Dimension Omega brings its hand-drawn, challenging Metroidvania to Cologne for a hands-on first look, alongside a newly updated demo now live on Steam.
[August 20th, 2026]: Dimension Omega, the independent studio behind Astra: Fading Stars, today announced it will exhibit at Gamescom 2026 in Cologne, Germany, running August 26th to 30th. The team will host its own booth on the show floor – located at Hall 10.2, Stand E-041g – giving attendees a hands-on first look at its challenging, hand-drawn 2D Metroidvania ahead of release. Alongside the announcement, an updated build of the game’s free demo is now available on Steam.
Set in a mysterious, atmospheric world where the stars are fading and a dark corruption spreads in their wake, Astra: Fading Stars casts players as a hero wielding Astra Call, a signature power that comes from within, carried into combat, traversal and environmental interaction throughout the game. Every character and environment is traditionally, fully hand-drawn, and the world is built around multilayered secrets that reward exploration and interpretation over explicit guidance.
Astra: Fading Stars is designed to challenge players, pitting them against dangerous bosses, mini-bosses and otherworldly enemies that demand precision and pattern recognition to overcome. The playable Steam demo gives players and press an expanded slice of that experience ahead of Gamescom.
Said the team at Dimension Omega: “Gamescom is our first chance to put Astra: Fading Stars directly in players’ hands outside of Steam, and we couldn’t be more excited to share it. The updated demo reflects everything we’ve learned from player feedback so far, and we can’t wait to see how people react to it in person.”
Gamescom runs from August 26th to 30th, 2026, at Koelnmesse in Cologne, Germany. Dimension Omega’s booth will be located at Hall 10.2, Stand E-041g where attendees can play the latest demo and meet the development team. Players unable to attend in person can download the same updated demo now on Steam.
Key features of Astra: Fading Stars include:
- A Power From Within. Astra Call, a unique ability carried into combat, traversal and environmental interaction throughout the game.
- Challenges To Overcome. Dangerous bosses, tough mini-bosses and punishing otherworldly enemies test players’ skill and precision.
- A Hand-Drawn World. Every character and environment is brought to life through traditional, fully hand-drawn animation.
- A Mystery to Uncover. Multilayered secrets and scattered clues reveal why the stars are fading, with Multiple Endings shaped by what players piece together.
- Build Your Own Path. Players spend Astra to grow their character in the direction they choose, shaping how the world reacts and how each subsequent playthrough unfolds.
Astra: Fading Stars is available to wishlist now on Steam, where a free demo is also available to download.
About Astra: Fading Stars
Astra: Fading Stars is a 2D, hand-drawn Metroidvania action-adventure from Dimension Omega. Set in a mysterious, atmospheric world where the stars are fading and a dark corruption spreads in their wake, players wield Astra Call, a power that comes from within, to fight through dangerous bosses, uncover multilayered secrets, and shape their own path forward. A free demo and more information are available now on Steam.
About Dimension Omega
Dimension Omega is the independent studio developing Astra: Fading Stars, a challenging, hand-drawn 2D Metroidvania built around exploration, mystery, and a signature ability drawn from within its protagonist. This is their debut release.
