Dinosaur Polo Club Launches Merlion's Marina Free Update!

Mini Motorways, the award-winning minimalist strategy traffic management sim with more than nine million players from Dinosaur Polo Club, puts the player in charge of Singapore’s traffic flow on Apple Arcade, PC and Mac via Steam, in addition to Nintendo Switch, in the free ‘Merlion’s Marina’ update launching today at 3:00 pm: PT.

Dinosaur Polo Club is a studio proud to be from Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Wellington, Aotearoa, New Zealand. This update introduces New Zealand’s indigenous language, Te Reo Māori, to the game!

Chosen via a community vote in May, Mini Motorways now weaves through lush landscapes and glistening waterways in the cultural melting pot of Singapore.

Orchestrate elaborate urban road networks for 6.1 million residents as they travel through the sustainable city center, down Orchard Road through Pagoda Street, across the tranquil Singapore River, and into the famous Marina Bay, guarded by the beloved Merlion!

As a studio based in Aotearoa, New Zealand, Dinosaur Polo Club is honored to include te reo Māori, the indigenous language of New Zealand, in Mini Motorways. This update coincides with New Zealand’s annual celebration of Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, which calls for support of both the language and culture - te reo Māori and Te Ao Māori.

The studio worked closely with Accredited translator and interpretator, Kristin Smith from Kūwaha Ltd to bring this translation to the game. To celebrate the addition of te reo Māori to Mini Motorways, the studio engaged local artist Huriana Kopeke-Te Aho to help celebrate with a piece of artwork commemorating the translation.

Redesign Singapore’s roadways with new achievements, daily challenges, weekly challenges, city challenges, and construct to the fullest with zero stops in ‘Continue in Creative Mode’!

Dinosaur Polo Club remains committed to its ongoing support of free map and content updates for Mini Motorways throughout 2026. Stay tuned for the fourth map update just around the corinthian!

The ‘Merlion’s Marina’ update and te reo Māori Language support are available today for free across all current platforms, including Apple Arcade, PC and Mac via Steam, and Nintendo Switch.

Mini Motorways is available for $9.99/€8.57 on PC via Steam, free for Apple Arcade Subscribers, including language support for English, French, German, Spanish, Russian, Japanese, Portuguese, Korean, Italian, Turkish, Arabic, Dutch, Vietnamese, Simplified, Traditional Chinese and, Te Reo Māori. Learn more about Mini Motorways by visiting Dinosaur Polo Club’s official website, Bluesky, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram pages.

About Dinosaur Polo Club

Dinosaur Polo Club is an independent game development studio based in beautiful Wellington, New Zealand. Founded in 2013 by brothers Peter and Robert Curry, the studio first made waves with their award-winning and BAFTA-nominated debut Mini Metro. Created in collaboration with Disasterpeace and Jamie Churchman, Mini Metro explores relaxed and minimalist subway design. The second game developed by Dinosaur Polo Club introduces a brand new type of city management with colorful road-building and resource management found in Mini Motorways. Combined, Mini Metro and Mini Motorways make up two parts of an expanding Mini Collection. 

With an inclusive and supportive culture that believes in giving back to its creative community, the studio has grown and is now home to nearly 35 dinos as it works on new titles with relatable simplicity.

Article by: Susan N.

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RibCage Games Releasing Alpha Nomos on October 12th

September 24, 2026 | Independent studio RibCage Games today set a release date for Alpha Nomos, its rhythm-action roguelite where music is the law of the world. The game locks in a launch date of October 12 on PC via Steam, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. A release date trailer is out now.

A run of Alpha Nomos is a fight through room after room of corrupted puppets, each arena harder than the last. Clear one and you move up, picking upgrades that shape how the next stretch plays. Fall and the run ends, but you start the next one sharper, pushing a little further into the ruined world each time.

Everything in Alpha Nomos is tied to the beat and hitting your timing is what separates a clean run from a messy one. Every attack, dodge and ability only lands when you play it in time and a room can turn on you the second you drift off tempo. Cello swings instruments as weapons, all of them recorded live so you hear a real player behind every hit, while audio powerups like Reverb, Flanger, Delay and 4 more reshape her moveset and the track as you go.

The launch build carries the full puppetcore world: abandoned cities, a corrupted circus and enemies stitched from things that used to be whole. Behind the clown faces and empty streets are the two questions Cello has been chasing all along: what silenced the music and what happened to her friends. October 12 is where those answers start to arrive.

“Picking a date is terrifying and it’s also the best feeling in the world. We’ve spent this whole project asking players to trust that rhythm could carry an entire game, not sit on top of one. On October 12 they get to hold the whole thing and hear what we meant,” said Emil Lager, CTO  at RibCage Games.

KEY FEATURES

• Beat-Synced Combat: Every attack, dodge and ability locks to the beat, and landing your hits on rhythm is what makes them hit harder.
• Live Instruments: Each weapon sound is a real studio recording rather than a sample library, so you can hear a person playing behind every strike.
• Audio Powerups: Reverb, Flanger, Delay and 4 more reshape both how Cello fights and how the soundtrack sounds while she does it.
• Roguelite Runs: Fight through advancing arenas and build out upgrades that carry across each run into the next.
• Puppetcore: Explore ruined cities and a corrupted circus filled with enemies that were once part of something whole.
• Original Score: The soundtrack comes from Totem Warriors, recorded live to sit inside the game's rhythm systems.
• Accessible: A timing offset lets players of every skill level tune the game so it feels rewarding rather than punishing.

AVAILABILITY

Alpha Nomos launches on PC via Steam, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S on October 12. A free demo is playable now on Steam. Wishlist and follow to catch everything ahead of launch.

• Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2529960/Alpha_Nomos/
• PlayStation 5: https://store.playstation.com/en-gr/concept/10019243
• Xbox Series X/S: https://www.xbox.com/en-us/games/store/alpha-nomos/9n5n4xjwq312

About RibCage Games

RibCage Games is an independent studio founded by four developers who left mobile gaming to build the immersive PC experiences they grew up loving. Alpha Nomos is their debut commercial release, a rhythm-action roguelite built on the belief that music isn't a backing track, it's the rulebook. We create, we don't generate.

Article by: Susan N.

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Retro-Inspired Power Washing Sim Headed to Early Access on October 15th!

LOS ANGELES - September 24, 2026 | Dirt’s days are officially numbered. Acclaim, Inc. and Valadria today announced that Pixel Washer, the cozy, retro-inspired power-washing sim where players restore a grimy pixelated town to its former glory, sprays its way onto Steam Early Access on October 15. Grime’s on borrowed time for Switch & Switch 2 owners as well, who’ll be able to get their hooves on what’s destined to be the best pig-centric cleaning sim of the year, shortly after in 2027.

“What a genuine thrill to be working with Acclaim! I’ve been a fan for decades so this feels surreal to me,” said Valadria founder Matt Hackett. “I had been working on Pixel Washer for many months “all by myself”, but then Acclaim signed on to help me make Pixel Washer much bigger and cooler than I could have on my own. I hope players are ready for a simple, relaxing game that’s easy to play and hard to put down. Oink!”

To mark the date, Acclaim has released a new trailer. Watch as Pixel Washer’s plucky porcine protagonist Pigxel takes on the filthiest jobs in town. The footage reveals even more grime-caked locales players will be tasked with cleaning when the game launches into Early Access next month.

Early Access Note: Pixel Washer’s October 15 launch marks the beginning of a broader content roadmap for Pigxel. Throughout Early Access, Valadria and Acclaim will continue expanding the game with new content, features, quality-of-life improvements, and community-driven updates, while also exploring crossover and licensing opportunities. This ongoing development will build toward the full 1.0 release and planned console rollout, supported by a larger worldwide scrubbing.

Developed by California-based indie developer Valadria, Pixel Washer puts players behind the stylish goggles of Pigxel, a pig tasked with turning filthy environments into shining pixel art masterpieces. Armed with a trusty power washer, players blast dirty sprites back to a pixel-perfect shine across a wide variety of sullied settings, all set to a chill soundtrack.

Can’t wait until October 15 to get your hands dirty? Download the Pixel Washer demo on Steam here.

Key Features

• Wash and Restore - Use your power washer to blast away grime and bring beautiful pixel art levels back to their full glory.
• Upgrade Your Arsenal - Earn money on the job and spend it on more powerful washers, new vehicles, and additional equipment.
• Cozy Vibes - Relax to a chill soundtrack and satisfying sound design that makes cleaning feel like a reward, not a chore.
• Explore a Pixelated World - Choose from a wide variety of pixel art levels and discover the charm hiding under all that dirt.

About Acclaim:

Originally founded in 1987, Acclaim established itself as a leading global developer, publisher, and mass marketer, bringing beloved franchises such as Mortal Kombat, Turok, and NBA Jam into homes worldwide. Today, Acclaim carries its legacy forward with an unwavering commitment to supporting talented indie developers and delivering high-quality, premium indie games to a global audience. Acclaim’s modern revival stands as a testament to the strength and enduring appeal of its iconic brand.

About Valadria:

Valadria is the creative output of Matt Hackett, a game developer in California. It's all about developing games in one hand, and helping developers make games in the other. Our first offering is How to Make a Video Game All By Yourself, an Amazon #1 best selling game dev book. Next up: Pixel Washer, a cozy game about washing dirty pixels. Sign up for Valadria's game dev newsletter to join Matt on this long and exciting journey.

Article by: Susan N.

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Get Ready for the Second Edition of Out of Bounds Showcase Oct 9-11th in Barcelona!

September 24, 2026. Zaragoza, Spain | Spanish independent game publisher Entalto Publishing is proud to announce the second edition of the Out of Bounds Showcase, the hybrid game showcase dedicated to spotlighting fresh and fearless imaginative indie games. The digital version of the showcase will be streamed on YouTube this October 6 at 4pm CET / 7am PT. Additionally, the physical version of the showcase will happen in a dedicated space at the SAGA BCN Game Fest, with 12 of the games being playable at the largest videogame show in Southern Europe, taking place this October 9-11 in Barcelona.

 

Out of Bounds exists to champion undiscovered talent, unveil unannounced projects to a global audience, and deliver exceptional experiences to even the most discerning players. The 2025 edition of Out of Bounds was covered by more than 200 outlets from 30 countries and helped significantly to bring more light to the diverse group of indie games featured.

Check out the list of games and studios that will be featured in the second edition of Out of Bounds:

• There will be 2 games revealed, one brings a unique blend of roguelike strategy, casual fun, and high-stakes gambling and the other is an exploration-heavy, narrative-driven walking simulator with quiz elements.
• Goblinz Studio, experienced developers of tactical games, will be launching a new demo for their upcoming tower defense roguelite, Infamous Keepers.
• Maboroshi Artworks, the brilliant minds behind the beauty of Last Time I Saw You, will present its demo demo for their upcoming psychological horror and cinematic adventure, Sombras Negative Frames.
• Holy Radish will announce the official arrival date for Midgardr, with a new trailer of their narrative-driven board game and city builder filled with choices and consequences.
• Crimson Birds Studio, the developers behind Blade And Madness, will showcase a new gameplay trailer for their cosmic horror, deckbuilding RPG.
• Team Draftula will give us a fresh look at their block-dropping puzzle roguelike with a New Gameplay Trailer for Draftula.
• Banana Blitz will deliver a high-octane look at Void Reaver with a new gameplay trailer, showcasing its unique mix of bullet heaven roguelike bullet hell action and inventory management.
• The team at Forgotten Bastions will unveil a Playtest Trailer for Fear Tall Grass, their dark fantasy creature-collector and roguelite RPG.
• Mango Leaf Games will invite players back into their cozy world with an updated demo for their cleaning simulation game, Winter Whiskers.
• Rare Dialect will feature Fugue Shot, a roguelike minigame collection.
• Headkino Games will showcase Haunted Cleaner, a story-rich, casual puzzle simulator.
• Frog Team will highlight Oniria, a psychological horror narrative exploration game.
• SolidNeon Games will present PECADO, a survival horror experience.
• Contresort Studio will display Stickerino, a roguelite deckbuilder.
• Studio Scarmetal will share a look at Wundertrench, a turn-based RPG with roguelike elements.

For more information about the game, you can visit the official website and follow the studio’s account on social media.

About Entalto Publishing

Entalto Publishing is the publishing arm of Entalto, a passionate and forward-thinking video game developer and publisher based in northern Spain. Founded in 2021 by industry veterans with over a decade of experience, Entalto is more than just a publisher; it is a dedicated partner to developers worldwide, championing fair deals that prioritize creators. Believing that developers deserve the largest share of their success, Entalto is committed to ensuring they receive it. For more information check: https://entaltostudios.com

Article by: Susan N.

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A2 Softworks Ancient Farm is Now Available on Consoles!

Ancient Farm launches on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S on September 24. This farming simulator takes players to Egypt in the time of the pharaohs. Farming and raising animals are at the heart of the game, alongside building, gathering resources, and crafting. The game is also available on PC.

Ancient Farm was developed by A2 Softworks, an independent Polish studio whose previous games include Gatewalkers and Drill Deal. The studio specializes in strategy games and simulators. Ultimate Games S.A. publishes the game on PC and consoles.

Become a farmer in ancient Egypt!

Ancient Farm is a farming and livestock simulator set in ancient Egypt. It offers a calm, relaxing single-player experience played from a first-person perspective.

In a setting inspired by ancient Egypt, players start with a small plot of land and work their way toward building a farming empire.

There is no advanced technology in Ancient Farm. Most tasks require ancient methods and the strength of your own hands. Farming and raising animals are the main focus, but players can also gather resources, build, craft, and cook. The game also features changing seasons and a system of fluctuating prices for farm products.

A2 Softworks game offers a wide variety of crops and animals, along with a broad range of tools from ancient times. Players can grow corn, flax, cotton, sugar cane, hemp, wheat, papyrus, grapes, and olive trees. Farm animals include cows, sheep, chickens, and oxen.

Ancient Farm key features:

• Farm and raise animals in ancient times
• Explore a setting inspired by ancient Egypt
• Enjoy relaxing and varied gameplay
• Choose from a wide range of tools, crops, and animals
• Gather resources, build, craft, and cook

Ancient Farm launches on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S on September 24, 2026. The standard console price is $14.99 / €14.99, or the equivalent in other currencies.

Article by: Susan N.

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Bloom Control Demo Available Now on Steam!

September 2026 | The Bloom has escaped containment.

Element Games, LLC, the developer behind the sci-fi action RPG Reality Break, has officially released the first public demo for Bloom Control, its upcoming fast-action incremental. The free demo is available now on Steam, giving players their first chance to fight back against the mysterious infestation ahead of the game’s planned 2027 release.

A brand-new trailer has also been released today, offering a fresh look at Bloom Control’s rapid-fire combat, escalating threats, progression systems, and dark sci-fi setting.

In Bloom Control, remote stations have started going silent as a strange hostile growth spreads through critical systems. Players take control of an advanced artificial intelligence aboard an autonomous mothership, transmitting into the internal defense systems of infested locations with one objective: eradicate the Bloom before time runs out. That’s easier said than done.

Each mission puts players in control of powerful security weaponry as the Bloom rapidly expands around them. Success means learning how the infestation behaves, improving offensive capabilities, adjusting loadouts, and finding a way to stay one step ahead of an enemy that doesn’t stop growing just because you need a minute to think. When a mission becomes too much to handle, resimulate, upgrade, and try again.

Bloom Control mixes fast-paced action with incremental progression, allowing players to steadily expand their capabilities through Codons, Exoprograms, Modules, Specialization Profiles, and operating system upgrades. Different threats call for different approaches, encouraging players to experiment with their builds as they push deeper into increasingly dangerous locations.

And somewhere beneath all that hostile growth is a bigger mystery.

Intel and secrets hidden throughout the game gradually reveal more about the origin of the Bloom, and the truth behind the player’s own existence.

Bloom Control Features

• Stop the Spread – Take control of security weaponry and eliminate the Bloom before your transmission window closes.
• Fast-Action Combat – Jump into high-energy encounters where every second counts.
• Incremental Progression – Become stronger between attempts and build toward overcoming threats that once seemed impossible.
• Simulate, Upgrade, Repeat – Adjust your loadout, resimulate missions, upgrade your OS, and take another shot.
• Build Your Own Approach – Expand your capabilities with Codons, Exoprograms, Modules, and Specialization Profiles.
• Retake Infested Locations – Fight across remote stations, cities, and the systems keeping them operational.
• Dig Into the Mystery – Gather intel, discover hidden secrets, and uncover what the Bloom really is.

Bloom Control is being developed by Element Games, LLC, the studio behind Reality Break, which launched on Steam in 2025 and earned a Very Positive overall user-review rating.

The Bloom Control demo is available now on Steam, with the full game currently planned for release in 2027.

Article by: Susan N.

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Stathis Aposporis to Release Bullet-Heaven Roguelite Spaceborn: Awakening on Steam This Year!

September 17, 2026 | Solo developer Stathis Aposporis (ProtoGames) today released a new gameplay trailer for their upcoming bullet-heaven roguelite Spaceborn: Awakening, bringing screen-clearing cosmic chaos to Steam later this year.

The new trailer showcases the escalating power fantasy at the heart of Spaceborn: Awakening, offering a glimpse of its evolving weapon arsenal, corrupted swarm enemies and the class awakenings that transform ordinary crew members into cosmic champions across the story campaign.

At the center of Spaceborn: Awakening is the story of the first Spaceborn. Players journey through a narrative campaign that doubles as the progression system: completing story chapters unlocks class awakenings and new features that carry into subsequent runs, until players fully unlock an arsenal to test their limits in Survival and Endless modes.

“This is my first game as a solo dev and honestly the whole bet is pretty simple. I've spent my career watching narrative get bolted onto genres where it doesn't quite fit, so with Spaceborn I built the game the other way around. Becoming the first Spaceborn is the progression. The story and the roguelite loop aren't two separate things, they're one and the same,” said Stathis Aposporis, solo developer at ProtoGames.

Spaceborn: Awakening pairs a cinematic story mode with the relentless, screen-clearing intensity of the bullet-heaven genre. It swings between serious cosmic stakes and a cartoony, lighthearted tone, so the drama never weighs down the chaos. Every run is a step deeper into the story of the first Spaceborn and every chapter cleared makes the next one hit harder.

The Spaceborn universe is built on a mystical cosmic power that seeks balance. When that scale tips, champions emerge from either side, Spaceborns and Voidborns and lock into conflict until balance is restored. Awakening is the prequel to this timeline, narrating the story of the first conflict while the power was still raw and unchecked, leading to the destructive, game-breaking forces players wield in every run.

Facing the corrupted swarm and the antagonist Voss Praetor, players fight as a chosen champion guided by a mysterious cosmic force, harnessing the same power the Void wields but standing on the opposite side. It is a story of awakening, corruption, legacy and sacrifice, told with a light touch over dramatic cosmic stakes.

KEY FEATURES

• Narrative as progression: Complete story chapters to unlock class awakenings and new features that feed directly back into the run-based loop.
• Mortal to god: Start small as an ordinary crew member and ascend to godhood, clearing the screen with a wave of your hand.
• Evolving arsenal: Grow and evolve weapons across runs and push your build to its limits in Survival and Endless modes.
• Light vs Void: Fight as a chosen Spaceborn champion against the corrupted swarm and the Voss Praetor in a cosmic struggle for balance.

AVAILABILITY

Spaceborn: Awakening is coming soon to Steam. A free demo is available now, so players can jump into the chaos before launch. Fans of bullet-heaven and roguelite games can wishlist Spaceborn: Awakening today.

Links

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/playspaceborn/
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@playspaceborn
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SpacebornGame

About ProtoGames

ProtoGames is a mostly solo development studio led by Stathis, a 12-year industry veteran who has worked across AAA and indie studios, with art and music contributed by longtime colleagues and friends. Spaceborn: Awakening is the first installment in the Spaceborn IP, a stepping stone toward a wider universe of games across multiple genres.

Article by: Susan N.

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Train Your AutoDog to Escape from a Dystopian Mecha-City on Sept 29th

September 16, 2026 | French independent Studio Chahut and Goblinz Publishing announce that Dog in the Machine, a tactical turn-based roguelite where you train your AutoDog to escape from a dystopian mecha-city and reunite with its exiled humans, is coming to Steam on September 29 at the price of 17.99 USD with a 20% off during the first 2 weeks. In Dog in the Machine players will have a lot of freedom, creating different builds to constantly experiment with new combinations, craft powerful modular attacks and engage in a series of battles on compact grids filled with reactive elements, enemy guardians, and environmental hazards. Plan and preview your actions, experiment with different strategies and trigger the most satisfying chain reactions.

KEY FEATURES

Dual-layered deckbuilding: Combine two attacks to create a unique, powerful new ability

Every battlefield is generated to be a chain-reaction playground. Domino effect collision systems, reactive enemies, conveyor belts, interactive buttons, explosive obstacles... No boring fights: All these elements give players the opportunity to crack the perfect solution in each battle, destroying waves of enemies in a spectacular way.

Tactics without the headache: Experiment freely—try, cancel, and retry your moves to find the perfect solution without cognitive overload

Thanks to a real-time preview system, you can see exactly how your instruction sequence will play out before committing. Smoothly try, cancel, retry, and build a solution without cognitive overload, experimenting freely until you find your favorite outcome. If you lose, it will be due to a flaw in your strategy, not a careless mistake.

Trigger explosive chain reactions: Master a domino-effect collision system featuring reactive enemies, conveyor belts, and interactive traps

After each battle, your AutoDog learns a new Trick. But more importantly, you will be able to train it to perform more complex Tricks, which you can create freely by combining two others. You can follow blueprints or invent your own combinations. So by the end of the run, you will have created your own unique playstyle, based on powerful synergies.

Expand your Arsenal as your learn more about the lore

Between fights, meet a cast of quirky characters who reveal the story of the city-machine, each offering their own deck-building choices. Buy, exchange, loot, upgrade, steal… every encounter is a new opportunity to expand your Trick Library and shape a build that's entirely your own.

About Studio Chahut

Studio Chahut is a French indie team born in 2012. We create games that make intellectual challenges fun for a broader audience

About Goblinz Publishing

Goblinz is an indie game developer and publisher based in France specializing in strategy and management games. The studio’s first title Dungeon Rushers debuted in 2016. Following the game’s successful launch, the studio followed up with Robothorium, released in 2018 and has since worked on numerous other titles such as Legend of Keepers, Hero’s Hour, Shogun Showdown, Microtopia, and more. You can find out more about us on our website, our Steam publisher page, our YouTube channel, our Discord server, and our X account.

Article by: Susan N.

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QUERN - UNDYING THOUGHTS Coming October 6th To Nintendo Switch

A decade after its Steam debut, Zadbox Entertainment’s atmospheric first-person puzzle adventure arrives on Nintendo Switch.

Bratislava, Slovakia, September 22, 2026 - Publisher Blue Brain Games today announced that Quern - Undying Thoughts will launch on Nintendo Switch on October 6, 2026, ten years after the atmospheric first-person puzzle adventure first arrived on Steam.

Watch Announcement Trailer

 

Explore a world built around puzzles

Quern is an island filled with beautiful scenery, forgotten places, unusual machinery, and secrets waiting to be uncovered.

The game's puzzles grow more demanding as players move deeper into the island. Observation and experimentation are just as important as logic, with each discovery opening up another part of the mystery.

When you arrive on Quern, you barely have time to clear your vision before the portal closes behind you. Your way back is gone, and the island's secrets are now the only path forward.

Players must study their surroundings, follow the hints left behind by the past, and work out how the island's strange mechanisms fit together. As the journey continues, new discoveries reveal unfamiliar locations and offer further clues about Quern's history.

Key features

• A mysterious island: Explore an isolated world filled with forgotten places, unusual machinery, and clues to a hidden history.

• First-person puzzle solving: Examine the environment and use logic, observation, and experimentation to overcome each challenge.

• Puzzles that grow in complexity: Put your mind to the test as new discoveries introduce more demanding challenges.

• A story told through exploration: Follow traces of the past and uncover the reason behind your arrival on Quern.

• Atmospheric adventure: Take in the island's scenery as you move from one mysterious location to the next.

• Nintendo Switch debut: Experience Quern - Undying Thoughts on Nintendo Switch for the first time.

Quern - Undying Thoughts launches on Nintendo Switch on October 6, 2026, priced at £13.49 / €14.99 / $14.99.

Players can pre-order the game from today and save 10%.

About Zadbox Entertainment

Zadbox Entertainment is an innovative puzzle game studio founded in 2015, specializing in atmospheric first-person adventures that challenge players' minds and imagination. From our successful beginnings with a crowdfunded vision, we've grown into a recognized name in sophisticated puzzle design and storytelling.

Our debut title, Quern: Undying Thoughts, has established itself as a benchmark in the modern adventure genre, earning exceptional acclaim across all major platforms with a 91% positive rating on Steam and 4+ stars across PlayStation, Xbox, GOG, and Metacritic. With over 200,000 units sold, our dedicated community continues to grow, drawn to our unique approach to puzzle design and atmospheric worldbuilding.

At Zadbox, we're devoted to redefining the boundaries of puzzle gaming through immersive narratives, intricate challenge design, and rich, atmospheric environments.

About Blue Brain Games

Blue Brain Games is an indie game developer and publisher based in Bratislava, Slovakia. Best known for the globally acclaimed The House of Da Vinci series, we craft puzzle adventures where history, storytelling, and imagination blend seamlessly. Since 2016, our titles have been enjoyed by more than 5 million players across PC, mobile, and consoles.

Article by: Susan N.

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Deified Releases on Steam with Discounted Introductory Price!

September 14, 2026 | French independent studio Unexpected and Goblinz Publishing announce that Deified, a fresh a turn-based tactical roguelite focused on relics, synergies, and strategic slot management is coming to Steam on September 21 at the price of 14.99 USD with a 20% off during the first 2 weeks. You play as Sator, confronting the Lords who corrupted the Gold of the Rhine to create powerful relics and eternal curses. Your goal is to master your relics, build powerful synergies, and defeat the game's 7 bosses while forging your own path.

 

The Lords have corrupted the Gold of the Rhine to craft relics of unmatched power… and eternal curses. In Deified, you play as Sator, determined to confront these legendary figures, learn from their failures, and forge a new future. Try to defeat the game’s 7 bosses and return the Gold of the Rhine to your people.

KEY FEATURES

• Explore and discover relics with unique powers, and trigger synergies by collecting those of the same type.
• Face your enemies in challenging, tactical turn-based battles.
• No mana, no action points, no cooldowns! Be powerful every turn in a game that rewards your decisions.
• Restore your relics by assembling multiple identical fragments to enhance them.
• Master your slots: each one offers a bonus and a drawback that shape your strategy
• Progress through skill trees and unlock new rooms to expand your options in every run
• Battle bosses with unique curses that will turn your plans upside down.

A relic-focused tactical roguelite

Deified is a turn-based game where slot management and relic restoration are at the heart of the experience. Restore your artifacts by assembling multiple identical fragments, unlock new abilities, and strengthen your synergies by collecting relics of the same type.

Relics need slots to be used so choose them carefully: each one grants a unique bonus but also a drawback that shapes your playstyle. Progress through skill trees to refine your strategies, and unlock new rooms to give you more options in every run.

About Unexpected

Unexpected is an indie game studio based in France. The studio was created back in 2015, following a crazy bet to develop a video game with a fully junior team. 6 years later, the indie studio has released a number games that live up to its name, such as looK INside and As Far As The Eye, with all of their titles prioritising originality in both graphics and gameplay.

About Goblinz Publishing

Goblinz is an indie game developer and publisher based in France specializing in strategy and management games. The studio’s first title Dungeon Rushers debuted in 2016. Following the game’s successful launch, the studio followed up with Robothorium, released in 2018 and has since worked on numerous other titles such as Legend of Keepers, Hero’s Hour, Shogun Showdown, Microtopia, and more. You can find out more about us on our website, our Steam publisher page, our YouTube channel, our Discord server, and our X account.

Article by: Susan N.

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Maypole Games Releases Demo During Steam's Party Based RPG Fest!

Istanbul, Turkey, September 7, 2026 | Indie developer Maypole Games today announced that the first playable demo for Foundlings, a story driven pixel art RPG set during the Revolt of 1173 against King Henry II, will launch on September 14 as part of Steam’s Party Based RPG Fest.

A new trailer accompanies the announcement, offering a fresh look at Foundlings, a story driven pixel art RPG set during the civil war of 12th century England.

The First Playable Demo

Set before the events of the main Foundlings story, the approximately 30-minute demo gives players their first opportunity to experience the game through Agnes’ story.

The demo explores the tragic events that led to the loss of her mentor and her imprisonment in a medieval dungeon, while introducing players to Foundlings’ distinctive approach to magic and combat.

The demo also offers an early look at several of the game’s core systems:

• A Redesigned Combat UI: Highlighting the Astrology and Bodily Humours systems.
• An innovative Spellcrafting System: Create spells from loot gathered from enemies and customize them for different combat effects.
• Agnes’ Backstory: Discover the events that shaped Agnes before the main story begins.

Magic, Choice, and Discovery

Foundlings follows apprentice healer Agnes and ex executioner Frant, two outcast mages whose paths become intertwined during a period of civil conflict and unrest.

Combining character driven storytelling with intricate real time spellcasting, Foundlings draws inspiration from medieval science and philosophy to create a world where magic, knowledge, and personal choices are deeply connected.

“Foundlings tells the redemptive tale of two mages seeking purpose amidst the cruelty of civil war in medieval England. This is not a story about saving the world. It's about surviving it, and finding meaning within it,”

 - Alper Yilmaz, CEO of Maypole Games.

ABOUT MAYPOLE GAMES

Maypole Games is an independent studio based in Istanbul, dedicated to creating story driven games that resonate with players at a deep emotional level. As a small and diverse team built on strong cross-cultural bonds, the studio focuses on crafting meaningful interactive experiences that combine thoughtful game design with deeply personal storytelling.

Foundlings is Maypole Games' first commercial title.

Article by: Susan N.

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Culdcept the First - Xbox Review

Culdcept the First by developer and publisher City Connection—Microsoft Xbox Series X review written by Nick with a copy provided by the publisher.

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

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Fairy Garden Update Live in Bobo Bay Right Now!

September 2026 | Bobo Bay, the cozy Chao Garden-inspired creature collector game by NewFutureKids, has received a significant v1.3 update, titled “Fairy Garden Update”, expanding the map with new excursions, adding fresh cosmetics for Parfait and the Bobos, introducing new traits and a Fairy-themed saga, setting up a donut pop up shop on Thursdays, and lots of QOL improvements based on community feedback!

To celebrate the Fairy Garden Update, Bobo Bay will be at 20% off for a week starting September 10th!

Developer NewFutureKids has rolled out a brand-new post-launch update, voted by the community themselves! Dubbed the “Fairy Garden Update”, players can expect a new garden area to enjoy with their little creatures called Bobos, added progression with a Fairy-themed Saga, and new customization options for both the player character, Parfait, and their Bobos!

By clearing the new Saga, players will be able to access the new Fairy Garden, as well as Parfait’s new fairy-themed outfit!

High up in the clouds, the Fairy Garden takes players and Bobos to the skies, far from the old island comfort of Starling Isle. With a new environment comes an area where you can jump around, explore, and enjoy with your Bobos!

Don’t worry though, because players who enjoy the tropical vibes of Starling Isle can find a lot of new additions! Through the Public Works station in the town, players can unlock new locations to explore on their excursions, with a neat pop-up prompting players to choose where to go! From never-before-seen islands to even dark caves, players’ excursions will feel a whole lot more varied and unique.

Exploring the excursions wouldn’t be complete without unlocking a Fairy-themed parkour island by defeating the Mythic Star. God- and goddess-themed accessories await the players as magical rewards for the feat!

After all of that action, the players and their Bobos deserve a nice, relaxing snack break which they can do during Thursday nights when a donut pop-up shop appears!

The update won’t end there because Bobos will be getting a handy upgrade with new main, humble, and item traits for them. Along with that, lots of QoL updates, bug fixes, and other changes will be implemented to elevate the overall gaming experience thanks to the community’s feedback!

Article by: Susan N.

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