- A cooperative horror adventure completed with stylized 3D and directional sound
- Supports online co-op for up to 6 players… Four themes and over 15 types of monsters appear
Shochiku Games, the game division of Japan’s Shochiku Corporation (hereinafter Shochiku Games), released the multiplayer horror adventure game ‘Invokyr’, developed by the French developer Ludogram, on Steam Early Access at 5 p.m. (Korea Standard Time) on October 8.
Invoker is a game that garnered attention among horror game fans after its demo version, which was released to gamers worldwide last June, surpassed 1 million downloads.
To celebrate this release, Shochiku Games is running a limited-time 25% special discount promotion until October 22, and has also released a new official trailer video that perfectly captures the bizarre atmosphere of the cursed board game.
‘Invoker’ is set in a dark mansion reminiscent of 1970s board games. Rather than realistic graphics, it focuses on building tension through stylized 3D environments and immersive sound.
Confront the Game Master on the Cursed Board
‘Invoker’ is a cooperative horror game where you and your friends are trapped in a supernatural board game and survive in an endlessly changing nightmare.
The player starts the game on a board brought to life by the mysterious ‘Game Master’ who rules the mansion. With every roll of the dice, new dangers and unpredictable events unfold, and the player must reach the finish line to attempt an escape.
The voice of the Game Master is provided by voice actress Amelia Tyler, known for her roles in *Baldur’s Gate III* and *Hadis II*. According to the Steam page, up to six players can play together online, and single-player mode is also supported. Voice acting is available in English.
Tension created with stylized 3D graphics and directional sound
The game uses 3D graphics from a first-person perspective. British media outlet Screen Hype noted that while the character models are somewhat simple, the gloomy environment and the distinct themes on each board are impressive.
The jungle board features vines climbing walls, while the ancient Egyptian theme board features sand dust and quicksand pits. The clean UI and low system requirements were also cited as advantages.
Sound is a key element in creating tension. Screen Hype evaluated that sounds of buildings creaking or collapsing, as well as ambient sounds, are effective when heard through headphones.
You can also guess the location of threats patrolling the hallway through directional audio. There are also effects where a doppelganger disguised as the player mimics a teammate’s voice, or where holding a shrinking idol raises the voice. Rather than startling the player suddenly, this approach builds anxiety by utilizing the environment and sounds.
The overall atmosphere is closer to classic horror with added black comedy. It is also tagged on Steam as psychological horror, dark, atmospheric, and dark comedy. Screen Hype reported that the game features elements reminiscent of the 1995 film ‘Jumanji’ throughout, and includes a mechanic where you must shout the game’s name to end the board.
4 themes, over 15 types of monsters, about 10 types of dice
The Early Access version includes four themes: Haunted Mansion, Jungle, Ice Mountain, and Desert. Each theme features different environments and challenges, and players must navigate through various supernatural threats to reach the final stage, the Master Board.
Over 15 types of monsters and 20 types of events appear, and because rules and situations change randomly, the progression varies with every playthrough. Players can utilize about 10 types of dice with different effects and cursed idols that grant special abilities. However, powerful effects come with a corresponding level of risk.
French indie studio Ludogram collaborates with Shochiku Games
Ludogram is a French indie studio co-founded by four game enthusiasts. Headquartered in Lille, it currently employs about 20 people. They create games based on original stories and focus on storytelling and choice-based gameplay experiences. On the Steam page, Ludogram and Shochiku are listed as co-publishers.
The development team stated, “The Early Access launch is a very meaningful moment for the Ludogram team,” adding, “We look forward to seeing you challenge yourselves to become the Game Master with friends and uncover the secrets hidden within the cursed board one by one.”
Steam user rating ‘Very Positive’… Co-op play praised
As of October 13, the game has been rated ‘Very Positive’ on Steam, with 94% of the 494 user reviews being positive. Gamers cited cooperative horror games such as ‘Phasmophobia’, ‘The Russell Company’, and ‘REPO’, noting that they can enjoy the tension of not knowing what will happen next with friends.
There were also users who left recommendations after playing for about 15 hours in the demo and private beta. Some described it as feeling like a combination of Repo and Jumanji. There were also a few users who requested subtitles, stating that the voice acting was difficult to understand.
Media reaction has also been generally positive. Screen Hype gave it 8.5 out of 10. The review noted that even though it is an early access version, it can be enjoyed without major issues and has a charm that makes you want to play “just one more round.”
On the other hand, they cited as drawbacks the fact that some deaths can feel unfair and the difficulty increases sharply when the number of players is small. They added that single-player mode is particularly difficult because a single mistake can end an entire round, whereas the fun of cooperation increases as more people play, providing more leeway in things like resurrection.
Early Access lasts about a year… Price increase scheduled as content is added
The game is priced at $12.99, with a launch discount of $9.74. The discount runs until October 22. The development team announced plans to gradually increase the price as content and features are added.
The Early Access period is expected to last about one year. During this time, new themes, monsters, events, items, features, and more will be added regularly.
In the official version, there are plans to significantly expand the board, themes, monsters, events, dice, cursed rules, items, and upgrades, as well as extend the story surrounding the ‘Invoker’ and the Game Master. However, the developer stated that the development schedule is subject to change depending on progress and user feedback.
Information regarding ‘Invokyr: The Devil’s Dice’
| item | detail |
|---|---|
| Developer | Ludogram (France) |
| Publisher | Ludogram, Shochiku Games |
| Genre | Multiplayer Horror Adventure, Cooperative Survival Horror |
| platform | PC (Steam) |
| Release date | October 8, 2026 (Early Access) |
| language | 13 languages including Korean interface support (English audio and subtitles) |
| Reactions/Evaluations | Steam ‘Very Positive’ (94% of 494), Screen Hype 8.5/10, Demo downloads surpassed 1 million |
| Steam Page | Shortcut |
