Who can resist a round-up, eh? And there was more than enough to love about tonight’s Triple-i Initiative showcase, which returned for its second year with a quivering heap of indie-focused announcements and reveals. We got a release date for 11 Bit Studio’s fascinating The Alters, for starters, as well as one for SloClap’s football game Rematch – and that’s alongside news updates for the likes of Katana Zero, Deep Rock Galactic, Endless Legends 2, X4: Foundations, Heroes of Might & Magic: Olden Era, V Rising, and more. So if you want to bathe in the full force of the Triple-i Initiative’s indie treats, simply engage your eyes downward to learn more.
Katana Zero’s long-awaited DLC “nearing completion”
Way back in 2019, developer Askiisoft announced some free DLC for its superb time-rewinding slash-’em-up Katana Zero, and we’ve been waiting ever since. The studio’s most recent update, shared in 2021, suggested it had ballooned into something considerable, and was now six times its originally planned sized. “That’s a bit over half the size of the main game,” Askiisoft noted at the time. And, now, four years on from that, we’ve got a new update. Katana Zero’s free DLC – which promises new characters, levels, gameplay, and story is “nearing completion”, and there’s a new teaser to scrutinise while we wait for release date news.
Roguelike FPS Void/Breaker unveiled
If you like your sci-fi hues sleek and your shooting action rogue-ish, you might enjoy Void/Breaker from solo developer Stubby Games. It’s described as an “adrenaline-fueled roguelite FPS” that sees players trapped in an endless cycle as they battle relentless waves of malevolent machines controlled by a hostile AI. There’s talk of “deep gun modding” allowing for “infinite” weapon variants, deadly synergies, and environmental destruction. And if that appeals, Void/Breaker launches for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S later this year, with an open playtest running on Steam from today until 24th April.
Barotrauma studio unveils sub-zero survival shooter Frostrail
Fakefish, the developer behind Barotrauma, has teamed up with publisher Shiro Games to bring the world Frostrail. It’s a post-apocalyptic open-world survival shooter in which players ride a train – part warmth-giving base, part moving fortress – across a harsh sub-zero landscape, scavenging for resources and battling unspeakable horrors as they go. It’s got underground dungeons and crumbling ruin to explore; tools, weapons, and equipment to craft; a convoy to upgrade, plus four-player online co-op. And if that’s left you sufficiently intrigued, Frostrail launches into Steam early access next year.
11 Bit Studios The Alters finally has a release date
It’s been three years since This War of Mine and Frostpunk developer 11 Bit Studios unveiled its intriguing clone game The Alters, but a release date is finally here. This strange survival game sees players – in the role of a builder named Jan Dolksi – piloting a weird, wheel-shaped base across a planet in order to escape the rays of a deadly sun. It’s got exploration, resource mining, and base expansion, all given a unique twist through its Alters. Essentially, players can create alternate versions of Jan, plucking them from his timeline where different life choices were made – and the resulting variants, with their unique abilities and emotions, can prove supremely useful if you can keep them alive. It’s fascinating stuff, and The Alters is officially launching for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC on 13th June.
Neverway’s “nightmarish” life sim action revealed
If you’re starting to feel fatigued by the endless wave of cutesy, cosy village life sims out there these days, you might like to take a look at Neverway. It’s a “nightmarish” life sim RPG that follows the adventures of protagonist Fiona as she quits her job, starts a new life on a farm and, in something of a break from the norm, becomes the immortal herald of a dead god. There are friends to make and horrors to fight (plus a soundtrack from the ever-reliable Disasterpeace) in this debut game from Coldblood Inc. – a studio founded by Celeste and Towerfall artist Pedro Medeiros. There’s no word of a release date yet, but you can wishlist it on Steam.
Deep Rock Galactic Rogue Core and Survivor news
Deep Rock Galactic fans have a couple of bits of news to chew over thanks to the Triple-i Initiative showcase. For starters, there’s first gameplay for Deep Rock Galactic: Rogue Core, which takes the co-op cave-crawling shooting action of the original and gives it a roguelike twist – meaning players start from the basics each mission and must build up their team’s powers. And if you like how it looks, sign-ups are now open for its closed alpha, which arrives ahead of early access. But that’s not all! Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor – a Vampire Survivors-style auto-shooter – is now confirmed to be leaving early access and getting its 1.0 release on 17th September.
Camper van wilderness adventure Outbound getting closed alpha
I am perhaps excessively (but unashamedly) excited for developer Square Glade Games’ Outbound, in which players get to drive an orange camper van through a pleasingly picturesque open-world wilderness. It’s essentially a game of roving and survival, where players grow their own crops, harness natural resources like wind and sun for energy, and customise their vehicle – even building an elaborate, albeit comically impractical, house on its roof. It all appeals to me in strange primordial ways, and while Outbound isn’t scheduled to release until next year, it’s getting a closed alpha next Monday, 14th April – with signups open now.
Multiplayer running hit SpeedRunners is getting a sequel
It’s been nine years since much-loved multiplayer running game Speedrunners first sprinted out the gate, but the series is being revived and a sequel is on the way. SpeedRunners 2: King of Speed – which is being handled by Nickolodeon All-Star Brawl 2 studio Fair Play Labs – promises more cutthroat, superhero-themed on-foot racing across a side-scrolling world. However, the cheery pixel art of the original has been ditched for polygonal 3D, and its local and online races now support up to eight players. SpeedRunners 2 is currently set to launch on Steam later this year, and it’s targeting a console release in 2026.
Sifu studio’s footie game Rematch gets a release date
I’m still not sure I’ve quite come to terms with the fact Sifu developer SloClap’s next release is a football game, but it is and it also now has a release date. Rematch – an online multiplayer football game build around “fast-paced 5v5 matches [played] from an immersive third-person perspective” – is set to launch for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC on 19th June. But before all that, it’s holding a closed beta weekend – and if that sounds like something you’d like to get involved in, you can sign up and get stuck in right now.
Colourful 3D platformer Duskfade shows off new gameplay
Following its unveiling last year, developer Weird Beluga Studios’ colourful 3D action-platformer Duskfade is back with a brand-new gameplay trailer. Described as a “timeless love letter to the genre” and promising a mix of “nostalgia [and] modern gameplay”, Duskfade follows the adventures of young workshop apprentice Zirian as he jumps, swings, and slashes his way across a vibrant clockpunk world to restore time itself and end the eternal night. It’s looking pretty lovely in its latest trailer, and the full game launches for PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Steam in 2026.
Lost Ember studio unveils Ikuma: The Frozen Compass
Mooneye Studios, the developer behind 2019’s really rather delightful Lost Ember, is back with another nature-loving adventure, this time playing out across the unforgiving expanse of the Arctic. Set in 1864, Ikuma: The Frozen Compass follows cabin boy Sam and his loyal husky Ellie as they endure the harsh elements of a strikingly realised uncharted Arctic island in a bid to find their way home. It can either be played solo, with one player controlling both characters, or co-operatively with a friend – and if that appeals, it’s coming to PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S sometime next year.
Firefighting disaster game Into the Fire shares new gameplay
Coming from Starward Industries – a studio founded by industry veterans who’ve worked on the likes of The Witcher 3, Cyperpunk 2077, and Dying Light – Into the Fire is a “disaster extraction survival” game with “arcade elements”. It sees players fighting the forces of nature – and working to save as many lives as possible against the clock – amid the fire and ash of a volcanic eruption on Dante’s Archipelago. It promises “fantastic retro inventions and firefighting weapons”, fiery myths, unexplained phenomena, and mysterious relics – even dark rituals – when it launches into Steam access later this year.
Medieval hack-and-slash roguelike Tears of Metal’s public beta is here
Tears of Metal is a “medieval hack-and-slash co-op roguelike” from developer Paper Cult that sees players and their Scottish battalion carve through hordes of enemies – strangely altered thanks to the mysterious Dragon Stone Meteor – in a bid to reclaim their island home. It looks like supremely chaotic stuff, and anyone wanted to get a taste of its furious action can participate – either playing solo or online with friends – in its public beta right now, with the event wrapping up on 17th April.
Vampire Survivors’ Emerald Diorama update is out now
Vampire Survivors truly is the game that keeps on giving (just as long as you’re not expecting it to give you anything resembling vampires), and developer Poncle’s hugely popular auto-shooter is back with another free update. Emerald Diorama introduces 16+ characters and skins from Square Enix’s SaGa Emerald Beyond, alongside over 40 new attacks, glimmer and showstopper mechanics, a new seven-biome stage, and more. Sound sufficiently tantalising? It’s out now on Android, iOS (excluding Apple Arcade), Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, and PC now.
Endless Legend 2 coming to early access this “summer”
If you’re as excited about the return of Humankind developer Amplitude Studios’ fantasy themed 4X series Endless Legend as I am (which is to say, quite a lot), you’ll probably be eager to have an update on its progress. Amplitude has now revealed Endless Legend 2 – which adds the likes of seasons and tidefalls to “dramatically transform” the world during play – is launching into PC early access this “summer”. And there’s a new trailer to tide you over until then, no pun intended.
X4: Foundations’ Diplomacy Update on the way
Space trading and combat sim X4: Foundations has been going from strength to strength, and its next free update is almost here. It’s called the Diplomacy Update and, as its name suggests, introduces new strategic elements focusing on diplomacy. Much of this revolves around the new Embassy facility, where diplomats can congregate to represent their factions, but players can also access and deploy Agents to complete diplomatic objectives, which will help influence others and shape the galaxy’s political and economic balance. X4: Foundations’ Diplomacy Update launches this “summer”.
Escape Simulator 2 now has a demo
If you’re a fan of that whole escape room malarky, you might have already given Escape Simulator a whirl to feed your puzzle fixation digitally. It’s a pretty good time too, especially co-operatively, and a sequel is on the way. Escape Simulator 2 promises new rooms, new puzzles, and new mechanics, taking players from Dracula’s castle to a pirate ship on stormy seas. You can get a taste of its spruced up puzzle action in its new trailer, or you can check out the demo now available on Steam.
Slot machine roguelike CloverPit gets a demo
Described as the “demonic lovechild of Balatro and Buckshot Roulette”, CloverPit is a slot-machine-focused roguelike that locks players in a rusty cell and tasks them with earning enough each round to pay off their debt. Prizes, charms, and combos can be used to shift the odds in your favour, and if you can keep your streak up long enough you might just earn your freedom. CloverPit launches on Steam later this year and a demo’s available now.
BlazBlue Entropy Effect getting couch co-op and a collaboration
A quickie this one! BlazBlue Entropy Effect – the side-scrolling action-roguelike based on Arc System Works’ acclaimed fighting series – is getting two-player couch co-op. But that’s not all; it’s also tipping its hat to genre bedfellow Dead Cells by adding a character from developer Motion Twin’s acclaimed title in a free update coming this “summer”.
Enshrouded shows off its venomous Thralls of Twilight update
It’s been a year since developer Keen Games’ co-op survival RPG Enshrouded launched into early access and immediately impressed. Since then, it’s continued to grow across multiple content updates and its sixth major release is Thralls of Twilight, which can now admire in its newly shared trailer. There’s not much more to report just yet, but it’s set to arrive this May.
Heroes of Might & Magic: Olden Era’s early access incoming
Last August, Ubisoft announced it was resurrecting its long-running turn-based strategy series Heroes of Might & Magic for its eighth major instalment. Heroes of Might & Magic: Olden Era, as it’s known, serves as a prequel to the entire fantasy saga, and sees players travelling to the mysterious continent of Jadame across a non-linear campaign. Skip to today, and we now have a release window for Olden Era: it’s coming to Steam early access this “summer”.
Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault’s early access window confirmed
As we learned last year, developer Digital Sun’s fantasy-RPG-meets-shop-sim is getting a sequel – which, among other things brings a switch from lovely pixel art to beautifully characterful 3D. Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault, to give the sequel is full title, is now confirmed to be launching into Steam early access this “summer”, and there’s a new trailer too.
Morbid Metal coming to early access this summer
There’s a theme forming here, and we now have another title eyeing up a Steam early access release this summer. This time we’re looking at developer Screen Juice’s Morbid Metal – a “hack ‘n’ lash action Rogue-lite” that sees players shapeshifting between different powerful characters in real-time to unleash devastating combos on their unsuspecting foes. If the new trailer excites, you can always wishlist it on Steam ahead of its early access launch later this year.
Over the Hill
If you missed its announcement earlier this year, a quick recap: Over the Hill is a follow-up to developer Funselektor’s acclaimed off-road racing game Art of Rally. The twist this time is it places a much greater focus on exploration, with players travelling across a gloriously stylised wilderness – and battling a dynamic weather system – as they search for hidden objectives and challenges. It’s playable solo or with friends, and promises “iconic vehicles from the 60s to 80s”, but doesn’t yet have a release date. But while we wait for that, you can check out the new gameplay trailer.
No, I’m not a Human
Are you human? And if not, would you even admit to it if someone asked? That appears to be the vague premise of developer Trioskaz’s No, I’m not a Human. It’s a horror game in which players take on the role of one of the few remaining human survivors of the apocalypse. Away from your stronghold, the world is populated by other humans – or at least hostile creatures pretending to be humans – and you’ll need to keep them at bay as you scavenge to survive if you want to save humanity. Judging by the trailer, this one’s got weird vibes to spare, and it’s coming to PC, Xbox, and PlayStation this autumn.
Necesse’s Forgotten Depths update arrives today
Necesse is a sort-of top-down Terraria-like – full of co-operative base-building, dungeon-crawling, and crafting – that’s been around in early access since 2019. It’s had plenty of updates since then, and its latest – The Forgotten Depths update – shadow drops today. Its additions include the Plains Deep Caves biome, new environmental hazards, economy improvements, and a mission table where players can manage expeditions, explorers, and traders. And as for when Necesse might finally leave early access, developer Fair Games says it’s targeting a 1.0 release later this year.
V Rising’s Invaders of Oakveil update arrives in April
Vampire survival adventure V Rising is a pretty glorious time if you like your teeth long and your bases imposingly gothic. And now, with the first anniversary of its 1.0 release edging ever closer, developer Stunlock Studios has slapped its latest content update with a release date. Invaders of Oakveil adds the titular wooded wilds, where players can encounter the Venom Blades – a powerful clan proficient with venom-imbued weapons and virulent alchemy – who’ll do anything to serve their Serpent Queen Megara. All the above arrives on 28th April and you can get a taste of its action in its new trailer.
OPUS: Prism Peak arriving this autumn
Ever had one of those days where you’ve accidentally selfied yourself out of existence? A similar fate appears to have befallen the protagonist of Opus: Prism peak, a narrative-driven adventure game from developer Sigono. Opus casts players as a weary photographer caught outside of reality who must use an old camera to explore an ethereal realm, uncover its mysteries, and try to find a way home. It all looks very lovely in its release window trailer – and speaking of which, it’s coming to Steam this autumn.
SacriFire
SacriFire is a fantasy adventure inspired by classic 90s JRPGs that sees players guiding a young priest through a world caught in the middle of a war between gods and demons. It looks a treat, serving up a striking blend of 3D worlds and pixel art sprites, and it also features music from Motoi Sakuraba – the composer who’s previously written for the likes of Dark Souls, Golden Sun, and Star Ocean. There’s a fresh glimpse of its extremely aesthetically pleasing action in its latest trailer, and if that’s caught your eye, SacriFice is scheduled to launch for PC in “Q1” next year.
Shapez 2
Top-down, space-based factory building game Shapez 2’s early access development continues apace, and its latest update – officially known The Dimension Update – has now been revealed. It introduces the ability to construct multi-layer 3D factories, reworked train mechanics, plus various quality of life improvements, and it’s launching on 2nd June.
Star Birds
The first thing you need to know about Star Birds (if you weren’t aware already) is that it comes from Toukana Interactive – the developer behind stellar village builder Dorfromantik. It’s an asteroid-themed base-building puzzler focused on whimsical resource management, where the goal is to help a population of spacefaring birds prosper and thrive. It’s got mining, automation, trading, and all sorts of bizarre contraptions – and it already looks pretty delightful. It’s currently set to release on Steam later this year, but there’ll be a chance to play before then: it’s getting a demo this June.
Super Fantasy Kingdom
I already feel confident saying roguelike city builder Super Fantasy Kingdom is shaping up to be something pretty neat – largely because its ever-evolving demo, released back in 2023, is a heap of fun. Which brings us to the important bit: Super Fantasy Kingdom now has a launch window and is readying to release in “Q3” this year.
Timberborn
Developer Mechanistry’s post-apocalyptic, beaver-themed city builder/colony sim Timberborn is another early access treat, and has been slowly edging toward its 1.0 release since 2021. And that journey continues this May when Timborn’s Ziplines & Tubeways Update arrives. This seventh major early access release brings modular urban transit to player’s towns, with Folktails gaining access to ziplines so they can whizz about from up high, while Iron Teeth can speed around the world using water-sealed tubeways. And there’s more; Update 7 also promises hanging gardens, rooftop farms, tunnels, and artificial caves when it launches on 8th May.
Blacksmith Master
Do you ever wish you’d been born a thousand-ish years ago so you could fulfil your lifelong dream of becoming a medieval smithy? Well, it might not be time travel, but developer Untitled Studio’s Blacksmith Master might get you some of the way there. It tasks players with managing all aspects of their smithy, from mining ores and gems to designing and selling weapons, armour, even cooking utensils – and of course, all money raised by flogging the finished products goes right back into working toward the title of Blacksmith Master. Sound appealing? Well, then there’s good news! It’s launching into Steam early access on 15th May.
The Eternal Life of Goldman
Developer Weappy’s The Eternal Life of Goldman was an immediate wishlist add when it was unveiled last year. This “existential” 2D platformer is an absolute jaw-dropper – its meticulously hand-drawn and hand-animated art-style providing perpetual eye candy as players take on the role of an old man journeying to kill a god. Today’s Triple-i showing primarily served to introduce the newest addition to its composing team, which includes the likes of Kevin Penkin (Star Wars: Vision, Florence), Mason Lieberman (Overwatch 2, Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical), and Pete Lepley (Wargroove, Sky Rogue) – with Yasunori Nishiki (Octopath Traveler, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth) now added to the roster. And while there’s still no word of a release date, we do know it’s coming to Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, and PC later this year.
