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God of War-Inspired Slavic fantasy adventure Dark Queen of Samobor gets a playable demo and a brand-new trailer, along with the Kickstarter launch

 Indie developer from Croatia Downtown Game Studio has announced the start of their Kickstarter campaign as well as the first public demo of their upcoming adventure Dark Queen of Samobor on Steam , as part of Games from Croatia festival.

Dark Queen of Samobor is an atmospheric 2.5D side-scroller set in a world drawn from Croatian and Slavic folklore. You are pulled into the pages of a storybook and live the tale from within: a knight on a raid into the realm of the Dark Queen, the feared ruler who has cast darkness over your homeland. It is a game about courage in the face of beautiful, haunting evil. Think Slavic God of War but it’s a side-scroller, with INSIDE-like atmosphere.

Features
– Handcrafted visuals inspired by classic Disney animations and dark fantasy movies of the 80s
– Cinematic camera telling the story through environment and epic moments
– Hack and slash combat & axe throwing inspired by God of War
– Dark fantasy story rooted in Slavic mythology and Croatian literature

Availability and assets
Demo is available on Steam as part of Games from Croatia festival. The full game will launch in early 2027. Kickstarter campaign is live today, June 8th.

Steam Page
Kickstarter Page
Kickstarter + Demo Trailer

About Downtown Game Studio
Downtown Game Studio is an indie game development studio dedicated to building beautiful and unique narrative experiences. Located in Osijek, Croatia, currently developing atmospheric 2.5D adventure, Dark Queen of Samobor.

Heartfelt Rhythm Adventure MR. RECORDS revealed

Wired Productions has proudly revealed MR. RECORDS, a brand-new IP and uplifting rhythm adventure from acclaimed French developer Glee-Cheese, creators of A Musical Story and Headbangers Rhythm Royale. 

Officially revealed during Day of the Devs, MR. RECORDS blends record shop management, musical journeys, and heartfelt storytelling into an experience entirely powered by the transformative magic of music. 

Players follow George, an ageing dreamer who finally finds the courage to pursue the life he always wanted. Alongside his loyal dog Buzz, George opens the record shop he spent decades imagining, helping customers discover the perfect soundtrack to their lives while uncovering the memories and emotions hidden deep within every vinyl that passes through his hands.  

Watch the Reveal Trailer Here

Meet George, an old dreamer with an extraordinary gift that lets him transcend through music. After a lifetime of standing still, he breaks free from routine and opens the store he always wished for.   MR. RECORDS is an uplifting adventure where every vinyl transports you into a world of memories and emotion, where you will jump, slide, and move though psychedelic landscapes in time with the music. 

Alongside his loyal dog Buzz, George manages the record store, with every day providing new vinyl to unlock and sell, trying to deliver the perfect music to match the tastes of his colourful customers and becoming part of their stories. When the shutters come down and the store closes for the night, the records come alive. Each track transforming into a playable rhythmic trip through George’s imagination. Some songs will make you smile. Others will hit far deeper the moment the needle drops, reminding you that it’s never too late to finally start living.  

Key Features 

  • Step Inside the Music: Every record George plays becomes a fully playable rhythm journey through surreal dream worlds inspired by memories, emotions, and moments from his life. Run, jump, slide, dodge, and chain actions together in sync with the music across 40+ handcrafted levels.   
  • Run Your Own Record Shop: Manage a growing vinyl store filled with quirky customers, hidden stories, and musical riddles. Learn each record, recommend the perfect album, unlock new stock, and turn George’s tiny dream shop into a place where music changes lives.   
  • Every Record Tells a Story: Meet colourful characters and uncover George’s memories through music, photographs, notes, and emotional discoveries from his past. Some songs are joyful. Others reveal regrets, lost love, and the life he never truly lived.   
  • A Soundtrack Worth Living In: Explore a huge range of original music styles including funk, progressive rock, hip-hop, electro, world music, and 80s pop. Featuring 45(??) original records composed by the developers themselves.   
  • Relax in George’s Bedroom Hub: Between musical journeys, unwind in George’s personal bedroom above the shop. Review memories, track progress, take calls, and spend quiet moments reflecting on the story and the music shaping your adventure.   
  • Endless Variety Beyond the Beat: MR. RECORDS constantly introduces new gameplay twists, from rhythm battles and surreal mini games to environmental changes, visual disruptions, chase sequences, and side activities with George’s loyal dog, Buzz.   
  • A Rhythm Adventure About Life Itself: More than a music game, MR. RECORDS is a heartfelt story about dreams, memory, regret, and discovering it’s never too late to finally start living.   

Charles Bardin, Co-Founder and Creative Director, Glee-Cheese Studio, said: 

“Music has a unique power. One song can instantly transport you back to a specific moment, a person you loved, or a memory you thought was lost forever. MR. RECORDS was born from that feeling. We wanted to create a game that celebrates not only music itself, but the stories, emotions and moments we attach to it throughout our lives. George’s journey is about rediscovering joy, embracing change, and finding the courage to finally chase the dreams you’ve spent years putting aside. We cannot wait for players to drop the needle and discover those stories for themselves. “ 

Leo Zullo, Managing Director, Wired Productions, said: 

“We publish games from amazing people with stories that deserve to be heard, and MR. RECORDS immediately struck a chord with us. Beneath the brilliant rhythm gameplay is a genuinely moving story about life, memory and human connection. Glee-Cheese has created something wonderfully uplifting, imaginative and deeply personal. It’s a game that reminds us why music matters, and we’re incredibly proud to welcome Charles and the entire team to the Wired family. “ 

Wishlist MR. RECORDS today on Steam. 

For all press and media enquiries, please contact: press@wiredproductions.com  

About Wired Productions   


Wired Productions is a true Indie Publisher proudly presenting a diverse range of specially curated games from some of the greatest storytellers and independent developers. Wired has an award-winning collection of titles including KARMA: The Dark World, Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles, and Martha Is Dead. Announced upcoming titles are AGNI: Village of Calamity, When Sirens Fall Silent and BrokenLore: DON’T LIE. 
 
About Glee-Cheese Studio

Glee-Cheese is an independent video game studio based in France, striving to develop innovative games with a strong artistic identity. Their debut title A Musical Story launched in 2022, and their newest title Headbangers Rhythm Royale released on October 31, 2023. 

New Moods Trailer Released for Indie Narrative Adventure game The Inspector

Lappi Soft and Edoardo Ventisette have revealed a brand-new Moods Trailer for indie narrative adventure game The Inspector, a first-person dreamlike adventure where players explore the subconscious of coma patients in search of memories capable of bringing them back to life. This trailer showcases the game’s visual evolution and its new atmospheric direction.

This new trailer highlights the game’s updated visual identity, featuring distinct moods and environments designed to reinforce the emotional and psychological aspects of exploration. However, these atmospheres are not purely aesthetic: each one is also tied to gameplay mechanics and systems that will be explored further in a dedicated Full Features Trailer at a later date.

Blending narrative exploration, surreal environments, and psychological themes, The Inspector aims to deliver a contemplative and immersive experience focused on emotion, mystery, and discovery.

No release date has been announced yet.

The Inspector is currently in development for PC and will be released on Steam.

Steam page

Action-adventure game MOTORSLICE Now Available on PC, PS5 and Xbox 

Top Hat Studios, Inc., in collaboration with developer Regular Studio, is pleased to announce that action-adventure game MOTORSLICE is now available for PC, PS5 and the Xbox Family. 

Watch the MOTORSLICE Launch Trailer Here

MOTORSLICE is a parkour action-adventure game about a routine job gone wrong. Inspired by the Prince of Persia and Mirror’s Edge series, you will traverse through brutalist landscapes and fight massive heavy machines in this slice of life game with immaculate vibes. 

PARKOUR

Parkour through a brutalist post-apocalyptic world with smooth gameplay and engage in seamless combat encounters. You must use your skills and agility to find your way in this desolate place.

Play as a girl named ‘P’ and use everything at her disposal to escape from deadly traps. Run, climb, slide, crouch, wall run, perform stunts, and even use your chainsaw to cross impossible distances.

HEAVY MACHINES

From smaller autonomous construction equipment to massive dump trucks, survive a hostile environment where everything wants to kill you. Who’s gonna win, a sleepy girl with a chainsaw, or an army of rogue machines?

Strike first, or die. A single mistake can cost your life in a brutal clash of metal. Too big to destroy with one swing? Climb bosses and slice them into pieces, turning colossal machines into dust.

MEGASTRUCTURE

Not everything can be solved with a chainsaw. Alone with a flashlight, you are powerless against the crushing atmosphere of the structure. Rush through the darkness in endless corridors and cross liminal spaces.

Insignificant as you are on the scale of this cursed place, you have to face your fears and complete the job. But can you fight your megalophobia?

SLICE OF LIFE

Get in, eliminate all the machines, get out. That was the job. But upon arriving at an abandoned megastructure, P discovers an imposing dreadful machine, and she soon realizes that this is no ordinary job.

Partner with a mysterious malfunctioning Orb Drone and embark on a daily routine of a ‘Slicer’. With nothing more than her chainsaw, she must bring this place down, no matter what.

For more information, visit the studios official website or follow on social media: YouTube, TikTok, X, Bluesky and Discord.

Pricing and Future Plans for Stealth Adventure Thick as Thieves confirmed

OtherSide Entertainment and Megabit Publishing confirmed today that Thick as Thieves, the upcoming stealth adventure, will be priced at $4.99/€4.99/£4.99 when it launches on Steam on May 20th

Alongside the pricing announcement, the studio also revealed future plans for Thick as Thieves with this release acting as an introductory campaign with the intention of expanding the setting and its stories across future content informed by how players engage with the game. 

Paul Neurath, CEO of OtherSide Entertainment says, “Kilcairn is an early 1900’s alternative history city setting we’ve always wanted to explore beyond a single story. Releasing this introductory campaign gets players into the world of Thick as Thieves and gives them a meaty taste of a world worth returning to.”

This introductory campaign will feature 16 missions set across 2 dynamic replayable maps along with 6 pieces of gear to unlock across a campaign that runs at least four hours.
Additionally, a new developer walkthrough explores the stealth systems at the core of the game and offers a closer look at some of Kilcairn’s most mysterious corners.

Thick as Thieves | Welcome to Kilcairn

Thick as Thieves launches on Steam on May 20, players can wishlist now and prepare to pull off the ultimate heist!

To keep up to date with the latest news on Thick as Thieves, follow our social channels
below.

– Discord

– X

– YouTube

About Megabit
Megabit is the publishing arm of global gaming group Aonic, created to support its 1st and 3rd party studio partners. Embedded within a group of 600+ multiplatform specialists, Megabit provides world-class global publishing services to elevate industry legends, major IP and experimental indies alike. 

Key Megabit titles currently in development include Thick as Thieves from OtherSide Entertainment, Pathfinder: Abomination Vaults from BKOM Studios, cozy open world adventure Lou’s Lagoon from Tiny Roar, and more.

https://megabit-publishing.com/

About OtherSide Entertainment
OtherSide Entertainment was formed in 2016 by co-founders Paul Neurath and Warren Spector, who first started working together in the 1990’s, providing creative direction on games that pioneered the “Immersive Simulation” genre. The studio’s vision is to create deeply immersive games that challenge the conventional approach and offer a fresh perspective, while empowering players to choose their own play style for a truly unique experience.

LINE Games Announces Global Launch of New Mobile Roguelite Title “Fairytale Quest”

LINE Games announced that it has officially launched its mobile roguelite pixel adventure ‘Fairytale Quest’, developed by Wizely&Co. and serviced by LINE Games, marking the start of its global service.

‘Fairytale Quest’ offers a diverse exploration experience through characters inspired by well-known fairy tales and approximately 400 storybook-themed maps. Featuring intuitive controls via a vertical screen and virtual pad, the game delivers both progression and strategic gameplay through a variety of content, including Request Mode, Special Mode, and BOSS battles.

With this global launch, the game is now available for download and play on both Android & iOS. To support a seamless gameplay experience for users worldwide, it offers eight language options, including Korean, English, Indonesian, and Traditional Chinese.

To celebrate the official launch, all players who log in will receive three commemorative costumes. In addition, the “Trump Soldier’s Joker Hunt” event will be held, where players can collect Joker cards and exchange them for S-grade gear at the in-game exchange shop.

Meanwhile, game accounts and data from App Store users who participated during the pre-open period will be retained after the official launch.

The ‘Milestone Event’ is also underway, offering players core items needed for gameplay and character progression. Rewards include Legendary Character Selection Tickets, Character Summon Tickets, as well as Legendary Weapons and Armor. The more players who participate in pre-registration, the greater the rewards.

A LINE Games representative stated, “With the global launch, we hope more players will be able to enjoy ‘Fairytale Quest’ with ease,” adding, “We will continue to provide lasting enjoyment through ongoing content updates and player-focused communication.”

More details on content updates and events for ‘Fairytale Quest’ can be found on the official website.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

■ ‘Fairytale Quest’ Official Trailer

■ ‘Fairytale Quest’ Official Website 

■ Apple App Store (iOS) Download Link

■ Google Play Store Download Link

‘Haunted’ Horror visual novel WITCHHUNTER.exe Announced by Solo Developer

Solo developer Noah Dundas announces WITCHHUNTER.exe, a ‘haunted’ horror visual novel that explores themes of religious violence and the fear of otherness that fuels it. Styled as a text-based adventure game from the 80’s, it features elements of psychological and meta-horror to emulate a demonic entity haunting the game that sees beyond the screen and wants to claim the player’s soul. The core gameplay combines the rich dialogue and character art of visual novels with classic dungeon-crawler inspired exploration and combat mechanics to create a brief but dark story that contains branching paths and multiple endings, expected to provide 4-5 hours of playtime.

The player, acting as the local priest of a remote village beset by the Devil, must lead a witch-hunting inquisition to investigate five women suspected of practicing witchcraft. The player will track down and interrogate each of these suspects using brutal witchcraft tests inspired by real inquisition practices, then decide which characters will be spared and which will burn at the stake.
But no matter what they do, the Devil is always watching the player’s actions and choices. He whispers to you throughout the game, attempting to sway your decisions and convince you to spare the suspected women from the pyre. How you react to this will strongly affect the course of the story. Can the Devil be trusted if he only asks for mercy? Can the threat of witchcraft justify the brutality of the inquisition? How many would the player condemn to death for the safety of all?

Steam Link

About the developer

Living not far from Salem, Massachusetts, Noah was inspired to create WITCHHUNTER.exe by comparing the witch trials and executions that took place there with modern religious rhetoric in the political arena. “One of the things that really guides my vision for WITCHHUNTER.exe is the phrase ‘the sin of empathy’. As paradoxical as it sounds, it’s a real phrase that’s been used by religious leaders in the US to discourage empathizing with other people – typically minority groups like immigrant and LGBTQ+ individuals. I feel like there are a lot of similarities in that way of thinking as with what happened in Salem, where fear can twist religion into a weapon for violence,” Noah says.

TomorrowHead Studio announces 28 April release date for WILL: Follow The Light on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S

 International independent game developer TomorrowHead Studio today announced on the Future Games Show that its highly anticipated Unreal Engine 5 narrative adventure, WILL: Follow The Light, will launch on 28 April for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.


See the Release Date Announcement trailer for WILL: Follow The Light here

About WILL: Follow the Light


WILL: Follow The Light is a story-driven first-person adventure puzzle game about a perilous personal journey through the harsh northern latitudes. Players assume the role of Will, a lighthouse keeper on a remote island in the northern seas whose routine is upended when an unexpected radio message reveals a sudden disaster has struck his hometown and his only son is missing. Determined to find him, Will sets out on a journey aboard his sailing yacht, “Molly.”


Key Features of WILL: Follow The Light:

 

  • A stunning northern wilderness – Breathtaking northern landscapes on land and sea, brought to life in Unreal Engine 5.
  • Deep exploration and traversal systems – Realistic sailing and dog sledding mechanics allow players to explore a vast world.
  • A story of fathers and sons – A compelling narrative adventure in a mysterious setting with puzzles, secrets, and revelations in every chapter.
  • Testing puzzles and challenges – Players will solve puzzles rooted in real life, chart their path using an authentic weather station, and traverse snowy trails by dog sled.
  • A cinematic adventure – Experience Will’s story through narration and environmental storytelling.
  • Original soundtrack – An atmospheric blend of experimental textures and unique instruments.

“We are excited to announce the imminent release of WILL: Follow the Light,” said Roman Novikov, Founder and Game Director at TomorrowHead Studio. “We hope our community and new players will be excited to see the game launch so soon, and we hope players will enjoy the game when it launches next month for PC, PS5, and Xbox.”


Players can wishlist WILL: Follow the Light on Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S now. Keep up to date with TomorrowHead Studio on the official website, Twitter/X, YouTube, Tiktok, Instagram and Reddit.


Media Contact
Honest Public Relations
tomorrowhead@honest-pr.com


About TomorrowHead Studio
Headquartered in Spokane, Washington, TomorrowHead Studio is an independent, self-funded, and self-publishing game developer. Driven by a passion for travel, the team aims to share that enthusiasm with players by sending them on journeys to explore new places and worlds. With a strong background in CGI, they are eager to deliver realistic visuals and unique adventures, fully immersing players in the narratives they create.

Bonnie Bear Saves Frogtime to launch on Switch & PC March 16th

Cult hit developer Bonte Avond has announced the release date for their next comedy/music/adventure/tactical frog battle game, Bonnie Bear Saves Frogtime alongside a snazzy new release date trailer!
 

A frog-obsessed whimsical comedy adventure for fans of Thank Goodness You’re Here and Night in the Woods, Bonnie Bear Saves Frogtime will launch on Steam and Nintendo Switch on March 16th. The game features voice acting talents of beloved creators including Lilypichu, Ironmouse, CDawgVA, Ludwig, and more.


You can find more info through these links:

About the game

Bonnie Bear Saves Frogtime is a frog-obsessed comedy adventure from the creators of cult hit Once Upon a Jester featuring tactical frog battles, bizarre quests, interactive music, and the mother of all frogs: the motherfrogger. 

This story revolves around the frog-hopping tactical battler Frogtime. Collect, buy and trade frogs and use them to build an unbeatable roster. Embark on a quest to defeat the local bully, and get sidetracked – play music, infiltrate a beehive (disguised as a bee), and maybe get in a sled race with a vampire. The game features the voice acting talents of a number of beloved creators including Lilypichu, Esfand, CDawgVA, Bonnie and Ludwig.

Grab your toadbag, count those cocoduds, and explore a gently absurd world where everything is resolved with frog battles.

Features:

  • a bear in a frog onesie
  • a giant skeleton man
  • a normal sized skeleton man
  • at least 12 heartfelt moments about the importance of community and what it means to have self-worth
  • you can put hats on the frogs :3

About the Developer:

Bonte Avond is a game dev studio founded by two indie musicians. Their previous games are Everybody Wham Wham (Build, decorate and sabotage your way to winning a snowman building competition) and Once Upon a Jester (Travel the kingdom putting on shows with your best friend – a bona fide cult hit!). They are now working on tactical frog comedy adventure Bonnie Bear Saves Frogtime. 

About the Publisher: 

Founded by creator Ludwig Ahgren, offbrand is an indie publisher doing things differently. Developers are creators too, and we believe everyone should own the value they create. 

At offbrand, we distill each game to what makes it special and then use our creative/marketing expertise to share that with the world. A passionate team of lifelong gamers, our mission is to find incredible indie games we love so we can go deep and shine a huge spotlight on them. 

NO STRAIGHT ROADS 2 developer releases preview of new Dance track ‘vs. Rama Irama’

Metronomik and Shueisha Games today released an exclusive preview of a brand-new original track set to be featured in the upcoming musical action-adventure NO STRAIGHT ROADS 2.

Available to stream now on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, ‘vs. Rama Irama’ is an epic new dance track composed by James Landino and performed by singer-songwriter Sara Ryan, that will feature in-game during a mega musical showdown against rival Rama Irama. 

See a preview of the new track here

Jump into the action as returning rock stars Mayday and Zuke alongside new band members Casey and a yet-to-be-revealed star in an action-packed adventure that combines rhythm-based combat with an electrifying soundtrack. Hit the road and fight to the beat on an epic world tour, featuring all-new music from James Landino, Falk Au Yeong, Garrett Williamson, Midas Klare (Inverted Silence), and additional guest stars. 

Travel to vibrant new locations to discover rival musicians and communities full of unique musical cultures, including folk music, experimental jazz, rebellious rock, and digital pop stardom. For the bandmates of Bunkbed Junction, this isn’t just a tour: it’s a transformation.

NO STRAIGHT ROADS 2 is currently in development for PC and consoles and can be added to your Steam Wishlist now. For more information, follow No Straight Roads on Instagram, Facebook, and X, or visit shueisha-games.com.

About Metronomik
Out of their love for music and visual storytelling, Wan Hazmer, Lead Game Designer of Final Fantasy XV, and Daim Dziauddin, Concept Artist of Street Fighter V, formed Metronomik in 2017, with an aim to bring the harmony of music and video games to the masses.

About Shueisha Games
Shueisha Games, founded in February 2022 and headquartered in Tokyo, is an enthusiastic and experienced team responsible for the planning, development, and sales of many titles for consoles, PCs, and smartphones

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