Top Hat Studios, Inc., in association with Almenara Games, are excited to announce that the upcoming survival horror roguelike, ROGUE MANSION will be entering Closed Beta. The Closed Beta is tentatively planned for January 2026, and Applications to sign-up and take part can be made by joining the Top Hat Studios Discord community; there, further instructions are available leading to the sign-up form.

With an eerie, atmospheric blend of classic survival horror and modern roguelike mechanics, ROGUE MANSION draws inspiration from iconic retro and PS2-era horror games –  evoking their tension, visual grit, and methodical pacing –  while infusing the concept with replayability and dynamics of a roguelike.  Each new attempt reshapes the mansion’s halls, item placement, enemy behavior, and more –  ensuring no two playthroughs are alike. 

The Closed Beta will give selected players access to a full run of the game with one playable character, offering an early chance to experience the mansion’s shifting horrors ahead of release. Applicants who are chosen to take part in Beta testing will receive further news and details closer to the start of the Closed Beta period, which is tentatively planned for January 2026.

Throughout the Closed Beta, developers from Almenara Games will be active in the Top Hat Studios Discord, available for questions and discussion of feedback as testers explore, die, return, and attempt to unravel the mansion’s mysteries.

Key Features

• A mansion that changes every run: procedurally generated layouts transform hallways, rooms, puzzles, and enemy encounters
• Classic survival horror tension: scarce resources, methodical combat, and the ever-present threat of the unknown.
• Multiple playable characters: each offering unique starting equipment, attributes, and story motivations.
• Retro-inspired aesthetics with modern enhancements: capturing the mood of early 2000s horror with a stylized look and feel.
• Shifting perspective: mix things up even more by switching between first-person and RE4-style third-person modes.

Rogue Mansion on Steam

About Top Hat Studios, Inc.

Top Hat Studios is your favorite publisher of fine indie delicacies, primarily supporting Japanese-inspired, retro-themed, and highly creative titles. As a company started by and working with grassroots developers and incubating developer talent, Top Hat Studios focuses on supporting games all the way from blockbuster productions through to niche and boutique experimentations.  Top Hat Studios’ diverse portfolio includes hits such as Silly Polly Beast, Crypt Custodian, Labyrinth of the Demon King, MOTORSLICE, Alisa, and many more.

Expansion adds a new Space map, more abilities for imposters to sabotage play, a chaotic “Old Maid” mode and more!

Bangkok, Thailand, December 8th, 2025 – Small independent developer Waka Studio has just launched a free Space themed update for their multiplayer bluffing and deception party game Cut That Wire, available on PC via Steam today. In space, no one can hear you scream, but betrayal and treachery echo loudly!

Cut That Wire’s latest update brings a variety of new features, including the all-new “Old Maid” mode, which brings the famous card game into the chaos! Players can now face off in the new Space Map, complete with an unlockable air-lock to eject suspects into the cosmos. Imposters gain even more disruptive power, including the ability to swap data with victims to confuse the party. 

General updates and balancing changes include setting a minimum of 3 players per match, introducing a Quick Match option for more convenient games. The update also expands and rebalances prompt datasets with fresh questions, and allows dead players to see one safe wire. Additionally, users can now customize game rules, including adjusting the number of imposter abilities and custom bomb countdown timers.

In Cut That Wire, you’re strapped to a bomb in a room with three others where one is secretly the imposter. Every ally could save you or seal your fate. Victims must unmask the traitor, whilst the imposter bluffs, deceives and manipulates to survive. Each round cranks up the pressure with “Big Bluff” mini-games: free sketch from prompts in ‘Big Bluff Drawing’, recall details in ‘Big Bluff Picture’, or swap cards in ‘Big Bluff Deck’ – while the imposter scrambles to stay convincing with mismatched information.

When the mini-games end, the real danger begins. After each game, players vote on who must cut a wire, then that chosen player must flip a coin to decide if they are cutting their own or someone else’s wire. Only the Engineer, a victim with a unique power, knows the one safe choice, while the imposter pushes the group towards fatal mistakes. With the bomb’s timer always ticking, every word and every glance could mean survival… or detonation.

About Waka Studio
WakaStudio, a small independent developer crafting multiplayer games where fun is everything and everything is fun. Passionate about creating immersive experiences that bring joy to players worldwide. Let’s play and level up the gaming world together!

Experience the thrill of tactical warfare with fully simulated physics and real-time destruction

Poland, December 8, 2025 – Developer Noobz from Poland today announced the next entry into their celebrated tank spectacle. Total Tank Simulator 2 is the next evolution of the Total Tank Simulator series – built on a modern, far more advanced physics engine that takes destruction to a whole new level.

Total Tank Simulator 2 is a physics-driven battle simulator where history, sci-fi, and fantasy collide. The extent of destruction is no longer limited, Total Tank Simulator 2 turns every structure, vehicle, and terrain element into a fully breakable object, allowing players to literally tear the battlefield apart piece by piece. 

A first gameplay trailer showing the manifold possibilities and the cathartic chaos of the upcoming demo can be seen below.

Total Tank Simulator 2 can be wishlisted on Steam:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3981460/Total_Tank_Simulator_2

A first playable demo of Total Tank Simulator 2 will be available on December 11, featuring two factions – WW2 Germany and the Soviet Union. Players can experience a snippet of the campaign and fight skirmishes on several maps which offer a taste of the game’s full-scale destruction.

Total Tank Simulator 2 offers a wide selection of factions, campaigns and skirmishes, as well as a spectacular mix of different scenarios and units. Players can stage fascinating matchups like WW2 tanks versus aliens or laser-equipped dinosaurs versus fantasy creatures. There’s something here for every fan of creative destruction.

Players build cross-universe armies, give them orders in real-time strategy style, or take direct control of any individual unit to join the chaos firsthand. Total Tank Simulator 2 blends sandbox freedom, RTS-level command and action gameplay into a single, highly replayable playground of destruction.

With modding support and Steam Workshop integration, the community can create and share their own maps, factions, and units, extending the sandbox experience endlessly.

Early access to Total Tank Simulator 2 is scheduled for Q4 2026. More information is available on the official website. 

Total Tank Simulator 2 is here to redefine the limits of excitement – so gear up and prepare to conquer the battlefield like never before!

About Total Tank Simulator 2

Total Tank Simulator II is the next major game being developed by Noobz from Poland. Building on the success of the first instalment, TTS2 offers more. More action, more destruction, more depth, and more variety. Whether in RTS-style gameplay or close to the chaos on the battlefield, players can experience the thrill of tactical warfare as they command their forces and adapt to ever-changing circumstances. The game also answers the question you’ve never dared to ask: What happens when a WW2 tank encounters heavily armed dinosaurs?

About Noobz from Poland

Noobz from Poland SA is a Warsaw-based indie game studio founded in 2016 by Jarosław Kotowski, who serves as the company CEO, and Juliusz Kopczewski, who served as CTO while working on the studio’s first title. The company made its mark with the original Total Tank Simulator (2020), a WWII battle simulator that sold almost 350,000 copies and was praised by players worldwide. While the studio’s previous titles achieved commercial success, working with external publishers limited Noobz from Poland’s control over post-release development and community support. Total Tank Simulator 2 marks a new chapter for the studio, as it is the first game to be fully developed and self-published by Noobz from Poland, ensuring complete creative freedom and a commitment to supporting the game and its community for years to come.

Unpack, unlock, and upgrade in laidback incremental title 

Helsinki, Finland (December 8, 2025) – Solo developer EVIL CORP GAMES is pleased to launch loot box clicker game Unboxathon on Windows PC via Steam! Unpack mystery boxes and sell items for profit in this relaxed indie game.

In this laidback incremental title, click your way through boxes of loot in the hunt for your missing childhood plush. Somewhere among the camo socks, used toothbrushes, and magical artifacts is your beloved teddy, you’ll just need to go through enough packaging to find it.

Pop satisfying bubbles to earn boxes, carve them open and rifle through the paper before selling the various items for profit. Use that profit to maximize your earnings and unlock upgrades, including ricocheting bubbles, higher quality boxes, and shiny variations of loot which are even more valuable. You can even sacrifice items for stickers (or find them with box opens) to get additional, stat-boosting bonuses.

Key Features of Unboxathon

• Pop ‘Til You Drop: Pop all manner of bubbles, big, small and with different gameplay effects and bonuses to earn additional mystery boxes.
• Literal Boxes Full of Loot: Open up boxes of different rarities, including “Magical Relics” or “Luxury Goods” to get increasingly valuable loot and shiny, collectible items.
• Upgrade, Upgrade, Upgrade: Sell those items for profit and use those earnings to unlock incremental upgrades affecting your bubble bonuses, special bubbles, box quality, and more.
• Stickers!: Collect randomly spawning stickers from boxes, including rare stickers representing bees and flowers. Complete your collection and enjoy bonuses along the way.

Unboxathon is available now on Windows PC via Steam for $6.99 USD, £5.89 GBP, and €6,89 EUR. A 20% launch discount is also available.

About EVIL CORP GAMES

Solo developer Skye began her coding journey aged just 11 years old, after getting their first computer. Nearly a decade of solo development followed before she released her first games in 2024, the absolutely quacking The Best Duck Clicker and idle fishing sim Grove Fisher. Her next game is Unboxathon, continuing their commitment to all things cozy, clicky, and cute. 

Unreal Engine 5 narrative adventure WILL: Follow the Light will launch simultaneously for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S in first half of 2026

Spokane, WA, USA – 8 December, 2025 – International independent game developer TomorrowHead Studio today confirmed the launch window for its highly anticipated Unreal Engine 5 narrative adventure, WILL: Follow The Light, announcing it will arrive on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S simultaneously in the first half of 2026.

TomorrowHead Studio also announced a new PC-exclusive open playtest featuring the game’s first 40-60 minutes of gameplay launching on 19 December. Players can register now for the WILL: Follow The Light Open Playtest via the button on the game’s Steam page.

About WILL: Follow The Light

WILL: Follow The Light is a story-driven, first-person adventure puzzle game about a perilous personal journey through the harsh northern latitudes. Players assume the role of Will, a lighthouse keeper on a remote island in the northern seas , whose routine is shattered when an unexpected radio message reveals a sudden disaster has struck his hometown and his only son is missing. Determined to find him, Will sets out on a journey aboard his sailing yacht, “Molly”.

Key Features of WILL: Follow The Light:

• A stunning northern wilderness – Breathtaking northern landscapes on land and sea, brought to life in Unreal Engine 5.
• Deep exploration and traversal systems – Realistic sailing and dog sledding mechanics allow players to explore a vast world. The game blends classic walking-sim gameplay with puzzles, set-piece moments, and lifelike traversal systems on sea and on land.
• A story of fathers and sons – A compelling narrative adventure in a mysterious setting, with puzzles, secrets, and revelations in every chapter. To find peace and reunite with his family, Will must sail across endless waters, face numerous challenges, and ultimately discover himself.
• Challenging puzzles and challenges – Players will solve puzzles rooted in real life, chart their path using an authentic weather station and lifelike navigation system, and traverse snowy trails by dog sled in search of answers.
• A cinematic adventure – Experience Will’s story through narration and environmental storytelling.
• Original soundtrack – An atmospheric blend of experimental textures and unique instruments, seamlessly weaving character themes into the world’s musical narrative.

“We’re excited to share a launch window for WILL: Follow The Light and to give players a chance to play the game with the Open Playtest,” said Roman Novikov, Founder and Game Director at TomorrowHead Studio. “In recent months we completed a series of closed playtests with more than 500 players to refine and perfect the Open Playtest and final game. We couldn’t have made it this far without our community’s feedback. We’re into the final stretch now, and we hope players will enjoy trying the game ahead of launch next year.”

Players can sign up for the WILL: Follow The LightOpen Playtest on Steam now and wishlist the game. PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S store pages will launch in 2026.

About TomorrowHead Studio
Headquartered in Spokane, Washington, TomorrowHead Studio is an independent, self-funded, and self-publishing game developer. Driven by a passion for travel, the team aims to share that enthusiasm with players by sending them on journeys to explore new places and worlds. With a strong background in CGI, they are eager to deliver realistic visuals and unique adventures, fully immersing players in the narratives they create.

Poznan, Poland – December 8th, 2025: The Polish Agency for Enterprise Development (PARP), together with the Game Industry Conference (GIC), has published The Game Industry of Poland, Report 2025, the latest edition of the most comprehensive publication on the Polish gamedev sector.

Although the study focuses on Poland, many of its findings highlight broader international trends and challenges affecting game developers across Europe and globally!

The report provides an in-depth overview of the industry, including:

• updated figures on the number of studios and people working in game development, 
• profiles, strengths, and specializations of the Polish production ecosystem, 
• financial breakdowns of revenues for Polish developers and publishers, 
• new comparisons with other European game industries, 
• A closer look at success stories such as Bloober Team, 
• market trends and challenges shaping the sector. 

This year’s report, along with previous years’ releases, is available here.

ABOUT GAME INDUSTRY CONFERENCE:

The Game Industry Conference (GIC) is one of the leading game industry events in Europe, bringing together professionals from across the globe. It features professional knowledge exchange, workshops, roundtables, a B2B exhibition area, GRIP-meetings, Geek Careers recruitment opportunities, and networking parties. Not to mention the Central and Eastern Europe Game Awards ceremony, GameDev Investment Forum, and many more. Since its beginnings in 2008. The GIC grew to become one of the most significant events in Europe, with its core focus on game development, gradually expanding to other industries within the technology sector. For more information, please visit https://gic.gd/.

“Everything Burns” by Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello featuring Beartooth Announced for Patch 7.4 Arcadion Raid Series, with Single Releasing 17th Dec.

5^th December, 2025 – Today, SQUARE ENIX revealed a slew of new information and announcements during the 90^th Letter from the Producer LIVE broadcast for FINAL FANTASY XIV Online Patch 7.4: ‘Into the Mist.’

The new trailer offers a fresh look at what to expect in the upcoming patch, including new main scenario quests, dungeon, trial, the final Arcadion raid tier, and much more. During the broadcast, Producer and Director Naoki Yoshida also showcased upcoming additions to the game previously revealed during a Letter from the Producer LIVE broadcast, including a new 72-player Frontline PvP campaign, Worqor Chirteh (Triumph), which will have teams contend over objectives while weather conditions threaten to turn the tide of battle at any moment, the Command Panel, a new UI element inspired by player feedback, and the Strategy Board, a long-awaited feature for parties of players to plan and utlise strategies while taking on formidable foes.

The Patch 7.4 trailer can be viewed below:

An archive of the broadcast (Japanese audio only) can be viewed here:https://www.twitch.tv/videos/2635875120?t=0h38m3s.  

Further details on Patch 7.4 can be found below: 

• New Main Scenario Quests　
• New Dungeon – Mistwake　
• New Trial – Hell on Rails – Includes both Normal and Extreme modes 
• New Raid Tier – The Arcadion: Heavyweight – includes both Normal and Savage modes
• Note:Savage difficulty will be released on Tuesday 6^th January 2026

• New Unreal Trial – Tsukuyomi’s Pain (Unreal): Take on Tsukuyomi, at level 100　
• Duty Support Additions – Support for the Dzemael Darkhold and Aurum Vale will be added
• Occult Crescent Update – 3 new Phantom Jobs (Mystic Knight, Dancer and Gladiator) and the introduction of accessories that include set bonuses
• Further Cosmic Tool Enhancement
• Glamour System Updates – Removal of level/class/job-restrictions on gear for glamour purposes, allowing players to glamour the appearance of gear regardless of previous level, class, and job restrictions.
• Due to the impact on character animations, weapons and tools can only be equipped by the corresponding class/job 

• PvP Updates – The start of PvP Series 10, existing action adjustments, and the addition of a new Frontline campaign: Worqor Chirteh (Triumph)
• Miscellaneous Updates – Gold Saucer updates, new UI colour themes (Clear White, Clear Green), Strategy Board, Command Panel, and more!

Yoshida also outlined content set to arrive in Patch 7.41 and 7.45, including: 

• Phantom Weapon Updates (Patch 7.41)
• Cosmic Exploration – New Planet – Oizys (Patch 7.41) – The latest planet for crafters and gatherers to explore, as well as new rewards and system updates
• New Variant Dungeon (Patch 7.45) – Merchant’s Tale – Players can enjoy the content with different ways to play and difficulty levels to suit their playstyles
• Inconceivably Further Hildibrand Adventures (Patch 7.45)

For more information on the Patch 7.4x series, visit: https://eu.finalfantasyxiv.com/dawntrail/patch_7_4

Patch 7.4 arrives with the latest tier of the Arcadion raid series alongside a brand-new track from the mind of Grammy Award-winning artist Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave, Prophets of Rage) featuring Caleb Shomo (Beartooth).  
 
The track, titled “Everything Burns” is set to feature on Tom Morello’s new album, also available as a standalone single on Wednesday 17^th December and is showcased in the “AAC Heavyweight M4” and “AAC Heavyweight M4 (Savage)” raid encounters. The track itself is the result of a conversation from long-time friend of Tom Morello and a name familiar to the world of FFXIV in Jason Charles Miller, vocalist for some of the most iconic FFXIV tracks such as “Close in the Distance” and “To the Edge”. After sharing FFXIV Sound Director and Composer Masayoshi Soken’s passion for Tom’s music, the wheels were set in motion resulting in the hard-hitting, ear-splitting track revealed today. 

A preview of the track, presented by Tom Morello can be viewed below:

Information on ticket sales for FINAL FANTASY XIV Fan Festival 2026 in Berlin, Germany was also announced. Beginning Friday 6^th February 2026 at 9:00pm AEDT through Monday 16^th February 2026 at 9:59am AEDT, players with active subscriptions who possess a European Square Enix account will be able to register their desire to purchase via the application form while it is available. Following the application period, a random ticket draw will commence and players who are selected to purchase a ticket will be contacted starting Friday 20^th February 2026. Any remaining tickets after the player-exclusive purchase period ends will be sold during the general sales period. For more information on ticket sales for FINAL FANTASY XIV Fan Festival 2026 in Berlin, visit: https://sqex.to/7rQFT

With more than 30 million total registered accounts, there has never been a better time for newcomers to begin their adventures in the critically acclaimed FINAL FANTASY XIV Online saga. The Free Trial includes all content from A Realm Reborn, the Heavensward and Stormblood expansions (and updates through Patch 4.58). Free Trial players can enjoy hundreds of hours of award-winning gameplay and story experiences equivalent to three full FINAL FANTASY titles, without limit on playtime. More information can be found at: https://sqex.to/FFXIVFreeTrial

About Square Enix Ltd.

Square Enix Ltd. develops, publishes, distributes and licenses SQUARE ENIX® and TAITO® branded entertainment content in Europe and other PAL territories as part of the Square Enix group of companies. The Square Enix group of companies boasts a valuable portfolio of intellectual property including: FINAL FANTASY™, which has sold over 207 million units worldwide; DRAGON QUEST®, which has sold over 95 million units worldwide; and the legendary SPACE INVADERS®. Square Enix Ltd. is a London-based, wholly owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd.

More information on Square Enix Ltd. can be found at https://square-enix-games.com

“Gotta Goo Fast!”

AUSTRALIA — Dec. 2, 2025 — Gooey, the sticky precision platformer with a stretchy lab-grown hero from developer Turbo Pixel Studios, splats onto PC/Mac via Steam on Wednesday, Jan. 21, as revealed during the Best Indie Games Winter Showcase 2025.

Science has advanced humanity’s comfort, health, and longevity. Yet Gooey bravely puts forth a theory of its own: “What if science went wrong and it made a little gooey guy with a stretchy, sticky arm perfect for platforming shenanigans? That would be pretty cool, right?” Test the theory in 50+ physics-driven platforming levels set in a hazard-filled lab that would absolutely fail any type of safety inspection. Slingshot over pits, squish through tubes, and get Gooey out!

Reach for the sky with that goopy lil’ arm to string together satisfying movement combos. Zip from one end of the lab to the other by maintaining momentum with Gooey’s tight controls. Seek out the L, A, and B letters hidden throughout each level to claim ultimate bragging rights – Go for the Gold as Gooey!

Concoct completely custom science experiments with the built-in Level Editor (with full Steam Workshop support)! Create chill obstacle courses to run and jump to, speedrunning races against the clock, or downright evil precision gauntlets built to split any goo in two. Enjoy a slew of community creations at your sticky fingertips!

“Though he may appear tiny, Gooey embodies our passion for retro pixel platforming classics come to life, so we assure he is mighty as well,” said Ben Darling, Turbo Pixel Studios co-founder. “For years we’ve wanted to deliver a high-quality 2.5D indie platformer to stand alongside other platforming greats, so we can’t wait for everyone to meet Gooey on Jan. 21, and try out players’ custom creations from the level editor!”

Gooey launches on PC/Mac via Steam on Wednesday, Jan. 21. For more information, visit the official Gooey website.

About Turbo Pixel Studios

Turbo Pixel Studios is a two-man independent game development studio founded and operated by veteran game developers Phil Brown and Ben Darling. After more than 20 years of game development experience on licensed IPs like Scooby-Doo and Shrek and on titles like Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (PS2/Wii), Phil and Ben formed Turbo Pixel Studios as their passion project. Their first title Reflex Arena combined modern FPS gameplay and speed with the precision and freedom of a 90s shooter, and amassed a cult following. Now, Gooey serves as a celebration of the freedom they feel when working on original IP.

Ultimate Zombie Defense launches on PlayStation 5 on December 4. This intense top-down shooter mixes survival horror with tactical action. Players can build advanced bases, use a variety of weapons, and face different types of zombies. The game is also out on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.

Developed by the independent studio Terror Dog Studio, the game was initially released on PC. On Steam, it currently holds an 86% positive review rating based on approximately 1,400 player reviews. The console versions were developed and published by Ultimate Games S.A.

PlayStation Store Link – https://store.playstation.com/en-us/concept/10013984

Zombie Hordes Arrive on PlayStation 5

Ultimate Zombie Defense, developed by Terror Dog Studio, is a top-down shooter that combines the atmosphere of survival horror with tactical action gameplay. A key feature is its advanced base-building system, which enables players to construct fences, barbed wire, sandbags, mines, and defensive turrets.

Players assume the role of an elite soldier deployed to regions overrun by a zombie outbreak. The setting is a European city isolated from the outside world due to the infection. The primary objective is to locate and eliminate the source of the zombie epidemic.

The game includes 12 distinct types of zombies and unique boss encounters. Players can utilize a wide range of weapons, such as a shotgun, flamethrower, grenade launcher, and minigun, to combat the undead.

Ultimate Zombie Defense – Key Features:

• Hardcore shooter
• Survival horror experience
• Advanced base-building system
• 8 playable characters
• 12 zombie types and unique bosses

Ultimate Zombie Defense is now available on PlayStation 5. The standard price for the console version is $7.99 USD or EUR, depending on the region.