- Development of Magical Something… Scheduled for official PC and Mac release in Summer 2026
- A combat system that combines the speed of classic shooting games with the strategic depth of roguelike deck-building.
- Cyberpunk visuals with a 90s anime vibe, a combination of bullet hell shooting and card synergy
In a world on the brink of apocalypse ruled by a machine army, a battle begins to save the sun goddess Amaterasu. A free Steam demo of ‘IKARUS,’ a shooting x roguelike deck builder developed by indie game studio Magical Something, was released on May 11.
Combining side-scrolling bullet hell shooting, deck-building, and a cyberpunk style reminiscent of 90s anime, this title is characterized by capturing both the reflexes typical of arcade shooting and the strategic depth of card games. The demo is also available on Itch.io, and the full version is scheduled for release on PC and Mac in the summer of 2026.
A cyberpunk world with a 90s animation vibe
Based on a stylized 2D cyberpunk aesthetic, Icarus has a unique identity that blends the sensibilities of 90s animation into a futuristic machine world.
Set against the backdrop of a hostile robot world filled with metal and circuits, the ancient guardian IKARUS embarks on a journey to save the sun goddess Amaterasu. The battles unfolding as the countdown to the end of the world ticks emphasize a mythical tension, uniquely blending futuristic machine civilization with a setting reminiscent of Japanese mythology.
The sound also supports this atmosphere. Fast-paced electronic background music creates the tension characteristic of shooting games, while card activation sound effects and explosive combo effects simultaneously convey the excitement of combat through sight and sound. In particular, the density of the presentation increases significantly during mini-bosses and giant boss battles, creating an intense climax.
A battle requiring both strategy and reflexes
The core system of IKARUS is a two-phase combat structure divided into ‘planning’ and ‘execution’. Before the start of each wave, players formulate an attack plan by arranging the cards in their hand in their desired order.
Once combat begins, you must dodge bullets, parry, and continue your attacks amidst real-time shooting action. Simply building a good deck is not enough; it is crucial to time your shots perfectly to unleash powerful combos during actual combat.
At the start of play, you choose one of three archetypes. Each archetype combines different card colors and weapon types to form a unique play style.
For example, by utilizing the Butterfly.exe construct, a missile is fired every time a card is drawn, and it is also possible to construct a build that continuously bombards the opponent with guided missiles through specific card combinations. The deck-building element of researching various synergy combinations is one of the core fun aspects of the game.
A roguelike structure where failure leads to growth
Icarus adds a Persistent Progression system on top of the roguelike genre’s characteristic repetitive gameplay structure. Players can earn experience points and level up by repeating battles, which permanently unlocks new cards, upgrades, and player skills. In essence, a single failure does not end in a mere defeat but serves as a foundation for growth in the next challenge.
Additionally, there are options to acquire new cards and enhancement elements during gameplay, or to sacrifice specific cards to obtain powerful weapon upgrades. Since different builds can be configured for every playthrough, it offers high replay value.
The demo released this time allows you to play through the entire first level of Icarus. The full release version will include two additional stages featuring a new set of enemies, mini-bosses, and powerful level bosses. Along with this, an Ascension system with gradually increasing difficulty and an Endless Mode for infinite challenges will also be supported.
In addition, expanded cards, augments, and a skill arsenal are also planned to be included, designed to allow for deeper build research and high-difficulty gameplay.
Magical Something, a new indie team challenging genre fusion
Magical Something is an indie game studio that champions the combination of shooting action and strategic systems as its core development philosophy. They focus on seamlessly integrating arcade action requiring quick reflexes with in-depth build research elements into a single gameplay flow, and their latest release, Icarus, is a project that represents this direction.
In particular, it attempts to differentiate itself not merely by mixing the distinct genres of bullet hell shooting and deck-building roguelike in parallel, but through a unique two-phase structure that connects ‘pre-battle planning’ with ‘real-time action execution.’ Furthermore, it establishes a strong stylistic identity by combining the sensibilities of 90s Japanese animation with cyberpunk aesthetics and a mythological worldview.
Icarus is Magical Something’s first public project, and since the release of its demo, it has been attracting attention among fans of bullet hell shooters and card strategy games as a unique genre experiment.
Information related to ‘IKARUS’
| item | detail |
|---|---|
| Developer | Magical Something |
| Publisher | Tiny Dragon Games (London, UK, established in 2024) |
| Genre | Side-scrolling Shooter / Bullet Hell / Roguelike Deck Builder |
| Release platform | PC / Mac (Steam) |
| Scheduled for release | Summer of 2026 |
| demo | Steam and Itch.io Free Demo Available |
| Art style | 2D / Stylized Cyberpunk / 90s Animation Vibe |
| Main systems | 3 Archetypes / 2-Phase Combat / Permanent Progression / Card Sacrifice System |
| Additional content for the official release | 2 additional levels / Ascension system / Endless mode |
| Main Keywords | Amaterasu, Machine, Bullet Hell, Deckbuilding, Roguelike, Cyberpunk, Synergy |
| Steam Wishlist | Shortcut |
| Demo Download | Steam · Itch.io |
