Swarms of shadow demons, a wave of darkness closing in, and four abilities cycling with every strike. Singaporean solo developer Andrew Teo has revealed Shadow Rush, a new action RPG built around speed.
Shadow Rush is an isometric roguelike hack-and-slash RPG. Players face relentless hordes of shadow demons, chaining dynamic dashes and powerful attacks into stylish combat.
Teo says the game’s art style draws heavily on Tetsuya Nomura, the celebrated designer known for his work on the Final Fantasy series and as the creator and director of Kingdom Hearts.
Shadow Rush is targeting a 2027 Steam release, and a demo is already available.
Four-Stage Combat Triggered by Dashes and Attacks
Combat in Shadow Rush is built on abilities that cycle automatically each time you attack or dash.
Players assign four abilities to their equipment slots. During combat, different abilities and spells fire in sequence depending on which stage is currently active.
Teo says the goal was combat that keeps speed and quick decision-making while removing the burden of pressing multiple hotkeys at once.
Take Too Long, and the Darkness Takes You
The game is designed around offense and movement rather than defense. Healing items are plentiful, so it pays to focus on killing enemies quickly instead of worrying about minor damage.
If clearing an area takes too long, a massive wave of darkness engulfs the battlefield and ends the run. Clear enemies within the time limit, and you earn completion rewards and move on to the next area.
Six Characters and Shard-Based Builds
Players choose from six characters, each wielding a different weapon for a distinct combat style.
Collectible items called Shards add spells and special abilities. Depending on how Shards are combined, players can build auto-triggering skills that synergize with one another.
Shards are easy to equip and swap between characters, letting players assemble their own “Shard deck” and experiment with builds run after run.
The Solo Follow-Up From the Creator of Ghostlore
Andrew Teo is a veteran game developer from Singapore who has worked on projects using established IP, including Disney and One Piece.
His previous game, Ghostlore, is an action RPG in which players battle monsters from Southeast Asian folklore. Teo describes it as an “Eastpunk” game. According to the source, Ghostlore launched on Xbox One in November 2022 and on Steam in May 2023, and holds a “Very Positive” rating from around 700 reviews.
Teo is also reportedly developing an unannounced project, Ruin and Rebirth, alongside Shadow Rush.
Who This Is For
Strong fit for: isometric action RPG fans who want faster, more aggressive combat than the genre’s usual loot grind; players who enjoyed Ghostlore; roguelike fans who love build experimentation; anyone drawn to Nomura-inspired character design; players who want fluid combat without juggling a full hotbar.
Cautious fit for: players who need language details or a firm release date, neither of which has been announced.
Less ideal for: those who prefer methodical, defensive play; the timer and darkness wave constantly push you forward.
What to Watch For
The demo is the key test. Two questions in particular: whether automatic ability cycling feels expressive or limiting once runs get hectic, and whether the time limit creates satisfying pressure or punishes exploration. The depth of Shard synergies across all six characters will determine how long the build-crafting holds up.
The Takeaway
Shadow Rush takes a confident swing at a crowded genre with a clear identity: abilities that cycle with every dash and strike, a darkness wave that punishes hesitation, and swappable Shard decks for endless build experiments, all wrapped in Nomura-inspired character art. With a proven track record from Ghostlore, Andrew Teo’s solo follow-up is worth trying now through its Steam demo, even as the release date, publisher, and language support remain unannounced.
Steam demo: available now. Full release: 2027.
Information regarding ‘Shadow Rush’
| item | detail |
|---|---|
| Game name | Shadow Rush |
| development | Andrew Teo |
| Publisher | Unconfirmed |
| Genre | Isometric hack-and-slash RPG with roguelike elements |
| platform | PC (Steam) |
| Release date | 2027 (Detailed schedule TBD) |
| Supported languages | Unconfirmed |
| Trial version | Steam Demo Released |
| Steam Page | Shortcut |
