Dreams don’t usually fight back — but in Memoria Wake, they do. The isometric soulslike from indie developer Team Crescendo just dropped its first playable demo on Steam, giving players a hands-on look at the strange, haunting world that awaits when the full game launches in 2026.

In Memoria Wake, you play as Nilo, a lone wanderer trapped inside a dream world with only fragments of memory and a mysterious friend lost somewhere within. Your only real weapon? A tricked-out umbrella that can strike enemies, parry attacks, and give you just enough control over the chaos to survive.

Combat is smart and deliberate. Patience pays off. You’ll need to dodge-roll precisely, learn the timing of your enemies, and master parries to gain energy — which fuels both healing and special abilities. And yes, you’ll need that energy, because the dream world does not mess around.

What’s in the Demo?

The first playable build features two distinct biomes that highlight Memoria Wake’s surreal aesthetic and emotional tone. First, you’ll explore a toy-filled nightmare with talking rubber ducks and broken teddy bears that need sewing-needle surgery. Then, things get heavier as Nilo steps into a crumbling university filled with physical manifestations of his most unpleasant memories.

Also included are two of the game’s 20+ planned boss fights:

• The Feral Cat — A massive feline that attacks with twitchy reflexes and brute force, leaving little room to breathe.

• The Handler — A dual-threat battle where two enormous hands attack separately, forcing you to manage multiple patterns at once. Misjudge your dodge and you’re toast.

Team Crescendo will also be showing off Memoria Wake at PAX West in Seattle, running from August 29 to September 1, marking the first time the studio is publicly demoing the game in person.

“This is a nervous moment for us, as it’s the first time we’ve let the general public go hands-on with our game,” said Hank Xu, founder of Team Crescendo. “But that doesn’t mean we’re not confident – we believe strongly in what we’ve made so far and feedback from the community will only make Memoria Wake better.”

Memoria Wake is available to try right now on PC and Mac via Steam. The full release is scheduled for 2026, so consider this your early boarding pass into a dream world that might just fight back.

Set in the mystical world of Ailur, Kristala casts players as an Anagativan—a feline warrior chosen to harness the elemental powers of the Sacred Six Kristals. As the “chosen Kristalan,” your journey involves battling grotesque curse-born monsters, navigating a broken land filled with mystery and danger, and proving your worth to unite all six clans.

Yes, it’s a grimdark world where magic reigns, prophecies whisper, and danger lurks in every shadow—but it just so happens that the would-be hero is a deadly, magically inclined cat.

Soulslike with Sharp Claws and Sharper Combat

Combat in Kristala takes its cues from games like Dark Souls and Sekiro, featuring a tight and punishing system where timing is everything. Light and heavy attacks, well-placed dodges, parries, aerial combos, and finishers all come into play. If you’re looking for a challenge with some fur on it, you’ll feel right at home.

Each Anagativan hails from one of six elemental clans, each with a unique flavor of magic. As you level up and progress, you’ll unlock spell perks, upgrade your combat abilities, and dig deep into the game’s branching skill trees—both magical and feline. There’s even a dedicated “Feline Skill Tree” to upgrade traversal and stealth abilities.

Customize Your Warrior Cat

Character customization is more than just cosmetic here. Choose your fur color, length, starting class, and elemental clan. Each decision not only affects how you look, but also how you play—whether you’re a magic-slinging long-range specialist, a stealthy rogue, or a close-combat powerhouse.

Ailur: A World as Mysterious as It Is Dangerous

The game’s story unfolds in the land of Ailur, a beautifully ruined world home to two dominant races: the feline Anagativans and their long-standing rivals, the rodent-like Kotans. Only Anagativans can harness the ancient power of the Kristals, but wielding that power comes at a cost.

Expect lore-heavy exploration filled with cursed ruins, ancient civilizations, and secrets hidden beneath the surface. The narrative doesn’t just serve as window dressing—it’s central to your progression and choices throughout your journey.

Kristala launches in Early Access on the Epic Games Store July 28, and a free demo is available right now for those who want to get a head start. Whether you’re in it for the deep narrative, brutal combat, or just want to play as a highly customizable magic-wielding cat warrior, Kristala might be one to watch.

Make sure to wishlist it and stay tuned for future content updates as the world of Ailur continues to evolve.

]]> 35449 https://www.yogomi.com/2025/07/tombwaters-massive-in-game-map-revealed-and-its-only-the-beginning/ Mon, 14 Jul 2025 05:03:59 +0000 https://www.yogomi.com/?p=34948 Indie publisher Midwest Games and solo dev Max Mraz (of Ocean’s Heart fame) have just lifted the veil on the sprawling in-game map for Tombwater, the upcoming 2D souls-like action RPG arriving on PC later this year. And if you thought this top-down adventure was going to be bite-sized — think again.

Revealed alongside the playable demo, the Tombwater world map showcases nearly 20 distinct biomes layered across a haunted Wild West world gone very, very wrong. Think A Link to the Past, but grimmer, weirder, and riddled with madness.

“We were having so much fun exploring what could be in each area that we didn’t realize how big the map was growing,” says Mraz, lead developer at Moth Atlas. “We got together one evening to play through the game’s main path — and six hours later, we weren’t even halfway through!”

That’s right — the newly revealed map doesn’t even account for the game’s mines, sewers, tunnels, or the fabled Lost City buried deep in the mountain. This is classic Metroidvania world-building with a heavy Souls-like edge: some areas open from the start, others gated behind gear, bosses, or hard-earned abilities.

The demo, live now on Steam, gives players access to a slice of the Spanish Fort, a single zone that represents just 5% of the final game’s scope. For comparison, Mraz even shared a size comparison with The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past — and Tombwater more than holds its own.

Welcome to Tombwater

Set in a ghostly frontier town poisoned by madness, Tombwater puts you in the dusty boots of a lone gunslinger investigating the disappearance of Sheriff Elliott Flintwood — the last friendly face in a town long since given over to decay and darkness.

Expect top-down pixel art, gruesome Eldritch enemies, and a world filled with whispered secrets just waiting to be dug up. If Bloodborne had a cousin raised on Spaghetti Westerns and 16-bit cartridges, this would be it.

Key Features:

• 2D Top-Down Souls-Like: Classic Souls mechanics in a nostalgic pixel art world—dodge rolls, stamina management, and brutal boss fights included.

• Massive Interconnected World: Nearly 20 unique biomes across a map designed for exploration and discovery, with a full quest log and map system to track your descent.

• Apothecary Crafting System: Brew tonics, create explosives, and scavenge your way to survival using ingredients found throughout the world.

• 20+ Boss Battles: Each one grotesque, terrifying, and designed to test your grit and reflexes.

• Dark Frontier Setting: Explore haunted mines, rotting frontier towns, and ancient ruins in a world where nothing is quite as it seems.

So grab your lantern, load your six-shooter, and steel your nerves — Tombwater is shaping up to be one of the most ambitious and atmospheric indie souls-likes of the year.

Play the demo now on Steam, and be sure to wishlist Tombwater ahead of its 2025 launch.

Set in the cursed realm of Languireg, Netherworld Covenant hands you the Nether Lantern—a powerful, forbidden artifact—and throws you into a war between plagued heroes and nightmarish demons. It’s a dark, tactical grind through corrupted worlds where every dodge, parry, and counterattack matters. Forget button-mashing; this is combat that demands precision and punishes mistakes.

Enemies range from relentless beast hunters to deadly soul devourers, all requiring smart use of stamina and ghostly powers. You’ll need to time your dodges, conserve energy, and strike back with purpose. It’s classic soulslike combat layered with roguelike mechanics: risk, reward, and reset.

Combat also gets a supernatural edge thanks to Soul Companions—undead allies you can summon mid-fight. Whether you favor the Swordsman, Ranger, Guardian, or Rogue class, mastering their distinct skills can tip the balance in your favor. Phase through walls, land devastating backstabs, and unleash brutal finishers as you make your way deeper into the abyss.

Between battles, you’ll retreat to your base in the Borderland, a liminal space between life and death where you can regroup, craft gear, and form spectral alliances. Each run earns you new resources and boons, letting you push a little further next time. Expect to face off against monstrous bosses and fallen champions as you climb toward redemption.

“We built Netherworld Covenant as a love letter to both soulslikes and roguelikes,” said Feng Hu, artist at MadGoat. “They’re genres that reward patience, skill, and learning through failure—and that’s what we’re leaning into with this game.”

Netherworld Covenant is out now in Steam Early Access for $17.99 USD (or €17.49), with support for multiple languages including English, French, German, Spanish, Turkish, Portuguese, Russian, Korean, and Chinese.

The latest trailer plunges players into a world on the edge of annihilation. Civilization has crumbled, leaving humanity struggling to survive in the ruins of Havenswell, the last city. But among the chaos, an immortal Blader named Arrisa embarks on a relentless quest for truth. However, she won’t be the only one wielding a blade—her journey is threatened by a mysterious rival Blader, determined to stop her at any cost.

With a roughly 25-hour first playthrough, AI LIMIT promises intense battles against increasingly powerful enemies and bosses. The question is—will you rise to the challenge, or fall victim to the brutal streets of Havenswell?

Pre-Order Now for Exclusive Bonuses!

AI LIMIT launches March 27, but players can pre-order now on Steam and PlayStation with a 10% discount!

• Standard Edition – $31.49 (after discount)
• Digital Deluxe Edition – $40.49 (after discount)

Pre-order before launch and score an exclusive Maid Outfit & Hairband for Arrisa!

Can’t wait to test your skills? A playable demo is available now on PS5 and Steam, so step into the fight today!

Available now on Steam Early Access for $24.99 USD / £19.99 GBP / €24.99 EUR, Mortal Rite continues its journey toward a deeper, more polished action RPG experience.

What’s New in the Update?

• Revamped Onboarding: A brand-new tutorial helps new players grasp the basics faster.
• Reworked Character Abilities: Each character’s kit has been updated for better balance and playability.
• UI and Menu Upgrades: A refreshed look for menus makes navigation smoother.
• Improved Multiplayer Experience: A more streamlined connection process and new region-locking options.
• Bug Fixes & QoL Improvements: Smoother performance and player-requested tweaks.

A Souls-like Meets Roguelite Experience
Mortal Rite blends the methodical melee combat of a Souls-like with the unpredictable, ever-changing nature of a roguelite. Fight solo or alongside up to five friends in co-op, swapping between different abilities and items while taking control of resurrected champions.

The game’s fast-paced melee combat rewards precision over button-mashing, with a focus on breaking enemy posture and chaining attacks together. Players can experiment with different characters, each with unique abilities, lore, and fighting styles, while working together to take down the encroaching forces of the King.

Key Features of Mortal Rite

• Evolving Combat & Progression – Find ability points and loot to unlock new strategies. Items can be traded between players, and revisiting areas unlocks new challenges, enemies, and rewards.
• Unique Characters & Playstyles – Each character has two combat stances, plus the ability to swap and upgrade abilities for deeper customization.
• Seamless Co-Op Multiplayer – Team up from the very start with up to 5 players. The more friends you bring, the tougher the enemies get!
• Dynamic Combat System – Utilize light, heavy, and charged attacks while mastering dodging, sprinting, and aerial strikes. Parry, deflect, or block depending on your character’s specialty.
• Factions & Enemy Interactions – Use enemy factions to your advantage by luring them into fights against each other.

Mortal Rite is shaping up to be a unique blend of strategy, challenge, and co-op mayhem. The first update is just the beginning of its Early Access journey, with more improvements and content on the way.

Jump In Today!
Mortal Rite is available now on PC via Steam Early Access. Wishlist, download, and start carving your path through its brutal world!