Exciting News: Sword Hero’s Kickstarter launches on the 27th, and if you’ve been following the project, this is the moment where your support directly helps push the game toward its best possible full release.
In the meantime, you can head to the Kickstarter page and click “Notify me on launch” to get alerted the moment it goes live. Every bit of early support helps ForestWare, the solo developer behind Sword Hero, get closer to his dream of making the game as ambitious, polished, and special as it can be for all of you.
Mark the date
January 27 · 10 AM CST / 11 AM EST / 8 AM PST / 5 PM CEST
Sword Hero is a third-person open-world RPG with sandbox DNA, inspired by the early 2000s era of the genre: strong reactivity, real player freedom, minimal hand-holding, and immersion as the priority.
You play as the Delver — a nobody dropped onto the quarantined, war-torn island of Wes with almost nothing. You’re not chosen. You’re not “the hero.” And the world won’t wait for you.
WHAT MAKES SWORD HERO DIFFIRENT
Sword Hero is built around one rule:
If you think you should be able to do something, it should work.
That means systems you can actually use: fire that spreads, weather that changes the battlefield, NPC behavior you can manipulate, and an ecosystem that doesn’t revolve around you.
A FEW HIGHLIGHTS
Seamless, dense open world (no invisible walls — progression is earned through the dangers you overcome)
Dynamic systems: day/night, weather, fire propagation, crime, routines, persistent bodies, simulated wounds, and more
Body-part combat & dismemberment: armor/health/debuffs tracked per limb
Colossal creatures with grapple points and weak points you can reach and exploit
Housing & ownership: rent early, buy later, furnish and display trophies and items freely
Visible character progression: scars, muscle growth, prosthetics, mutations, tattoos, necromancy… your character tells a story
No level-scaling enemies: the world stays organic — a wolf is a wolf
JOIN OFFICIAL DISCORD
Connect with the community, discuss builds and systems, share feedback, and stay up to date as Sword Hero continues development.
Tag: news
Tomb of the Bloodletter
A Strategic Roguelike Where Typing Is the Weapon
[California – January 15] – Prepare to enter Tomb of the Bloodletter, a strategic typing roguelike where combat is less about min-maxing builds and more about pulling off the perfect word at exactly the right moment. The game launches on PC via Steam on February 5, 2026, developed by solo developer Ethan’s Secretions, with a demo available now.
YouTube Video.
Tomb of the Bloodletter is a roguelike built entirely around typing, turning the keyboard into an arsenal and every word into a potential weapon. When players enter a floor, Magicks are assigned directly to individual letters, each obeying strange and specific rules. A letter may strike harder when placed at the end of a word, another might restore health, while other Magicks punish certain patterns or combinations, requiring careful consideration of not just what word to spell, but how it is constructed.
The game is structured like a traditional roguelike, with tightly paced, randomized runs lasting around 30 minutes that end in either victory or defeat. Rather than focusing on long-term build optimization, the experience emphasizes the moment-to-moment puzzle each turn presents. Players always have access to their full keyboard, with Magicks shaping how letters behave rather than limiting which words can be played. Success isn’t about having the largest vocabulary, but about tactical combinations, sequencing magick-infused letters at the right time to turn volatile interactions into powerful tools.
Each run sends players into a shifting, cursed tomb as one of four ill-fated grave robbers, each bringing unique quirks and abilities that twist the rules of combat. No matter who enters the tomb, survival is never clean, easy, or guaranteed. Every descent reshapes the dungeon, forcing adaptation as new threats and challenges emerge. The tomb crawls with cursed beasts, deceitful specters, and entities best left unspoken, each handcrafted with unique mechanics that demand clever thinking and precise wordplay to overcome. As runs progress, new Magicks are acquired whether players want them or not, slowly transforming the keyboard into an unstable spellbook that serves as both weapon and liability.
Players can get an early taste of the tomb ahead of launch with a playable demo available now on Steam, featuring the first two grave robbers. Stay up to date by following the developer on Bluesky and joining the official Discord
pie in the sky release date
Become a Magpie, Pluck the World: Pie in the Sky to Release on February 2, 2026
Become Australia’s apex predator in a retro bird simulator
[Australia] – January 12, 2026 – Monster Shop Games and indie.io are proud and only slightly terrified to announce that Pie in the Sky, a unique retro arcade adventure, will release on February 2, 2026 for PC on Steam. Players will take to the skies as one of Australia’s most dangerous airborne threats, a creature whose heart is as black as its plumage: The Magpie.
The goal of the Magpie is twofold: First, find enough food to feed its ever-hungry chicks, second, wreak havoc, cause mayhem, and terrorize humans in any way possible: Swoop in like a missile to knock over pedestrians, topple cyclists, and spill trash bins; gorge on food, then carry out bombing runs on the weird hairless apes; divebomb them with litter; find clever uses for everyday objects to teach humans the meaning of fear.
Players can be a feathered menace across six different levels inspired by iconic Australian locations, packed to the brim with secrets, interactions, and humans to terrorize. From idyllic suburbia, through picturesque beaches, to busy downtowns, there is no shortage of collectibles to find, mayhem to unleash, food to steal, while objectives only get crazier and more challenging.
While the Magpie is already a perfect organism, unclouded by delusions of morality, its perfection can be further refined and specialized: Make it fly and walk faster, swoop more often, digest more readily to carry out bombing runs. If players prefer to, they can also change the colors of its feathers to mimic other amazing examples of avian perfection – or have their beautiful bird wear a nifty pirate hat.
There is nothing quite like a magpie in a pirate hat. Or a retro-themed game that features not just high fidelity graphics of the PlayStation 2 era, but also a retro approach to progression: There are no vital parts of the game gated behind DLCs, no pay-to-win features, no lootboxes: Everything in the game can be unlocked simply by playing and introducing Aussies to the real terror of Australia…
“As an Australian, I’ve always seen magpies swooping people (including my kids) and thought, ‘It would be fun playing as a magpie in a game and turning the tables’”, says Mark Smith, the developer behind the game. “That’s where the idea began and before I knew it, I had a game on my hands that played like Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater in the Sky but instead of skate tricks, you swooped people, stole their food and flew through gaps to keep your combo going. I’m a solo developer from Perth, Australia and I’m thrilled to share the terrifying reality of what Magpies are capable of with the rest of the world!”
Ready to put the fear of the Magpie in humanity? Pie in the Sky will release on February 2, 2026 for PC via Steam.
Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch Gets Major Update Adding New Abilities, Relics, and Quality of Life Improvements
Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch Gets Major Update Adding New Abilities, Relics, and Quality of Life Improvements
The tactical RPG roguelike just unveiled a raft of improvements
El Segundo, California – January 12, 2026 | Ocean Drive Studio and Kakao Games have announced that a major new update for Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch is available now across PC and console.
Update 1.2 brings a bevy of new features and quality of life improvements to the acclaimed roguelite tactical RPG, which boasts Very Positive reviews on Steam. Leading the charge is the new Blessed Relics system, allowing players to obtain more powerful versions of Relics with added effects or removed penalties.
Watch the Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch – 1.2 Update Trailer here:
Additionally, new Talent Skills have been added to the game, with each character getting two new skills to boost them in combat – one to boost their key attributes, and another to increase the chance of activating their Partnership effect.
Following feedback from players, Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch is also making it easier to try out different unit and character combinations with a new Morale Boost system. Now, even units who don’t take part in previous expeditions will have the chance to gain buffs for your next expedition.
Other Quality of Life changes include streamlining of some combat encounters, with the number of enemies and dialogue lines adjusted; an improved Chaos Encounter system to replace Random Encounters; boosts to Unguardable Attacks; and more. You can check out the full patch notes on Steam here.
Update 1.2 for Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch is available now for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch.
Astrobotanica
ASTROBOTANICA™ BLOOMS AHEAD OF STEAM EARLY ACCESS LAUNCH
Space Goblin Studio’s relaxed, science-driven survival game arrives soon
WARSAW, POLAND – JANUARY 14, 2026 – Space Goblin Studio has unveiled a new teaser trailer today for ASTROBOTANICA, showcasing progress made following community feedback during Steam Next Fest, ahead of its fast-approaching Steam Early Access launch on February 16.
YouTube Video.
ASTROBOTANICA is a curiosity-led survival game built around exploration and scientific experimentation. Set 300,000 years ago on prehistoric Earth, the game casts players as an alien botanist stranded during a mission to save their home planet. Surrounded by unknown plants, wild animals, primal humans, and an oxygen-rich atmosphere they can’t breathe, players must adapt quickly to survive – not through brute force, but through alien botany, experimentation, and discovery. Once establishing a home base with a blooming garden, players will set off to explore the surroundings, where ancient puzzles await alongside the mysteries of prehistoric Earth. Discovery, experimentation and scientific problem-solving lead the way in ASTROBOTANICA, offering a relaxed and welcoming approach to the survival genre.
Launching soon in Steam Early Access, ASTROBOTANICA has been designed from the ground up as a playable playground, encompassing core systems from day one, including botany and crafting, exploration and puzzle-solving, farming and base-building, and healing and helping primal humans. Throughout Early Access, Space Goblin Studio plans to expand ASTROBOTANICA’s world, introduce new systems and mechanics, and develop its evolving storyline through ongoing updates, shaped in collaboration with the community.
Following a successful Kickstarter campaign and a strong showing during the latest Steam Next Fest – where ASTROBOTANICA ranked among the top 100 demos – the team has already built a passionate community, with over 83,000 wishlists to date, and now looks forward to welcoming new players to its fresh take on survival. Recent improvements driven by community feedback include a fully reworked inventory system, upgraded level art, and enhanced performance optimisations designed to support a wide range of hardware.
For more information and the latest updates from the development team, head over to the official Steam page, where players can wishlist the game now. They can also join the game’s official Discord server to follow development and share feedback directly with the team. Space Goblin also welcomes comic fans to read the game’s official comic series, Sprout Out! on Webtoons.
Turnbound welcomes a familiar relic from Slay the Spire + Launch Bundle
Turnbound welcomes a familiar relic from Slay the Spire + Launch Bundle
Hello Spirits and Slayers,
Independent studio 1TK Games is excited to announce a new collaboration between Turnbound, its strategic autobattler heading into Early Access, and the acclaimed deckbuilding roguelike Slay the Spire.
As part of this collaboration, a Slay the Spire–inspired relic, the Snecko Eye, is joining Turnbound as a fully playable gameplay item.
The Snecko Eye joins Turnbound permanently
Starting January 22, alongside the launch of Early Access, the Snecko Eye will be fully and permanently playable in Turnbound.
Rather than a cosmetic cameo, the Snecko Eye has been designed to slot naturally into Turnbound’s core systems. It behaves as a true gameplay item, encouraging experimentation, risk-taking, and creative builds, while staying faithful to what players recognize from the Spire.
An exclusive achievement and cosmetic reward for Slay the Spire owners
Players can unlock a special achievement during the collaboration window, running from Early Access launch on January 22 until the release of Turnbound 1.0.
By completing a battle in Turnbound with the Snecko Eye tile on their board, players earn a unique achievement that rewards an exclusive cosmetic profile frame. This reward is purely visual, carries no gameplay advantage, and remains permanently unlocked once earned.
While the Snecko Eye item will remain available indefinitely, the achievement and cosmetic reward are time-limited to the collaboration period.
A special launch bundle on Steam
To celebrate the collaboration, Turnbound and Slay the Spire will be available together in a special launch bundle on Steam when Early Access begins on January 22.
The bundle offers a 10% discount and provides players with an easy way to pick up both games at once, combining two strategy-driven experiences built around experimentation, mastery, and emergent gameplay.
A celebration of shared inspirations
This collaboration reflects Turnbound’s roots in strategic experimentation and its admiration for games that reward curiosity, adaptation, and mastery. The Snecko Eye serves as a nod to a genre-defining title, while inviting players to explore how familiar ideas can evolve within a new system.
Echoes of Elysium Launch Date
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| Airship survival RPG Echoes of Elysium launches in Steam Early Access on January 27thWishlist today for a chance to win a one-of-a-kind Custom AMD Airship PC! |
| Los Angeles, CA – January 14th, 2025 – Loric Games, in partnership with Snail Games, have revealed that after a short delay, their new airborne open-world RPG crafting game Echoes of Elysium is coming to Steam Early Access on January 27th for $19.99 with a first week discount of 10% off. Build your ship, chart your course, and take to the skies alone or with friends and discover clockwork wonders that clash with ancient mysteries in an untamed paradise! |
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| “We’re taking Echoes of Elysium to Early Access because we want to build this game with our community. Too often, games are built in a vacuum – developers spend years creating something in isolation, only to find the world doesn’t connect with it. We’re a small team, and rather than disappear for years and release something fully formed without player input, we want to build openly alongside our players. Early Access lets us shape Echoes of Elysium together – a survival RPG where the airship truly is your home, and where you survive and thrive in the skies. We know players joining early may encounter bugs as we continue to improve the game, and we want to reward that trust. This is about creating something together.” — Brian Johnson, CEO & Co-Founder |
| Set in the enchanting world of Elysium, where ancient mechanisms coexist with serene skies and breathtaking landscapes, players must set sail for adventure in airships of their own design. Your fleet is more than simple transport, but your base of operations where you can transport supplies, craft materials, and engage in aerial combat against an armada of adversaries. Work alone or with friends in up to 6-player co-op as you uncover the mysteries of a forgotten paradise where danger lurks in the form of soul-powered clockwork beasts. Gather, craft, survive, and grow in power as you fight for survival and across a fractured landscape of diverse environments. Harvest unique resources to craft vital tools, contraptions, and airships, all aiding in your defense and exploration. |
| To celebrate the Echoes of Elysium’s launch, we’re giving away a custom AMD Airship PC designed after the JOAT (Jack Of All Trades) ship featured in the game’s poster. One lucky player in North America or Europe who wishlists the game on Steam will take home this one-of-a-kind gaming rig by modsbyben, complete with complete SteelSeries peripherals as well as an Alienware Gaming Monitor to round out the ultimate setup. Just like the JOAT ship, this PC is built to handle anything, from resource gathering to epic battles. To enter, head to our Gleam giveaway and wishlist Echoes of Elysium on Steam for your chance to win. |
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| What critics are saying:“Echoes of Elysium Combines Final Fantasy Airships With the Co-Op Chaos of Sea of Thieves” – Inverse“If you want a colorful, gorgeous adventure…then this new Steam game is for you.” – GAMINGBible“It’s a game where you live out the fantasy of being a sky warrior by building a sick airship so you and your friends can rule the skies.” – TheGamer |
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Torchlight infinite gets Revamped
Torchlight: Infinite Gets Revamped Gameplay and Visual Upgrades in Upcoming Season
SS11 Vorax ushers in an enhanced Torchlight: Infinite experience and a brand new Hero Trait
Shanghai, China — January 9, 2026 | XD Games is excited to reveal more details about the upcoming Torchlight: Infinite season, SS11 Vorax, coming 15 January.
Watch the SS11 Vorax Special Preview Program below:
As outlined in the SS11 Vorax preview video, this new season introduces a whole host of gameplay tweaks. Players can defeat monsters that have been infected with Vorax Syndrome, earning the seasonal currency, Vorax Substance. With Vorax Substance, players can access Surgical Preparation to manage six Incubation Tanks; manipulate monster quantity, rarity and activity; and leverage family-specific mechanics and Incubation Elixirs to maximise Ultimate Activity, which directly scales loot rewards. Reward tiers are determined by players battling in a dedicated arena with their custom-engineered monsters and filling Antidote Vials.
Players looking for more of a challenge – and higher value loot – can look to the optional Netherrealm enhancers, Scalpels. Scalpels increase encounter difficulty without consuming Compass slots, significantly amplifying reward-scaling by introducing more elites and Scavengers. Other new mechanics and systems include the Grafting system, which uses Vorax Limbs as exclusive crafting bases with unrestricted affix rules; Core Organ extraction, which allows up to two Legendary mods per item without slot limits; and Vorax Corrosion, which enables endgame gambling to push affixes to Tier 0 / Tier 0 Plus.
Additionally, this update will include a multitude of visual upgrades that promise an enhanced experience for Torchlight: Infinite players. Icons have been redesigned for visual clarity; the UI is now more readable than before; and combat VFX has been tweaked, leading to more dynamic battles. Many monster and hero models have been revamped, too, such as Rehan, Carino, and Gemma.
Watch “Vendetta’s Sting” Erika Hero Trailer below:
Torchlight: Infinite is also adding Vendetta’s Sting as a brand new Hero Trait for Cateye Erika. This new combat style is focused on speed, allowing Cateye Erika to dash towards (and through) enemies, getting up close in order to deal massive damage. Playing as Cateye Erika: Vendetta’s Sting, players will experience fast, fluid, high-risk gameplay.
Torchlight: Infinite is available now on PC, iOS, and Android, and the new SS11 Vorax season will be launching at 6pm PT, 15 January 2026.
Ecco the Dolphin
| THE WORLD NEEDS ECCO THE DOLPHIN Iconic Underwater Adventurer Returns to the Deep |
| HALF MOON BAY, CA – January 14, 2026 – A&R Atelier announced today that Ecco the Dolphin is officially in development. Originally released in 1992, Ecco the Dolphin garnered critical and commercial acclaim at launch. “It has been years in the making and we’re honored to bring Ecco back,” said Ed Annunziata, Chief Creative Officer of A&R Atelier. “Ecco has always been more than a game about a dolphin—he’s a bridge between worlds.” While specific details are still under wraps, A&R Atelier is pleased to share that, in fact, several new Ecco the Dolphin products and games are currently in development. Information regarding these upcoming projects and partnerships will be announced at EccoTheDolphin.com as developments unfold. Additionally, A&R Atelier has launched the official Ecco the Dolphin Discord server, where fans and newcomers can connect with developers and join the community hub for all things Ecco. The community will receive exclusive updates, behind-the-scenes content, and early looks at what’s to come. To join the community and receive the latest news and updates about Ecco the Dolphin, please visit EccoTheDolphin.com. ABOUT ECCO THE DOLPHIN First released in 1992 for the Sega Genesis, Ecco the Dolphin is an iconic video game franchise that brought underwater adventure to life. Known for its innovative Metroidvania gameplay mechanics, haunting soundtrack, and environmental themes, the series has inspired generations of gamers and musicians worldwide. |
Brothers Remake Soundtrack
Brothers Remake Original Soundtrack Now Available for Free Streaming
The game’s official music can be listened on Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, and all major platforms
Milton Keynes, January 9, 2025 – 505 Games is pleased to announce the release of the Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake Original Soundtrack today across major digital streaming platforms including Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, and more.
First released over 12 years ago, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons has become a critically acclaimed classic, earning numerous awards throughout its 12-year legacy. The remake, launched two years ago, builds upon the original vision with refined gameplay, enhanced accessibility features, and modernized presentation, allowing a new generation of players to experience this emotional journey.
The soundtrack – 25 tracks featuring live orchestral recordings mixed with electronic and traditional Scandinavian singing – is a standout element of the remake, reimagined with care and artistic sensitivity by composers Daniele Carmosino and Christof Unterberger in collaboration with development team, Avantgarden Studios. Elevating the game’s emotional depth, the score blends familiar themes with newly refined arrangements, standing as a compelling work of art in its own right.
The creative process behind the soundtrack and the remake is showcased in a short documentary, offering fans an intimate look at the vision and craftsmanship that brought this beloved story back to life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_SOMYglVmw
Listen to the Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake Original Soundtrack on your preferred streaming platform by clicking this link: Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons Remake (Original Soundtrack)
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