Australian indie game developer We Made A Thing Studios has released a Steam demo for its first title , Box Knight . The demo will be available for play during the February edition of Steam Next Fest, running from February 23rd to March 2nd, and will remain playable after the event ends.
The new trailer debuted at The MIX Indie Fan Fest, showcasing fast-paced combat, a whimsical office fantasy setting, and a protagonist wielding cardboard weapons.
A Toxic Office Transformed into a Cardboard Knight
Box Knight ‘s premise is simple yet delightful: a once-peaceful office is engulfed in darkness, transforming its employees into bizarre and dangerous creatures.
The protagonist is an ordinary office worker, but at 5 p.m. on Fridays, he transforms into “Box Knight,” the guardian of the office empire. Armed with cardboard weapons, he must fight his way through each department and ascend the tower. His ultimate goal is a showdown with the CEO awaiting him on the top floor. Even if he falls, he can return the following week, stronger and more determined.
Roguelike action with added strategy and build fun
Battles unfold in a side-scrolling style inspired by classic belt-scrolling action games. The controls are intuitive, yet offer deep strategic elements. Some enemies are impervious to aerial attacks, while others require piercing attacks. Enemies that explode when stepped on constantly disrupt the flow of combat. Determining when and how to attack is key to survival.
Between levels, you can choose from a selection of new cardboard weapons and abilities to create your own unique build. Roguelike elements are also solidly implemented, ensuring death isn’t the end. You can unlock permanent upgrades with resources earned between runs, unlocking new weapons and abilities to gradually increase your power. Character customization is also supported with various cosmetics, including helmets, uniforms, and weapons.
The current demo features three solo runs to tackle the first boss. Two-player co-op, which is planned for the full version, is not included in the demo.
The game’s delightfully absurd atmosphere is fully captured by the bizarre coworkers, over-the-top executions, and chaotic office environments depicted in vivid comic-book-style artwork.
“The masterpiece Hades meets the office”
The developers describe Box Knight as “Hades meets The Office with a South Park twist.” This description resonates with the community.
Several international media outlets have described the game as “a comical roguelike action RPG that rescues a toxic workplace in the most absurd way possible.” Developed in Adelaide, Australia, the game has already garnered significant attention for its stylish animation and humorous take on corporate culture.
The gaming industry is also responding enthusiastically. “Box Knight” received recognition for its quality, winning the “Best in Exhibition” award at the “2024 South Australian Game Exhibition.”
From filmmaking to game development…We Made A Thing Studios
We Made A Thing Studios is a multi-platform production studio based in South Australia, Australia, founded in 2017. It was co-founded by film producer Tom Phillips and visual effects supervisor Jeremy Kelly-Bakker .
Jeremy Kelly-Bakker is a veteran VFX artist who has worked on major Hollywood projects such as ‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,’ ‘Prometheus,’ ‘Iron Man 3,’ and ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier.’
When the film project was halted in 2020 due to COVID-19, the two founders decided to focus on developing “Box Knight,” which was still in its early prototype stage. This process led them to delve deep into Unreal Engine, which allowed them to expand into the interactive content space.
Box Knight isn’t just an action game about defeating monsters. It’s a whimsical fantasy that twists the daily lives and stresses of office workers, aiming for both humor and catharsis. Behind the humorous cardboard weapon premise lies meticulous combat design and the roguelike’s signature progression system.
It’s also interesting that this is the first game completed by a studio that started out in film production and then shifted its focus to game development. It remains to be seen what kind of reaction this absurd yet delightful office fantasy will garner upon its official release in 2026.
Box Knight is currently in development, targeting a full PC (Steam) release in Q2 2026. A free demo is currently available on Steam, and wishlists are also available.
Steam Store Page:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1678650/Box_Knight/
