Unison Games, an indie developer based in Frederick, Maryland, has released a public demo of its sci-fi dungeon crawler turn-based RPG ‘Descent of Lunaris’ on Steam.
This demo features the entire prologue and first level of the game, and is the first hands-on experience ahead of the game’s official PC release in 2026.
2070: Unidentified signal detected from inside the moon
The game is set in 2070. During human lunar mining operations, an unexplained signal is detected deep within the moon. Immediately after the signal is detected, the machines within the base begin to run wild, killing most of the crew. The player takes command of an elite security team dispatched to assist in the evacuation of the researchers.
What they encounter on the ground is no simple accident. A rift in space-time is twisting the minds and bodies of the researchers, transforming them into monstrous beings. However, the rift and the researchers’ transformation into monsters are only the beginning. As the cosmic entity reveals itself, the true nature of the mission begins to emerge. The true meaning of this mission is revealed. It remains to be seen whether this is a simple discovery or a trap designed to lure them here from the beginning.
As you descend deeper into the dungeon, it transforms from industrial facilities and lunar bedrock to a surreal landscape shaped by unknown forces. Familiar structures and myths are twisted and distorted, and the atmosphere of the exploration constantly shifts from eerie discovery to hallucinatory nightmare.
A classic dungeon crawler following in the footsteps of Wizardry, Ultima, and Shin Megami Tensei.
Descent of Lunaris is the development team’s homage to classic dungeon crawling RPGs. It combines a grid-based exploration structure with JRPG-style turn-based combat and party strategy, drawing inspiration from the Wizardry , Ultima , and Shin Megami Tensei series.
The battle system organically combines two structures. It features traditional JRPG-style turn-based combat, with skill use and resource management becoming key elements of dungeon exploration.
However, as you delve deeper into the dungeon, the combat dynamics change. As the battlefield expands to a tactical grid, positioning, movement, and area-of-effect control strategies become crucial. Add multi-stage boss battles and environmental hazards, and the battles evolve into a kind of survival puzzle.
The character progression system is also deeply structured. Each Operative offers enhanced abilities and the ability to experiment with a variety of hybrid builds. Unlocking subclasses allows players to transform into characters with completely different roles.
Layers of affinity systems, individual stat point customization, unique gear scaling, leadership abilities, and unlockable passive traits combine to create virtually infinite party combinations.
Content you can experience in the demo
In the demo, after completing the prologue, a main mission briefing is provided, and gamers can assemble their own level 1 party.
You can freely distribute attributes and skills to form a team, choose a leader, and explore the entirety of the game’s first dungeon. This process introduces you to core gameplay elements such as dungeon exploration, the combat system, interactions with unique NPCs, and party customization.
The game’s visuals were realized with Unreal Engine 5. While maintaining the grid-based exploration structure characteristic of classic dungeon crawlers, the game applies modern graphic techniques to realistically portray lunar mining facilities, rocky terrain, and the dungeon’s increasingly surreal environment. Notably, the game utilizes lighting and environmental effects to create an increasingly unfamiliar and unsettling atmosphere as players descend deeper.
The soundtrack features a number of underground musicians, and the music is designed to become increasingly unfamiliar and bizarre as you delve deeper into the dungeon.
An indie studio reimagining the classic dungeon RPG in a modern way.
Unison Games is an independent development studio focused on creating atmospheric, story-driven gaming experiences that combine inspiration from classic RPGs with new ideas.
The studio’s philosophy can be summed up in one sentence: “Games should be immersive, sometimes unsettling, and memorable experiences. They should be worlds you can’t easily escape once you enter.”
‘Descent of Lunaris’ is the debut title from Unison Games that first implements this philosophy.
The development team aimed to reinterpret the core structure of a classic dungeon crawler in a modern way, but they went beyond a simple revival and put their ambition into this work to create a dungeon RPG for a new generation.
RPG media and communities are focusing their attention.
News of the demo’s release quickly spread, especially among RPG media outlets. RPGamer, RPG Site, Gematsu, Bleeding Cool, and Turn Based Lovers, among other RPG and turn-based game publications, covered the game and expressed interest.
Gematsu described the game as a “psychedelic dungeon crawler” and emphasized its unique atmosphere, while RPG Site, citing an interview with the developers, described it as “a game for fans of Persona, Shin Megami Tensei, and Wizardry.” Turn Based Lovers highlighted the dungeon’s presentation, which begins in an industrial setting and gradually transforms into a surreal space, as its main feature.
Early reactions from users who played the demo are also pouring in on the Steam community. One user commented, “It’s an interesting and engaging game, so I added it to my wishlist,” adding that while some enemy animations felt a bit awkward, they hope to improve them during development.
Additionally, the development team’s active communication with the community by directly revealing class design stories and concept art is also receiving positive responses.
Decades have passed since the games that first defined the classic dungeon crawler genre appeared. The tension and fear of the unknown felt as you advanced through dark, narrow corridors remain vivid in the memories of many gamers even today.
Unison Games has transferred that sense to a completely new setting: the lunar interior. As you descend, the rules of reality crumble, the music becomes increasingly unfamiliar, and even the enemies become more bizarre. This title evokes the genre’s nostalgia while also clearly demonstrating its ambition to push its boundaries.
As the developer’s first title, there are still many challenges to overcome before it’s complete. However, even the prologue and level 1 alone have created a world that will undoubtedly pique gamers’ curiosity. What awaits the deepest recesses of the moon? The answer to this question, posed in the demo, will ultimately be revealed only when gamers descend into the darkness themselves.
The Descent of Lunaris public demo is free to play on Steam , with the full version scheduled for release in 2026.
Steam Store Page:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3824720/Descent_Of_Lunaris/
