HeartLoop Games’ single-player roguelike fighting game will be playable at PAX West from September 4–7, alongside a brand-new online demo
Montreal, Canada — September 2, 2026 — Independent Montreal-based studio HeartLoop Games is excited to announce that its debut title, single-player roguelike fighting game Poly Fighter, will launch in Steam Early Access on October 13, 2026. The announcement comes alongside a brand-new trailer ahead of the game’s appearance at PAX West, taking place from September 4–7.
Developed as a love letter to fighting games and arcade classics, Poly Fighter blends fast-paced one-on-one combat with roguelike progression. Players fight their way through a high-stakes underground league, stealing moves from defeated opponents and combining them to create wildly different builds every run.
Ahead of its October 13 Early Access launch, Poly Fighter will be playable at PAX West from September 4–7, where attendees can step into the ring and experience its unique blend of retro-inspired fighting action and run-based progression firsthand.
Interested in speaking with the team? Contact Dead Good Media to arrange an interview with the developers at PAX West or online.
Players around the world will also be able to get hands-on with the game through a new online demo.
“We’re excited to finally share that Poly Fighter is coming to Early Access on October 13 as we’re keen to get the community’s input on the game,” said Osama Dorias, Creative Director. “PAX West is a great opportunity for us to put the game directly into players’ and press’ hands, and we’re looking forward to seeing how people respond to Poly Fighter as we head toward launch.“
Key Features:
- Fight, adapt, and repeat: Battle your way through a high-stakes underground league in tense one-on-one fights, choosing opponents, climbing the ranks and facing increasingly powerful rivals and secret bosses.
- Steal moves and build your perfect fighter: Defeat opponents to earn new abilities, then swap, chain and upgrade them to create devastating synergies and an ever-evolving fighting style.
- Create wildly different builds every run: Experiment with everything from super-armoured tanks and relentless rushdown fighters to zoning specialists and chaotic projectile-heavy machines in a roguelike twist on the classic fighting game formula.
- Accessible to newcomers, challenging for veterans: Choose between modern, approachable controls and nostalgic motion inputs, with stylish combos that are easy to pick up and thousands of possible move interactions to master.
- A retro-cool aesthetic built for solo players: Experience high-stakes duels and replayable build experimentation without the pressure of ranked ladders or online competition, brought to life with snappy animations and a banging soundtrack.
Poly Fighter launches in Steam Early Access on October 13, 2026, and will be playable at PAX West from September 4–7. Players can also wishlist and try the online demo now.
About HeartLoop Games
HeartLoop is an exciting new indie studio based in Montreal, Canada and founded by a bunch of old friends who still get excited about making cool stuff together. We love games: playing them, talking about them, and especially creating them. Our approach is simple: build things step-by-step, share them with players early, and stay flexible so the game can evolve into the best version of itself. Most of all, we are making Poly Fighter because it is the kind of game we would love to play ourselves. Montreal can be a very cold place, but we are very warm people
