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Action RPG Etheria: Restart Season SS4 Begins Today

XD Games is thrilled to announce that the new Etheria: Restart season – SS4 Loong’s Thunder: Shattered Dawn – has begun today, and will run to June 10th.
 

Watch the SS4 Loong’s Thunder: Shattered Dawn trailer here

One of the big new features of the new season is the Tactical Imprint progression system. Players can boost their combat stats by equipping Tactical Imprints (shareable across all different Animus) that have both passive traits and four fixed sockets that can enhance an Animus’ stats even further. By inserting the brand new Components into these sockets, players can upgrade their Animus’ offensive, defensive, and vitality stats.
 

In order to obtain Tactical Imprints and Components, players must take advantage of the new Hyper Kernel system. Hyper Kernel is Etheria: Restart’s latest factory system, providing resources, power buffs, and the aforementioned Tactical Imprints and Components to players. Through the Hyper Kernel, players can also produce Energy Crystals, which can be used to level up terminal nodes, increase maximum stability, and more. On top of that, players can use the Hyper Kernel to dispatch Animus on regional expeditions for rich rewards. Eventually, players will be able to upgrade the Hyper Kernel to operate as a fully automated, smart factory that collects all resources and supplies for players.
 

SS4 Loong’s Thunder: Shattered Dawn welcomes new Etheria: Restart players with a dedicated Sprint Server. This is designed to accelerate growth via a 14-day Double Drop limited-time event, Hyper Camp assessment missions that offer Training Points to unlock various rewards, and the Summit Arena Beginner Protection Mechanism that ensures players are not matched with Level 100 opponents until they reach that level themselves.
 

Additionally, five new Animus will join Etheria: Restart during SS4, starting today with Xuan Chi and Rimeheart Dinah. The defence-orientated Xuan Chi – brother to Xuan Li – can enhance the turn meter of both himself and his allies, creating more opportunities to act; Rimeheart Dinah, meanwhile, is a support-type Animus, taking damage for her teammates on the battlefield, before attacking enemies with her giant blade. 

Additional Animus being added to Etheria: Restart include intelligence officer Luvia, and senior security operative Qano, coming on 30 April. And the final Animus of SS4, Leiboz Life Workshop test subject Sharon, will arrive on 21 May.
 

A number of adjustments have also been made to members of the pre-existing roster. Asal has received a comprehensive buff, Bornova’s damage range has been stabilised, and Heinrich is getting some new Control abilities. For full details on all adjustments, be sure to check out the SS4 Seasonal Balance Adjustment notes.
 

For more on everything mentioned above, as well as information on new skins, outfits, rewards and more, you can watch the Hypertalk Ep. 7: SS4 Season Preview on the official Etheria: Restart YouTube channel, or check out the patch notes for the launch of SS4.
 

Etheria: Restart 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.

Fight Life: Vanguard is Now Available on Steam!

Today, Two Cakes Studio announced that  Fight Life: Vanguard, a tactical turn-based RPG set in a pixel-art dark fantasy world developed by StartImpulse, is now available on Steam.

In honor of this, the game is now discounted by 20% to encourage players to participate!

Watch the Launch Trailer Here

Key Features:

  • Three difficulty levels – from accessible to unforgiving. Even “normal” requires tactical thinking, while “hard” is a true test for seasoned players
  • Engaging story – lead a mercenary squad through a dark fantasy world, battling the Spider Queen, skeletons, wolves, and the Goblin King. A mysterious spirit will guide you toward the truth about Darksoul
  • Turn-based tactical combat – build your squad from a diverse recruit pool, develop your characters and craft the right strategy for every encounter
  • Localized in 13 languages – including full English, Japanese, German, French, Portuguese, Ukrainian, Polish, Italian, Spanish, Turkish, Korean and Chinese support. Players can enjoy the narrative and complex tactical explanations in their native language, enhancing the overall experience.
  • Pixel art visuals – atmospheric pixel art set in a dark fantasy world
  • Lightweight and compact – minimal system requirements, minimal storage space

For the latest updates, exclusive news, and community discussions, please join our Discord server

About the Game
Fight Life: Vanguard is a Tactical Turn-Based RPG that challenges players to think strategically while immersing them in a richly detailed world. The game combines classic turn-based combat mechanics with modern design sensibilities, creating an experience that rewards careful planning and tactical mastery. Players must assemble their squad, position units wisely, and make critical decisions both on and off the battlefield

Embark on a journey alongside once mighty and generous, now the forgotten god, whose energy slowly dissipates from the world. Betrayed by his human apprentice who decided to become a new divine by sacrificing his master, the Divine Spirit initially distrusts humanity until witnessing their bravery in defending against darkness. Before going to the void God is ready to make his last call to save humankind.

EMBRACE THE MANTLE OF COMMANDER
Lead a squad of brave adventurers through a war-torn world besieged by darkness. Engage in meticulously crafted turn-based battles spanning four captivating chapters, where green recruits evolve into seasoned warriors.

USE YOUR STRATEGIC AND TACTICAL SKILLS
Challenge your strategic prowess as you navigate through tactical encounters, devising maneuvers, launching assaults, and striving to tip the scales of the conflict in your favor. Witness the transformation of your ragtag group into legendary heroes, forged from humble beginnings into mythical champions.


BUILD YOUR SQUAD OF RECRUITS
Invest in the growth of your team, meticulously nurturing their skills and resilience to endure the harrowing trials ahead. Every decision counts as you strive to carve a path of hope amidst a bleak and seemingly insurmountable crisis.


General Information:
Title: Fight Life: Vanguard

Genre: Strategy, Turn-Based, RPG
Developer: StartImpulse
Publisher: TwoCakesStudio
Release: 10 April, 2026
Platforms: PC (Steam), PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch

Languages: English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese,   Japanese, Chinese Simplified, Chinese Traditional, Korean, Polish, Ukrainian, Turkish

Steam

X
Bluesky

About TwoCakesStudio
Two Cakes Studio is an indie video game development and publishing studio that creates a diverse range of creative and engaging video games across genres, from survival horror and action RPG to medieval colony sims and strategic turn-based titles. Two Cakes Studio is committed to delivering innovative gaming experiences and supporting games at every stage of the development lifecycle.

X
Bluesky
YouTube
Publisher Steam Page
Discord
TikTok
Website

Copyright © 2026 TwoCakesStudio, All rights reserved.

Valkyrie Initiative Announces Fast-Paced 2D Platformer Kettlebell: Inferno Hotel

Valkyrie Initiative and solo developer 70`Strike today announced Kettlebell: Inferno Hotel, a fast-paced 2D platformer inspired by the 16-bit classics of the ’90s, coming to PC via Steam and GOG as well as PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch. Packed with humor, destruction, grotesque enemies, and pure hellish energy, the game sends players into a bizarre underworld where the circles of Hell have been reimagined as the floors of a chaotic infernal hotel

Watch the official announcement trailer here

In Kettlebell: Inferno Hotel, players take control of Mr. K, an ordinary office clerk and all-around decent guy whose fate takes a darkly comic turn after a ridiculous accident sends him straight to Hell instead of Heaven. There, he arrives at the gates of the Inferno Hotel, a surreal place where each floor has its own rules, atmosphere, and dangers. With the hotel in chaos and its floors sealed off, Mr. K must fight his way through every trial in search of an audience with the Boss to set this cosmic mistake right.

The game will take players through nine floors of the Inferno Hotel and more than forty handcrafted levels, blending fast and dynamic platforming with strange mechanics, grotesque enemies and bosses, and surreal locations ranging from fiery factories to a park of homeless souls. Built around the spirit of the Mega Drive and Super Nintendo era, the game combines familiar retro sensibilities with fresh ideas, satirical humor, and an offbeat personality of its own.

To celebrate the announcement, Valkyrie Initiative has also opened Steam Playtest sign-ups for the game. Players who take part in the Playtest and meet certain conditions will have the chance to earn a range of exclusive in-game rewards, which will be granted at the full launch of the game. These rewards include a golden kettlebell skin, a smelly kettlebell skin, and a stylish yellow shirt for Mr. K.

Some of these rewards will require genuine skill. Players who complete every level in the Playtest build with an S Rank will unlock the Steam achievement “Golden Run”, qualifying them for the top reward, provided they also wishlist the game and follow Valkyrie Initiative’s publisher page on Steam. Additional rewards can be unlocked through other Playtest achievements and participation requirements. The Playtest start date will be announced at a later time.

“After working on the dark and demanding world of Skelethrone, I wanted to create something lighter, stranger, and more playful without losing the sense of challenge and personality that makes action games memorable,” said Ksayfar (Dmitriy Bukhtatov), solo developer at 70`Strike. “Kettlebell: Inferno Hotel is my love letter to the weird energy of ’90s platformers — games like Earthworm Jim, Boogerman, Bubba ’n’ Stix, and Sonic — filtered through a bizarre vision of Hell inspired by The Divine Comedy. It’s fast, surreal, hand-crafted, and intentionally a little unhinged.”

Key features of Kettlebell: Inferno Hotel include:

  • Fast-paced, dynamic 2D platforming
  • Two gameplay modes: Classic with limited lives, and Arcade, where players cannot die but lose more points when hit
  • Over 40 levels spread across nine floors of the Inferno Hotel
  • Grotesque enemies and bosses
  • Surreal locations and bizarre underworld humor
  • Hand-drawn pixel art and frame-by-frame animation
  • A retro-inspired soundtrack composed by the developer, blending jazz, ’80s disco, blues, and more

Players can wishlist the game and request access to the Steam Playtest here

70`Strike is the solo development label of Ksayfar (Dmitriy Bukhtatov). Following work on Skelethrone: The Chronicles of Ericona, Bukhtatov began development on Kettlebell: Inferno Hotel as a more playful and eccentric project inspired by classic ’90s platformers, hand-drawn pixel animation, and a whimsical reinterpretation of Hell.About Valkyrie Initiative

Valkyrie Initiative is a publisher focused on bringing distinctive games to players across multiple platforms. The company works with development partners on publishing, platform releases, and community-facing initiatives for original indie and mid-core titles.

Demo for Chaotic Physics-Based Wheelchair game Wheelie Bad Now Available on Steam

Whisperlight Games today announced that the playable demo for Wheelie Bad is now available on PC via Steam.

Wheelie Bad is a hilarious, physics-based 2-player “coopetitive” game that answers one simple question: which of you is the deadweight? Players take control of crash test dummies in wheelchairs and battle against chaotic physics and absurd obstacles in one massive, continuous environment where failing is just as fun as winning.

Blending cooperation and competition, Wheelie Bad guarantees incredibly clumsy moments, unpredictable physics interactions, and completely broken friendships as you both struggle to progress and figure out who is dragging you both down.

Key Features:

  • Physics-Based Chaos: Master (or completely fail at) controlling a wheelchair.
  • Coopetition at its Finest: You need each other to progress, but every mistake will be used against you. It’s the ultimate test of cooperation and rivalry.
  • Find the Deadweight: The game is specifically designed to highlight who is the absolute worst player and the true burden of the duo.
  • One Massive Level: Survive everything from standard obstacles to unexpected meteor showers across one giant, seamless environment.

The demo is currently live and free to download. Players can try the game right now and add it to their Steam Wishlist.

Important Links:

About the Developer: Wheelie Bad is developed by Whisperlight Games, focused on creating unique, physics-driven multiplayer experiences that bring players together through humor and chaos.

Contact: Whisperlight Games 

whisperlightgames@gmail.com

Dark Fantasy Open World RPG “Impurity” revealed

Incurso Studios has announced Impurity, a dark fantasy open-world RPG that combines third-person combat, survival mechanics as well as colony management.

In Impurity, players explore a brutal open world while building and defending a growing settlement. Recruit companions, assign them tasks, and expand your colony while surviving dangerous landscapes, hostile creatures, and rival factions.

Unlike traditional colony sims, players control a single character directly in a third-person perspective, leading their settlement from the front lines while exploring the world, gathering resources, and fighting enemies. As your settlement grows, you will make choices that shape its future. Follow the Path of Purity, gaining divine blessings and holy powers, or embrace Impurity, harvesting souls and unlocking forbidden abilities.

The world of Impurity is filled with hostile environments, roaming enemies, ancient ruins, and foreign settlements that compete for power across the land.

Impurity is coming soon on Steam (Windows).

Key Features

  • Third-Person RPG + Colony Management – Fight, explore, and lead your settlement directly.
  • Vast Open World – Explore diverse biomes filled with unique enemies, Points of interest, and secrets.
  • Recruit Companions – Grow your colony with characters who work, fight, and survive alongside you.
  • Choose Your Path – Follow the Path of Purity for divine powers or embrace Impurity to harvest souls and unlock corrupted abilities.
  • Foreign Factions & Settlements – The world is populated by independent settlements with their own identities and ambitions. Encounter roaming squads, hostile raiders, and rival factions competing for territory and survival.


Watch the Announcement Trailer Here

Steam Page

Developer:
Incurso Studios

Visual Novel “Ace & Aro: Heart-to-Heart” announced

Developer Kinmoku has announced their third game “Ace & Aro: Heart-to-Heart”, which welcomes players to talk freely to a-spec characters, understand their journeys, and make lasting connections.

Get to know an eclectic cast of characters across the asexual and aromantic spectrums, personalize your experience with how you identify, see your choices reflected throughout the game, and enjoy mini-games in the barcade setting!

Coming soon to Steam and itch.io for PC, Mac, and Linux.

Developer: Kinmoku
Release date: 2026
Platforms: PC, Mac, Linux
Genre: Narrative, Visual Novel

Store Pages:

Steam
itch.io

XCOM-Style Roguelite Ex Sanguis Coming to Steam in Early Access May 21st

Lightbulb Crew is thrilled to announce that Ex Sanguis, their blood- and strategy-rich game, will release on Steam in Early Access May 21st!

So what’s Ex Sanguis all about? You’re here to lead elite warriors, called Stillae, to save a dying world from the forces of stasis. And how do you do that? Through many blood-filled turn-based battles, of course!

While engaging in turn-based combat, you’ll be able to strategically trigger a chain of events across the battlefield to turn the tide. Use Timeline Effects that can hasten, delay, or swap time positions to impact the turn order in a way that favors you and disadvantages foes.

As with any XCOM-style game, you can also use your surroundings to your advantage: explode objects, ignite enemies, or block the enemies’ path. Use spatial effects like knock-backs, forced facings, flanking bonuses, and damage-over-time to gain the edge!

The 30-second trailer hits fast with gameplay snippets, ending on a release window, now set for May 21 2026.

Watch the Early Access Release Date Trailer
 

Ex Sanguis adapts a pleasing roguelite loop into the turn-based combat. Defeat the challenging enemies to gain bonus ‘Corrupted Blood’ you can use to get access to epic bosses earlier, or to spend in the Map Events to gain upgrades for customizing your deadly squad. The further away you venture toward the outer rim of the map, the harder the standard Missions become.

As you play, the cycle never repeats. With each return, each playthrough, you carve new strength from failure and victory alike, unlocking forgotten powers and braving ever darker depths, where your greatest enemies await.

Developer Lightbulb crew plans for a six-month stay in Early Access:

“We’ll take the time needed to deliver a polished and complete experience. As such, the timeline may adjust based on player feedback and development progress. We plan to expand the game with additional content, improved balance, new features, and overall polish. We’re also exploring the possibility of new game modes. Our aim is to build on the core mechanics and continue refining the game’s performance and quality.”

Steam Page
​Press Kit: piratepr.notion.site/ex-sanguis
​Press Contact: press@piratepr.com & contact@lightbulbcrew.fr (interviews welcome!)

About The Game

From the creators of Othercide, Ex Sanguis delivers what the studio is known for: dynamic & epic turn-based combat in a visually striking world. Bleed the world to life; fight the agents of perfection and stillness through strategic blood baths in this evolved roguelite tactical RPG game!

Command the Stillae, elite warriors born from the Sanguis of the Mater, and lead them in a battle to save a dying world. Fight in tactical combat against the forces of Stasis and restore the flow of life.

In a world drained by the Purge, blood is defiance. Each drop of it paints the world in reds and blacks, as a reminder that life fights back. This is not just violence, it’s a vivid rebellion in a pale, colorless world. Key Features

For more updates on Ex Sanguis, ​ ​follow Lightbulb Crew on Twitter/X or BlueSky or join their Discord

About the Studio

Created in 2013, Lightbulb Crew is a Franco-Swedish studio, with most of the team based in Paris. They are an indiegame studio with distinctive design and strong art direction. They make games that tell a story, while the mechanics stay front and center. Their previous work includes Othercide and Nova Hearts.

lightbulbcrew.fr

Copyright © 2026 Lightbulb Crew, All rights reserved.

Official demo for “Sushi Claw Machine” Now Available on Steam

Mihaya is proud to announce that the official demo for “Sushi Claw Machine” is now available on Steam! After going viral in Japan with over 450,000 impressions on X (Twitter), players worldwide can finally test their skills in the world’s most absurd sushi restaurant.

In this shop, the only way to eat is to grab your dinner with a claw machine. If you miss, you stay hungry. Master the hilariously unpredictable physics and see if you have what it takes to clear the belt!

Key Features of the Demo

  • The Thrill of the “Big Drop”: Experience the rush of dropping a massive pile of sushi at once—just like a real arcade! Strategize your timing to trigger a powerful “Ultimate” and clear the entire tray in one go.
  • Hilariously Absurd Physics: Expect the unexpected. From “Dancing Salmon” to “Flying Tuna,” the physics-based comedy ensures that sometimes your dinner flies across the screen with ridiculous force.
  • Localized Experience: The demo fully supports multiple languages including English, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese (Simplified/Traditional), and also includes a deep “Sushi Preference” setting for true connoisseurs.
  • Steam Achievement Ready: Get a head start on the full game’s challenges. The demo features a glimpse of the quirky achievements waiting for you.

Essential Links 

Message from the Developer

“I wanted to combine the nostalgia of arcade claw machines with the chaotic joy of physics-based comedy. Whether the sushi lands on your plate or flies into the abyss, I hope players find the struggle as funny as I do! If you enjoy the demo, please add it to your Wishlist!” — Mihaya

SPECS

  • Developer: Mihaya
  • Game Title: Sushi Claw Machine
  • Genre: Physics-based Claw Machine Simulator / Wacky Arcade
  • Platform: Windows (Steam)

Contact 

Co-Op Bullet Heaven The Spell Brigade Marches onto PS5 & Steam on April 29th!

Belgian indie studio Bolt Blaster Games has announced that the hit co-op bullet heaven roguelite The Spell Brigade will launch its full 1.0 release on Steam and will be spellblasting its way onto PlayStation 5 on April 29.

After selling over one million copies during Early Access and earning a “Very Positive” rating across 13,000+ Steam reviews, the 4-player co-op spellslinger roguelite is preparing its biggest update yet.

To celebrate this milestone achievement with their community, the team has cooked up an amazing animated trailer to announce the release date. Have a watch!

Watch the Release Date Trailer Here

What’s New in the Full Release?

The Spell Brigade already had a ton of content and continuous updates to keep you busy for hours on end, alone or with friends, and the upcoming 1.0 update will make it even more appealing to return for more!

💪 New Foes! – The update introduces new enemies and challenges including resource-stealing thieves, powerful elite variants that act as mini-bosses, and a brand-new boss encounter.

🎁 Improved Progression! – A new Ascension system lets players reset their wizard rank in exchange for upgraded badges, while optional difficulty modifiers add challenge for those seeking a tougher experience and faster rank gains. As their reward, players will unlock secret outfits that alter each wizard’s starting spell, opening up new playstyles and build possibilities.

🎶 New OST! – The update is further enhanced by an original soundtrack from Grammy-winning composer Austin Wintory, known for his amazing work on famous games like Journey, ABZÛ, Assassin’s Creed, Hades II and more. He composed an epic soundtrack for The Spell Brigade with tracks for every Realm and Boss Battle.

🔔 A New Wizard! – Perhaps the most welcome surprise, the update also rings in the 15th playable wizard to the roster!

…And there’s even more to discover when 1.0 drops!

Press & Creators who want to dive in right away can request one or multiple Steam or PS5 keys here and check it out for themselves: Request review copies for The Spell Brigade

Steam Page
​PlayStation Store page
​Press Contact: Press@piratepr.com & ​ maria@boltblastergames.com (Interviews welcome!)

About the game

The Spell Brigade is a survivors-like with online co-op for 1-4 players. Team up with your wizard friends to slay hordes of dark creatures. Complete team-based objectives, unlock new upgrades, and create overpowered spell synergies. Friend nor foe is safe in this friendly fire-enabled bullet heaven!

Key features

  • 1-4 Player Co-op: The Spell Brigade combines the survivors-like gameplay you love with good old multiplayer madness. Fight thousands of weird monsters together. Complete random team-based objectives and upgrade spells together. Survive together!
  • Friendly Fire Bullet Heaven : Taking on entire armies is risky business, even with your friends at your side! Fighting as a team has many perks, but you will inevitably step on each other’s toes. But fear not! You can use your deaths to your advantage, and use Revive tokens to (literally) blast yourself and your teammates back into action!
  • Dynamic Spell System: Improve, augment and infuse your spells with different kinds of elements and upgrades. Combine this with your Enchantments, Quests, Scrolls, and the different wizards in your squad, and the potential for pure, unhinged chaos is endless!
  • A Soundtrack to Rock Out to: Austin Wintory, known for his amazing work on famous games like Journey, ABZÛ, Assassin’s Creed, Hades II and more, has composed an epic soundtrack for The Spell Brigade, with tracks for every Realm and Boss Battle.

For more updates, follow the studio on: Discord | Bluesky | Twitter/X | TikTok

About Bolt Blaster Games

Bolt Blaster Games is a Belgium-based indie studio on a mission to craft chaotic, fun co-op games with systemic depth and vibrant visuals. The studio is currently developing The Spell Brigade, a survivors-like with online co-op for 1-4 players. Their goal is to continue growing as a community-driven studio that delivers standout co-op games.

The Spell Brigade was made possible thanks to the support of the Flanders Audiovisual Fund (VAF)

Copyright © 2026 Bolt Blaster Games, All rights reserved.

Horsemen Four Productions unveils Survival Horror FPS “The Void”

Independent studio Horsemen Four Productions has officially announced “The Void”, a challenging wave-based survival horror first-person shooter. The game draws its thematic inspiration from the movie “The Mist” and spiritual theology. Players are trapped in a hostile environment where survival hinges on precise combat against an unrelenting horde of nightmarish creatures.


Developed solely by Jeffy Zachariah, The Void is a love letter to classic games that defined the survival horror genre. It strips away all modern gameplay conveniences – you only have one weapon and resource spawns are limited. Think Devil Daggers meets survival horror – an experience that demands both quick and tactile movements, careful resource management and planning, combined with tense moments where every decision is a calculated risk.
 
Survive the Void. Find Absolution.

Watch the Announcement Trailer Here
 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

About Horsemen Four Productions

Based in Thiruvananthapuram, India, Horsemen Four Productions is an independent game development studio founded by Game and Creative Director Jeffy Zachariah and Studio Director Joel Zachariah. The studio possesses an extensive background in real-time cinematography, lighting and level design, most notably playing a key role in lighting and cinematography for the critically acclaimed real-time strategy game Tempest Rising.

Gaming News and the Ultimate Universe