Every one of the demo’s 16 user reviews so far is positive, earning a Positive rating on the Steam store page. After stabilizing the build, the developer plans to release the full game worldwide in January 2027.

Mana Boom is a pixel-art physics game in which adorable little witches brawl and compete using magic ropes and powerful explosion spells. Its signature mechanic — players destroying and creating terrain themselves in an unpredictable space where magic and physics collide — is the heart of the fun.

Party Action That Reshapes the Terrain With Ropes and Explosions

Mana Boom throws up to eight witches into the arena, each competing for victory with their own tactics.

Players can go head-to-head, blow a pit under a rival’s feet, or drill through walls to carve shortcuts. In a pinch, they can conjure temporary magic platforms in midair to avoid falling, or yank a leader back with a magic rope just before the finish line for a last-second comeback.

Every bit of terrain can be not only destroyed but reshaped in real time by players, giving them enormous freedom. The game also lets players upgrade their spells between rounds.

Effects such as splitting projectiles, bouncing shots, and terrain-piercing bolts can be combined into custom spells. Elemental magic — fire, water, ice, and lightning — follows detailed physics, spreading, flowing, freezing its surroundings, or chaining in every direction.

The game features seven modes including Deathmatch, Race, and Capture the Flag, along with a Tournament system that strings multiple modes together. It supports up to eight-player matches as well as single-player against AI witches.

The developer says the full release will add new modes and expanded features not included in the demo.

Cute Witches and Pixel-Perfect Physics Explosions

Visually, Mana Boom uses colorful, charming pixel art, contrasting tiny witches against a battlefield where explosions and destruction never stop.

The setting is a magic academy where rivalries have gone way too far, hinting at the game’s quirky, playful world. One demo player praised it as an original game where you cause chaos as the cutest witch in the world on a field with precise, real-time pixel-level physics.

A First-Time Solo Developer, 12 Updates in 12 Days

PepaStar built Mana Boom entirely alone. Right after releasing the free demo, the developer gathered player feedback in real time and shipped 12 updates in just 12 days, from October 21 to November 1.

In response to feedback that early controls were tricky, PepaStar added a new tutorial. To stop some Deathmatch players from fleeing into the sky to stall, a shrinking barrier that closes in over time was introduced. In total, more than 100 issues were quickly fixed or improved.

Releasing a debut game, PepaStar admitted to losing sleep worrying that no one would play it, and said it was indescribably joyful to see every player comment saying the game was fun.

According to the official AI disclosure on the Steam store page, generative AI tools were used as support for most of the code and some localization text.

However, the developer draws a clear line: no AI was used for the game’s core appeal — its pixel art, character design, and animation — or for music and sound effects, and the game does not use any generative AI in real time during play.

Top 5% of 7,000 Demos: Data Behind the Buzz

The developer collected and tallied public data on 7,006 Steam Next Fest demos as of October 30. More than 60% of demos had no user reviews at all, and the median review count was zero.

Only 357 demos, roughly 5%, had at least 10 reviews while remaining 100% positive. Mana Boom was among them, with all 16 user reviews positive as of November 1. Note that these figures come from the developer’s own count and have not been independently verified.

Players who tried the demo highlighted its party-game appeal, describing every match as a meme and clip factory with guaranteed laughs, and urging others to grab friends for some friendship-ending chaos.

On the developer’s Discord, one group of four reported playing nonstop for about five hours. In the coin-stealing mode, sophisticated mind games are already emerging, such as a first-place player hiding coins on the field, pretending to be in second, then scooping them back up just before time runs out for a dramatic comeback.

The developer acknowledges there is still plenty to improve and says the game will keep being polished ahead of release.

The free Mana Boom demo is available on Steam through November 20. After the demo ends, a limited-time playtest will offer an early look at the new spell upgrade system.

Who This Is For

Strong fit for: friend groups looking for chaotic party games in the vein of Worms, Noita-style physics, or Duck Game; players who love destructible terrain and emergent tactics; pixel-art fans; anyone who enjoys “friendship-ruining” competitive couch chaos online; Korean players, thanks to Korean support.

Cautious fit for: players who prefer to avoid games where generative AI was used in development (here limited to code and some localization); solo players who don’t enjoy AI opponents.

What to Watch For

Try the demo before it closes on November 20, then watch for the follow-up playtest of the spell upgrade system. Pricing and new modes for the January 2027 release are still to be announced.

The Takeaway

Mana Boom is a reminder that a solo developer can still break through the noise of a 7,000-demo Next Fest: cute witches, fully destructible terrain, magic ropes, elemental physics, seven modes, and a developer who shipped 12 updates in 12 days. With a perfect demo score and January 2027 in sight, it’s one for party-game fans to try now.

Free demo on Steam through November 20. Full release: January 2027.

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The update polishes the visuals and UI and adds new songs. The video also offers the first listen to the game’s theme song and the voice of protagonist Elina. Estella is set to launch in Steam Early Access this winter.

Aim With the Mouse, Hit With the Keyboard

Estella is a 3D rhythm game in which players race along an octagonal lane and hit notes using a mouse and keyboard. Players aim at notes with the mouse and hit them with the keyboard, an experience the team describes as your fingertips becoming a comet traveling through space.

Each planet forms a chapter, weaving rhythm gameplay together with cinematic presentation to tell the story. Early Access will include Chapter 1, following Elina, a girl chosen by a golden comet, with around 40 songs.

Elina’s Journey Against the Violet Curse

Chapter 1 begins when mysterious violet flowers suddenly blanket the forest. The flowers dull people’s hearts, and when Elina notices something is wrong, she is branded a heretic and driven from her home.

Two years later, Elina wakes up alone to find her hands have become transparent. As her homeland is swallowed by the violet curse, she follows a golden light that appears before her and sets out to reclaim her lost home and its warmth.

The new video debuts the story mode theme song, “Elina,” composed by Kyiku and rinri and sung by Es, and features the voice of Saima Nakano as Elina. It also shows the multiplayer mode, where up to 32 players compete for scores in real time.

Three New Songs, Improved Visuals and UI

The demo update refreshes the main visual and game UI and adds three new songs, including “Festival Forever” by TAKIO. Confirmed tracks so far, including previously revealed songs and those added after Tokyo Game Show 2026, include:

• “Fantasia Sonata Estella” / PYKAMIA
• “lost night meteor” / kanase.
• “Reblossia” / Dadadaizu
• “Exit This Earth’s Atomosphere” / Camellia
• “PUPA” / Morimori Atsushi
• “enchanted love” / linear ring
• “Festival Forever” / TAKIO

A Fresh Control Scheme, With Story Polish Still to Come

Estella was showcased at Busan Indie Connect (BIC) in August and offered a demo during Steam Next Fest. Some gaming outlets noted that mouse aiming feels similar to shooter controls and is quick to learn, and that the lack of simultaneous inputs reduces the burden of memorizing note patterns.

In Free Play, missing notes doesn’t end the song, and “Bad” judgments still continue a combo. On the other hand, “Perfect” timing is strict, and Critical Notes that require precise hits to raise your score multiplier appear alongside special notes you must avoid aiming at. Story Mode adds HP, so accumulated mistakes can lead to failure.

Critics also pointed out that the demo’s small song count and uneven difficulty curve could be tough on newcomers, and that some story-mode dialogue was missing. With the new control scheme and dreamy world drawing attention, the question is how much Early Access will round out the song list and story.

A Studio Founded by Rhythm Game Fans

Imanity is a team founded by players who love rhythm games, with the goal of making a rhythm game you can enjoy for a lifetime.

Shochiku Games, the game business division of Shochiku Co., Ltd., co-publishes Estella with Imanity. In September, Shochiku Games announced the winter Early Access plan and a playable showing at Tokyo Game Show 2026.

Who This Is For

Strong fit for: rhythm game fans looking for a genuinely new input style; players with FPS aim who want to put it to musical use; fans of Camellia, Morimori Atsushi, and the J-core/rhythm-game music scene; players who enjoy story-driven rhythm games; competitive players drawn to 32-player real-time score battles.

Cautious fit for: rhythm newcomers, given strict Perfect timing and an uneven demo difficulty curve; players who want a complete story now, since Early Access starts with Chapter 1.

What to Watch For

Watch for a firm Early Access date and price this winter, how the full 40-song lineup balances difficulty, and whether story-mode gaps flagged in earlier demos are filled. Language support, including Korean, is also yet to be confirmed.

The Takeaway

Estella reimagines rhythm games around aiming: an octagonal lane through space, notes you target with a mouse and hit with a keyboard, and a fairy-tale story of a girl fighting a violet curse. With Camellia and Morimori Atsushi on the tracklist, a new theme song from Kyiku and rinri, and 32-player multiplayer, Imanity and Shochiku Games have one of the more inventive rhythm debuts coming this winter.

Updated demo available now on Steam. Early Access: winter 2026.

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Death at Fleming Manor is a deduction game about investigating mysterious deaths at a quiet English country manor. Its standout mechanic: players comb the scene for clues, then use them to fill out a death certificate themselves, recording autopsy and forensic findings.

The game’s hand-drawn visuals evoke classic 1960s European crime comics, giving it a strong and stylish identity.

According to the developer, its unusual subject and striking artwork built word of mouth well before release, pushing Steam wishlists past 100,000 and demonstrating strong interest from mystery fans worldwide.

[Related Article] Anticipated K-Indie Forensic Mystery Title ‘Mystery at Fleming Manor’ Participates in Steam Next Fest

Examine the Scene, Examine the Body, Sign the Certificate

The game is set at a secluded English country manor in 1959. As unexplained deaths pile up, players step into the role of an investigator responsible for issuing death certificates and uncovering the truth.

Players search scenes thoroughly and examine bodies, question those involved, and review evidence before ruling definitively whether each death was an accident, suicide, or homicide.

Death at Fleming Manor takes a hardcore approach to deduction: it doesn’t immediately tell you whether your guesses are right or wrong. Every finding recorded in the report must be backed only by clear evidence the player has gathered.

Pulling scattered clues together, reasoning your way to a conclusion, and signing it into the record is the heart of the game’s detective satisfaction.

Hand-Drawn Art Inspired by 1960s European Crime Comics

The game’s most striking visual trait is its embrace of the ligne claire (“clear line”) comic style, known for crisp outlines and uniform line work.

SUPERTHUMb drew deep inspiration from the cool, stylish mise-en-scène of classic 1960s European crime comics to build the game’s distinctive look.

The team has also shared its entire production process openly on its YouTube channel, building a loyal and trusting indie fanbase well ahead of launch.

The Animal Hot Springs Team’s Bold Turn

SUPERTHUMb is a Korean indie team that proved itself with globally beloved cozy mobile games such as Animal Hot Springs and Animal Theater.

Departing from the cute, gentle style of its earlier games, the team has taken on dense forensic mystery with Death at Fleming Manor, handling everything from development to publishing in-house.

The developers cite deduction classics Return of the Obra Dinn and The Case of the Golden Idol as their key inspirations.

Following in that tradition of chasing clues and building your own logic, the game should also appeal to mystery fans who love the classic detective fiction of Agatha Christie and Arthur Conan Doyle.

Nearly Doubled Wishlists After Steam Next Fest

When indiegame.com reported on the game’s Steam Next Fest participation in June, it had 52,000 wishlists.

Word of mouth since then nearly doubled that figure, pushing it past 100,000 before launch. The pre-release Steam demo also earned a Very Positive user rating, an early sign of the build’s quality.

Who This Is For

Strong fit for: fans of Return of the Obra Dinn and The Case of the Golden Idol; players who love deduction without hand-holding; readers of Agatha Christie and Arthur Conan Doyle; anyone drawn to Tintin-style ligne claire art and mid-century Britain; supporters of Korean indie games.

Cautious fit for: players who prefer guided, hint-heavy mysteries; anyone uncomfortable with themes of death, including suicide, and the examination of bodies.

What to Watch For

With launch behind it, the key question is whether the strong demo reception and 100,000-plus wishlists convert into strong reviews and sales. Language support details are also worth confirming for international players.

The Takeaway

Death at Fleming Manor takes the Obra Dinn formula somewhere new: a 1959 English manor, a death certificate you fill out and sign, and a game that refuses to tell you if you’re right. Wrapped in elegant ligne claire art and coming from the team behind Animal Hot Springs, it’s one of the most confident K-indie debuts in the mystery genre this year.

Available now on Steam.

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Death at Fleming Manor Launches on Steam After 100,000 Wishlists: K-Indie Studio SUPERTHUMb’s Forensic Mystery Has You Sign the Death Certificate - 인디게임닷컴.

Queen’s Domain is a distinctive first-person fantasy action RPG. Its rough-hewn yet atmospheric retro visuals and the taut tension that hangs in its silences define the experience, while weighty, hard-hitting combat and layered map exploration add depth and immersion.

According to the developer, Queen’s Domain drew intense interest from players worldwide ahead of launch, surpassing 300,000 wishlists across Steam and other platforms and establishing itself as one of the most anticipated indie games of the second half of the year.

[Related Article] Release Date Revealed for FromSoftware Game-Inspired Action RPG ‘Queens Domain’

Searching for a Missing Father on the Isle of Neasied

The story begins when the protagonist washes ashore on the mysterious Isle of Neasied and sets out to find their missing father. The island, overrun by a sinister force, hides countless secrets, and as a slumbering queen awakens, the player is drawn into a journey toward the island’s dark heart.

At the center of the adventure is the legendary sword Endu. Players can use it to soar between platforms, freely exploring an intricately interconnected, maze-like world.

Because upgrading the sword expands your movement abilities, previously unreachable areas open up over time, capturing the satisfaction of Metroidvania-style exploration.

Stamina-Based Combat and More Than 50 Weapons

Precise stamina management is the core of combat. Players must strategically combine heavy attacks, weapon-specific special attacks, and secondary throwing weapons to suit the situation.

There are more than 50 melee weapons to collect, equip, and upgrade, plus more than 20 throwing weapons, allowing for a wide range of tactics depending on enemy patterns and the situation.

RPG progression is fully in place, with experience-based leveling and food that boosts your character’s stats. Players face more than 100 enemy types in all, from regular monsters to mid-bosses and giant bosses.

The developer says this volume delivers dozens of hours of deep adventure and exploration.

Steam Deck Verified, With Harsh Exploration Behind the Retro Charm

Queen’s Domain boasts a carefully designed, distinctive retro fantasy atmosphere.

Steam Deck outlet Steam Deck HQ described it as a tense world that offers almost no map or hand-holding, where the entire island feels like it’s out to get you. It also praised how well the visuals, detailed sound design, and weighty combat come together.

Despite its old-school retro look, the game renders a large number of objects and has a long draw distance. For handheld play, Steam Deck HQ recommended adjusting the resolution scale and the in-game “retro resolution” option.

Just before launch, Queen’s Domain passed Valve’s official review and earned Verified status for Steam Deck and Steam Machine.

A Fantasy Built by Just Two Developers

Freshly Baked Games is a small studio founded by two indie developers, Eric and Bradley.

The pair went independent with the dream of making the games they truly wanted to make, and drew attention in summer 2025 with The New Flesh, a quiet, mysterious ambient exploration game. Queen’s Domain is their second game.

Global publishing is handled by Future Friends Games, a seasoned publisher behind distinctive indies including CloverPit and Slots & Daggers, as well as the acclaimed atmospheric sci-fi flight-exploration game Exo One.

Creator Buzz and an “Overwhelmingly Positive” Steam Rating

Since its first reveal at December’s PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted, Queen’s Domain has kept the attention of the global indie scene.

According to the developer, a video from popular soulslike YouTuber Iron Pineapple surpassed 2.2 million views. His verdict, “These devs really get it,” now sits front and center on the Steam store page.

Players have responded enthusiastically since launch. Of roughly 1,800 Steam user reviews, about 95% are positive, earning the top rating of Overwhelmingly Positive.

Critics are on board too. RPG outlet RPG Site awarded a score of 90, listed on Metacritic, praising the strange, uncanny atmosphere of the island and the originality of its flying-sword action.

It did note, however, that the somewhat slow, stamina-driven combat pace and stretches of wandering without clear direction may feel tedious to some players.

Who This Is For

Strong fit for: fans of FromSoftware’s King’s Field series and old-school first-person dungeon crawlers; soulslike players who love stamina-based combat and cryptic worlds; Metroidvania fans who enjoy ability-gated exploration; players who value atmosphere and discovery over hand-holding; Steam Deck players.

Cautious fit for: players who prefer fast combat or clear objective markers; anyone who dislikes getting lost.

What to Watch For

With an Overwhelmingly Positive debut and a launch across four platforms, watch for sales milestones, post-launch patches addressing pacing and navigation feedback, and whether console versions match the PC reception.

The Takeaway

Queen’s Domain deliberately strips away guidance and asks players to explore, get lost, and discover for themselves, wrapped in the hardcore retro design of FromSoftware’s King’s Field refined with modern touches. A flying sword, 50-plus weapons, more than 100 enemies, and a 95% positive reception make this two-person studio’s second game a must-look for anyone who misses old-school dark fantasy.

Available now on Steam, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S, and PS5.

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Purrfect Together stars Gugu and Mimi, two adorable cats in love. Players take on the roles of the two cats, working through small but precious everyday adventures together and experiencing a warm story about looking after each other.

The game is built around two-player co-op, with each player controlling one cat and coordinating closely with their partner.

Full of the charm you’d expect from a real-life married couple, Purrfect Together is targeting a 2027 release, with a demo planned for later this year.

From Suitcases to Amusement Parks: Cat Adventures for Couples and Friends

At its heart, Purrfect Together is about two cats interacting closely to overcome everyday obstacles together.

Each player picks either Gugu or Mimi and spends a special day with their partner. Cooperative moments are everywhere: both cats jump on top of an overstuffed suitcase at once to squash it shut with their weight, or one pushes the other around in a shopping cart.

Some tasks simply can’t be done alone, like Mimi climbing onto Gugu’s head to reach a honey jar on a high shelf.

The developers say the game is designed to be easy and comfortable for couples and best friends, and even for players picking up a gamepad for the first time.

Solo players aren’t left out, either. A Solo Mode lets the computer control the second cat automatically.

According to the Steam page, the game includes dozens of varied adventures.

Everyday Care and Connection, With No Game Over

At the center of the game is the warmth and emotional connection between the two cats.

When Gugu catches a cold, for example, Mimi brings tissues and a hot water bottle, and the two cook soup together to help him recover.

On a trip to a sunny beach, they help each other apply sunscreen to hard-to-reach backs, and on stormy nights, one stays close to comfort a partner frightened by thunder.

Everyday life also spills over into playful mischief. At the grocery store, one cat races the other down the aisles in a shopping cart; at the town festival, they make friendly bets over a rubber duck game.

A quiet, peaceful afternoon can even erupt into a full-blown pillow fight. The developers emphasize that there is no game over screen at all.

Small mistakes never ruin the whole day, so players can always relax and soak in the game’s warmth at their own pace.

A Dedicated Hug Button, a Shared Album, and Customization

Purrfect Together deepens immersion through the cats’ expressive emotions and a visual memory system.

The game features a dedicated hug button for embracing your partner cat. Players can hug whenever they like: when saying hello, after finishing a tricky task, or when making up after a little squabble.

Hugs change with the situation, from a tight squeeze to a gentle head pat. The cats’ faces are just as expressive, with blushing cheeks, sulky pouts, and sleepy yawns.

Each completed adventure adds a photo to the cats’ shared album. Back at their cozy home, players can decorate their space with souvenirs collected along the way, like seashells, festival prizes, and photos of sandcastles they built.

Players can also dress Gugu and Mimi in new outfits through customization options.

The Studio and How to Play

Purrfect Together is developed by Purrfect Studio, an independent studio led by real-life married couple Paweł and Ewa in Warsaw.

The game supports one to two players with flexible play options. Local co-op supports a variety of input setups, including sharing one keyboard, a keyboard plus an Xbox controller, or two controllers.

Online co-op is also supported, through friend invites or automatic matchmaking. And without a partner, players can continue in solo play alongside an AI-controlled cat.

Who This Is For

Strong fit for: couples and best friends looking for a gentle co-op game to play together; fans of Unravel Two, It Takes Two, or Snipperclips who want something far cozier; first-time and non-gamer partners; cat lovers; Korean players, thanks to planned Korean support.

Less ideal for: players looking for challenge, combat, or competitive play.

What to Watch For

The demo, planned for later in 2026, will show how well the co-op puzzles, hug button, and no-fail design come together, and how capable the AI partner is in Solo Mode. A firmer 2027 release date and pricing are still to come.

The Takeaway

Purrfect Together: Two Cozy Cats is about as wholesome as co-op gets: two cats in love, a button that exists purely for hugging, soup for a sick partner, sunscreen on the beach, and no game over screen anywhere. Made by a married couple for couples, friends, and first-time players alike, with local, online, and solo options plus Korean support, it’s one to wishlist now.

Wishlist now on Steam. Demo later in 2026; full release in 2027.

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The update adds two new puzzles and more than ten new scare sequences, focused on intensifying the game’s horror and immersion, along with broad quality-of-life improvements for a smoother experience.

Developed by Greek solo developer Nick Chronopoulos, Inner Voice tells the harrowing story of a man exploring Brightstone, a grotesquely decaying dream-town, in search of traces of his missing wife.

With no direct combat against monsters, the game relies entirely on intricate puzzles and environmental exploration to evoke primal fear, loss, and fragmented memories, earning praise from players for its atmospheric presentation.

Searching for a Missing Wife in Brightstone

Inner Voice follows the protagonist’s search for his missing wife, with a layered story whose ending changes based on the player’s choices.

Players are Booker, who steps into the eerie dream-town of Brightstone looking for any sign of his missing wife, Diana. In a town where time and reason both seem to have stopped, a mysterious voice appears that both guides and relentlessly torments him.

With no weapons to protect himself and no companions, Booker must wander the desolate town alone, gathering traces and clues from the past. Choices made in the moment shape the story, leading to four endings: three standard endings and one hidden secret ending.

More Intense Horror and Immersion

“Last Dream” adds two fresh puzzles, expanding the exploration and puzzle-solving at the heart of the game.

More than ten new scare sequences designed to put pressure on the player’s mind have been placed throughout the game, alongside general quality-of-life improvements.

Chronopoulos said the darkness of Brightstone has grown even deeper than before. He described the update as the result of hard work to deliver more immersive, psychologically unsettling, intensified horror.

A Dark World Where Victorian Meets the Western

Inner Voice builds its distinctive visual unease from ruins that blend Victorian architecture with the desolate atmosphere of a Western.

Silent, eerie mannequins standing still, lonely traces of the past left behind in every room, and unidentifiable sounds echoing from the enclosing darkness all ramp up the psychological pressure.

The game is structured into four chapters, combining a clear, linear story with freeform exploration that lets players investigate their surroundings.

It features full voice acting and an original soundtrack, and is built in Unreal Engine for realistic visuals and presentation.

The Debut of Greek Solo Developer Nick Chronopoulos

Inner Voice is the debut game of solo developer Nick (Nikos) Chronopoulos. Running X Interactive, Chronopoulos handled development single-handedly, while indie publisher Dionous Games handles global publishing.

According to the developer’s note on the Steam page, because Inner Voice is a purely solo project, he encourages players not to rush, but to explore Brightstone slowly and take it in deeply.

Positive Response From Players and Media

Since its full release on April 30, 2026, Inner Voice has been steadily well received. It currently holds 92% positive among 13 Steam user reviews, and seven curators have published reviews.

The game is available on Steam, GOG, and the Epic Games Store, and the new “Last Dream” update is free for existing Steam players.

Who This Is For

Strong fit for: fans of combat-free psychological horror in the vein of Layers of Fear, Silent Hill, and walking-sim horror; players who enjoy puzzle-driven exploration and multiple endings; anyone drawn to stories about grief and memory; players who appreciate ambitious solo-developed projects.

Cautious fit for: players sensitive to themes of self-harm and psychological distress — check the content notes on the Steam page before playing; players looking for action or combat.

What to Watch For

With a small but very positive review base, watch whether “Last Dream” brings in new players and pushes the Steam rating higher. It’s also worth confirming whether the update reaches GOG and Epic versions on the same terms.

The Takeaway

Inner Voice is a quiet, unsettling debut: no monsters to fight, just a voice in your head, a Victorian-Western ghost town, and a missing wife whose fate depends on your choices. “Last Dream” adds new puzzles and more than ten fresh scares, making this a good moment for horror fans who missed it at launch to step into Brightstone.

Available now on Steam, GOG, and the Epic Games Store. The “Last Dream” update is free.

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Inner Voice Gets Free “Last Dream” Update: Greek Solo Developer’s Psychological Horror Deepens the Darkness of Brightstone - 인디게임닷컴.

PROCEDURE ZERO centers on tense stealth in a dark, realistic prison. Players take on the role of a protagonist wrongly imprisoned after uncovering corruption in a powerful organization, and must plan an escape.

Brute force takes a back seat to thorough intelligence gathering, quiet deals, and precise study of guard patrol routes. Players get the satisfaction of slipping past tight security and taking control of the prison one sector at a time.

Ahead of launch, a free demo on Steam lets players experience the opening stretch and core mechanics through the game’s first two missions.

The Auditor Who Became “ZERO”

PROCEDURE ZERO goes beyond a simple prison break, built around an immersive story about uncovering a vast conspiracy hidden deep inside the prison.

The protagonist was an honest auditor who, during a routine audit, found top-secret documents that were never meant to see daylight, and made a copy. Just days later, with no explanation, he was locked in a dark prison. His prison record lists no name and no specific charge, just one word: ZERO.

The prison he’s trapped in hides something grotesque. Every time the lights in the cell block go out and come back on, a bunk is left mysteriously empty. None of the missing inmates ever return.

Fear of being next hangs over everyone. To uncover the truth behind the disappearances and make a life-or-death escape, the protagonist must quietly dig through the prison from the inside.

Cigarettes as Currency, Control Without Killing

At its core, PROCEDURE ZERO is about environmental interaction and deep first-person stealth.

Players start by studying guards’ patrol routes and timing. They can distract guards by switching on a radio to make noise or setting a crate on fire, then sneak up behind whoever comes to investigate, knock them out with a baton, and lock them in an empty room — classic stealth action.

The protagonist never uses guns or other lethal weapons, sticking to a strict no-kill principle. That said, not everything can be solved peacefully.

Some missions require physical force, and trespassing on other inmates’ turf will draw hostile attacks. Players can also start fights themselves to push through a situation.

The prison’s unique economy stands out too. Cigarettes and coins serve as currency. Players can use them to buy valuable information, win other inmates’ favor, and even recruit allies for the escape.

Keeping your word on deals earns strong allies, and each completed mission gradually marks newly controlled sectors on the map. Documents found throughout the prison serve as crucial clues to what’s really going on.

The developer says players who enjoy the self-directed decision-making and environmental play of stealth classics like Thief and Dishonored should find the experience both familiar and appealing. The Steam page currently lists tags including stealth, story-rich, conspiracy, investigation, dialogue-driven, resource management, and dark comedy.

Light Versus Dark, and Disclosed AI Use

The free demo includes a standout mission where players must cross a sector during a blackout, ramping up the tension.

In pitch darkness, players need a flashlight to see, but the moment its beam crosses a guard’s line of sight, they’re spotted. The very light you need to survive becomes the thing that exposes you.

Localization is extensive for a solo project. Character voices are available in six languages — English, Simplified Chinese, Japanese, Polish, Brazilian Portuguese, and Russian — and text is offered in 23 languages, including Korean interface and subtitles.

The developer has also openly disclosed on Steam that AI tools were used in production, specifically for character voices, sound effects, the opening scene, and the Polish translation.

However, the developer states that every AI-generated element was carefully selected and edited by hand to raise quality, and that no new AI content is generated in real time while players are playing.

“A Prison Where Information Is the Most Valuable Thing”

DELANIVO GAMES is a one-person Polish indie studio run by Łukasz Twardowski. He handled every part of PROCEDURE ZERO himself, from narrative and game design to programming and publishing.

Explaining his vision, Twardowski said he wanted to create a distinctive prison environment where information is the most valuable item and weapon.

He described the game as one where players can enjoy mastering guard patrols and timing, trading their resources strategically, fighting when they have to, and gradually taking control of the prison sector by sector.

He added that he’s eager to hear feedback from players around the world who try the free demo on Steam.

International Coverage and the Demo

PROCEDURE ZERO has already drawn international attention before launch. The free demo was featured by major outlets including Japan’s 4Gamer and Taiwan’s Bahamut GNN, and the game took part in Steam Next Fest from October 19 to 26.

The free demo, released on September 14, runs about 25 minutes and covers the first two missions. Players arrive in C Block as a ghost prisoner with no record, find a hidden key, and lure a guard away from his post with radio noise to begin their infiltration.

From there, players must slip into A Block without being seen by the guard checking out the noise. Then, in the darkness of a blackout, they must use cigarettes as currency to learn the number of an isolation cell, before the demo ends on a dramatic knock at the door from an unknown figure.

Final pricing hasn’t been announced. The developer has fully permitted live streaming and monetization of gameplay footage for content creators, with no prior permission required.

Who This Is For

Strong fit for: fans of Thief, Dishonored, and immersive-sim stealth; players who prefer non-lethal, puzzle-like infiltration; anyone drawn to prison-break stories and conspiracy mysteries; players who enjoy trading and alliance-building systems; Korean players, thanks to Korean text support; streamers, given the open monetization policy.

Cautious fit for: players who prefer to avoid games made with generative AI assets, given the disclosed AI voices and sound effects; players looking for combat-heavy action.

What to Watch For

Pricing is the main open question ahead of November 12. With launch, it’ll become clear how the sector-by-sector takeover, the cigarette economy, and the disappearing-inmate mystery hold up over a full game, and how players respond to the disclosed AI use.

The Takeaway

PROCEDURE ZERO is a remarkably ambitious solo project: a no-kill prison stealth game where cigarettes buy information, a flashlight can betray you, and inmates vanish every time the lights go out. With six voiced languages, 23 text languages including Korean, a well-received Next Fest showing, and a clear debt to Thief and Dishonored, Łukasz Twardowski’s debut is one for stealth fans to watch.

Free demo available now on Steam. Full release: November 12, 2026.

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PROCEDURE ZERO Breaks Out on Steam November 12: Polish Solo Developer’s No-Kill Prison Stealth Game, Where Information Is Currency - 인디게임닷컴.

Iron Curtain Call brings the 1930s “rubber hose” cartoon style popularized by games like Cuphead to the first-person shooter. Its bouncy, noodle-limbed animation and vintage black-and-white cartoon effects, seen from a first-person view, offer something fresh in the FPS genre.

The full game, with 12 chapters, launches on Steam on March 11, 2027.

A Clockwork Robot Army Run by an AI, and a Satirical World

Iron Curtain Call is set in an alternate 1965, three years into World War III.

With every human soldier wiped out, the battlefields are now filled with clockwork robot armies. In command of these robots is the Supreme Chancellor, a customer-service AI that has been handed control of an entire nation.

Players are Corporal Punishment, the last surviving human soldier on their side. The silent protagonist is, unusually, delivered to the front lines by mail, with superior officer Colonel Panic offering support over the radio.

The game’s core is darkly comic satire, wittily twisting bureaucracy, the contradictions of modern society, and the horrors of war. The developer says elements recalling real wartime brutality, rigid government committees, and unhelpful customer service departments are all deliberately designed to get a wry laugh.

Knuckle Sandwiches and Can Openers: Resource Management With a Grin

Combat tightly ties fighting to resource management. Players restore health with Knuckle Sandwich punches that smash gleaming robots, and refill ammo with the Can Opener, which pries small robots open like tin cans. Torching enemies with the shoulder-mounted flamethrower Hot Take grants extra armor.

Pink enemy projectiles can be parried back, and filling a gauge through combat unlocks the powerful special move Encore. Movement options are equally playful, with double jumps, air dashes, a grappling line shaped like a broadcast boom mic, an umbrella for gliding, and Moon Boots for slamming down from above.

Advanced moves like the grappling line, parrying, and Encore will be introduced starting from Chapter 3 of the full game. The free demo focuses on the three basic tools — punches, the Can Opener, and Hot Take — offering a condensed taste of Iron Curtain Call’s combat.

Filibusters and Vetoes: Weapons and Enemies Named for Politics and Office Life

Weapon and gear names lean heavily on satirical political, bureaucratic, and office jargon.

Players wield 11 weapons, including the Diplomat pump-action shotgun, the Typewriter submachine gun, the Care Package rocket launcher, the Telegram, which fires chain lightning, the Filibuster rotary machine gun, and the hard-hitting Veto revolver.

The Snow Globe, an ice grenade that freezes enemies in place, rounds out the support gear.

The clockwork robots filling the battlefield come with names and personalities that evoke grim office life. The Tin Grunt salutes first and thinks later; the Tick Tock is a ticking bomb that runs in asking for a warm hug; and the Paper Pusher hides behind stacks of paperwork to absorb incoming fire.

Fully Voiced, With a 15–20 Minute “Free Trial of World War III”

The full game, launching March 11, 2027, features 12 chapters, 12 bosses, and three difficulty levels. Battlegrounds include a burning town, a giant robot factory, a news broadcast tower, an election carnival, a frozen closed city, a World’s Fair, a zeppelin summit, and even a lunar embassy and a department store.

The developer says all of the game’s roughly 3,000 lines of dialogue are fully voiced.

The free demo on Steam offers the first mission, “Welcome to Rubbleton.”

Running about 15–20 minutes, it takes players through a crashed transport plane, a bizarre toothed train called the “6:15 Express,” and across rooftops and the Hotel Majestic before facing the first boss, Major Disaster, whose 17 chest medals were all, absurdly, awarded by himself.

Clear the first mission and the Supreme Chancellor appears to announce that your free trial of World War III has ended. The developer is leaning into the gag, promoting the demo with the slogan that World War III now comes with a free trial.

Visually, the game embraces rough, classic cartoon ink lines and vintage newsreel-style effects.

Destroyed robots burst into bolts, springs, and scrap rather than anything gory, so there’s no graphic blood at all. A swing noir soundtrack completes the bouncy yet mysterious mood of 1930s American cartoons.

Built in Godot, With AI Use Disclosed

Whale Development Studios develops and publishes Iron Curtain Call itself as an independent studio.

The game is built on the open-source Godot 4.7 engine and supports Windows and Apple silicon macOS.

Character voices are English only. The interface and subtitles support languages including English, Spanish, Arabic, Simplified Chinese, Hindi, and Turkish, but Korean is not supported.

In line with Steam’s current policy, the studio has also disclosed its use of AI-generated content.

The developer says it used AI tools during pre-production across several areas, including character voices, some background music, 2D art and illustrations, cinematic videos, Steam store page copy, and a small amount of translation. It adds that the game does not generate content with AI in real time during play and does not connect to external AI services.

Who This Is For

Strong fit for: Cuphead fans curious about rubber-hose style in first person; players who enjoy satirical, darkly comic shooters; boomer-shooter and arena-FPS fans who like resource loops tied to aggression; players who want a gore-free shooter; Mac players with Apple silicon.

Cautious fit for: players who prefer to avoid games made with generative AI assets; Korean-language players, given no Korean support.

What to Watch For

The demo only covers the basic toolset, so the real test will be how parrying, the grappling line, and Encore expand combat from Chapter 3 onward. Pricing, reception as Steam reviews arrive, and how players respond to the disclosed AI use are also worth watching ahead of March 11, 2027.

The Takeaway

Iron Curtain Call has one of the sharpest comic premises of the year: a customer-service AI waging World War III with clockwork robots, a soldier named Corporal Punishment delivered by mail, and weapons called the Filibuster and the Veto. Its rubber-hose look gives the FPS a genuinely new face, while the studio’s broad AI disclosure will shape how some players receive it. Your free trial of World War III is available now.

Free demo available now on Steam. Full release: March 11, 2027.

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Iron Curtain Call Free Demo Out Now: Whale Development Studios’ 1930s Rubber-Hose FPS Offers a “Free Trial of World War III” - 인디게임닷컴.

Developer Studio Kerosene has released the first of four planned episodes. The rest will roll out as free updates during Early Access.

FIRESTARTERS is priced at $9.99 (£6.99 / €6.99) on Steam. The developer says the price will rise gradually as new episodes are added.

The game’s defining hook is how it combines fast, Quake-style arena combat — the archetype of hyper-speed FPS — with the skating system that made Rollerdrome stand out. Players take control of an anime-styled protagonist, tearing around arenas on rocket skates in stylish combat.

Visual novel-style story cutscenes carry the narrative, and the contrast between vivid neon anime presentation and blood-soaked hardcore arenas creates a striking visual thrill.

Before launch, Rock Paper Shotgun singled out FIRESTARTERS as one to watch, describing it as something like a cross between Quake and Rollerdrome.

[Related Article] Beautiful Girls Meet a Brutal Death Game… Ultra-Fast First-Person Action ‘Firestarters’ Releases on October 28

STEEL: A Live Death-Match Sport Run by the Worst Crime Syndicate

Players are Kera, a delinquent young inmate from the back alleys of Okinawa. She is picked as a new fighter for STEEL, the world’s most-watched and most notorious live gladiatorial sport, and thrown into its brutal arenas.

STEEL is a vicious death-match sport owned and run by Japan’s worst crime syndicate, built on the cruel premise that thrilling the audience matters more than whether fighters survive.

Kera fights to wash away her crimes while battling for real freedom alongside new comrades she meets in the arena. That underdog team of fellow inmates gives the game its name: the Firestarters.

“Offense Is Survival”: No Pickups, Only What You Take From the Enemy

Combat lives in the seamless flow between movement and shooting. Kera wears an enhanced STEEL Battlesuit and custom rocket skates, and wields six weapons. Players speed, slide, grind along walls, and slam down from the air to wipe out swarms of androids.

Notably, the arenas contain no health, armor, or ammo pickups at all. Every resource needed to survive comes only from the wreckage of destroyed androids. In other words, you survive only by attacking relentlessly and killing constantly.

Lead developer Alex Harte said the team wanted the game to feel like injecting pure adrenaline directly into the player’s system, and that the high-speed movement system is designed to push players into instinctively aggressive play without ever stopping.

Arcade Mode With Global Leaderboards, Custom Engine, No AI

Episode 1 includes the opening of the main story plus an unlockable Arcade Mode for replayability. Clearing Storm in Story Mode for the first time unlocks Arcade Mode, where players can chase their personal best.

It supports Steam global leaderboards, letting players compete on score with others worldwide. True to the broadcast-sport setting, the goal is to move faster and more stylishly to grab the crowd’s attention and rack up high scores.

The developer says the game was built entirely from scratch on its own engine, without commercial tools. As a result, it avoids bloated install sizes and promises smooth performance without blurry AI upscaling or shader-compilation stutter.

The studio also stresses that no generative AI tools were used at any point in development, and that the graphics are 100% handmade.

Self-Developed, Self-Published, Up to Two Years to 1.0

On its Steam page, Studio Kerosene describes itself as a fully independent, self-funded developer with no outside investment. It handles everything itself, from development to global publishing, without a publisher.

Early Access is expected to last around 18 to 24 months. The studio plans four story episodes in total and intends to move to the full 1.0 release once the final episode is out.

The total number of episodes may change depending on development and player feedback. Early Access buyers will receive every episode and content update added before full release at no extra cost.

Very Positive Start, No Korean, Lightweight Requirements

At the time of writing, FIRESTARTERS has 27 Steam user reviews, 92% of them positive. It’s still early, but the game has made a strong first impression among core players hungry for hyper-arcade action.

The game supports interface and subtitles in three languages, English, Japanese, and Russian; Korean is not supported. Minimum requirements are notably modest: Windows 10, a 4-core CPU (Intel i3 or AMD Ryzen 3 class), 2GB of RAM, and a graphics card with 2GB of VRAM supporting Vulkan 1.3.

Because of its high-speed action, the game frequently features intense flashes and strobe effects, and carries a photosensitive seizure warning. In line with Steam store guidelines, the store page also notes blood, intense violence, strong language, mature and sexual themes, and depictions of smoking.

Who This Is For

Strong fit for: Quake, ULTRAKILL, and boomer-shooter fans who live for movement tech; players who loved Rollerdrome’s skate-and-shoot flow; leaderboard chasers; anime-style action fans who enjoy visual novel storytelling; players on low-spec PCs; anyone who values handmade, AI-free games.

Cautious fit for: players sensitive to flashing lights; players looking for a complete experience now, since only Episode 1 of 4 is available; Korean-language players, given the lack of Korean support.

What to Watch For

Watch the pace of episode updates over the 18–24-month Early Access window, how the price rises along the way, and whether more languages, including Korean, are added. As review counts grow, it’ll be clear whether the strong early reception holds.

The Takeaway

FIRESTARTERS is a confident, uncompromising debut: rocket skates, six weapons, no pickups, a criminal death-sport, and a custom engine built from scratch with no AI. Studio Kerosene is doing everything itself, and the early 92% positive reception suggests the adrenaline shot is landing. At $9.99 for Episode 1 with every future episode included, now is the cheapest time to jump in.

Available now in Early Access on Steam.

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FIRESTARTERS Launches in Steam Early Access: Studio Kerosene’s Rocket-Skating Arena FPS Fuses Quake Speed With Rollerdrome Style - 인디게임닷컴.

The PC (Steam) version, originally planned to launch the same day, has been delayed due to a hold-up in the platform approval process. No new Steam date has been announced, but the developer says it’s aiming to release before the end of the year.

First revealed in April, Planted! is a party game for up to four players where you grow crops to score points and hurl your harvest at opponents in chaotic brawls. At its reveal, the studio only committed to a 2026 release for PC and consoles; this launch announcement locks in the platform-by-platform schedule.

[Related Article] Vegetable garden becomes a battlefield… Information revealed on ‘Planted!’, combining farming and combat

Potato Turrets, Weed Bombs, and Other Unorthodox Power-Ups

Matches play out by carefully planting and growing crops in your garden plot, then throwing them into goals or at rival players to score.

The battlegrounds go well beyond peaceful vegetable patches. There are eight arenas with very different environments, including mountain terrain, dark caves, a high-rise under construction, and an active volcano that could erupt at any moment. Each has its own terrain quirks and hazards, demanding strategies tailored to how you grow and throw.

A variety of power-ups add punch to every match. The Potato Turret automatically harasses enemies, the Weed Bomb causes wide-area disruption, and a green helper character works alongside you like a clone to lend a hand.

Supercharging crop growth to rack up points fast, or using special items to pin down rivals: adapting tactics on the fly as the match shifts is the key to victory.

Crossplay Multiplayer and a Single-Player Campaign With Bosses

Planted! supports local and online multiplayer for up to four players, with crossplay across platforms. There’s also a single-player campaign for solo players.

In the campaign, players travel to a variety of locations to take on gardening showdowns, including boss battles and other missions. The developer says the controls and techniques you master in single-player carry straight over to multiplayer.

Cloth Cat Games creative producer Ben Cawthorne said the project began as a lightweight prototype to test a silly idea, but grew into a proper game the whole team poured their hearts into. He added that he hopes players will have fun trying all kinds of creative tactics with their friends.

Digital First on PS5 and Xbox, Switch in 2027

The PS5 and Xbox Series X|S versions are available now as digital downloads. A physical PS5 edition for collectors and the delayed PC digital version are both targeting the end of 2026.

On Nintendo Switch, a digital release is planned for early 2027, followed by a physical edition later in the year.

Cloth Cat Games is an independent game and animation studio based in South Wales. When the game was first revealed, the studio said Planted! marks its first attempt at developing its own original IP.

Who This Is For

Strong fit for: friend groups and families looking for a chaotic couch or online party game; fans of Overcooked-style competitive chaos with a gardening twist; players who want crossplay so friends on different consoles can join; solo players who still want a campaign with bosses.

Cautious fit for: PC players, who will have to wait for the Steam version; Switch players, who are looking at early 2027.

What to Watch For

The Steam release date is the big open question, with the studio aiming for the end of 2026. Pricing, the PS5 physical edition, and the Switch timeline are also worth tracking.

The Takeaway

Planted! takes a premise that sounds like a joke — fight your friends with vegetables — and builds it into a full party game with eight hazardous arenas, potato turrets, weed bombs, crossplay, and a solo campaign. The Steam delay is a stumble for PC players, but with consoles live now and Switch on the way, Cloth Cat Games’ first original IP is off to a growing start.

Out now on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. PC (Steam) later in 2026; Nintendo Switch in early 2027.

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Planted! Launches on PS5 and Xbox: Cloth Cat Games’ Vegetable-Hurling Garden Brawler Delays Steam Version to Later This Year - 인디게임닷컴.