Apart from the “Pool Sharks” episode of the Sci-Fi Channel horror anthology show Monsters, billiards hasn’t had much to do with horror. Bit Golem is changing that later this week when its psychological horror roguelite Pool of Madness arrives in Early Access on Steam. Launching Friday, November 13, the game is described as if Balatro and Inscryption had a baby. Though in the words of the developers, Pool of Madness is “pulpy” horror meets dark comedy.
From the creators of Dagon: by H. P. Lovecraft (which you can snag for free), in Pool of Madness, you find yourself aboard a ship stranded at sea. You’re a Voidhunter tasked with purging the ship of Eldritch entities by performing deadly pool rituals. At least that’s what the voice in your head tells you. And the crew is nowhere in sight to convince you otherwise.
Your ever-evolving cue should make the next ritual easier. It will certainly make it different, thanks to the game’s procedurally generated and custom-made rituals. You can upgrade your cue with collected parts and try out the upgraded build. You can also unlock new powerups and haunted totems in order to complete the ritual and get ready for the next terror. And if all else fails, use your gun to blast your way out.
The recent Steam Next Fest demo is still very much available for those looking to get some practice in before the real game begins later this week. Bit Golem plans to have Pool of Madness in Early Access until Q3 2027 in order to develop and release additional features, content and polish, including new table mechanics, locations, bosses, items, and more.