This second playtest will allow for three times as many players as the previous one, with the servers being up for four consecutive days until September 20. More details on the playtest are expected soon.

Co-developed by Broken Mirror Games and Anshar Studios, SAW: Genesis is set in the grim aftermath of World War I, where you play on either side of a 3v1 confrontation in intense matches that take place on procedurally generated maps. The game is built for short, intense matches where no two trials play out the same.

Players can either step into the role of the Judge, an early architect of Jigsaw’s philosophy, manipulating the trial and its prisoners from behind the scenes. Or, they can play as one of three Accused looking to escape the deadly labyrinth through teamwork and sacrifice. Shaped by their experiences in The Great War, the Judge is dedicated to rehabilitating humanity through pain and sacrifice.

Your goal as the Judge is to rehabilitate the Accused, making them choose between life and limb rather than killing them. Live or die. They make their choice.

SAW: Genesis is currently in development for release into Steam Early Access.

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Moon Studios Creative Director Thomas Mahler made the announcement in a new video, explaining that the extra time in Early Access will allow the development team to further polish the game, as well as add the many enhancements expected in the 1.0 version.

The added development time will allow the team at Moon to improve gameplay performance, tighten the class system and polish the game to the standard it deserves. As a way to make up for the delay, the team plans on holding additional closed beta tests in the months ahead, followed by an open beta in December. This will allow the community to provide further feedback during a crucial stretch of development.

Furthermore, as part of developer’s continued commitment to working directly with its player community, the team plans to provide further updates in part via the ongoing Wicked Inside video developer diaries. These longer, more intimate looks at No Rest for the Wicked allow the team to share more details about the development, and in the format that is most relevant to the game’s progress.

Previously, Moon Studios also shared that early buyers would receive the Founders Pack, a special set of in-game items as thanks for their incredible support. The original cutoff date for purchasing the game and earning that Founders Pack was July 10. That cutoff date has now been moved to January 1, 2027 for Steam players, with anyone who purchased after July 10 retroactively included. PlayStation 5 pre-orders will begin in January, allowing those players to earn the Founders Pack.

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After finally regaining the rights, development resumed at Panache Digital Games, known for Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey, with it launching in Early Access last week after several years of development from their relatively small team.

It’s an admittedly ambitious project, trying to deliver a AAA level experience with a story that spans several time periods separated by hundreds of years. The beginning introduces you to the three protagonists: Clio, who lives in the present day, her father Aaron, who we see in 1999, and Noa, a Collector of the Zaindaris coven in the year 1666. Clio’s story is the framing story, showing her going through Aaron’s documents describing his strange relationship with Noa that transcends time itself.

Through a strange ritual performed by Clio’s mother in 1999, Aaron’s consciousness is sent back in time to 1666 where he inhabits the feline familiar of Noa, helping her on her quest to deal with Originals, people who made pacts for power and became corrupted by it.

Investigation Over Combat

Admittedly, it’s a lot going on, but there’s a boldness to it that I appreciate. You can definitely see echoes of Assassin’s Creed, with multiple timelines and secret societies of power hungry individuals, but the setting and witchy focus set it apart. While Clio and Aaron’s timelines don’t have quite as much going on, they provide backstory and setup to make the main focus, Noa’s story, richer and more well-rounded.

As a Collector, she only has access to her powers during a full moon, and she uses that day to investigate the Original assigned to her by the Zaindaris, sneaking around to find their seal and discover their true name before being able to confront them to strip them of their powers, and their lives.

This setup allows for a more interesting gameplay premise than I was anticipating. A lot of the game is spent trying to gather information, talking to people or rifling through offices, to give yourself all the tools to confront your foe. You have access to your witch powers, but doing them in public will alert the authorities, so you need to use them wisely. Much like Hitman, you also need to be careful entering restricted areas, but you can control Aaron’s cat form to help you sneak through places that humans wouldn’t be able to reach.

Additionally, he can also possess people who are afraid of cats by hissing at them and clawing their faces, adding another layer of options to your arsenal.

There’s a lot to love with this structure, but in the state this Early Access release is in, you might have trouble getting to the good parts. Right off the bat, there are pretty huge technical issues with this game. While I don’t have the most beefy gaming PC, I haven’t had trouble running recent releases like Mortal Shell II or Star Wars: Zero Company, but 1666: Amsterdam had several performance issues. Even dropping the game down to low graphics setting, I was seeing substantial frame rate drops, notably any time I went onto a city street full of people. The world of Amsterdam is lovingly recreated, but it was hard for me to appreciate the detail given all the stuttering I was experiencing.

The AI Controversy Still Looms

One pretty big disappointing element of 1666: Amsterdam came out when they released a prologue demo earlier this summer. Despite not disclosing it on their Steam page, they later admitted that they used generative AI art assets in the demo, but they promised they would be removed by the time the game was released. This statement was further confused with a later interview where Désilets said they were using so much AI art in the game that things slipped past them because they had forgotten what was AI and what wasn’t.

It’s hard to say whether they actually removed all the AI like they promised, but based on what I played, I would say that some of the voice performances sound a bit like AI text-to-speech, which put a damper on the delivery of a lot of narrative. Obviously, different people have different thoughts on the use of gen AI in the games space, and this will bother some people more than others. Frankly, I hope they stick to their promise and wish they never used generative AI in the first place.

Even aside from the technical issues, it seems like there are a lot of design problems that will still need to be worked out throughout the year they plan to be in Early Access. The investigation portion of the game felt the strongest to me, but there was plenty of friction that got in the way of my fun there. Once an investigation begins, you’re not given any direction for where to start, forcing you to explore in order to even figure out a single clue.

The portion of the city you have access to isn’t overly large, so I was initially excited by the openness of it, but I found myself hoping for a little more guidance. It felt like I was stumbling on information rather than actually working for it, making it feel unearned and disappointing. Even when I did find clues, they sometimes weren’t really enough to helpfully point me in the right direction, often confusing me more.

Strong Ideas Hampered by Frustrating Design

Navigating these spaces isn’t as exciting as it can be either. The level design of interior spaces isn’t super compelling, often becoming confusing to get around due to the sameness of many rooms. The idea of getting around in cat form is neat, but I was having a lot of issues lining myself up to jump from place to place like you’re supposed to. When you look at a surface you can leap to, a button prompt comes up, but there was a bug causing it to not appear when it should have, making me waste tons of time trying to jump to surfaces I couldn’t.

Most of the time, the trick with the cat gameplay is you just find a window, climb to the other side of a door, and unlock it to let Noa through, but I got stuck in one place for a long time because I saw an open window that looked like I could get to, but I couldn’t actually reach. I ended up giving up and found a much easier way to get to the other side of the door, which was a pretty frustrating experience overall that could have been easily remedied by making sure the environment didn’t have any false positives for that type of access. Or maybe I was supposed to get up there, but technical issues were preventing me from jumping properly. Based on my time with the game, either seem plausible.

Combat could also use another pass. It’s currently very melee-focused, with Noa using the same three-hit broom combo over and over again. You do have access to some witch abilities, but for the most part I didn’t run into any that really changed the way I fought. The most useful one was a skill that destroyed items in the environment, which when timed well could also take out enemies, but for the most part it was just swinging your broom over and over.

When a fight starts after you get spotted, there’s a zoom-in on the enemy that gives you information about the threat they provide. It also surrounds them with various words like “surrender” or “blaggard” in order to emphasize how that enemy feels towards you, but it ends up feeling out of place. I also had trouble figuring out how exactly I was supposed to get out of combat situations, as enemies just kept coming wave after wave until I got overwhelmed and arrested.

It’s very possible that I didn’t see all the combat options, because there’s a roguelike element to the game that could be interesting if developed further. Each time you take a contract, you’ll choose between three artifacts that give you modifiers or abilities, which reset each cycle. As you explore, you’ll find more of these along the way, theoretically allowing for a power curve to emerge. I’m always interested when developers find ways to incorporate roguelike elements into more mainstream games, like Deathloop or Saros, so hopefully they figure out a way to make this an impactful system, because at the moment it didn’t really seem to do much for me.

Creative Presentation Amid Uneven Polish

Graphics issues aside, there were some neat presentation flourishes that elevated the game from your standard AAA fare. My favorite was the way they handled the voiceover narration that Aaron and Noa deliver as you explore. Instead of just working off of an invisible trigger like most games, you actually see the words they are going to speak floating in the air in your path, and they break around you as they start reading them aloud. There’s also some neat editing, with lots of jump cuts and flash frames to make you feel off-kilter as you dive into the strange world they’re presenting.

But the nice presentation also comes with other polish issues. Some parts of the game just feel woefully underbaked, with weird shortcuts that hamper the feeling. In Clio’s opening, there’s a part where she’s talking to a professor at a library, and when he joins you to walk beside you, his character model snaps right to yours, glued to your side at a fixed distance as you move. If you walk the optimal path, it looks fine, but any time you take a turn, it looks extremely awkward, and ends up looking hilarious if you spin in place. I also came across several collision issues in the game where I would get stuck on objects that I shouldn’t have, making exploration occasionally irritating.

At a certain point in the game, you flash back to Aaron’s timeline for an investigative scene in a hotel. He leaves his room to try to find a statue, navigating through the halls and using a cat to help unlock doors. But the scene is made stranger by the fact that he’s in his underwear the whole time, and no one is commenting on it. On top of that, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Freebird” is playing as you do it, which absolutely does not feel like it fits. There’s not really much you do here aside from get a tutorial about possessing people, so I can’t for the life of me figure out why they decided to put the song in there, which must have cost them a pretty penny.

This sequence encapsulated the experience of 1666: Amsterdam for me. It’s clear they are trying to make something bold and interesting, but don’t seem to fully know what stylistic choices to make to get there. There’s definitely something here. The core idea of the game is great, even if it might have one too many time periods that it’s juggling, but it’s going to take a lot of technical and design polish to get it to reach its full potential.

Looking at their Steam page, they’ve got a roadmap of content planned out, with new missions being released over the next year, but I think they need to focus on their core design and technical issues before working on any new content.

Early Access code provided by publisher. 1666: Amsterdam is currently available on Steam and the Epic Games Store.

The post ‘1666: Amsterdam’ Early Access Preview: A Creative Blend of Investigation and Witchcraft That Needs More Polish appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

The release window and demo announcements weren’t the only news for There Are No Ghosts at the Grand, as Friday Sundae also revealed that the game will feature Billy Boyd (The Lord of the Rings) as MacBrushy, a talking and singing Scottish power tool.

In a press release, Boyd stated that the character was fun to play. “He’s funny, a little rude, and doesn’t mince his words! but there’s a lot more to him than it might seem at first. As the story develops, you gradually see different sides of him, and it’s clear that he has some hidden depths and maybe a few secrets too. Working with Friday Sundae, we’ve been developing MacBrushy’s voice and personality, and he’s got a song or two to sing as well, which has been fun to do in character.”

“MacBrushy started out as a bit of a joke about Clippy, but underneath that he’s really a father figure, drawn from the different kinds of dads and father figures I knew growing up in Scotland,” explains Friday Sundae co-founder and creative director Anil Glendinning. “He can give you brilliant advice and genuinely look out for you, but he can also lose his patience and let you know when you’ve annoyed him. Billy really understood that balance. He makes MacBrushy funny, warm and occasionally infuriating, which is exactly who we wanted him to be.”

There Are No Ghosts at the Grand has players take on the role of Chris David, an American who unexpectedly inherits a crumbling English seaside hotel. By day, Chris must renovate the Grand and help restore the surrounding village of Kingswood-on-Sea. By night, those same locations begin to reveal something stranger beneath the wallpaper, broken windows, and fading paint.

Oh, and you also wield talking power tools for your renovation tasks. Those same tools transform into weapons against the supernatural at night. You’ll use the vacuum on vengeful spirits, expose invisible assailants with the paint sprayer, or subdue spooks with a well-aimed bookcase to the face using the furniture cannon.

Ahead of the October demo, you can currently delve into last year’s version, which is available on Steam.

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The Developer Diary introduces the artists behind the sound of 1666: Amsterdam, and the process behind its musical identity, including why Jorane became a natural choice for the project. The episode also explores how music and sound change across characters, time periods and districts of Amsterdam. Protagonists Noa and Aaron each have their own musical theme, reflecting their different perspectives within the game.

The video also looks at the instruments and audio techniques used throughout production, and how the city of Amsterdam itself influenced the game’s music and sound design. Lastly, the episode features footage from the 1666: Amsterdam Preview Event in July, where Jorane performed music from the game live.

1666: Amsterdam is now available in Early Access on PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store. The game will continue to evolve throughout Early Access, with player feedback helping the team refine and expand the experience as development continues.

The post Final ‘1666: Amsterdam’ Dev Diary Explores The Game’s Sound and Music [Watch] appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Players explore the facility as the Smiling Critters, the dead-eyed toy line with gaping smiles introduced in Poppy Playtime: Chapter 3. From classrooms and warehouses to testing labs and the dark corridors
connecting them all, every space in the factory becomes more dangerous when seen from a Critter’s-eye view. In groups of 1-4 players, each run sends teams into a dynamically changing section of the
facility with one clear objective: search for, locate, and transport the resources and building materials demanded by a mysterious Voice. Those materials are needed to help construct A Better Place, a promised home for toys who “prove their loyalty and usefulness.”

The job is simple on paper, but there are monsters — fellow rejected Playtime Co. creations — stalking the halls, hunting for prey. Players must search efficiently, decide when to split up or stay together, and know when to push for one more item or retreat before the factory’s denizens close in.

Players can solve puzzles, uncover clues, scavenge for tools, use hiding spots and alternate routes, and turn the factory layout itself into a coordinated advantage. Proximity voice chat adds another layer of tension: communication is essential, but even a panicked whisper at the wrong time can bring the mission to a brutal end. Speak carefully, move quickly, and remember that someone, or something, is always listening.

As players complete runs, Escape From Playtime reveals a deeper connection to the larger Poppy Playtime story. The Voice promises freedom and a home, but its true motives remain unclear. Every resource gathered seems to feed a larger plan for the future of the factory. You are helping build something. But what, and why?

While no release date has been set for the Early Access release, the plan for the initial release is to include the full eight-character Smiling Critter roster, one starter zone, and a core enemy lineup. Future updates are expected to expand the game with new zones, Critters, features, and refinements informed by player feedback.

The post ‘Poppy Playtime’ Devs Announces Co-Op Survival Horror Experience ‘Escape From Playtime’ [Trailer] appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Panache Digital Games will continue developing the game throughout Early Access, with player feedback helping the team identify what works, what needs improvement, and where the experience should go next. Players are encouraged to share their experiences, feedback, and discoveries directly with the development team through the official Panache Discord channel.

Amsterdam is a city built on wealth, power, and sheer will, but beneath its streets lies a force it did not forge. Entities known as The Originals have lived for centuries, granted time, power, and the freedom to abuse both. Now, that power is owed.

In 1666: Amsterdam, players step into the role of Noa Brooklyn, born the Collector and raised by the Zaindaris for a purpose she did not choose: taking that power back. By day, players investigate a handcrafted Amsterdam, searching for the Originals hidden behind human faces. Identify them. Track them. Mark them.

When night falls and the Esbat begins, the hunt changes. The Originals reveal their true forms, and Noa must use witchcraft, spellcasting, strategy, and everything she has learned to confront them and collect what is owed.

Noa does not investigate Amsterdam alone. Aaron, summoned from 1999, now experiences the world through the eyes of a cat. Players can switch between Noa and Aaron, using two radically different playstyles to investigate the city, uncover hidden paths, and approach their targets in different ways.

1666: Amsterdam is currently available on Steam and the Epic Games Store.

The post ‘1666: Amsterdam’ Now Available in Early Access [Trailer] appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Withering Realms takes place in 1926, ten years after an immense “occult event” halted the Great War and transformed the world overnight. The dead walk, spirits roam, and a gifted few can even cast spells. Clover, a 9-year-old girl, awakens alone in a decaying mansion just miles from the epicenter of the occult event, and soon discovers that she is a ghost.

Clover’s only companion is a strange doll cobbled out of wood, metal, and human remains. Together, they set out to explore the mysterious town of Penwyll and the sprawling graveyards that surround it, seeking a way to bring Clover back to life.

Players will descend into tombs, caves and rotting estates in search of treasure, upgrade materials and magical artifacts. Said materials can be used to craft weapons and machines to slot into the doll’s missing right arm, such as a Pivoting Greatsword, Chain Rock, Machinegun, or Flamethrower.

Along with defeating massive perimeter guardians to expand the world map, you’ll be making allies along the way, such as the daring freelance investigator Althea who will do anything to uncover Penwyll’s dark secret including interrogation, lockpicking and forgery.

The post Action Horror RPG ‘Withering Realms’ Enters Into Steam Early Access on September 2 [Trailer] appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Much like the original game, Sally Face 2 will be released episodically. “One thing I learned from the original Sally Face is that having multiple separate builds (base game + DLC/Season Pass X operating systems) added a lot of extra headaches for development and also some confusion for players,” explains creator Steve Gabry. “Launching in Early Access should help alleviate those issues by allowing us to have fewer builds and clearer purchase options. Within Early Access, our goal will be to launch one episode at a time, while fixing any bugs that come up in-between.”

The game will see players guiding Sal and his three friends through a dark world devoid of hope and filled with mind-breaking terror. With everything falling apart and death bringing no solace, Sally Face 2 asks, “What’s left to hold on to?”

Continuing the frightening blend of unimaginable horror drawn from nightmares and classic 90s cartoons with each character, enemy, and environment, players will see themselves lost in a sinister post-apocalypse world. You’ll uncover a story of lost hope and darkness where no one is safe, and each revelation is more shocking than the last. Fight for survival by solving challenging puzzles and cryptic brain teasers to bring more revelations and mystery to the game’s world. For those looking for a smoother, more forgiving experience, Sally Face 2 will feature a hint system.

In addition to Steam, the original Sally Face can be found on the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, Nintendo Switch, and GOG.

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In a clever twist, the character creation that kicks off the game is presented as a play you are clearly unprepared for. As you stumble to remember your lines, the dialogue choices you make bring focus to your character’s build. defining your stats and starting weapon. The performance is interrupted by a horde of demons descending on your small town, kicking off your call to adventure.

As you escape the city under siege, you’ll meet characters that join your party, which will expand throughout the game. After this action-packed prologue, which ends with a relatively easy boss fight, the structure opens up by giving you the essential JRPG feeling of exploring an open map full of towns and locations.

The combination of the retro visuals and the classic overworld map gave me such strong feelings of nostalgia, drawing me into the game and the world immediately. While I’m not the biggest fan of the random battles you come across in this part, I love walking around and seeing a town in the distance, or checking out a weird looking tree to see if it’s an actual location to explore.

The four-hour first act that’s presented in this Early Access release is pretty small in scope, but there’s enough to explore that it feels like a satisfying opening to a game of this type. There are a few gates that you need to open as part of your quest, and when those are accessible it’s clear how tight and interconnected the world is, allowing you to traverse it fairly quickly.

A Choose-Your-Own-Adventure Retro World

Locations break down into three different types: towns, combat areas, and choose-your-own-adventure style sequences. Towns are free from danger and allow you to talk to multiple characters, giving you a sense of the world at large through effective exposition. Many of them are pretty standard townspeople archetypes, but the few standout characters, like the Technomychologist, help give the game a bit of personality.

Combat areas are well designed, if a little unambitious, providing a little bit of exploration alongside the fights and putting treasures all over to reward thoroughness. Interestingly, fights here are not random, as the creatures are walking around and can either be avoided or surprised with careful maneuvering.

The choose-your-own-adventure locations put you on a black screen with text and images, telling you a story of what you find there and presenting you with options for how to proceed. Because the lore of this world is rich and unique, even in the brief glimpse that this act contains, I found these sections to be incredibly compelling. It’s a simple way to paint a little corner of the world for you in brief, giving you agency to define how your character would react and see where you can push the narrative.

I’ve only played once, so I haven’t seen multiple options, but from what I can tell these aren’t going to be the type of choices that change the entire direction of the game, but rather just let you tell unique little short stories that yield various rewards or consequences.

Combat Has Great Ideas But Needs More Variety

The thing I’m most torn about is the combat. I’m a big fan of turn-based RPGs like this, but sometimes they do lack a little bit in variety as far as encounters go, and this is something Entropy has issues with. You can have up to six people in your party, and these can be a combination of characters that you meet as part of the story and mercenaries that you hire from job boards in towns. During a fight, there are two rows that you can position your characters in, and the enemy forces operate the same way. If there are people in the front row, they protect characters in the back row from melee attacks, but ranged and magic attacks can target either row.

While it feels like this adds a little planning element to how you build out your characters, wanting to make sure you’ve got some ranged attackers and magic users behind your melee toughs, it flattens the execution portion. Each fight feels pretty similar because it’s about taking out the front row then the back row, which gets a bit repetitive.

JRPGs often get flack for only requiring you to continuously select “attack” over and over until the fight is done, and Entropy isn’t quite fully in that direction, but I would like a little more strategic depth to allow for more variation in tactics.

There are a few other interesting wrinkles that gesture at the depth I’m looking for, if not entirely achieving it. The magic system has a clever twist where it doesn’t rely on spell slots or MP for casting, but instead spells do damage to your character when they fail. This changes it from a game of resource management to risk assessment, which does add a nice dimension. Characters can equip items in both their main hand and off hand, so having your spell book in one and a gun in the other lets you make an important choice each turn.

The main issue I had with this is that the spells didn’t feel as impactful as I was hoping for the amount of risk you’re taking on. They do a similar amount of damage to a standard weapon attack, and the statuses they put on other characters aren’t game changing enough to be worth it in my book. With the game being in Early Access, hopefully this is a balance they can work out, because I would personally like to see them be more powerful and higher risk to really make you weigh your options.

When attacking, you can also target specific limbs, which will give you a chance to disable enemies from doing certain attacks, but standard battles were over far too quick for this to make any meaningful difference. On top of that, the penalty to your hit chance was often too much that I didn’t see the value in using these attacks outside of the boss fights that made it clear this was the way to proceed.

Weapons also have different special attacks that change up hit percentages or damage, but with the cost of delaying your turn a bit. Turn order is always displayed on the side of the screen, and this was actually one of the more compelling wrinkles. Is it worth it for my fighter doing the multi-attack for the chance to take out two foes in one strike if it means that he won’t act again for a while? That’s a good hook for a combat system to me, and I hope they find ways to explore it more and let you manipulate turn order in more drastic ways.

Permanent Death Raises the Stakes

One of the big hooks that the game makes sure you’re aware of is that your characters can permanently die in battle if they are knocked out. At the conclusion of the fight, you are told the fate of any characters that became unconscious, and this can include disfigurement and death. Losing a body part can cause you to have specific penalties in fights, making that character less effective unless they can undergo expensive healing at a doctor. It should be noted that the main player character cannot die, but every other character is on the potential chopping block, adding tension to encounters.

Most of the fights in the game were easy enough that I didn’t have to interact with this system much, but when I did it actually felt really punishing. There was a devilishly hard boss near the end of the act, one so hard I actually thought you were supposed to lose for narrative reasons the first time I tried it, and going back to try it again with my diminished party felt pretty bad.

Maybe if there were more side quests and recruitment opportunities outside of the mercenary board it would feel like it belonged more in the game, but I had to spend a good amount of gold to get my party up to six in order to take this boss on, and it didn’t feel like there was anything I could do outside of grinding to get my party ready.

I know it’s a huge part of the genre going back to its roots, but grinding is my least favorite part of any JRPG, and it always feels bad to me when it’s basically required to make progress. It’s a tricky balance, because I want to feel like loss in battle has real meaning, but a total party kill that ends up with a few dead or diminished characters feels like an unfun setback.

Rich Lore Gives Every Location Purpose

Fortunately, the game has a really compelling world that draws you in with its strange creatures and intriguing hints of lore, keeping you hooked between battles. An example that perfectly illustrates this is a forest that you enter early on in the game. The legend of this forest is that the Soul Gardener, the ethereal creatures that transition the dead into the afterlife, of the woods has gone mad, so people bring the bodies of their enemies to be cremated there in order to trap them in an eternity of misery.

Theater tropes of spies, immortal demonic rulers, and a mysterious event called “the Sudden Silence” all make the world feel unique and lived in, giving you narrative reasons to explore the world further. Learning about the setting was the most engaging part of Entropy for me, and I can’t wait to see what’s revealed when more of the game is released.

The gorgeous low poly art style brings all this lore to life, making for a delightfully grimy world for you to explore. It’s a surprisingly bright game visually, allowing them to get thematically dark rather than visually dark. The creepiness instead comes from the wonderful monster design that includes demons in the form of sentient lungs or piles of stitched together corpses.

Early Access Rough Edges Can’t Hide the Potential

There’s also warped animals that are twisted versions of familiar creatures, but exaggerated in strange ways I’m not used to seeing. Exploration and battles are made to feel more dynamic with unique camera angles that frame the action in a dynamic manner. The music adds a lot to the overall tone as well, with jaunty fantasy fare punctuated by more sinister guitar riffs. The overall audio-visual aesthetics go a long way to bringing the world to life, enhancing the game’s most unique elements.

Given that it’s in Early Access, it’s not without its bugs, but hopefully those will be worked out on the way towards full release. I had issues with sound effects not playing, the camera clipping into walls, and even one instance where using an item completely locked up the game. It’s nothing that ruined my time, just go in knowing that there’s still a bit of polish that needs to be done on this one as it progresses.

The first act is a pretty brief introduction to the world of Entropy, but there’s already so much to love here that I’m eagerly anticipating the next update. The devs have a bit of work to do in order to ensure that its combat feels more tactically rich, but the details of the setting have their hooks in me.

Hopefully they’ll be able to find a good middle ground with the consequences of loss, as it currently feels like it’s too easy to get stuck in a series of cascading failures when you hit a wall. It’s a promising start, and I’m sure the team at Lovely Hellplace will take the time in Early Access to tweak the gameplay to ensure it matches the quality of their excellent worldbuilding.

Early Access code provided by publisher. Entropy is out now in Early Access on Steam.

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Bloober Team took to X via the official SAW: Genesis account (and Steam, of course) to make the official reveal of Bette, who delivers instructions to the Accused, supporting their trials while keeping The Judge’s location hidden. Again, not unlike Billy delivering Jigsaw’s message to those whom have been caught in the various traps.

No word on if Bette will have her own creepy laugh…

Co-developed by Broken Mirror Games and Anshar Studios, SAW: Genesis is set in the grim aftermath of World War I, where you play on either side of a 3v1 confrontation in intense matches that take place on procedurally generated maps. The game is built for short, intense matches where no two trials play out the same.

Players can either step into the role of the Judge, an early architect of Jigsaw’s philosophy, manipulating the trial and its prisoners from behind the scenes. Or, they can play as one of three Accused looking to escape the deadly labyrinth through teamwork and sacrifice. Shaped by their experiences in The Great War, the Judge is dedicated to rehabilitating humanity through pain and sacrifice.

Your goal as the Judge is to rehabilitate the Accused, making them choose between life and limb rather than killing them. Live or die. They make their choice.

SAW: Genesis is currently in development for release into Steam Early Access.

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In addition to the Early Access announcement, the devteam has released a new gameplay feature video, showcasing the core gameplay systems players will master throughout their journey as Noa and Aaron.

The video offers an in-depth look at the game’s investigation mechanics as players hunt the mysterious Originals across Amsterdam. It also showcases combat, the day and night cycle, Noa’s mystical abilities, Aaron’s feline gameplay, and how both characters combine their unique skills to uncover hidden truths and restore the balance of the world.

1666: Amsterdam centres around the eponymous city that was built on wealth, power, and sheer will, but now fuelled by a sinister force it did not forge. Entities known as The Originals have lived for centuries, granted time, granted power, and the freedom to abuse both. That power is now owed. Noa Brooklyn was born The Collector, raised by the Zaindaris for a purpose she did not choose: taking that power back.

The post ‘1666: Amsterdam’ Launches into Early Access on August 25; New Gameplay Feature Video Released [Watch] appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

”It’s been three years since the first line of code. Now we’re excited to launch version 1.0 and share what we’ve built together with our awesome community,” says the devteam. “A heartfelt thanks to all the support from our peers and amazing players. You know who you are!”

The first of the new systems is the Curse Dice. As players’ Sanity drops, they unlock the ability to roll up to four dice before each level begins. Mutation effects from these rolls apply to all enemies on the level, while Law effects reshape the level itself — introducing a new layer of risk and reward tied directly to the game’s core Sanity mechanic. The system is presented through a dedicated pixel-art UI screen built to match the game’s aesthetic.

Reload Mechanic Ranged combat now includes a full ammo management layer. Players must weigh the risk of reloading mid-encounter against the rhythm of sustained fire, adding a new tactical dimension to every firefight across the campaign.

Lastly, Room Spawn Events feature hand-crafted, timed encounter compositions which have been placed throughout curated rooms in the campaign, offering players deliberately designed set-piece moments rather than purely procedural encounters.

Cthulhu’s Reach: Devil Reef sees players stuck with enormous debt and a greedy gangster to pay off. It’s time to accept misfortune and risk it all to find the hidden treasure of Devil Reef. You travel to the creepy seaside town of Innsmouth and venture deeper and deeper into the daunting unknown, where piles of gold may await… under the watchful eye of lurking eldritch horrors.

The post ‘Cthulhu’s Reach: Devil Reef’ Exits Early Access on August 14; New “The Depths Have Changed” Update Now Available appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

In Mimic, players must escape the crumbling Icarus spacecraft while rooting out who amongst them is secretly a mimic: an alien creature that can disguise itself as a fellow human survivor. Players must solve various objectives to create their escape route while surviving against two sinister threats pursuing them. Meanwhile, as the titular Mimic, you’ll hunt from the shadows, hiding beneath the flesh of a friend. With five players in online matchmaking and up to ten in customizable private lobbies, Mimic aims to blend tense survival, social deduction, and dynamic mechanics into a highly replayable multiplayer experience.

Unlike other asymmetrical multiplayer horror games that pit survivors against a sole antagonist, players in Mimic are assigned secret roles that dictate their win conditions. Crew members must repair the ship’s vital systems and identify the alien threat before it’s too late. Meanwhile, the player assigned the agent role has ulterior motives of the corporate kind unbeknownst to the rest of the crew that doesn’t prioritize their survival. Lastly, the sole purpose of the mimic, is to blend in, gain trust, and strike when survivors are most vulnerable. But the mimic isn’t the only threat at play: an NPC android roams the halls of the Icarus, indiscriminately hunting all organic lifeforms who could be the mimic in disguise.

Making things even more interesting is the fact that players do not have weapons, and must rely on their wits and survival instincts. Whether with pure intent or selfish gain in mind, players have the power to influence the android’s pursuit, sabotage escape efforts, and sow chaos amongst the ranks.

In addition to PC, Mimic will also launch for the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series once the game exits Early Access next year.

The post Social-Deduction Horror Game ‘Mimic’ Terrorizes PC Gamers on October 27 [Trailer] appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

This milestone release delivers a wealth of new content and gameplay overhauls, capping off two years of continuous Early Access refinements. Along with community-driven bug fixes and performance optimisations, 1.0 introduces vital quality-of-life upgrades including overhauled difficulty tiers, match reconnect, an ‘Unstuck’ button, an improved UI and more.

Fans of the permadeath co-op can expect the permanent addition of the action-packed Survival Mode. Originally previewed during the Free Weekend event earlier this year, this deadly new game mode pushes squads to their limits as they defend strategic speaker towers from an ever-growing horde of the undead, buying precious time for civilian evacuations.

Designed to offer a smoother onboarding experience, new tutorial grounds and re-tuned difficulty tiers give first-time players room to learn the ropes. The update also introduces an all-new Solo Mode, providing opportunities for veterans and newcomers alike to master map layouts at their own pace – completely free from the brutal threat of permadeath – before braving the high-stakes co-op progression.

“Reaching 1.0 is a monumental milestone for No More Room in Hell 2,” says Steve Piggott, CEO & Creative Director at Torn Banner Studios. “Throughout Early Access, we’ve worked hand-in-hand with our community to refine, polish, and expand the game into the ultimate high-stakes co-op horror experience. This launch brings the definitive version of the game we always envisioned. We are so excited to finally bring the brutal, 8-player survival nightmare to life, and we can’t wait to see how squads handle the horror when they step into the zone.”

Designed with feature parity at its core, the title’s console debut ensures PlayStation and Xbox players will experience the exact same gameplay systems, survival mechanics, and in-game achievements as PC players. Full cross-play integration unites PC, PlayStation, and Xbox into one shared player pool, delivering faster matchmaking and total freedom to team up on any platform.

“We are incredibly proud to support the debut console launch of No More Room in Hell 2,” says Chris Jones, EVP of Publishing at Green Man Gaming. “Hardcore, tactical horror has traditionally been a PC-dominated space, leaving console players largely underserved when it comes to high-stakes survival. But with this launch, we are thrilled to finally open the quarantine zone to console audiences and offer them a truly uncompromising survival horror challenge.”

The post ‘No More Room In Hell 2’ Leaving Early Access, Launching on August 11 appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

The latest update expands Project Zomboid with a wide range of new and improved features, including deeper crafting and building systems, animal husbandry, new and updated map content, improved lighting, expanded lore, and a host of quality-of-life improvements.

“Build 42 has been a huge undertaking for the team, and we are all incredibly grateful to the community for sticking with us: testing, surviving, dying, and then doing it all again, while providing valuable feedback all along the way,” said Christian Allen, Design Director at The Indie Stone. “Project Zomboid has always been about creating a world where the player tells their own story, and this update gives them even more areas, systems, and tools to create the memories of How They Died.”

You can read the full slate of additions, improvements, and fixes here.

The post Long-Awaited “Build 42” Update Coming July 29 for ‘Project Zomboid’ [Trailer] appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

As detailed in the new trailer, version 1.0 is the game’s biggest update yet, including a new Survivor, a new map, and a new game mode.

And, as a way to celebrate the upcoming release, the developer has made their previous title, Yet Another Zombie Defence HD, available to own for free for a limited time. You can add the game to your account from now until July 30, so get clicking.

In Yet Another Zombie Survivors, you’re dropped into a world that’s been overrun by a zombie apocalypse. You’ve had enough, and now you and your team are out to make them pay. Your squad evolves based upon your decisions as you play. Choose to go for a varied set of perks and support skills, or focus on your favorite character to alter their gear and gain their ultimate abilities. Control a lone SWAT soldier, or an entire team of mercenaries armed with a variety of weapons.

If you’re keen to check out the game prior to its launch, you can play the demo that’s currently available on Steam.

The post Bullet Heaven Title ‘Yet Another Zombie Survivors’ Launches in Full on August 20 [Trailer] appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

“We want to thank you all for your support, especially everyone who participated in our internal playtest and helped ensure the demo ran smoothly across a wide variety of PC configurations,” explains the team in a new update on Steam. “To celebrate, we’re hosting a giveaway on our official Discord server, where two lucky winners will receive a key for the game when it launches in Early Access. To participate, complete the demo and post a screenshot in the designated channel. Submit your entry by July 27th.”

Set in a cursed frontier where faith clashes with damnation and once-living towns collapse into nightmares, The Dark West is a gritty action RPG shaped by greed, black magic, and the belief that power always comes at a price. The land bears the curse of people who got too greedy, and paid the price for what they were willing to do for it.

Two sides have risen from the ruin. The Order speaks of justice and wears it like armor, unwilling to see the rot growing among its own. Meanwhile, The Damned are already claimed by black magic, cursed and unapologetic about what it has made of them. The real danger is not what waits in the dark, but who’s standing behind you when the killing begins.

Players will choose characters shaped by difficult pasts, where violence settles most questions, and the rest are answered by choices that haunt your soul. In keeping with the Wild West theme, alcohol will give you strength, but at the obvious cost of dulling your senses, requiring you to weigh your options in battle.

The post Demo Relaunched for Occult Wild West Action RPG ‘The Dark West’ appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Described as friendslop (in a nice way), DREGS lets players take on the role of expendable clones sent aboard abandoned deep-space facilities to recover salvage on behalf of a mysterious, unreasonably generous client. The relics in question are less “ancient artifact” and more random remnants of a civilization long-gone, like rubber ducks, plush toys, or scented candles, but nobody on the crew is paid enough to ask why they matter.

Each salvaging expedition combines tense exploration, unpredictable environmental hazards, cooperative puzzle-solving, and encounters with unspeakable horrors through the chaos of a eight-person crew of clones whose greed and judgment rarely point the same direction.

Exploring derelict space stations in pursuit of long-abandoned relics is dangerous work, with death lurking around every corner. Not to worry, as every expendable clone lost to a bad decision, an environmental hazard, or a teammate’s “accidental” betrayal is simply replaced by another, letting each mission’s disasters escalate a little further than the last.

DREGS is the first release from the newly independent T-Minus Zero Entertainment. Originally founded in August 2023 as a AAA studio under NetEase Games, the studio was closed two years later, only for four members of its leadership team to immediately reboot T-Minus Zero as an independent, project-based production company, with DREGS as a result.

“Nine months ago, T-Minus Zero was forced to shut down by our parent company. But we weren’t done,” said Zachary (Zac) Beaudoin, CEO of T-Minus Zero Entertainment. “We rebooted the studio and immediately started work on a new co-op game. Now we are delighted to share DREGS with the world.”

The post 8-Player Horror-Comedy Title ‘DREGS’ Out Now in Early Access [Trailer] appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

The main goal of this first playtest focuses on checking the stability of the game’s servers and matchmaking, as well as gathering overall user sentiment regarding the core gameplay loop. During the playtest, players can form parties of up to three Accused, while matchmaking assembles a complete lobby by pairing each group with a fourth player taking on the role of the Judge.

“We are fully aware how crucial it is to shape an asymmetrical multiplayer game together with the community, and our goal is to organize more playtests before the Early Access launch,” reads the statement from the devteam. “With every playtest, we plan to implement feedback, improve the game’s balance and meta, polish the gameplay experience and provide more ways for pure fun.”

Co-developed by Broken Mirror Games and Anshar Studios, SAW: Genesis is set in the grim aftermath of World War I, where you play on either side of a 3v1 confrontation in intense matches that take place on procedurally generated maps. The game is built for short, intense matches where no two trials play out the same.

Players can either step into the role of the Judge, an early architect of Jigsaw’s philosophy, manipulating the trial and its prisoners from behind the scenes. Or, they can play as one of three Accused looking to escape the deadly labyrinth through teamwork and sacrifice. Shaped by their experiences in The Great War, the Judge is dedicated to rehabilitating humanity through pain and sacrifice.

Your goal as the Judge is to rehabilitate the Accused, making them choose between life and limb rather than killing them. Live or die. They make their choice.

SAW: Genesis is currently in development for release into Steam Early Access.

The post Closed Playtest Starts Today for ‘SAW: Genesis’ appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

From historical research and artistic references to the process of translating paintings into interactive environments, the episode showcases the philosophy and craftsmanship behind the world of 1666: Amsterdam.

Set to launch into Early Access on PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store, 1666: Amsterdam centres around the eponymous city that was built on wealth, power, and sheer will, but now fuelled by a sinister force it did not forge. Entities known as The Originals have lived for centuries, granted time, granted power, and the freedom to abuse both. That power is now owed. Noa Brooklyn was born The Collector, raised by the Zaindaris for a purpose she did not choose: taking that power back.

Take part in Noa’s Commencement as she inherits the mantle of the Collector. Unravel a mystery that spans centuries. Choose the companion that will walk beside you. Follow the traces left behind in a city shaped by secrets, power, and memory.

Currently, you can check out the game’s prologue demo on either platform.

The post New ‘1666: Amsterdam’ Dev Diary Delves Into The Game’s Visual Inspirations [Watch] appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

The update adds around 70,000 words of new and remastered content, with most of it expanding some of the shorter sections. The update also tweaks certain aspects of gameplay, as well as adding more dialogue (obviously) between characters, and even revamps one of the endings to the fifth episode.

The team also confirmed that writing for Episode 6 is well underway, though no release date has been announced.

Currently in Early Access on Steam, Scarlet Hollow is an immersive horror-mystery with sharp writing, impactful choices, and meticulously hand-drawn art. What was supposed to be a quiet getaway in the rural mountains of North Carolina to meet your long-lost cousin and comfort her through her mother’s funeral, has turned into a nightmare of cryptids and other supernatural horrors. You only have to survive a week. But can you get to the bottom of these mysteries haunting Scarlet Hollow before they claim your life?

If you’re keen on learning more about the game, check out Aaron’s review of the first five chapters.

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You’ve just been made a member of The Order of the Void Eaters, and your job is to track and carve up an array of Lovecraftian-inspired horrors across the galaxy, then discover what they taste like. The better you cook, the stronger you become, but there’s always something more terrifying on the menu to hunt next.

As mentioned, you’ll be dismembering limbs, tentacles, and organs mid-combat, weakening your enemies while stocking your pantry with the freshest ingredients. You’ll have a variety of weapons to help you out in getting your ingredients, but that’s only part of it.

The other part is, of course, meal prep. Elderfeast touts a “unique immersive in-world cooking grid” that rewards clever placement and creative combinations, turning your hard-earned ingredients into something extraordinary. Master the cooking system to craft dishes that enhance your abilities, turning every successful recipe into a step toward becoming a more formidable chef.

Of course, it’s easier said than done, as you’ll be facing off against monsters that will eat anyone and anything. Feed them toxic ingredients, poisoned meals, and other creatures or you’ll find yourself at the top of the menu.

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In SPRAWL zero, you play as FIVE, a cybernetically enhanced supersoldier controlled by the Junta. Your directive is to eliminate SILAS, leader of the radical techno-religious group IMAGO-DEI. The city plunges into chaos as all factions known and unknown aim to take control.

Combat is described as fast-paced but grounded, where enemy squads will communicate and coordinate to fight for the advantage. They will flank you, provide covering fire to teammates, and utilize grenades to flush you out in callbacks to those early 2000s shooters.

As a result, you must outsmart and outmaneuver the opposition using any advantage possible. Luckily, you have a few tricks of your own. You can catch their bullets and throw them right back with the Gravity Shield, or bend your shots midair with Bullet-Time for inhuman precision. In all, you’ll have 40 weapons at your disposal.

In addition to Steam, SPRAWL zero is currently in development for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series.

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The updated roadmap for Phasmophobia prioritises quality over speed, and is being shaped by community feedback and the team’s own ambitions for the game. As a result, the roadmap includes adjusted timelines enabling the team to deliver its vision for the game’s full launch next year. That vision also involves a complete overhaul of the game’s ghost models, replacing the current roster with a cast of unique ghosts that each have their own appearance, animations, and backstory.

Following complete overhauls to the iconic Grafton and Bleasdale farmhouse, and most recently, 6 Tanglewood Drive, Willow is next on the list to be brought up to the team’s ideal development standards. This will include room refreshes, tweaked hiding spots, and integrated, never-before-seen lore, and will be accompanied by the first of two major quality-of-life updates that will bring improvements to player character models, animations and customisation options.

After Willow’s rework, players can expect a second quality-of-life update, followed by the game’s upcoming Unity 6 migration. Fan-favourite seasonal haunts including Crimson Eye and Winter’s Jest will also be returning for 2026, and ghost hunters can also look forward to Edgefield map rework, slated for December.

The 1.0 launch will also expand Phasmophobia‘s lore through continued environmental storytelling, introducing ghost-specific conduits and deeper connections to the people and places behind each haunting. Alongside these additions, significant audio improvements are planned for 1.0, including enhancements to environmental effects, weather systems, and spatial sound to create a more immersive investigation experience.

And yes, this all will include the long-awaited release of the game on the Nintendo Switch.

“I can only thank the community for the opportunities the game has given us, growing the studio to a team of over 50 people, and allowing us to work on improving Phasmophobia every day,” said Daniel Knight, CEO and Game Director at Kinetic Games. “Everyone’s feedback following our first Player Character Update showed that we have many areas to address before moving further along our roadmap. We’re going to take this time to improve and expand this update to shape the game into the refined horror experience our players expect.”

Phasmophobia is available in Early Access on PC via Steam, PlayStation 5 and PlayStation VR2, and the Xbox Series.

The post New Roadmap Revealed for ‘Phasmophobia’ Announcing New Map Rework Release Date, New 1.0 Launch Timeline appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

The new trailer focuses on the core gameplay experience. Exploring Level 0 with a team, solving puzzles, facing entities with different behaviours and surviving situations where every mistake can put the whole group at risk.

Liminal Backrooms is a co-op horror game for up to 4 players, set inside a network of liminal spaces, endless corridors, and levels inspired by the nightmare of the Backrooms. Built around exploration, puzzle solving and survival, players must work together to explore liminal spaces, find clues, solve environmental puzzles and survive hostile entities while learning the rules of each level.

Every level in Liminal Backrooms is designed around its own rules, dangers and mechanics. However, the entities that inhabit these spaces do not always follow the same rules. Some chase you. Some watch you. Others simply wait for you to make a mistake. Players will need to observe, communicate and adapt if they want to escape.

And while you wait for Liminal Backrooms, you can always check out The Backrooms: Lost Tape, which Luiz recently reviewed.

The post Trailer for ‘Liminal Backrooms’ Focuses on Core Co-Op Gameplay Experience [Watch] appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Co-developed by Broken Mirror Games and Anshar Studios, the game is set in the grim aftermath of World War I, where you play on either side of a 3v1 confrontation in intense matches that take place on procedurally generated maps. The game is built for short, intense matches where no two trials play out the same.

Players can either step into the role of the Judge, an early architect of Jigsaw’s philosophy, manipulating the trial and its prisoners from behind the scenes. Or, they can play as one of three Accused looking to escape the deadly labyrinth through teamwork and sacrifice. Shaped by their experiences in The Great War, the Judge is dedicated to rehabilitating humanity through pain and sacrifice.

Your goal as the Judge is to rehabilitate the Accused, making them choose between life and limb rather than killing them. Live or die. They make their choice.

Customize your approach with perks and traps, then seek to control the match from the shadows. Unlike other asymmetrical multiplayer games, the Judge is physically vulnerable and cannot overpower the Accused through sheer force alone.

SAW: Genesis is currently in development for release into Steam Early Access.

The post Learn the Rules of the Game in New ‘SAW: Genesis’ Overview Video [Watch] appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Revelations introduces the Marshland, a hostile wetland map crawling with new abominations. This grim region hides the secrets of the Cathedral of Saint Aurelian, shedding light on historical Vatican failures and the mystery of a forgotten Fallen Preyer.

To survive, players can now equip themselves with a powerful new gear pack featuring 4 distinct weapons. The Heart Eater is a precision pistol that rewards successive weak-spot hits with devastating lightning damage, while the Corpse Eater harnesses the power of decay to ramp up its damage output. Rounding out the arsenal is the Soul Eater, a demonic firearm that reveals the soul sigils of nearby enemies, allowing players to stun them on demand. Lastly, the Tempest is a demonic raygun that fires electric energy.

The update also adds the biggest dungeon to grace Witchfire yet in the highly anticipated Witch Vault, as well as overhauling environmental mechanics through World Corruption 2.0, introducing an entirely new set of challenges and difficulty scaling.

Outside of combat, players can now retreat to the Garden, a now-accessible area to the Hermitorium. Here, they can cultivate the rare resources needed to craft incense, or simply sit on a bench to take in the view.

Witchfire is available now in Early Access on Steam and Epic Games Store with a 20% discount until June 25.

The post Ahead of 1.0 Launch, ‘Witchfire’ Receives Final Major Update in “Revelations” [Trailer] appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Set in the winding back alleys and crumbling tenements of 1990s Saigon, The Scourge plunges players into a world where Vietnamese urban legends and family trauma collide. Players take on the role of Nhat Huy, a man returning to the city of his childhood – only to find that the past refuses to stay buried.

Overwhelmed by delusions due to past tragedies and life’s despair, Nhat Huy frequently finds himself in nightmares. In these dreams, the line between reality and illusion becomes blurred. To free himself from his past, he must confront his sorrows, make amends for his mistakes, and defeat the most formidable enemy that exists not only in his mind, but also in the real world.

Emphasizing fear over action, what sets The Scourge apart is its roots in authentic Vietnamese culture, folklore, and the lived experience of a generation shaped by hardship, guilt, and unspoken grief. Rather than relying on jump scares, the game builds a suffocating atmosphere through environmental storytelling, logic-driven puzzles, and a unique radio-based narrative mechanic that slowly unravels the truth behind Nhat Huy’s haunting.

Oppressive tension in the game is built through environmental design, layered sound, and psychological pressure. Meanwhile, radio broadcasts deliver story fragments, clues, and emotional beats as players explore the decaying city. Meanwhile, your choices shape Nhat Huy’s fate, resulting in one of the game’s multiple endings.

Currently, a film adaptation is in the works for The Scourge, with Doan Si Nguyen directing, and Tran Khanh Hoang handling the writing duties. The film is set for a 2027 release.

The post Vietnamese Horror Puzzle Game ‘The Scourge’ Now Available on Steam [Trailer] appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

In what sounds like a dystopian (yet honestly, not entirely unrealistic) future, people live entirely through their screens, as going outside has become too risky. You stream for a shady channel called “Follow Us,” ready to do anything to keep your audience’s attention. Your goal is simple: entertain the masses, and stay alive.

Each round lets players choose whether they want to play as EXY the Explorer, who bravely navigates a haunted map, or OPY the Operator, who hangs back to guide EXY and hack the playspace to protect them from the various creatures and hazards in the level. Built on communication rather than complex mechanics, Follow Us creates tension by combining two opposite forces: isolation and connection with your partner.

Every level explores a different kind of fear. EXY faces danger and isolation in the field, while OPY endures helplessness and relentless pressure from the van.

And in keeping with the “friend” theme, Follow Us offers a rarity amongst titles like these: two people can play with just one copy of the game. Of course, the person who doesn’t own the copy of the game will need to download the Friend’s Pass in order to play, but you get the idea.

Follow Us will remain in Early Access for about 6 to 12 months, with the plan to expand the game with new haunted locations, additional enemy types, and improved co-op systems based on community feedback.

The post Keep Your Partner Alive in Asymmetrical Multiplayer Title ‘Follow Us’ [Trailer] appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

The diary reveals how the entire studio travelled to Amsterdam in 2024 to study the city’s streets, canals, architecture, sounds, and atmosphere firsthand. Rather than relying solely on historical references, the devteam immersed themselves in the city’s environment to better understand its scale, rhythm, and character.

The diary also delves into the game’s exploration systems, including the ability to enter houses, traverse rooftops, and navigate the city alongside a feline companion, creating multiple opportunities for discovery and player choice.

“Inviting the studio to Amsterdam was, at its core, about sharing something,” explains Patrice Désilets, Panache Digital Games Co-Founder & Creative Director. “We gathered everyone and said: come into your game. Come experience it the way I did.”

Set to launch into Early Access on PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store, 1666: Amsterdam centres around the eponymous city that was built on wealth, power, and sheer will, but now fuelled by a sinister force it did not forge. Entities known as The Originals have lived for centuries, granted time, granted power, and the freedom to abuse both. That power is now owed. Noa Brooklyn was born The Collector, raised by the Zaindaris for a purpose she did not choose: taking that power back.

Take part in Noa’s Commencement as she inherits the mantle of the Collector. Unravel a mystery that spans centuries. Choose the companion that will walk beside you. Follow the traces left behind in a city shaped by secrets, power, and memory.

The post First Developer Diary Entry Released for Dark Fantasy Action Title ‘1666: Amsterdam’ [Watch] appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Only Humans On Board is a simulation game with a detective horror twist set on a train. As a train vendor, you buy your supplies, manage a snacks cart, serve passengers, and scan IDs. However, some of your “customers” are only pretending to be human. If you miss a discrepancy, the shift ends very differently.

Once the wagon door opens, the shift begins. You’ll move through the tight central aisles to see what the customers need. Serve them quickly and get paid by scanning their boarding passes. You’ll need every cent, as the money you earn will be used to upgrade your trolley for better shifts and buy the supplies that you’ll need to keep going.

Only Humans On Board will launch into Steam Early Access in Q3 2026, with the plan to remain in the service for approximately six months in order to further expand the gameplay.

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Available now in Early Access on Steam, in Don’t Panic Together, players take on the role of police officers trying to survive and complete their assigned tasks in Grimwood, an abandoned town hidden deep within the forest. However, as the night progresses, everything begins to change. You can no longer trust what you see, and the only way to survive is to stay quiet and make it through the night.

With the game’s microphone detection system, panic can become your downfall. Sudden noises, screaming, or losing control of your voice can directly lead to your death. It’s a game of nerves where you must coordinate with your team in total silence while being hunted by something that is literally listening to your real-world reactions.

Adding to the game’s atmosphere is the use of the bodycam perspective, with “subtle VHS effects and handheld camera movement.” That’s in combination with the ambient sounds, sudden effects, and the darkness of the forest to create constant tension throughout the experience.

The post Your Scream Is Your Doom in Co-Op Horror Game ‘Don’t Panic Together’ [Trailer] appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

Set in the grim aftermath of World War I, SAW: Genesis allows you to play on either side of a 3v1 confrontation in intense matches that take place on procedurally generated maps. The game is built for short, intense matches where no two trials play out the same.

Step into the role of the Judge, an early architect of Jigsaw’s philosophy, manipulating the trial and its prisoners from behind the scenes. Or play as one of three Accused looking to escape the deadly labyrinth through teamwork and sacrifice. Shaped by their experiences in The Great War, the Judge is dedicated to rehabilitating humanity through pain and sacrifice.

Customize your approach with perks and traps, then seek to control the match from the shadows. Unlike other asymmetrical multiplayer games, the Judge is physically vulnerable and cannot overpower the Accused through sheer force alone.

Build your strategy around your character’s distinct advantages, such as:

• Exclusive access to hidden corridors + a noise-detection map

• Hallucinogenic gas and paralyzing toxins that distract and immobilize the Accused

• An Accomplice that can be summoned to drag the Accused into Rehabilitation Traps

Your goal is to rehabilitate the Accused, making them choose between life and limb rather than killing them. Live or die. They make their choice.

Watch the trailer for SAW: Genesis below, set a century before Jigsaw!

The post Bloober Team Ready to Play a Game With ‘SAW: Genesis’, Coming to Early Access appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

The update introduces the Deadwood, a terrifying new “Fear of Forests” enemy that turns every treeline into a death trap. But you aren’t going empty-handed. The update also introduces a major new gameplay mechanic: during the game’s fast-paced and chaotic battles, players can now rely on a new bullet ricochet system, allowing them to make their shots even deadlier and more precise.

Twisted Prosperity also includes new items, side quests, gameplay tweaks and the expected bug fixes, which are detailed here. No date has been set just yet for Nightmare Frontier to leave Early Access, other than the nebulous Q3 2026 window.

Nightmare Frontier unfolds in an alternate version of 19th-century America, shortly after a mysterious event that forever changed the world. The line between reality and an unknown horror has become blurred, and those who remain are left to uncover what truly happened that night – and what’s behind the titular Nightmare.

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Set in a cursed frontier where faith clashes with damnation and once-living towns collapse into nightmares, The Dark West is a gritty action RPG shaped by greed, black magic, and the belief that power always comes at a price. The land bears the curse of people who got too greedy, and paid the price for what they were willing to do for it.

Two sides have risen from the ruin. The Order speaks of justice and wears it like armor, unwilling to see the rot growing among its own. Meanwhile, The Damned are already claimed by black magic, cursed and unapologetic about what it has made of them. The real danger is not what waits in the dark, but who’s standing behind you when the killing begins.

Players will choose characters shaped by difficult pasts, where violence settles most questions, and the rest are answered by choices that haunt your soul. In keeping with the Wild West theme, alcohol will give you strength, but at the obvious cost of dulling your senses, requiring you to weigh your options in battle.

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As a token of appreciation for supporters new and old, Moon Studios is offering an exclusive Early Access Founder’s Pack, a free limited edition bundle available for anyone who purchases the game on Steam prior to July 10, with rewards unlocking when 1.0 officially launches. PlayStation 5 users can receive the Early Access Founder’s Pack by pre-ordering the game once available, any time before launch day.

The Founder’s Pack includes:

• A New Secret Hideout: Spirit Cavern – The legacy of Moon Studios now lives inside No Rest for the Wicked, exclusively for Founders. A hand-crafted home that bridges both worlds.
• Sayer’s Vow: An all new Sword in the stone reserved just for the founders that only early adopters can extract in the game world.
• A Custom Founders Tag ensures players are clearly identified as early adopters.
• As a Founder member, players will get access to an exclusive Public Beta Test Realm reserved just for them, even after the 1.0 game launch.

As for the full 1.0 release, it will be a massive expansion of the core experience, introducing a staggering 60+ hours of new content, a new horde mode, powerful new weapons, bosses and enemies, new areas and a completely reimagined class system.

In No Rest for the Wicked, players take on the role of a “Cerim,” a member of a holy order imbued with mysterious powers, tasked with destroying the Pestilence, an ancient plague that has begun to consume the island Isola Sacra, itself already the site of great political upheaval and death.

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Inspired by classic JRPG’s, Entropy is a post-apocalyptic role-playing game with an expansive world map, explorable towns filled with colorful characters and a tactical turn-based battle system all woven into a “low poly, PSX-style visual tapestry”.

In this dying age, only pockets of humanity remain. There was no pivotal apocalyptic event to speak of; only the cruel march of time and the inexplicable infertility of the world. Accursed creatures stalk the barren lands between settlements, which are themselves terrible places; squalid, medieval and mostly ruled by tyrants.

Control your party of up to six unique mercenaries, with each one joining your party with their own talents (and preexisting injuries), as you embark on a quest across the poisoned lands to stop a wicked demonic incursion. Target enemy limbs, severing and weakening your foes in Entropy’s tactical turn-based combat. Use your hard-earned currency and items to hire mercenaries to replace your fallen party members, and level up to increase your stats and unlock new perks.

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The story for Blackroots concerns a small order devoted itself to protecting people from dark forces through forbidden knowledge. However, in their quest for power, the order discovers the name Ul’vorran. In exchange for strength, some members performed a ritual beneath the oldest tree in existence, but were consumed by Ul’vorran as a result.

Seeing the impending corruption, other members broke away and formed a new order called Obscura. They seek to stop the spread of Ul’vorran through stopping of the pacts.

Along with typical RPG elements, such as earning currency, levelling up, and unlocking tools to increase your chances of survival, players in Blackroots will need to be wary of their sanity. When your sanity drops to zero, you are pulled into the Madness Maze. In there, you are alone and your teammates cannot help you. You must find the exit before your mental stability reaches its breaking point. However, something is chasing you within the maze, which not only has traps, but keeps changing and re-shaping.

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According to the devteam, the playtest was “very instructive,” and given the team plenty of ideas for the next steps in development. Those include balance combat and reassessing the game’s difficulty, improving combat readability, as well as the diversity of missions and encounters.

“We apologize for this delay but we prefer to take the time to implement it right rather than rushing and not delivering a game that meets your expectations,” says the team.

Ex Sanguis has you leading your elite warriors known as Stillae as the last hope for their dying world. To do so, you must engage in tactical combat against the forces of Stasis and restore the flow of life. That involves spilling blood, and plenty of it.

Taking a few cues from the XCOM series, you must use your surroundings to your advantage to turn the tide of battle in your favour. You can also use Timeline Effects to speed up, delay or swap time position in order to impact turn order and outsmart your enemies. You will also unlock a range of abilities, each offering powerful synergies and deep build customization.

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The demo is designed as a free prologue to Dread Eagle, appropriately titled Dread Eagle Demo Prologue, and takes place shortly before the events of the main game. The demo includes its own unique content separate from the full version of the game. Rather, the demo gives players a separate first look at the world, atmosphere, and survival mechanics of Dread Eagle.

The demo has players being captured by Soviet soldiers and taken to a classified research site known as Unit 91-C. Hidden deep inside a secret military facility, Unit 91-C is rumored to be the place where disturbing experiments were carried out on unwilling subjects. But when the player arrives, it becomes clear that the facility is no longer under Soviet control. Something has gone wrong, and the experiments inside have left behind carnage in their wake.

As a result, players must explore the dark corridors of the facility, interact with the environment, uncover fragments of the story, and learn the basics of survival as they face whatever is still lurking inside. The demo can be played alone or together with a friend in co-op, giving players the choice to face the horror by themselves or enter the facility as a team.

“Dread Eagle Demo Prologue is the first step into the world of the game,” said Tarba Paul Cornel, Game Director at Galactic Crows. “We wanted players to feel the tension from the very beginning, but also give them something separate from the full game. This prologue has its own content, its own moments, and it sets up the nightmare that continues in Dread Eagle.”

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As previously mentioned, the 1.0 release includes 80 new masks  to collect (for a total of over 130), including “Key” masks that unlock hidden areas during your heists, and you’ll be able to deck out the home base with new furnishings and upgrades. Of course, that will require surviving the toothy wrath of three new pets to keep them.

“Thanks to the feedback from our community, we’ve been able to make the most of the Early Access period and bolster Burgle Supply Company with plenty of improvements and new content,” says Terrible Posture Games’ Creative Director Joe Mirabello. “Indulge in some good old-fashioned fun with friends by taking on ridiculous heists set in a dozen new levels, including graveyards, secret labs, renaissance festivals, giant bathrooms, and more, all while dodging new enemies, and discovering plenty of other fresh surprises in 1.0!”

Start a profitable life of crime today with Burgle Supply Company! Gather up to six of your pals to rob unsuspecting homes full of loot. Swipe key items and throw them into the definitely-not-suspicious plain white truck. Take on optional challenges to pilfer some extra credit – and extra goodies – to earn that gold star and make your parents proud.

However, you’ll also need to prepare to face a variety of lethal and unsettling family pets. Evade the mutant dog by carrying out missions quickly and quietly to avoid becoming another chew toy. Other day-to-day risks may include ghost moths, lobster fish, explosive egg-laying slugs, and accidental deaths caused by well-meaning associates.

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Upon release into Early Access, players will have access to the first two missions in the game, with additional chapters released during the Early Access phase to complete the game’s story. That’s in addition to more weapons, enemies, and locations, all shaped directly by player feedback.

Blending tactical combat with psychological horror, A.A.U. Black Site places players in a relentless fight for survival, captured entirely through a chilling bodycam perspective. Details on the story are light, but you take on the role of a member of a a highly trained unit stranded in enemy territory. You have been frame, and it’s imperative that you push yourself to the limit and get out alive. Through your journey, you will find out what lead to these unforeseen events.

Combining realistic visuals and found-footage aesthetics designed to deliver an immersive journey through multiple levels, you will witness the action through your bodycam, capturing every moment of your assignment. You’ll need to stay on your toes and check every corner, as you are the prime target. Luckily, you’ve got a selection of 20 weapons available to you. Go tactical or go loud; the choice of loadout is yours.

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Coming to Early Access on Steam, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series this summer, you can actually get a chance to monster mash with your friends in the game’s closed beta weekend on Steam starting this Friday, May 8.

The story for BeastLink sees the world in ruins, with humanity living in shattered strongholds, and colossal creatures ruling what’s left. Humanity’s survival depends on the very technology that ended everything. You must fight your way through war-torn urban cities, amass the coveted serum, and use it to Link with the dormant Kaiju to unleash the ultimate weapon. Ultimately, you must uncover the truth behind the world-ending outbreak, and the cost of keeping humanity alive.

Play as both human and the colossal creatures across multiple game modes, either solo or with other players. You’ll be able to deploy vehicles like cars, helicopters, tanks and aircrafts to unleash chaos. Thanks to the game’s proprietary “SuperDestruction” destruction system, everything can be destroyed.

Upon launching into Early Access, you’ll have access to three maps and four different Kaiju, each with their own abilities: the Horned Lizard, the Bull Shark, the Vampire Bat, and the Mandrill. BeastLink will support up to 32 players and multiple active Beasts across huge maps, designed for delivering the chaotic gameplay that you’d expect from levelling a city.

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Drawing inspiration from classic FPS titles like Doom and Quake, Gravelord blends nostalgic gameplay mechanics with modern enhancements. Players step into the boots of a gravedigger named Queedo, a sharp-tongued antihero armed with an arsenal of weapons, Tarot card power-ups, and a magic shovel to kick the mortally challenged back into their cozy resting places under the soil.

Queedo sets out to avenge his father while using his shovel and various other weapons to beat the living crap out of his enemies. He also has Tarot Cards that you can collect to boost your power level and combat options, as well as weapon upgrades to unlock additional fire modes and synergies. In keeping with its inspirations, Gravelord has players running and jumping around levels designed heavily to feature fun and engaging gameplay rather than realism. There are also plenty of hidden secrets to find in each level.

And for those who enjoy their arena shooters with a Horde Mode, you can check out Gravelord‘s spin-off in Hordelord, which is also on Steam.

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The new Hardcore Mode is accessible to players who have reached a gear score of 1,000 or higher and a character level of 15 or above, with drop rates for higher-tier items adjusted upward to match the increased difficulty. As well, a new tutorial and Training Ground have also been introduced to help new players. The tutorial runs immediately after character creation, designed to help players easily learn the basic flow of the game.

The update also includes a new daily mission system, a complete crafting bench overhaul, combat and class balance adjustments, and level design improvements for select areas.

And as mentioned, players will have a free weekend event for approximately four days, kicking off on May 8. During this period, players can freely access all in-game content at no cost, and any character data created during the event will carry over into the full game.

“This update broadly reflects the feedback shared by our players since Early Access launched,” says game director Ray Song. “We’ve prepared content that both new and returning users can enjoy, so we hope everyone takes the opportunity to experience the game without any commitment during the Free Weekend.”

Building on this update and the free weekend event, The Midnight Walkers will continue to evolve through ongoing community engagement on Discord, with the full release on Steam planned to release within the next twelve months.

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That’s not all, as in addition to the free weekend, Torn Banner has announced that it is partnering with Green Man Gaming to bring No More Room in Hell 2 to the PlayStation 5 and the Xbox Series this summer, arriving in tandem with the 1.0 PC release. There will also be cross-play available across all platforms.

“It’s been a year since No More Room In Hell 2’s first Free Weekend, and we’ve worked tirelessly to broaden the gates of the apocalypse without sacrificing the grit that defines the franchise,” says Steve Piggott, CEO & Creative Director at Torn Banner Studios. “Whether you’re a returning survivor or a fresh recruit, we can’t wait for fans to face the horde again, from the tactical intensity of our brand-new Survival Mode to all-new weapons, zombies, maps and beyond.”

The Free Weekend will offer players a look at the first map in the new Survival Mode. The new mode has players fending off swarming hordes to buy time for civilian rescues – where every tactical choice is the difference between life and permadeath. This joins the core Scenario Mode, where Responders venture deep into the outbreak to scavenge gear, tackle critical objectives, and extract vital supplies.

Torn Banner has also introduced Character Customisation, allowing players to modify their Responder’s appearance and features before exploring two all-new maps. Melee weapons have been reworked for damage, stability impact, speed, and reach, alongside an overall weapon tier upgrade. To heighten the tension, zombies no longer lock onto individuals, but instead prioritise sound detection for a more demanding tactical experience.

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In addition to the existing cast of Sam Lake, Samantha Béart, Ben Starr, Inel Tomlinson & Dave Jones, Chapter 6 will include the likes Robin Liew Harper (Rise of the Ronin), Ashleigh Haddad (Split Fiction), Jack Ayres (KARMA: The Dark World), Osian Llewelyn Edwards and Tobias Weatherburn (Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II).

The Final Chapters update will be a free addition to the game, which will include Chapters 6 and 7, finishing the game’s story and coinciding with the full 1.0 release of The Victor Initiative. Currently in Early Access on Steam, The Victor Initiative sees you being tasked by a shady government agency to close a “rift” hidden deep within an abandoned research facility located in North Wales, UK.

Known as The Initiative, the mysterious government facility rarely communicated with the outside world, but 60 years ago, communication stopped completely. Now, you’ve been tasked to dive back into the nightmare. Inside The Initiative is a spiralling maze of horrors. Deranged ramblings adorn the walls, loose papers are strewn across the floor, and the terrifying threats that caused this ruin are still in there with you.

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Right off the bat, you can see why Ubisoft decided to publish a small game like this. Every part of the moment-to-moment experience is undeniably slick, with a rock solid game feel that immediately grabs you. I’ve seen it pitched as Devil May Cry meets Returnal, and that’s not entirely far off, at least at first glance.

Morbid Metal is a third person action game with extremely mobile combat, throwing you into small arenas where you slash your way through hordes of enemies with fast-paced melee combat that has an amazingly kinetic feel thanks to great audio-visual effects. Between these encounters, which probably last about a minute at most depending on enemy composition, you’ll find yourself a combination of traversal and light exploration, using your double jump and dash to do some rudimentary platforming.

Meet Flux, Ekku, and Vekta: Character Playstyles in a Post-Apocalyptic Setting

There’s some very light story content that sets up why you’re stuck in this roguelike loop, but at the moment, it doesn’t feel particularly fleshed out. Best I can tell is that you’re an AI in a post-apocalyptic setting that’s being run through a simulation by the mysterious Operator to help eliminate corrupted robots. In parallel to this, an entity known as Eden is trying to help you from the shadows, giving you a safe space known as the Void to hide out between runs. It’s not a ton to go on, but the voice acting is strong enough in the limited dialogue you get that you have a sense of who the Operator and Eden are, hopefully setting up for some solid story content in later versions.

While this doesn’t sound entirely unique, the big hook of the game, aside from how good it feels, is that you have a set of characters that you can instantly swap between in the heat of the battle. There are three in the current build of the game, with a fourth planned to be added before the game hits 1.0. Each of the characters has the same movement options, but their suite of skills and attacks varies. Flux is much faster in their basic attacks, with skills focused on closing the gap between you and your enemies. Ekku is extremely slow with their strikes, but hits like a truck, with skills focused on popping enemies into the air or knocking them off their feet. Vekta relies on projectiles, focusing more on crowd control.

Each of these skills, which can be swapped out for another option during your run, has a cooldown before you can use it again, which means that combat sometimes breaks down to you using each skill, then switching to the next character, using their skills, and so on, as you try to waste time between cooldowns. For me, this had the effect of not really treating each character as their own distinct individual, but rather the option of where you spam a skill from.

Routines and Upgrades: How Progression Works in Morbid Metal

The main issue that leads to this for me is the fact that the encounter variety isn’t really there yet, especially given that you’re going to run through them over and over due to the roguelike structure. The robotic enemies you face fall into pretty basic archetypes – fodder, flyer, heavy – and it doesn’t really feel like there’s a ton of thought required for strategizing how you approach the fight. It seems like I’m starting every single fight in the exact same way, using Flux to zip up to a flyer to take one out, before landing on the ground as Ekku to do a big sweeping slash to try to stun as many of the smaller enemies as I can, before turning my focus to a heavy. Being able to get into a rhythm is a good thing for a fast-action game like this, but it felt like I was getting into the same rhythm every time, which meant I never really had an encounter or run that stood out to me.

After each encounter, you’re given the option to pick from a series of upgrades, called routines. These can either be universal routines that apply to all characters or routines that apply only to specific ones. With how much swapping you do, I found the universal routines to be the ones that I leaned towards the most, especially since these give you options to do a lot of passive damage through things like applying leak (this game’s version of bleed) and deploying drones. While I definitely felt myself getting more powerful during a run, I never really ran across options that changed how I played; instead, they just enhanced how I already played.

Occasionally, you’ll run into optional trial rooms that will give you very specific tests that will provide greater rewards. These can be anything from “survive for a certain amount of time” to “swap characters every five seconds.” While the rewards for these were better, it wasn’t something I was really psyched to actually do. The swapping one, which felt like the most common, felt like a task rather than a fun challenge, even though theoretically it should be highlighting the unique mechanic of the game. Hopefully, these are reconceptualized a little bit as time goes on, because the risk-reward calculation of doing an optional fight like this is a great choice to have to make.

Secrets, Traversal, and Exploration Mechanics

The traversal between arenas helps it not feel like an endless string of repetitive fights, but it’s not the most substantial part of the game. It’s very clear that there’s a limited set of these connecting pieces, and you will quickly see all of them within a few runs. You are rewarded for trying to push the edges of the maps, using your movement mechanics to reach parts of the level to find more upgrades, but once you know which world piece you’re on, it’s pretty easy to remember where to find the barely hidden secrets.

When you are in the Void between runs, you can buy various unlocks with the Void Matter currency you pick up during runs. These can come in the form of upgrades to your basic stats, like max HP and attack power, or additional options that will present themselves throughout your runs. This gives you something to chase while you’re getting better at the game, but I never really got one that made me go “oh hell yeah” while thinking about the possibilities it provided.

Even though you see the same map sections over and over, it’s still really nice to look at. Given the robotic nature of your characters, which all convey so much character in their silhouettes, I was surprised at how the biomes looked. The Void is an abstract cyberspace, but the actual biomes are more man-made temple-like structures in cliffsides and forests. Perhaps it will make a bit more sense once the narrative is fleshed out more in future updates, but for now, it gave me a little bit of tonal whiplash, even if it’s generally pretty. Occasionally, there’s a bit of pop-in that mars the visual splendor, but overall, I didn’t have too many visual bugs, even playing on the Steam Deck.

Both of the biomes have their own boss to fight, and these are good challenges that make up the most difficult portions of the game. Most of the time, deaths in Morbid Metal came after several encounters where I took small amounts of damage that just finally caught up to me, but bosses are enough of a test that you can go in with a full health bar and still get demolished. One of the difficult things with the roguelike structure, as opposed to something like a soulslike, is that if you die to a boss, you’ll have a pretty long run to get back to it to try again, making it take longer to get used to the patterns, but for the most part, they were pretty readable from the jump. The boss fights are a highlight of the game for me, combat-wise, so I hope they take the time to add in as many as they can, allowing for alternates in each biome to keep things interesting.

Morbid Metal Early Access Verdict

Aside from the occasional visual pop-in, I did have a few bugs that popped up here and there. The worst offender put me in a state where my dash would do the animation, but not actually move me through the level at all, removing a key piece of my defensive arsenal. There have also been several times when the camera acted erratically, both with lock-on and without, which is frustrating for a fast-paced game like this one.

I know I’ve had a lot of nitpicks about Morbid Metal, but everything I saw in my time with the Early Access build is a great foundation for something that could turn out to be pretty special. Given how great the core combat feels, I hope they take the time to find ways to add meaningful complexity to both the encounters and the build options, as those are the real secret sauce of any roguelike.

This is exactly what Early Access is for, so I’m looking forward to seeing what Morbid Metal looks like when it hits 1.0 somewhere down the road.

Early Access code provided by publisher. Morbid Metal is currently available on Steam.

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Previously known as “Good Boy” (you’ll see), Burgle Supply Company has you and up to five friends descend upon a neighbourhood to do a little window shopping, aka burgle. The thing about the neighbourhood is that the inhabitants are a little…odd. Plus, there’s a mutant guard dog ready to munch on intruders. As a result, you and your friends must acquire your epic loot without making noise. Every dropped lamp and bumped corner will fill up the noise meter, and lead the squad one step closer to chew toy territory.

Complete missions, return to home base, and deck out your hideaway with a plethora of decorations and upgrades to assist with future break-ins. You can also burglarize in style with customizable outfits and more than 130 fun masks to collect.

“Burgle Supply Company brings a fresh take to the friendslop genre with individually hand-built levels, fun and silly masks to loot and collect, and of course, the giant mutant dog hunting down robbers at every turn,” said Joe Mirabello, Creative Director at Terrible Posture Games. “There was a newly-released horror movie about a dog in distress with the same name and, you know, that dog-actor really is a good boy. He should get the name. Our game has grown during Early Access to focus more on Burglary antics anyway!”

In addition to the six new levels, you and your friends will have access to 80 additional masks, including new “Key” masks that can unlock hidden wings mid-heist. You’ll also be able to trick out your base of operations, aka your basement, with tons of added upgrades. And for kicks, there are three new scientific monstrosities stalking the neighborhood streets. Just in case explosive-egg-laying slugs, ghost moths and giant lobster fish weren’t enough.

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