TECHMASH

Tag: #turnbasedstrategy

  • Set Sail for Steampunk Skies: Dead Weight Drops on Steam This July!

    Set Sail for Steampunk Skies: Dead Weight Drops on Steam This July!

    Indie tactical fans, it is time to mark your calendars and prep your flying pirate ships. Developer Klukva Games (alongside co-publisher Spaghetti Cat) has officially announced the launch date for their highly anticipated debut tactical roguelite, Dead Weight.

    Set your alarms: the game officially hits Steam on July 16, 2026, at 18:00 CEST for $12.99.

    What is Dead Weight?

    If you ever wondered what would happen if you mixed the tight, grid-based puzzle combat of Into the Breach with the deep character building of Final Fantasy Tactics, all wrapped up in a beautiful Lovecraftian-steampunk aesthetic—Dead Weight is your answer.

    Having already amassed over 120,000 Steam wishlists, placing it comfortably in Steam’s top-400 most anticipated upcoming titles, this passion project by two friends is shaping up to be one of the summer’s biggest indie hits.

    The Premise: The world is rapidly fracturing. Ancient Gods with highly questionable morals have awoken from their eternal slumber, threatening what remains of humanity. It’s up to you to board a flying steamship, recruit a fierce crew, manage your fuel, and explore dangerous floating islands scattered across the skies.

    Key Features to Get Excited For

    • Tiny Battlefields, Massive Choices: The turn-based tactical combat takes place on compact, tight grids where every single step matters. You’ll need to use the environment to your advantage—like shoving enemy goblins and monsters off the edges of floating islands into the abyss below.
    • Deep Character Builds: Choose from 4 unique playable characters (including Arn, the heavy-hitting Barbarian) and dive into a massive skill tree. With hundreds of weapons and items, the multiclassing possibilities are virtually endless.
    • Risk vs. Reward Mechanics: As you explore ancient ruins and gather loot, you’ll have to manage a “Madness” meter. High madness means harsher environments and tougher, corrupted enemies—but it also promises higher-tier item drops.
    • Stunning Pixel Art: The game boasts meticulously detailed, old-school pixel art that contrasts beautifully with its dark fantasy and sky-pirate theme.

    Prepare to Face the Gods

    Whether you choose to fight the awakening Ancient Gods or pursue their forbidden knowledge for your own gain, the skyways of Dead Weight promise a hardcore, infinitely replayable strategy experience.

    With the developers also rolling out a massive final update to their Steam demo, there’s no better time to get a taste of the skies before the full launch next month.

    Head over to the Dead Weight Steam Page right now to try the demo and add it to your wishlist!

    Find out more here

    #DeadWeight #KlukvaGames #IndieGames #SteamRelease #TacticalRPG #Roguelite #Steampunk #PCGaming #TurnBasedStrategy #GamingNews

  • Descend Into Strategy: Why ‘Unto Deepest Depths’ Demands Your Attention

    Descend Into Strategy: Why ‘Unto Deepest Depths’ Demands Your Attention

    In the crowded landscape of indie games, sometimes a simple rule can create profound complexity. Enter Unto Deepest Depths, a punishing new roguelite and turn-based strategy game from McCollum Games, poised to challenge veteran tacticians and newcomers alike. With a core mechanic that forces perpetual motion, this dark fantasy adventure ensures every single turn is a high-stakes decision.

    The Rule That Changes Everything

    At its heart, Unto Deepest Depths is a turn-based tactical game. You build and command a party of units, navigating procedurally generated maps and conflicts. But here’s the key twist: Every unit must move and attack every turn.

    This simple constraint fundamentally alters the rhythm of battle:

    • No Camping: Forget turtling up! You can’t sit back and wait for the enemy to come to you or spend a turn solely buffing your troops. You are constantly advancing, forcing you to prioritize targets and positioning with brutal efficiency.
    • Destructive Dominoes: Since all units must act, careless attacks can put your own allies in harm’s way. Using a powerful but area-of-effect ability might wipe out a handful of foes, but if it forces your Lancer into a dangerous position next turn, was it truly worth it?
    • Depth in Simplicity: Unlike games with complex action-point economies, each unit has only a basic movement and one core ability (an attack, a heal, or a summon). The depth comes not from the number of choices, but from the consequence of the choices you’re forced to make given the movement mandate.

    Building Your Descent Party

    Your journey isn’t just about tactical combat; it’s also about strategic resource management and party building. As you venture through the depths, you’ll earn experience to:

    • Hire and Promote: Expand your roster with various unit types—from basic Peasants to more specialized units like Knights, Archers, Mages, and Healers. Promotions unlock Elite and specialized units, broadening your combat options.
    • Upgrade Wisely: You can spend resources on powerful unit upgrades. These might be simple health boosts or damage bonuses, or more complex buffs like death saves or bonuses for adjacent allies. With an upgrade-tree structure and limited resources, you must carefully choose who to specialize and how.

    The Dark Unknown

    The game promises a grueling roguelite experience. Each run will take you through five unique, procedurally generated biomes, culminating in encounters with menacing creatures and powerful bosses.

    The procedural nature of the conflicts, combined with random challenges and events you’ll face along the way, ensures no two expeditions will be the same. The narrative centers on venturing into the unknown to “vanquish the horrors below,” providing a dark fantasy backdrop to the unrelenting tactical challenge.

    Unto Deepest Depths is one to watch for fans of demanding turn-based strategy. The promise of a game where a single, simple rule creates a vast ocean of strategic possibility is an exciting prospect. Prepare to descend—just remember, you can never stand still.

    Unto Deepest Depths is currently in development by McCollum Games, with a planned release date of December 11, 2025. You can find the demo and more information on its Steam page.

    Unto Deepest Depth – https://shaggydev.com/

    #UntoDeepestDepth #NintendoSwitch #McCollumGames #horror #turnbasedstrategy #roguelite #tactical #combat #games #gaming #gamers #videogames