TECHMASH

Tag: #SteamPlaytest

  • High Stakes, Dark Vibes: DEAD SPIN is the Horror Slot-Machine Deckbuilder of Your Nightmares

    High Stakes, Dark Vibes: DEAD SPIN is the Horror Slot-Machine Deckbuilder of Your Nightmares

    Move over, traditional card battlers. There is a new, twisted player entering the roguelike deckbuilding arena, and it wants you to gamble with your literal life.

    Independent developer Strong Monkey Games has officially revealed DEAD SPIN, a deeply unsettling horror roguelike deckbuilder that swaps out the standard sword-and-sorcery decks for something far more addictive—and deadly. The game is heading to PC via Steam, and the best part? You don’t have to wait to see if luck is on your side, because an open Steam Playtest is live right now!

    Check out the official announcement trailer below to see the madness in action:

    Step Inside the Abandoned Casino

    DEAD SPIN drops you into a grimy, abandoned casino where you are forced into high-stakes slot-machine duels against a cast of lunatic gamblers and masked captors. This isn’t just about pulling a lever and hoping for three cherries; it’s a tactical psychological battle where chance meets deep strategic planning.

    To survive, you’ll need to master the art of the spin. Instead of drafting a traditional deck of cards, you shape your luck by building out a deck of symbols, chips, and coins.

    Cheat the Odds or Face the Punishment

    The game brilliantly blends roguelike meta-progression with intense risk-management strategy. Here is what you can expect when you sit down at the cabinet:

    • Massive Synergy Scaling: With over 250 collectable items at launch—including 100+ special symbols, 50+ special chips, and consumable trinkets—you can stack effects, trigger massive score multipliers, and manipulate the rules to bend the odds in your favour.
    • Eclectic, Dangerous Bosses: Every run pits you against more than eight unique opponents. Each boss boasts their own distinct playstyle, custom decks, and dirty tricks, forcing you to completely pivot your strategy based on whatever random loot you uncover.
    • The Retro Horror Aesthetic: DEAD SPIN looks like a cursed VHS tape unearthed from the late ’90s or early ’00s. Its grimy, low-fi presentation is dripping with dark, grotesque humour and an oppressive atmosphere that turns every bad spin into a heart-pounding moment of dread.
    • Endless Mode: Think your build is completely broken and unstoppable? Test it against relentless, scaling challenges long after you finish the main progression.

    Join the Open Steam Playtest Right Now!

    If you love the tense strategy of Balatro or Luck be a Landlord, but wish they had the sinister, mind-bending atmosphere of Inscryption, DEAD SPIN is a must-play.

    There are no keys required and no waitlists. Simply head over to the official DEAD SPIN Steam Page, hit “Join the Playtest,” and see if you have what it takes to outscore your captors and spin for your freedom.

    DEAD SPIN is slated for a full release on PC via Steam in late 2026. Make sure to add it to your Wishlist to support the developers!

    Find out more here

    #DeadSpin #StrongMonkeyGames #HorrorGames #Roguelike #Deckbuilder #IndieGames #SteamPlaytest #GamingNews #PCGaming #TechMash

  • Step Behind the Lens: Psychological Horror ‘SOMBRAS: negative frames’ Announces Closed Playtest

    Step Behind the Lens: Psychological Horror ‘SOMBRAS: negative frames’ Announces Closed Playtest

    Get your cameras ready, horror fans. Developer Maboroshi Artworks and publisher Entalto Publishing have officially announced an exclusive Closed Playtest for their highly anticipated upcoming title, SOMBRAS: negative frames.

    If you miss the eerie vibe of classic psychological thrillers and have a soft spot for retro-inspired aesthetics, this is a development project you’ll want on your radar.

    A Nostalgic, Mechanics-Driven Nightmare

    SOMBRAS: negative frames is a first-person narrative adventure that seamlessly blends light horror elements with a unique, mechanics-driven photography system.

    Instead of relying on cheap jump scares, the game invites players to immerse themselves in a deeply atmospheric world where the camera lens is your primary tool for survival and discovery. You’ll be stepping into a nostalgic, stylised environment where developing the perfect shot is the only way to solve mind-bending puzzles and uncover the dark narrative lurking in the shadows.

    What to Expect from the Closed Playtest

    This exclusive playtest gives selected players a rare, early look at the game’s core mechanics and haunting atmosphere before the official launch. Participants will be able to:

    • Experience the Atmosphere: Get a first-hand taste of the game’s distinct visual style and tense, brooding audio design.
    • Master the Photography System: Test out the unique camera mechanics that drive both the story and the gameplay.
    • Solve Early Puzzles: Put your problem-solving skills to the test with an array of environmental puzzles designed to challenge your perception.
    • Provide Vital Feedback: Directly influence the final polish of the game by sharing your thoughts with the development team.

    Whether you’re a photography enthusiast, a narrative adventure buff, or just love a good atmospheric thrill, this closed playtest is the perfect opportunity to see how Maboroshi Artworks is redefining indie psychological horror.

    How to Sign Up

    Spaces for the exclusive Closed Playtest are limited. Head over to the official Steam page or keep a close eye on Entalto Publishing’s social media channels to secure your spot and be among the very first to step into the negative frames.

    Find out more here

    #SombrasNegativeFrames #IndieHorror #GamingNews #MaboroshiArtworks #EntaltoPublishing #PCGaming #SteamPlaytest #HorrorGames #TechMash

  • The Apocalypse Is Open for Business: Zombuds Launches First Public Playtest on Steam

    The Apocalypse Is Open for Business: Zombuds Launches First Public Playtest on Steam

    If you’ve ever looked at a zombie apocalypse and thought, “You know what this wasteland needs? A thriving black-market pharmaceutical empire,” then Gamecraft Studios has the perfect game for you.

    The indie developers behind Vampire Hunters have officially opened the gates to their next delightfully unhinged project. Zombuds has officially launched its very first public playtest on Steam, giving players an early, chaotic look at an open-world co-op sandbox where survival takes a backseat to pure entrepreneurial hustle.

    Turning Brain-Eaters into Brainless Workers

    Zombuds takes place 15 years after the collapse of civilisation, but instead of the usual grimdark, ammunition-scarcity depression, Gamecraft Studios is serving up a colourful, lighthearted comedy fantasy.

    In this sandbox simulator, you and up to three friends play as “Doompreneurs.” Your mission? Scavenge dangerous, abandoned locations, manufacture bizarre post-apocalyptic substances, and build an unstoppable underground enterprise.

    But a massive corporate empire needs a workforce. That’s where the local population comes in. In Zombuds, you can hire human survivors—or, better yet, brainwash the zombies to automate your production lines and keep operations running smoothly while you’re out dealing with rivals. If manual labour isn’t your vibe, you can always just blow them up in spectacularly cartoonish, bloody ways.

    “While others scramble to survive, you hustle to build your black market empire.”

    Built from Scratch for Maximum Chaos

    What makes Zombuds even more impressive is its development story. Built on a custom engine created completely from scratch by a dedicated two-man team, the game balances an incredibly heavy workload of complex mechanics, including full automation systems, an expansive open world, sandbox physics, and seamless 4-player co-op.

    The game’s stylised, low-poly aesthetic isn’t just a stylistic choice either; it allows the developers to focus squarely on delivering tight, chaotic gameplay, massive zombie counts, and deep management loops without sacrificing performance.

    How to Join the Playtest Right Now

    Gamecraft Studios plans to use this public playtest to gather crucial feedback on everything from economy balancing and co-op pacing to zombie pressure. Following this playtest, the game is headed toward a Steam Early Access launch, where it will remain for at least six months to add more quests, weapons, and automation items.

    Ready to get your hustle on? Getting into the action is incredibly simple:

    1. Head over to the Zombuds Steam Page.
    2. Click the “Request Access” button under the playtest banner (everyone who applies is automatically accepted!).
    3. Gather your crew, download the client, and start building your empire.

    Make sure to jump into their official Discord to drop your feedback, report bugs, and help the team fine-tune the apocalypse.

    TechMash Verdict

    Zombuds is a refreshingly wacky spin on a tired genre. Blending the management mechanics of a tycoon simulator with the chaotic fun of a co-op zombie shooter makes for an addictive formula. Go grab your friends, request instant access, and see if you have what it takes to corner the post-apocalyptic market!

    Find out more here

    #Zombuds #GamecraftStudios #SteamPlaytest #CoOpGaming #IndieGames #PCGaming #ZombieApocalypse #SandboxGames #GamingNews #TechMash

  • Master the Art of the Puppet Brawl: Efecto Studios Reveals ‘Bunraku’—Play It Free on Steam Right Now!

    Master the Art of the Puppet Brawl: Efecto Studios Reveals ‘Bunraku’—Play It Free on Steam Right Now!

    The curtains are pulling back, the lights are up, and a brand-new kind of chaos is coming to the multiplayer arena. Veteran Colombian independent developer Efecto Studios has officially pulled the wraps off their latest project: Bunraku.

    If you are tired of the same old cookie-cutter fighters and are looking for something with serious artistic flair and frantic energy, this is one to put directly onto your radar. Destined for Steam, PlayStation 5, and the Nintendo Switch 2, Bunraku blends fast-paced platform brawler mechanics with a gorgeous visual style deeply inspired by the ancient art of Japanese puppetry.

    What is Bunraku?

    Named after the traditional form of Japanese puppet theatre, Bunraku places players in dynamic, shifting theatre arenas. But don’t expect a polite, quiet stage play. This is a high-octane multiplayer brawler where up to eight players can face off simultaneously—either via chaotic local couch play or online against rival puppeteers.

    The core gameplay centres around swift ninja dashing, precise parrying, and environmental mastery. Players can find scrolls scattered across the stage to trigger powerful Jutsu abilities, turning the tide of battle in a single, cinematic stroke.

    Key Features at a Glance:

    • Frantic Ninja Fights: One-hit-strike mechanics driven by precision dashing and split-second parries.
    • Up to 8-Player Chaos: Bring the whole squad with support for massive local or online PvP battles.
    • Traditional Aesthetics, Modern Pace: A striking visual style that treats the game arena like a shifting theatre stage.
    • Next-Gen Ready: In development for PC, PS5, and Nintendo’s highly anticipated Switch successor.

    Play Bunraku for Free This Weekend!

    You don’t have to wait until launch to get your hands on the strings. Efecto Studios has just launched a free playtest on Steam, open from right now until June 14.

    Whether you want to test your reflexes against the community or grab some friends for a chaotic couch-gaming session, the theatre doors are officially open. Head over to the Bunraku Steam store page, click “Request Access,” and start mastering your inner battle puppeteer.

    Check Out the Game & Join the Discussion

    • Steam Store Page: Search for Bunraku on Steam to wishlist and join the playtest.
    • Developer: Efecto Studios

    #BunrakuGame #IndieDev #SteamPlaytest #Switch2 #GamingNews

  • Outlawed Launching Steam Playest Soon

    Outlawed Launching Steam Playest Soon

    In a few days time the developers of the Outlawed game will be launching the playtest on Steam that will give players to the chance to see what the game is all about, however during this period there are bound to be bugs and other issues that players will come across, but who cares this a great opportunity to take advantage of this playtest just to see how cool the game is. Outlawed will be launching the playtest on the 13th of February.

    To find out more about the Outlawed game go to the games page on Steam here https://shorturl.at/uNonW

    #Outlawed #OkamiStudio #Gaming #Games #NewGames #Gangs #PvP #PvE #FPS #SteamPlaytest #Steam #UrbanMap #Gameplay #Combat