Independent studio Springloaded is giving players a deeper look at its ambitious development sim, Let’s Build a Dungeon, with an expanded demo for Steam Next Fest. The game has already surpassed 160,000 wishlists, and now it’s officially targeting a 2026 release on PC and Xbox.
Available now ahead of Steam Next Fest on February 23, the updated demo introduces three distinct ways to play: Campaign Mode, Just Build Mode, and the newly added Creative Mode. Together, they showcase the full scope of what Springloaded describes as a hybrid between a studio management sim and a full-fledged RPG creation toolkit.
Three Ways to Build Your Dream RPG
Campaign Mode offers the most structured experience. Players run their own development studio, juggling hiring decisions, investor expectations, monetization strategies, and moral dilemmas involving crunch and microtransactions. Alongside the management layer, you’ll actively design and playtest your custom RPG, shaping branching quests, balancing shop inventories, and responding to feedback from hordes of virtual beta testers. The demo even nods to real-world industry lore, drawing inspiration from the infamous Lord British incident during Ultima Online’s development.
For those who prefer pure creativity without spreadsheets and boardroom stress, Just Build Mode strips away the business simulation. This Steam Next Fest–exclusive mode focuses on relaxed world-building through a deck-building system. Players choose quest cards, asset packs, and marketing boosts to grow their RPG concept into a breakout hit. While the demo is solo-only, the full release will introduce online multiplayer for up to four players, allowing friends to collaborate and vote on development decisions together.
Then there’s Creative Mode, playable for the first time since the game’s reveal. This open sandbox hands players a suite of accessible development tools, including character creation, dialogue editing, and full gameplay customization. With thousands of buildings, decorations, and NPCs included, plus the ability to draw custom sprites and assets, Creative Mode positions Let’s Build a Dungeon as both a game and a potential entry point into real game design concepts.
A Simulator With Serious Ambition
Blending studio management, RPG design, and hands-on playtesting, Let’s Build a Dungeon continues Springloaded’s tradition of playful yet surprisingly deep simulation games. With support from Kowloon Nights and growing wishlist momentum, the project is shaping up to be one of 2026’s more inventive indie releases.
The expanded demo is live now as part of Steam Next Fest, with the full launch planned for PC and Xbox in 2026.