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New Update for For The King II now available

London, July 5th, 2024 – Curve Games and IronOak Games have unveiled Dark Carnival, an infinite dungeon mode designed to push fans’ skills to their limits. In this mode players must uncover the secrets of the Ringmaster and face the many challenges the Dark Carnival presents. The deeper you go, the more twisted it becomes. For the King II is available on Steam. Download it today and see how many floors you can conquer before meeting your inevitable demise!

“We are passionately dedicated to making For the King II the best experience it can be for our community. The team has been listening to feedback and working hard to bring new content to players with the Dark Carnival update. We truly hope you enjoy the new mode, and the re-introduction of Bards”, said Sterling Anderson, the Studio Director at IronOak Games.
 

Watch the new For the King II Book of Lore video which delves into the mysteries of the Carnival and gives players a crash course in everything weird and wonderful that the Dark Carnival has to offer.
 

Inspired by tabletop adventures, For The King II builds on the hugely popular blend of strategy, turn-based combat and roguelite replayability and combines an epic new experience that includes the most requested fan feature by far: four-player co-op. For The King II delivers a continuation of the narrative arc for fans of the original and offers brand-new combat mechanics and features, a host of new biomes to explore and much more.
 

To learn more about For the King II please visit the official Steam product page here and follow us on Twitter, Reddit and Discord.

Mika and the Witch’s Mountain available August 21st on PC & Switch

Chibig studio’s haunting new adventure is ready for delivery on Steam and Nintendo Switch with a 15% launch discount for the launch week. Fans of Mika and the Witch’s Mountain on PlayStation and Xbox will have to wait a few months to join the party.

Developer has released a brand new trailer for Mika and the Witch’s Mountain with new animations and gameplay content:

Mika and the Witch’s Mountain – Release Date Announcement

The release will take place during Gamescom week, where the team will be present with a booth in the indie area to celebrate and share such an event with the thousands of attendees.

For the first time in the studio’s history, the main release will be followed by a completely free update in the following months that will expand the content and hours of gameplay: The hidden side of the mountain.

Perfect delivery, best rating
There is an open position at the local delivery company for anyone who wants to earn a few coins by perfectly (don’t wet or break) delivering packages for everyone on the island. Wait, you need a new broom to take you to the top of the mountain? That’s a fluke!

What else can you do?
Delivering packages will keep you busy most of the time, but this island offers so much more. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to run through ancient platforming-ruins, explore the heart of the mountain like in a Zelda-style dungeon, or simply fish on a magic broom? You’ll have to see it with your own eyes!

A mini-open world at your reach
A whole island within your reach (well, your broom’s) to discover more and more about the world around you and about yourself. With each broom upgrade you will be able to reach higher and higher places, meet new characters and collect treasures until you reach the great truth that the mountain holds.

Outfits, trails and collectibles
Get all of Mika’s skins and trails for her magic broom to create your favorite outfit and fill your haul with all kinds of unimaginable treasures that you’ll get by making perfect deliveries and exploring every nook and cranny.

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Crimson Capes to launch February 12th, bringing the Souls Formula to 2D 

Studio Poor Locke has announced that Crimson Capes will be coming to PC via Steam on February 12. Crimson Capes is a sword-and-sorcery action adventure that reimagines the core pillars of the Souls formula in two dimensions, blending deliberate combat, non-linear exploration, and online multiplayer into a high-adventure fantasy world.

Players step into the role of Milon the Tempest, a witch-hunter tasked with dismantling a growing conspiracy of wizards across the kingdom of Amvros. Leading the Crimson Capes – a guild of elite witch-hunters – players will take on contracts throughout the realm, slowly uncovering darker forces at work and coming face to face with the true cost of power.

Combat in Crimson Capes is built around deliberate, animation-commit swordplay inspired by realistic fighting techniques, where feints, thrusts, cuts, and guards create a deadly back-and-forth defined by timing, positioning, and mastery. 

Each of the four playable heroes features a distinct weapon style, moveset, and skill tree, encouraging experimentation, while magic is woven directly into combat through elemental abilities such as wind, thunder, fire, and darkness.

Exploration follows a Souls-inspired philosophy, rewarding curiosity and player choice. Ruined towers, forgotten caverns, mystical forests, and ancient strongholds can be tackled in any order, with artifacts, abilities, and narrative threads waiting off the beaten path.

Crimson Capes also brings classic Souls multiplayer into two dimensions. Players can join forces in online co-op to hunt together as Capes, or invade another hunt as a Deathblade, introducing unpredictable PvP encounters that reshape each mission.

Visually, the game features pixel art animation and hand-drawn environments, with rotoscoped graphics. Inspired by classic pulp sword-and-sorcery tales such as Conan and Elric, Crimson Capes embraces a raw, mythic atmosphere rooted in classic fantasy adventure and discovery.

“From the very beginning, Crimson Capes was built around deliberate combat that rewards initiative, precision and quick thinking,” said Dimitris Tsatsis, programmer at Poor Locke.

“We wanted to bring the tension, discipline, and satisfaction of the Souls experience into 2D, by rethinking how the level design, vibe and multiplayer interactions work in a side-scrolling space.”

KEY FEATURES

  • Souls-like, 2D combat with tight reads, punish windows, and build variety
  • Boss fights that will test your mettle
  • Sword-and-Sorcery adventures in a fantasy world filled with secrets
  • Online Co-op & PvP: Play online with a friend, or invade other witch hunters
  • Optional Dynamic Hunts with unique enemies and bosses, randomly generated each time (reminiscent of Bloodborne’s Chalice Dungeons)


AVAILABILITY
Crimson Capes will launch on February 12 at 10am PT / 6pm GMT for PC via Steam
Price : 15$
Launch discount: 10% for 9 days
Instruction Manual & Game Guide PDF files along with a printable world map will be included in the game files
Console versions will release at a later date

About POOR LOCKE
POOR LOCKE is an independent game studio led by programmer Dimitris Tsatsis, with art by Kostas MacFarlane and music by David Wurczel. The studio focuses on crafting hand-made, mechanically rich experiences driven by strong artistic identity and player agency. Previous titles include Windmills and Unbeliever. Crimson Capes represents the studio’s most ambitious project to date, merging classic sword-and-sorcery fantasy with modern Souls-inspired design.

Indie developer Tom Daly reveals upcoming game Protect the Pit

Indie developer Tom Daly has revealed their upcoming incremental tower defense game Protect the Pit. Their previous games Tranquil Isle (“I enjoyed every second.” – Thumbculture) and Little Aviary (“Little Aviary is a companion worth keeping” – Ladies Gamers) released in April 2025 and November 2025 respectively.

About the Game:
A short incremental clicker game that blends tower defense with the depth of sprawling upgrade trees. Build your own winding mazes to repel the oncoming hordes!

It’s up to you to stop the hordes of the forest from destroying your glorious pit!

Play your way
Build your own mazes to guide the hordes of oncoming monsters and fill them with as many traps as you possibly can! Upgrade towers, traps, economic buildings, and your cursors auto attack to defend your PIT!

–

Links:
Steam page
Reveal trailer

Veteran Indie Duo Announces School Janitor Simulator, coming soon to Steam

Veteran Argentine developers José Luis Scolari and Sebastián Gioseffi announce their first game as a duo: School Janitor Simulator, a cozy and deeply relaxing job simulator about the everyday life of a school janitor. 

The game channels the methodical, restorative gameplay of titles like House Flipper and PowerWash Simulator into the uniquely atmospheric setting of the Ford-Taylor School, a pretentious institution that’s seen better days and has decided to outsource its janitorial duties.

The core experience is built around a satisfying, varied task loop. A subtle progression system and quirky collectibles reward the player’s work, while a deeper narrative unfolds organically through the environment itself.

Some of the key tasks that players will be in charge of are:
 

  • Paint walls: Make sure to maintain the pristine state of the walls by regularly applying a new layer of paint when the old one peels off.
  • Unclog pipes: Sometimes, the plumbing overflows with the enthusiasm of youth. Make sure it flows smoothly again.
  • Clean up floors: The minds of our students are so often into the high realms of learning that they forget about the material reality of garbage. Clean their oversight.
  • Remove graffiti: The artistic inclinations of some of our more sensitive students take them to express themselves on many surfaces. Remove this unauthorized expression of individuality.
  • Fix electrical fixtures: This spark is not of genius, but of dangerous voltage! Prevent costly accidents by replacing and rewiring broken electrical fixtures.
  • Repair broken furniture: Nothing escapes entropy. Deal with its effects, before someone gets hurt.
  • Keep the greenery alive: A green, healthy yard might use a lot of water, but it looks really good in promotional pictures.
  • Tidy up messy areas: Look, there is only so much we can do to force the kids to put away everything at the end of the class. You take care of the rest.


School Janitor Simulator is scheduled for release on PC via Steam and itch.io by the end of 2026, with a public demo coming soon. The game is now available to wishlist.


Steam Page


About The Developers


A duo of veteran game developers, José Luis Scolari and Sebastián Gioseffi have a combined experience of more than 30 years, both in big companies and small indie studios. In their first foray as a team of two, they decided to venture into the job simulation genre they always loved.

Heartopia X My Little Pony Collaboration Event to begin Next Month

 XD Games is excited to announce that the Heartopia ╳ My Little Pony collab will officially begin in Heartopia this Valentine’s Day. 

The collaboration event sees the Tree of Harmony from My Little Pony appearing on Whale Island, needing to be reawakened by Heartopia players via the Elements of Harmony. By working together, players can ensure the tree returns home to the magical kingdom of Equestria. 

Ahead of the collaboration, a week-long pre-event will begin on 7 February, allowing players to complete a number of daily puzzles in order to unlock an exclusive pet costume based on the My Little Pony character Spike, as well as Time-Limited Exhibition Passes. More details on the Heartopia ╳ My Little Pony collaboration, including new activities, collections, and outfits, will be revealed next week.

Additionally, Heartopia’s first season — Winter Frost Season Fashionwave — begins today, bringing new winter-themed content and activities. Players who venture to the top of Onsen Mountain will be rewarded with ice and snow slides, as well as a brand new skating rink that allows townsfolk to perfect their figure skating choreography with friends. Players now also have access to ice rink flooring while in build mode, meaning they can construct their own practice rink at home. 

There’s also some snowman-related fun to be had in this frigid weather. Players can build their own snowmen by shovelling fallen snow, or they can turn into snowmen themselves by interacting with the huge snowmen that can be found dotted around town. 

Players can now purchase and level up their Winter Frost Season Fashionwave Gift Boxes, too. These can contain Exhibition Passes, Heart Diamonds, an exclusive instrument skin for a steel tongue drum, the Fashionwave Penguin set, building materials, and more. 

Heartopia players from all towns can meet one another at the concert venue, which will be hosting week-long opening and closing concerts celebrating Winter Frost Season. At nearby stalls, players can purchase items, like glow sticks, to wave about while watching the musical performances and firework displays.

Winter Frost Season runs from 31 January through 13 March. For a full breakdown of everything in this season, watch the Official Launch Special Program or follow Heartopia on X.

Heartopia is available to play for free now on PC, iOS, and Android.

About XD Games

Founded in 2003, XD Games. is a global video games developer and publisher with extensive experience across development, publishing and operations. As of 2022, XD has 38 free-to-play and paid games with over 50 million monthly active users worldwide. In addition, TapTap — a mobile games community and app store — was launched by XD in 2016 and is estimated to currently have 44 million monthly active users. 

XD’s mission is to assemble like-minded talented games industry craftspeople with a common goal of touching the hearts of players around the world. XD produces games of the finest quality with passion, offering a pure gaming experience, and encouraging players of all ages to embrace the unique joy of video gaming.

Party tycoon Disco Simulator is now available on PS5

Disco Simulator was developed by Polish studios Games Incubator and Frozen Cave Studio. It first launched on PC in 2024 and recently arrived on Xbox Series X|S. On Steam, Disco Simulator currently holds 72% positive user reviews. The console versions were published by Ultimate Games S.A.

Build a disco empire
Disco Simulator is a nightclub management simulator. This party-driven tycoon lets players build and develop their own venue, featuring dance, techno, and chill music.

At the start, players choose a manager from several candidates, each with unique skills that affect different aspects of club operations. Disco Simulator also offers a selection of clubs with distinct characteristics and locations, ranging from small towns to large cities.

Gameplay includes a range of mechanics related to running a music club. Players must take care of interior design, including furniture, lighting, and sound equipment. Staff management is also important. Progressing through the game unlocks upgrades and improvements for individual elements.

Success in the nightclub business also depends on maintaining customer satisfaction and the right atmosphere.

Disco Simulator features several game modes, including a campaign and a sandbox mode.

Disco Simulator – key features:

  • party-focused tycoon gameplay;
  • club design and management;
  • dance, techno, and chill music;
  • hiring and managing staff;
  • multiple game modes.

Disco Simulator launched on PlayStation 5 on January 29, 2026.
 
Disco Simulator – PS5 Release Trailer

Disco Simulator (PlayStation Store)

Disco Simulator (Microsoft Store)

Disco Simulator (Steam)

Basic information:
title: Disco Simulator
genre: simulation, tycoon, economic, relaxing, music, indie
developer: Games Incubator, Frozen Cave Studio, Ultimate Games S.A.
publisher: Ultimate Games S.A.
language: English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Russian, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Polish, Turkish, Brazilian Portuguese
number of players: 1
file size: 2.2 GB (PlayStation 5), 5.8 GB (Xbox Series X|S)
release date: January 29, 2026 (PlayStation 5), January 15, 2026 (Xbox Series X|S), March 5, 2024 (PC Steam)

Demo for incremental city builder Urban Ascend Launches on Steam

Urban Ascend is an incremental city-building game focused on long-term growth, layered upgrades, and systemic expansion. Players develop a city over time by unlocking buildings, scaling production, and responding to changing conditions as the city grows.

A demo is now available on Steam, allowing you to experience the game’s core incremental systems ahead of its full PC release.

The demo introduces the primary progression loop, including building placement, resource generation, and upgrade paths that persist across play sessions. As the city expands, new systems and constraints are introduced, emphasizing planning and prioritization.

Unlike traditional city builders with fixed scenarios, Urban Ascend is structured around incremental progression. Growth is driven by accumulated upgrades and unlocked systems, with each session contributing to the ongoing development of the city.

The demo reflects the intended structure and pacing of the full game and is designed to communicate how its incremental systems interconnect.

Platform: Windows
Release Date: 2026
Pricing: TBA
Engine: RPG Maker MZ

Developer & Publisher : BitQuest Studio

Systemic Open-World RPG game Sword Hero Kickstarter now live

The Kickstarter campaign for Sword Hero is now live. Developed by solo creator ForestWare and supported by Crytivo, this game is a third-person open-world RPG focused on systemic design, player agency, and immersion-first gameplay inspired by early 2000s genre classics.

The campaign supports final stages of development, including expanded content, production polish, and additional artistic support, while maintaining a design philosophy that avoids level scaling, invisible barriers, and heavy-handed guidance.

Watch the Official Kickstarter trailer here

Sword Hero takes place on the quarantined island of Wes, part of a long-abandoned Ringworld shaped by fragile political truces, hostile factions, and ancient threats buried beneath the surface. Players assume the role of the Delver, a character without status, prophecy, or narrative protection. The world does not adapt to the player, and survival depends on understanding how its systems interact.

The entire world is seamless and explorable from the outset. Interiors, caves, and dungeons exist within the same space. Enemies remain fixed parts of the ecosystem, NPCs follow persistent daily routines informed by memory and observation, and events continue to unfold whether the player is present or not.DESIGN APPROACH

Sword Hero is built around simulation-driven systems rather than scripted encounters. Combat is directional and limb-based, with individual body parts tracking armor, damage, and debuffs. Disabling an enemy or exploiting the environment is often more effective than defeating them outright. Environmental hazards, positioning, and verticality play a central role in encounters.

Character progression is permanent and visually reflected through scars, physique changes, prosthetics, mutations, and magical alterations that persist throughout the game.

AT A GLANCE :

• Seamless open world with no invisible walls or level scaling

• Systemic gameplay including weather, fire propagation, crime, routines, and persistent consequences

• Directional, limb-based combat with dismemberment and targeted disabling

• Colossal creatures designed around physical interaction and exposed weak points

• Player-owned housing and businesses with full item placement

• Visible, permanent character progression tied to player decisions

Narrative RPG Aether & Iron Coming to Steam in Spring 2026

Seismic Squirrel is thrilled to announce that Aether & Iron will launch on Steam this Spring. This narrative-driven RPG invites players to step into the shoes of Gia, a smuggler navigating the dangerous underworld of an alternate 1930s New York City, featuring turn-based vehicular combat and storytelling from writers with credits on Mass Effect, Far Cry, and Sovereign Syndicate.

Aether & Iron takes place in an alternate 1930s New York transformed into a vertical city after the discovery of “aether” – a key component to newfound anti-gravitational technology. Customize and upgrade your fleet of aether-powered vehicles with weapons and armor, and recruit unique companions to watch your back, each armed with talents that can make all the difference. Your choices shape not just your path, but the city’s fate as well. 

Level up your Hustle, Smarts, and Brass abilities to improve your chances in combat and social situations. As a simple job draws you into a conspiracy that threatens the whole city, you’ll reconnect with old friends, make new enemies, and determine whether New York’s citizens will find hope in this corrupt world. 

Aether & Iron will be available on Steam this Spring in English, Spanish (Spain & Latin America), French, German, Polish, Russian, Brazilian Portuguese, and Simplified Chinese. Players can try a free demo now on Steam.  

Key Features

  • Muster Your Crew: Recruit unique and resourceful companions to watch your back, and follow their stories. 
  • Turn-Based Vehicular Combat: Assemble a wide range of incredible aether-powered vehicles and unlock new tactical options to try out in an interesting twist on strategic, turn-based vehicular battles.
  • Dive into An Underground Life: Navigate secret paths, dodge enemies, hide contraband, and stay ahead of the big bosses out to get you.
  • Your Choices Matter: Your decisions will shape the unfolding history of New York and the lives of its citizens, determining whether they will be able to find hope in a corrupt world of manipulation and violence.
  • Grow your Talents: Level up your Hustle, Smarts, and Brass abilities to improve your chances in combat and social situations. But no matter how good you are, you’re always a dice roll away from success or failure.
  • Drive in Style: Upgrade your aether-powered rides to suit your playstyle. Enhance your cars with every trick in the smuggler’s toolkit – hidden compartments, smoke dispensers, and flamethrowers of course.
  • Fascinating Visuals: Inspired by 1930’s detective comics and the art deco period, Aether & Iron brings a unique visual identity to gameplay.
  • Full Voice Acting: Experience an alt-history 1930s New York directly through the voices of its inhabitants. Learn their stories; sometimes funny, sometimes philosophical, usually tragic.

Aether & Iron on Socials

Steam Page

Steam Page

Website

Website

Instagram

Instagram

Facebook

Facebook

YouTube

YouTube

Discord

Discord

About Seismic Squirrel
Seismic Squirrel is a talented and passionate team of both industry veterans and enthusiastic newcomers. We share a strong desire to tell fascinating stories supporting engaging gameplay mechanics. 

Metroidvania MIO: Memories in Orbit quickly established itself as one of the genre’s latest stand-outs

Focus Entertainment and Douze Dixièmes are today celebrating MIO: Memories in Orbit’s critical success with a brand-new trailer. Distinguished by its striking art direction and an equally remarkable original soundtrack, this French‑crafted metroidvania has resonated strongly with international critics, securing a Metacritic score of 84/100.

Watch the MIO: Memories in Orbit Accolade Trailer.

MIO: Memories in Orbit launched January 20th and is available on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch (both generations), and PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, and Microsoft Store. The game is also playable day one on Xbox Game Pass and runs seamlessly on Steam Deck.

Composed by Nicolas Gueguen, the game’s original soundtrack is now available across all major streaming platforms — including Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Bandcamp, and more.

Listen to the OST here. 

MIO: Memories in Orbit is priced at €19.99, with a 10% launch discount still available for Steam and Xbox players. Owners of the Nintendo Switch 1 version receive free access to the Nintendo Switch 2 version.

Fantasy Extraction-RPG Eldegarde is Out Now on PC, features New PvE Mode

Notorious Studios is pleased to announce that its debut title, extraction-RPG Eldegarde is available now on Steam, bringing dynamic fantasy combat and RPG mechanics to players on PC.


Eldegarde launches today following a successful period in Early Access, receiving over 3,000 Mostly Positive review, and building a dedicated community of players who have supplied the development team with invaluable feedback in the lead up to launch. 


Players can pick from a selection of iconic fantasy classes, including classics like Warrior, Rogue, Wizard, and Priest, as well as the newly added Paladin. Eldegarde’s 1.0 launch also introduces a PvE mode, allowing newcomers to learn the game’s maps and combat mechanics at their own pace, playing the game in a whole new way, safe from the flagship full loot PvP experience.


Eldegarde has been created by Notorious Studios, a team composed mostly of Blizzard veterans and led by former World of Warcraft Game Designer Chris Kaleiki.


“Eldegarde is a game that raises the bar on so many stagnant RPG systems like class design, combat, PvP and progression found in many RPGs and MMOs” said Chris Kaleiki, Founder of Notorious Studios. “Extraction has really taken off recently with Arc Raiders. Eldegarde is really the Fantasy RPG version of that experience, so we feel it has a ton of potential. This genre is still very much in its infancy.”


Eldegarde is available now on Steam priced at $24.99 / €24.99 / £21.99.


Notorious Studios
Notorious Studios is a venture-backed start-up headquartered in Irvine, California, with a global team of passionate developers. Founded by core developers from Blizzard Entertainment who worked on iconic titles like World of Warcraft, Diablo, and Overwatch, the studio is committed to creating immersive and engaging worlds that foster community and creativity. With a team of 30 talented individuals, including remote employees from around the world, Notorious Studios is focused on delivering high-quality gaming experiences built for players, not powerpoint. Our current project, Eldegarde, exemplifies our dedication to building rich, player-driven narratives within dynamic, ever-evolving gameplay environments.
For more information, visit https://www.notorious.gg/ or follow us on social media at https://x.com/notostudios.

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