steam right now as part of Steam Next Fest. Head over, test your grip strength, and add it to your wishlist to catch that 30% launch-week discount.

    Find out more here

    #IndieGames #GamingNews #BillsMustBePaid #SteamNextFest #PCGaming #MacGaming #RikeGames #TechMash #IncrementalGames #SupportIndieDevs

  • King of the Hill: 150,000 Players Tear Up Funselektor’s ‘Over the Hill’ Steam Demo Over the Weekend

    King of the Hill: 150,000 Players Tear Up Funselektor’s ‘Over the Hill’ Steam Demo Over the Weekend

    If you spent your weekend getting bogged down in the mud, rescuing your friends with a portable winch, and taking polaroids of bald eagles, you definitely weren’t alone.

    Funselektor, the brilliant indie studio behind the critically acclaimed art of rally and Absolute Drift, just dropped the debut Steam demo for their highly anticipated 4×4 off-road adventure, over the hill. The response? Absolutely massive. Over 150,000 players traded the race tracks for the untamed wilderness over the weekend, proving that there is a massive appetite for a slower, more mindful kind of driving game.

    Moving at Nature’s Pace

    Unlike traditional racing games that demand white-knuckle speed and perfect apexes, over the hill shifts into low gear. This is a digital outdoor expedition simulator where the real enemy isn’t a timer or an aggressive AI driver—it’s the terrain itself.

    The Steam demo drops players directly into Emerald Lake, the opening area of the game’s Canada region. Inspired by the rugged, breathtaking beauty of British Columbia’s Valhalla mountain range, the map is a gorgeous blend of dense woodlands, tranquil lakesides, and treacherous, rocky alpine trails.

    Instead of hammering the throttle, players have to focus on:

    • Methodical Route Planning: Choosing the safest path through unpredictable environments.
    • Authentic Physics: Managing throttle control, momentum, and wheel placement across mud, rock, and steep inclines.
    • Resource Management: Utilising vital off-road gear like Repair Kits, Portable Winch Anchors, and Planks to cross dangerous gaps.

    “Over the hill lands closer to real love of the wheel: Funselektor understands it in a way that an awful lot of studios miss.” – PC Gamer

    4×4 Customisation and Co-Op Cruising

    The demo lets you test drive three classic off-road vehicles inspired by the golden age of cross-country expeditions (the 1960s through the 1980s). Each rig features its own distinct weight distribution, traction profile, and handling quirks. As you explore, you gather an in-game currency called “pebbles” and recover fallen meteorites to unlock cosmetic upgrades, roof racks, and fresh coats of paint at the local merchant.

    But the real magic happens when you bring a crew. Over the hill supports up to four-player cooperative multiplayer. You and three friends can venture out into the wild together, tackle gruelling Challenge Trails, or help pull each other out of a tight spot when someone invariably flips their rig trying to show off.

    When you need a break from the mechanical stress, the game features a built-in Camera Mode. Players have been flooding social media with gorgeous snapshots of the local wildlife—including moose, wolves, and black bears—to populate their in-game Compendiums.

    Community Feedback & What’s Next

    With 150,000 drivers hitting the trails simultaneously, the demo served as a massive stress test for the small indie studio. While the feedback on the game’s “cozy SnowRunner” vibes has been overwhelmingly positive, some players noted performance hitches on certain PC configurations.

    True to form, Funselektor has already been incredibly proactive. They’ve rolled out a hotfix patch addressing multiplayer bugs, fixing camera issues, and opening up a beta branch on Steam specifically aimed at testing early optimisation tweaks.

    Don’t Miss Out: The Clock is Ticking!

    If you haven’t played it yet, you need to act fast. This exclusive look at over the hill is part of Steam Next Fest and is only available until June 22nd.

    The full game is scheduled to launch on Steam later this year, with versions for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and the Nintendo Switch 2 to follow.

    Head over to Steam, grab your winch, and go see what’s waiting just over the hill.

    Find out more here

    #OverTheHill #Funselektor #SteamNextFest #IndieGames #PCGaming #OffRoading #GamingNews #CoOpGaming #ArtOfRally #TechMash

  • Inventory Management Meets Bullet Heaven: Cloudbreaker Soars into Steam Next Fest!

    Inventory Management Meets Bullet Heaven: Cloudbreaker Soars into Steam Next Fest!

    The June edition of Steam Next Fest is officially underway, and indie fans have a massive new addiction waiting for them in the skies. Nova Scotia-based duo Ballast Games has officially launched the demo for Cloudbreaker, an incredibly stylish sky-world roguelite that brilliantly mashes up intense survival-like action with a puzzle-heavy inventory management system.

    If you’ve ever wanted to pilot a heavily armed airship while organising your inventory like a high-stakes game of Resident Evil grid-fitting, this is the title to watch.

    Check out what makes Cloudbreaker an unmissable stop during your Next Fest demo diving:

    The Mission: Save Haven from the Depths

    In the world of Cloudbreaker, the last remnants of humanity reside in Haven, a sanctuary floating high above a treacherous, cloud-covered world. Haven is sinking, and it’s up to you to take to the skies, descend through dangerous cloud layers, and recover a mythical Bloil Crystal to secure humanity’s survival for generations to come.

    Standing in your way are hordes of Biotes—the lingering, aggressive biotechnology experiments of long-dead civilisations.

    Tetris Meets Turbo-Charged Airships

    While the combat serves up pure bullet-heaven dopamine as you tear through waves of enemies, the real magic happens in your ship’s hangar.

    Defeating Biotes allows you to gather raw Bloil, which your ship converts into unique Engine Parts. To upgrade your airship, you must install these parts into your Engine Grid—a dedicated inventory management puzzle system.

    • Grid Synergies: It’s not just about what parts you have; it’s about where you place them. Different components connect and interact across the grid to unlock massive stat boosts and weapon synergies.
    • Unique Fleets: As you progress, you’ll unlock entirely new airships, each featuring completely distinct Engine Grid layouts and core abilities that completely alter your build strategies.
    • Deep Progression: Tailor your playstyle using dedicated upgrade trees for both ships and weapons, giving you the edge needed to take down punishing bosses and mini-bosses.

    Play the Demo Today!

    Cloudbreaker successfully blends the tactical satisfaction of a grid-based puzzle game with the frantic, fast-paced survival mechanics of the best roguelite action titles. With its crisp aesthetic, satisfying loop, and endless build variety, it’s easily one of our top recommendations for this week’s festival.

    The Cloudbreaker demo is live right now on Steam for the duration of June Steam Next Fest, featuring full keyboard/mouse and controller support. Take it for a spin, test your best buildcraft in Endless Mode, and don’t forget to add it to your Steam Wishlist to support the developers!

    Find out more here

    #Cloudbreaker #SteamNextFest #IndieGames #Roguelite #BulletHeaven #BallastGames #PCGaming #TechMash

  • MineGeon: Renegades Drops Massive Steam Next Fest Demo Update Ahead of July Launch

    MineGeon: Renegades Drops Massive Steam Next Fest Demo Update Ahead of July Launch

    Bullet-hell enthusiasts and co-op fans, it’s time to rally the squad. As part of the ongoing Steam Next Fest, indie developer Kickstone Studio has deployed a massive major content update for the MineGeon: Renegades demo.

    If you haven’t been tracking this one, MineGeon: Renegades is a high-octane, co-op sci-fi bullet-hell roguelite that challenges players to descend into the treacherous depths of the planet PAIMO. The mission? Fight off swarms of enemies, mine valuable resources, and make it out alive.

    With the full game locked in for a July 14 release, this expanded demo gives players a massive taste of the chaos to come. Here is a breakdown of what’s waiting for you in the new Steam Next Fest build.

    What’s New in the MineGeon: Renegades Demo?

    Kickstone Studio hasn’t just tweaked a few numbers; they’ve injected a wealth of new content that fundamentally expands how the game plays:

    • New Playable Class (Marshall): Joining the roster is Marshall, a heavy-duty Tank class built for high durability. If you prefer getting up close and personal, his ultimate ability unleashes devastating fist-to-fist combat to clear out crowded screens.
    • The Scavengers Mini-Boss Fights: Survival just got tougher. The update introduces three new mini-boss encounters featuring the Scavengers—hostile locals desperate to halt your descent.
    • Expanded Progression & Combat Synergy: The demo adds brand-new Gadgets, Ultimates, and Enhancements, giving players vastly more options to theorycraft chaotic, screen-clearing builds during a run.
    • Base Customisation (Ship Basement): Between intense expeditions, players can now unlock and access the basement of their spaceship, utilising a base-decoration system featuring props and themed objects.
    • A Brand-New Cooking System: Scavenge for ingredients during your runs to whip up meals back on the ship, providing crucial stat buffs for your next dive into PAIMO.

    Risk It All for Riches

    The core loop of MineGeon: Renegades revolves around greed and teamwork. You can brave the depths solo or team up with up to two friends. The deeper you go, the more valuable the minerals—but the more punishing the bullet hell becomes. Players must constantly balance the risk of pushing further for better loot versus banking their hard-earned materials safely back at the ship for permanent upgrades.

    The updated demo is available to play right now on Steam for the duration of Steam Next Fest. Grab your crew, test out Marshall’s fists of fury, and get a head start before the full launch on July 14.

    Are you diving into PAIMO this week? Let us know your favourite class build in the comments below!

    Find out more here

    #MineGeonRenegades #SteamNextFest #IndieGames #PCGaming #CoOpGames #Roguelite #BulletHell #GamingNews #TechMash

  • Face the Cosmic Madness: The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu Demo Drops Today for Steam Next Fest!

    Face the Cosmic Madness: The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu Demo Drops Today for Steam Next Fest!

    The wait is officially over for horror fans looking to lose their minds—metaphorically and literally. NACON and ACE Team have announced that their highly anticipated cooperative horror game, The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu, is taking centre stage at Steam Next Fest from June 15 to June 22, 2026.

    Starting today, PC players can officially download a free playable demo and take their first terrifying steps into a cursed, 16th-century South American canopy. To celebrate the hands-on event, the developers have unleashed a chilling new trailer giving us a direct look at the game’s oppressive atmosphere, psychological tricks, and tense squad gameplay. Check it out below!

    Welcome to the Cursed Jungle

    Developed by the eccentric minds at ACE Team (Zeno Clash, The Eternal Cylinder), The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu moves away from typical Victorian gothic settings to plunge up to four players into a deeply hostile historical jungle.

    Your mission sounds simple on paper: set out from the safety of your galleon, take a rowboat to the mainland, complete high-stakes contracts, and recover legendary treasures. However, the supernatural forces dwelling within the jungle don’t just want to hunt you—they want to warp your mind.

    Key Gameplay Features to Expect in the Demo:

    • A Fragile Sanity System: As you venture deeper under the dense canopy, your sanity rapidly deteriorates. The game features highly individualised visual and auditory hallucinations. You might see the world drenched in blood, mistake deadly traps for mirages, or even see your teammates turn into monstrous entities.
    • Proximity Voice Chat is Mandatory: Clear communication is your literal lifeline. The game relies on spatial audio. If a player panics, wanders off, and loses vocal contact with the squad, isolation will accelerate their madness. Even worse? Succumb entirely, and you might turn into a hostile creature controlled by the jungle, tasked with hunting your former friends.
    • Trigger Discipline & Stealth: You are equipped with period-accurate gear like flintlock muskets, crossbows, and swords. Fire off a heavy musket, and the sheer noise risks awakening a reactive jungle that will aggressively hunt you down. Sometimes, running for your life back to the rowboat is the only real victory.

    “We always say it existed long before the players got there, and I think you feel that when you explore. There’s stuff here that has nothing to do with you, wonders that weren’t put there for you to find.” — Edmundo Bordeu, Art Director at ACE Team

    Play the Demo This Week, Launching This July!

    The Steam Next Fest demo serves as a massive open test following the game’s recent closed beta, offering a substantial chunk of gameplay to tackle with your friends.

    If you manage to survive the demo, you won’t have to wait long for the full expedition. The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu is scheduled to officially launch on July 15, 2026, coming to PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S with full cross-platform support.

    Head over to Steam, grab your crew, download the demo, and see if you have what it takes to tame the jungle before it devours you.

    Find out more here

    #TheMound #OmenOfCthulhu #SteamNextFest #CoOpHorror #IndieGames #NACON #ACETeam #GamingNews #PCGaming #Lovecraftian

  • Escape the Abyss: Dark Action-RPG ‘Lostbound’ Hits Steam Next Fest with a Brand-New Playable Demo

    Escape the Abyss: Dark Action-RPG ‘Lostbound’ Hits Steam Next Fest with a Brand-New Playable Demo

    The highly anticipated Steam Next Fest is officially here, running from June 15–22, and indie game fans have a major new title to add to their radar. Developer Tenkarider, alongside publisher Tambù Digital, has announced that their striking action-RPG roguelite, Lostbound, is participating in the event with a thrilling, freshly updated playable demo.

    If you are a fan of dark, tactical roguelites where every single decision dictates your survival, this is one demo you cannot afford to skip this week.

    Outrun the Hand, Manage Your Steps

    In Lostbound, the ground beneath your feet is your greatest asset—and your biggest liability. Set in a decaying world being aggressively consumed by a living entity of darkness known as The Hand, the game blends classic action-RPG combat with unpredictable roguelite mechanics.

    The core twist? Every movement leaves a permanent mark on the world map. Retrace your steps too frequently, and The Hand will physically erase the path behind you. As narrow corridors and safe routes vanish into the Abyss, your journey becomes a tense, calculated race against time and geography.

    What’s Inside the Steam Next Fest Demo?

    Tenkarider and Tambù Digital have loaded this updated demo with a substantial amount of content to give players a true taste of the abyss. Here is what you can expect when you download it this week:

    • The Opening Region: Take your first steps into a crumbling reality and experience the baseline tension of Lostbound’s exploration loop.
    • Two Distinct Modes: Choose between Adventure Mode or Campaign Mode, giving you different ways to tackle the story and its procedural elements.
    • Dungeon Diving: Risk entering dangerous, pitch-black dungeons to hunt for game-changing artefacts and weapon types before nightfall claims you.
    • Build Customisation: Experiment with diverse item synergies, multiple weapons, and permanent meta-progression upgrades fueled by gathering Dark Matter.

    Behind-the-Scenes Developer Broadcasts

    In addition to the hands-on demo, the development team will be hosting a special Steam Broadcast throughout the week. Players can tune in directly on the Steam page to watch live gameplay, gain insights into the dynamic procedural generation systems, and chat with the creators.

    Verdict: A Must-Play for Roguelite Fans

    Lostbound stands out in a crowded genre by making the map itself a predatory force. It demands smart resource management, flawless routing, and an appetite for risk.

    The Lostbound demo is available to download for free right now on Steam. Dive into the abyss, test your survival instincts, and don’t forget to hit that Wishlist button if you manage to escape The Hand!

    Interested? Check out the official trailer on the Lostbound Steam Page.

    #IndieGames #SteamNextFest #Lostbound #GamingNews #Roguelite #ActionRPG #Tenkarider #TambuDigital #PCGaming #TechMash

  • Build Big, Fall Hard: Chaotic Co-Op Sim ‘Salvation Denied’ Drops Free Steam Demo Ahead of Steam Next Fest

    Build Big, Fall Hard: Chaotic Co-Op Sim ‘Salvation Denied’ Drops Free Steam Demo Ahead of Steam Next Fest

    If you and your gaming crew think your communication skills are rock solid, indie developer Firevolt and publisher Digital Vortex Entertainment are about to put that theory to the ultimate test.

    The duo has officially released a free playable demo for Salvation Denied on Steam. Even better? The game has already locked in a prime spot for the upcoming Steam Next Fest, kicking off on June 15.

    If you’ve been looking for the next great multiplayer game to test your friendships, this might just be it.

    What is Salvation Denied?

    Salvation Denied is a chaotic, physics-driven co-op construction simulator for 1–4 players. Working as a crew of mischievous little yellow construction robots on a hostile alien world, you are tasked with assembling massive experimental structures for a mysterious, fanatical employer. The catch? Only your employer knows what these structures are actually for, and the planet really, really wants to destroy them.

    Unlike traditional building games, where physics are mostly cosmetic, everything in Salvation Denied has actual weight and inertia. One poorly reinforced beam, an overloaded support, or a split-second bad decision can cause your entire multi-story masterpiece to come crashing down in spectacular fashion.

    Check out the gameplay breakdown below:

    FeatureWhat to Expect
    Player Count1–4 players (Solo or Online Co-op)
    CommunicationChaotic proximity voice chat for frantic coordination
    Tools & GadgetsGravity guns, foam guns, jetpacks, and massive construction vehicles
    The ThreatActive, real-time environmental disasters like meteor showers and acid rain

    Play Two Massive Missions in the Demo Right Now

    Following feedback from an open playtest earlier this year, Firevolt completely overhauled the game’s locations and character mechanics to deliver a robust slice of gameplay for the demo. Instead of just a basic tutorial, the Steam demo features two full missions to give you a true taste of the architectural anarchy:

    • Mission 1: “Signal to Orbit” – Your objective is simple on paper: build a base of any shape or size high enough so an antenna can catch a signal. Your real enemy? Trying not to get flattened by incoming meteor showers while you build.
    • Mission 2: “Shield Breaker” – A newly added mission that ups the ante. Teams must level support heights across a massive canyon, drive heavy damper cores to power a mega impulse cannon, and destroy three security towers to breach an energy barrier.

    To help you manage the madness, the demo lets you pilot heavy machinery like The Fatboy—an all-in-one bulldozer, shredder, and 3D printer that can recycle debris into useful building blocks (or accidentally tear your own base apart if you aren’t careful).

    “Every piece of feedback went straight into this demo… We reworked the characters, overhauled the locations, and added a whole new mission with a mega impulse cannon. At some point, we really had to stop and actually ship it.” > — Ajven Pabiarzhyn, Creative Director at Firevolt

    Steam Next Fest & Beyond

    The free demo is fully localised in 14 languages and is available to download right now on PC. You can jump in today to practice your engineering skills before the game takes centre stage at Steam Next Fest on Monday, June 15.

    While PC players get the first crack at the chaos, console players won’t be left out in the cold for too long. Salvation Denied is scheduled for a full release on PC in Fall 2026, with PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S versions locked in for 2027.

    Head over to Steam, grab your hard hat, fire up the proximity chat, and see how long your structures can hold!

    Find out more here

    #SalvationDenied #SteamNextFest #IndieGames #CoOpGaming #PCGaming #GamingNews #TechMash

  • Go Big or Go Medieval: County of Fortune Demo Lands on Steam Ahead of Next Fest!

    Go Big or Go Medieval: County of Fortune Demo Lands on Steam Ahead of Next Fest!

    City-builders are great, but have you ever looked at your bustling little town and thought, “I want more. I want the whole kingdom”?

    Well, you are in luck. Publisher Aquila Interactive and developer Nepos Games have officially dropped the highly anticipated free demo for County of Fortune onto Steam! Launching just ahead of Steam Next Fest, this demo gives strategy fans an early taste of a city-builder operating on a completely different scale.

    Not Just a City—An Entire County

    If you’ve played Nepos Games’ previous work, you know they love depth. With County of Fortune, they are zooming out. Instead of micromanaging a single market square, you step into the shoes of a lokator—a medieval coloniser and noble steward. Your task? To build, connect, and govern an entire living, breathing region.

    Here is what sets this grand-scale builder apart:

    • Regional Logistics: You aren’t just laying down roads; you are weaving trade networks across rivers, mountain passes, and varied biomes. Where you place a settlement matters just as much as what you build inside it.
    • A “Second Game” of Politics: Once your towns start growing, the human element takes over. Settlements are run by named mayors with unique traits, all belonging to rival noble houses. You’ll have to navigate regional politics and shifting migrant cultures to keep your county thriving.
    • Procedural Growth: Watch villages organically grow from tiny hamlets into sprawling cities with procedurally generated buildings filling in your grids.

    Play the Demo Today!

    The County of Fortune demo is live on Steam right now. It arrives as the perfect appetiser ahead of Steam Next Fest, giving strategy buffs plenty of time to master the medieval economy, manage fickle mayors, and map out their ideal territories.

    Whether you want to build a peaceful, interconnected trade paradise or a patchwork of proud, competing noble houses, the foundation of your empire starts today.

    Head over to Steam, download the demo, and don’t forget to hit that wishlist button to support the developers!

    Source – https://s.team/a/3204330

    #CountyOfFortune #IndieGames #PCGaming #SteamNextFest #CityBuilder #StrategyGames #NeposGames #AquilaInteractive #TechMash #GamingNews

  • Mech Mayhem Refined: Brigador Killers Drops Surprise Demo Update Ahead of Steam Next Fest

    Mech Mayhem Refined: Brigador Killers Drops Surprise Demo Update Ahead of Steam Next Fest

    The masters of isometric destruction are back at it. Stellar Jockeys, the brilliant minds behind the critically acclaimed cult classic mech shooter Brigador: Up-Armoured Edition, have just deployed a hefty new update for their highly anticipated follow-up, Brigador Killers.

    If you’ve been putting the game’s public demo through its paces, you’re in for a treat. Dropping just ahead of the upcoming June Steam Next Fest, this surprise patch addresses a massive wave of community feedback, delivering essential quality-of-life (QoL) improvements and UI fixes to make your corporate-crushing rampages smoother than ever.

    Taming the Inventory Beast

    While the Brigador Killers demo has already won over fans with its gritty combat, deep customisation sandbox, and incredible industrial soundtrack by Makeup And Vanity Set, players quickly noticed that managing a private mercenary arsenal could get a bit… overwhelming.

    Stellar Jockeys listened. The headline changes in this update focus heavily on streamlining how you interact with the world and your gear:

    • Generous Inventory Drag-and-Drop: Tired of menu fumbling mid-firefight? You can now quickly drag-and-drop weapons and grenades directly into backpacks and containers. If you frantically grab a gun off the ground, the game will now intelligently snap it into any open weapon slot.
    • Invisible “Hands” for Vehicles: In a massive design shift, the team has given all vehicles the ability to directly interact with and pick up items from the ground. No more forcing players into rigid logistics friction just to load up a trunk.
    • Edge Highlighting: A new visual edge-highlight system lights up interactive objects—like abandoned vehicles, fresh corpses, and garage components—whenever you mouse over them.

    Prepping for Steam Next Fest and Early Access

    Beyond the inventory overhaul, the patch injects a fresh coat of polish across the board. Players can expect sleek UI and UX changes, a new superpad added to the garage, upgraded audio effects, and crisp new sprite renders for weapons and vehicles.

    This update arrives at a crucial time. With Steam Next Fest kicking off on June 15, thousands of new players are about to drop into Solo Nobre’s violent universe for the first time. Stellar Jockeys have made it clear that this represents the definitive version of the demo; after Next Fest concludes, the studio will pivot entirely toward preparing the game for its highly anticipated Steam Early Access launch.

    If you haven’t already, head over to Steam, download the Brigador Killers demo, and start hijacking tanks. Just remember to enjoy the sandbox while it lasts—the developers have confirmed that progress from the demo won’t carry over to Early Access, meaning everyone will start fresh when the full corporate warfare begins.

    Have you played the Brigador Killers demo yet? What do you think of the new inventory changes? Let us know in the comments below!

    Source – http://stellarjockeys.com/games/brigadorkillers

    #BrigadorKillers #StellarJockeys #SteamNextFest #IndieGames #MechGames #PCGaming #GamingNews #TechMash

  • Slacking Off at Work Just Got an Upgrade: Duelist: Idle Expedition Drops New Free Steam Demo Ahead of Steam Next Fest

    Slacking Off at Work Just Got an Upgrade: Duelist: Idle Expedition Drops New Free Steam Demo Ahead of Steam Next Fest

    If your boss asks why your productivity is looking a bit “automated” lately, you can officially blame developer One Interactive Studio and publisher Infini Fun.

    The duo has just unleashed an updated free Steam demo for Duelist: Idle Expedition, giving us an early look at the hand-drawn, JRPG-inspired pixel art auto-battler before it launches later this year. And yes, it is specifically designed to live right on your taskbar.

    With Steam Next Fest just around the corner, this updated slice of the game is the perfect excuse to assemble an elite squad of duelists and let them do all the heavy lifting while you “excel” at your actual day job.

    The Perfect Taskbar Companion

    Let’s be honest: the best idle games are the ones that respect your time (or lack thereof). Duelist: Idle Expedition embraces this completely. Your travelling Guild fights, grows, and adventures across the Continent completely automatically.

    While you are grinding through spreadsheets, your pixelated squad is grinding through monsters, collecting mountains of gold, and looting rare gear. When you check back in, you get all the dopamine of a massive RPG level-up without any of the carpal tunnel.

    But don’t let the “idle” tag fool you—there is a surprising amount of strategic depth cooked into this retro-styled world.

    Deep Customisation Meets Camp Management

    If you want to min-max your passive progress, Duelist: Idle Expedition gives you plenty of tools to play with:

    • Massive Team Variety: You can mix and match from 91 unique roles to find the ultimate combat synergies. Every single character features individual pixel animations and skill effects.
    • A Deep Loot Loop: There are over 200 items to hunt for, including 60+ class-exclusive Legendary Equipment pieces. Plus, an enchantment system lets you tailor gear stats to your exact strategy.
    • Camp Progression: Back at base camp, you’ll manage a growing economy. You can upgrade the Tavern to recruit new talent (and make money off their drinks), use the Blacksmith to forge superior gear, and let the Shopkeeper flip your battlefield spoils into cold, hard cash.

    What’s in the Updated Demo?

    The latest build refined the early-game tutorial flow, smoothed out combat balance, and optimised the UI based on early player feedback. It gives players a hefty hands-on look at the core loop: recruiting duelists, unlocking regional combat styles, upgrading facilities, and taking down rival Guilds.

    If you love retro JRPG aesthetics but simply don’t have 80 hours to actively sink into a traditional turn-based grind anymore, this is absolutely one to watch.

    Duelist: Idle Expedition is slated for a full release in Q3 2026. You can download the updated free demo right now and throw it on your Steam Wishlist ahead of Steam Next Fest.

    Source – https://s.team/a/4282780

    #TechMash #Gaming #IndieGames #SteamNextFest #IdleRPG #PixelArt #GamingNews #PCGaming #JRPG

  • Surviving the Siege: Powerful Narrative RPG ‘Hollow Home’ Drops Free Steam Demo Ahead of Kickstarter Launch

    Surviving the Siege: Powerful Narrative RPG ‘Hollow Home’ Drops Free Steam Demo Ahead of Kickstarter Launch

    The indie gaming scene is about to get a massive dose of emotional depth and raw storytelling. Kyiv-based developer Twigames and publisher Crunchy Leaf Games have officially announced that their highly anticipated narrative survival RPG, Hollow Home, is joining the upcoming Steam Next Fest from June 15th to 22nd.

    Even better? You don’t have to wait to get a taste of this award-winning title. A brand-new, playable free demo is live on Steam right now, giving players a firsthand look at one of the most poignant indie projects of the year.

    What is Hollow Home?

    Hollow Home is a striking, isometric narrative RPG inspired by classics like Disco Elysium. However, it carries a weight that sets it apart: the game is deeply rooted in the real-world horrors of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, built by a development team that actually lived through the conflict.

    You step into the shoes of Maksym, a 14-year-old boy trapped inside a city under siege. His father is at the front lines, his mother is unreachable, and he is left entirely alone to navigate a rapidly crumbling world.

    Key Features to Look Out For in the Demo:

    • Zero Combat, Pure Survival: There are no weapons or grand battle sequences. Your survival depends entirely on managing scarce resources, maintaining relationships, and enduring the heavy psychological toll of war.
    • A Disappearing City: The map shifts constantly. As the days pass under occupation, districts get shelled, paths are blocked, and locations you visited on Day 1 might be entirely destroyed by Day 3.
    • Every Choice Carries Weight: With a strict “Resolve” and limited action point system, you cannot be everywhere or save everyone. You have to decide who to help, knowing you must live with the consequences of who you leave behind.
    • Skills Taught by the Community: Forget traditional RPG stat menus. Maksym learns critical survival skills—like medical aid, crafting, and cooking—directly through the people he interacts with and helps.

    Kickstarter and Full Release Windows Locked In

    The Steam Next Fest showcase is just the beginning of a massive push for the studio. Twigames has confirmed they will be launching a Kickstarter campaign in July 2026 to secure the final funding needed for the full release. Backers will get a chance to directly support development and unlock exclusive rewards.

    If all goes to plan, we won’t have to wait long for the finished product. The studio is aiming for a late 2026 launch window for the full game on PC via Steam.

    Given that Hollow Home has already swept up industry accolades—including Most Promising Game at the Indie Cup Ukraine and the Nordic Game Pitch Battle—this is absolutely an indie title to keep on your radar.

    Head over to Steam, download the free demo, and make sure to add it to your wishlist!

    Source – https://s.team/a/2362070

    #HollowHome #IndieGames #SteamNextFest #Twigames #CrunchyLeafGames #RPG #GamingNews #TechMash #PCGaming #SupportUkraine #Kickstarter

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

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

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

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

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

    Slay God, Upgrade Your OS, and Bond with Allies

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

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

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

    Catch the Fresh Demo at Steam Next Fest

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

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

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

    Source – https://kernelhearts.com/

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

  • Booting Up the Horror: 90s-Inspired Digital Mystery ‘Desktop Explorer’ Confirms July Release Date

    Booting Up the Horror: 90s-Inspired Digital Mystery ‘Desktop Explorer’ Confirms July Release Date

    The Summer Game Fest hype train is officially leaving the station, and it’s already delivering some massive wins for indie horror fans. Announcing today during the Latin American Games Showcase: SGF Edition, developer Recurring Dream revealed that their highly anticipated retro-inspired, eerie point-and-click mystery, Desktop Explorer, is officially arriving on July 17 for PC and Mac via Steam.

    If you love digging through vintage operating systems, solving fragmented puzzles, and uncovering deeply unsettling digital secrets, this is one timeline you won’t want to clear from your cache.

    What is Desktop Explorer?

    In Desktop Explorer, you inherit an old, bulky 90s PC from your uncle. To your surprise, it boots up, but tucked away inside the outdated software is a letter tasking you with investigating a missing person’s case.

    Your gateway to the truth? A cryptic, pre-installed puzzle game that gives the project its name.

    To solve the mystery, you’ll have to rummage through abandoned user profiles, dig into corrupted applications, read through old chat logs, and play classic built-in computer games. The aesthetic perfectly captures that liminal, nostalgic tech vibe—but underneath the pixelated charm lies a heavy, psychological horror narrative.

    Backed by Indie Royalty

    If the premise alone doesn’t hook you, the powerhouse team backing the project certainly will. Desktop Explorer is co-funded by Outersloth (the massive indie fund launched by Among Us creator Innersloth) alongside Casey Yano, the co-founder of Mega Crit (Slay the Spire). With that kind of creative backing, expectations are understandably sky-high for this retro nightmare.

    Play the Demo Right Now!

    Can’t wait until July? You don’t have to. Ahead of the upcoming Steam Next Fest, Recurring Dream has dropped a free playable demo right now on Steam. It gives players a chance to explore the opening chapter, test out classic OS tools, and solve the first 10 puzzles to get a taste of the eerie atmosphere.

    TechMash Tip: Grab your headphones for this one. The demo features a brilliantly nostalgic, unsettling soundtrack filled with old-school computer whirs and clicks that elevate the tension beautifully.

    More News Coming This Week

    The showcase hype doesn’t stop here. Desktop Explorer is also locked in to make an appearance during Fellow Traveller’s Story-Rich Showcase.

    • When: June 6 at 10 AM PT / 6 PM BST.
    • What to expect: A deeper dive into the narrative and mechanics of this digital mystery.

    Make sure to head over to Steam, try the demo, and hit that wishlist button ahead of its July 17 launch!

    #IndieGames #DesktopExplorer #HorrorGaming #SGF2026 #SteamNextFest

  • Slingshots, Swords, or Sci-Fi? Sime Returns Drops Its First Public Steam Demo Ahead of Steam Next Fest!

    Slingshots, Swords, or Sci-Fi? Sime Returns Drops Its First Public Steam Demo Ahead of Steam Next Fest!

    The countdown to Steam Next Fest is officially on, but indie fans just got an early Christmas present.

    The developer behind the highly anticipated Sime Returns has just unleashed its first-ever public demo on Steam! Dropping on June 3, 2026, this sneak peek gives players a head start on the Next Fest madness, offering a hands-on look at what promises to be one of the summer’s breakout hits.

    Here is everything you need to know about why you should stop what you’re doing and hit that “Download Demo” button right now.

    What is Sime Returns?

    If you haven’t had this one on your wishlist yet, let’s get you up to speed. Sime Returns has been turning heads in the indie community for its unique art style, tight mechanics, and immersive world-building.

    While details on the full narrative have been kept under wraps, early teasers suggest a perfect blend of nostalgic gameplay and modern, polished execution. Whether you are a fan of punishing boss fights, intricate puzzle-platforming, or rich lore, Sime Returns is shaping up to deliver exactly what modern gamers crave: a game built with passion, not corporate checklists.

    Why Drop the Demo Early?

    Steam Next Fest is an absolute wonderland for gamers, but let’s be real—it can also be a massive tidal wave of content. With hundreds of playable previews dropping at once, it’s easy for brilliant indie titles to get lost in the noise.

    By launching the demo, the team behind Sime Returns is making a brilliant tactical move:

    • Beat the Rush: Players can dive in, test the mechanics, and fall in love with the game before their Steam libraries get overwhelmed.
    • Community Feedback: An early demo gives the devs a crucial window to gather player feedback, squash sudden bugs, and optimise performance before the massive Next Fest crowd arrives.
    • Building the Hype: Word-of-mouth is an indie game’s best friend. Expect your social feeds to be flooded with clips of Sime Returns speedruns and initial reactions over the next few days.

    What to Expect in the Demo

    While it is a slice of the final product, the dev team hasn’t skimped on the content. The public demo offers a substantial chunk of gameplay designed to showcase the core loop, introduce you to the main characters, and give you a taste of the game’s atmosphere.

    TechMash Tip: Keep an eye out for hidden secrets and easter eggs. Indie devs love rewarding thorough players, and Sime Returns seems like exactly the kind of game that hides goodies in the corners of the map!

    Get Ready for Steam Next Fest

    The Sime Returns demo is just the opening act for what promises to be a massive week for PC gaming. Make sure your drivers are updated, your controller is charged, and your wishlist is ready to expand.

    Head over to Steam, search for Sime Returns, and download the demo today to see if the hype is real. Don’t forget to leave your feedback for the developers—your input could help shape the final version of the game!

    Have you played the demo yet? Let us know your thoughts, theories, and favourite moments in the comments below!

    Find out more here

    #GamingNews #SimeReturns #SteamNextFest #IndieGames #PCGaming