[California – January 15] –   Prepare to enter Tomb of the Bloodletter, a strategic typing roguelike where combat is less about min-maxing builds and more about pulling off the perfect word at exactly the right moment. The game launches on PC via Steam on February 5, 2026, developed by solo developer Ethan’s Secretions, with a demo available now.

Tomb of the Bloodletter is a roguelike built entirely around typing, turning the keyboard into an arsenal and every word into a potential weapon. When players enter a floor, Magicks are assigned directly to individual letters, each obeying strange and specific rules. A letter may strike harder when placed at the end of a word, another might restore health, while other Magicks punish certain patterns or combinations, requiring careful consideration of not just what word to spell, but how it is constructed.

The game is structured like a traditional roguelike, with tightly paced, randomized runs lasting around 30 minutes that end in either victory or defeat. Rather than focusing on long-term build optimization, the experience emphasizes the moment-to-moment puzzle each turn presents. Players always have access to their full keyboard, with Magicks shaping how letters behave rather than limiting which words can be played. Success isn’t about having the largest vocabulary, but about tactical combinations, sequencing magick-infused letters at the right time to turn volatile interactions into powerful tools.

Each run sends players into a shifting, cursed tomb as one of four ill-fated grave robbers, each bringing unique quirks and abilities that twist the rules of combat. No matter who enters the tomb, survival is never clean, easy, or guaranteed. Every descent reshapes the dungeon, forcing adaptation as new threats and challenges emerge. The tomb crawls with cursed beasts, deceitful specters, and entities best left unspoken, each handcrafted with unique mechanics that demand clever thinking and precise wordplay to overcome. As runs progress, new Magicks are acquired whether players want them or not, slowly transforming the keyboard into an unstable spellbook that serves as both weapon and liability.

Players can get an early taste of the tomb ahead of launch with a playable demo available now on Steam, featuring the first two grave robbers.

ABOUT ETHAN’S SECREATIONS 

Ethan’s Secretions is a solo indie developer who enjoys experimenting with genres to create unusual, handcrafted games. His work focuses on interesting systems, playful characters, and thoughtful combat that rewards curiosity and creativity.

ABOUT INDIE.IO

indie.io is home to over 100 of the world’s best independent video games and developers. Our platform was built to provide independent developers with the resources, services, and management tools needed for success. Through collaboration and passion, we strive to cultivate a diverse and vibrant gaming landscape that resonates with players and creators alike!

Fix Up Cars & Race Them On The Streets When Underground Garage Hits 1.0 On January 27

Duesseldorf/Germany, January 15, 2026 – Developer BeardedBrothers.Games and publisher astragon Entertainment, subsidiary of everplay group plc, are delighted to announce that their exciting blend of car tuning simulator meets open world street racing sim, Underground Garage, is speeding to a 1.0 release on January 27, 2026 on Steam. The 1.0 release will include a hefty tune up for the game, including more cars, an even larger engine selection, three race modes (practice, time attack and race), the completion of the main campaign, enhanced procedural missions and more.

Underground Garage lets you raid junkyards for old parts and cars, delve deep under the hood to repair and tweak every conceivable aspect of your vehicles, give them custom paint jobs, then take them out into an open world to take on exciting street racing challenges. Every car is assembled from dozens of parts, featuring realistic engine damage and body damage from impacts. Experience the zen of true simulation as you bring cars to life with precision and care. 

The game features a full campaign where you are thrust into the role of a garage owner. After a gang tied to illegal racing and smuggling leads to the original garage owner missing, it’s up to you and your colleague Deb to take the wheel, restore the garage and solve the dangerous mystery. Unlock new tools and workstations as the story progresses and you upgrade your garage, then use those unlocks to further tweak your roster of cars. 

“Just as the players in our game have enjoyed constantly tweaking and upgrading their cars, we’ve made tons of changes to Underground Garage during its time in Early Access,” says Olaf Sobczyński, CTO and Producer at BeardedBrothers.Games. “We’ve completely overhauled the driving physics, updated the map, added new vehicles, engines, missions and more. With the new features we’re adding in the 1.0 release, the game being launched on January 27 is a finely tuned beast!”

About astragon Entertainment GmbH
Founded in 1998, astragon Entertainment GmbH, a subsidiary of everplay plc, is a leading German games developer, publisher and distributor of sophisticated ‘working’ simulation games, focusing on non-violent cooperative gameplay with very detailed, technical, and realistic environments. Since 2023, astragon Development (formerly Independent Arts Software) has been part of astragon Entertainment. With over 30 years of experience, the German development studio has a long-standing track record of creating successful commercial games across a variety of genres.

astragon’s internationally well-known IPs include Construction Simulator, Bus Simulator, and Firefighting Simulator. The distribution of high-quality licensed and distribution products such as Farming Simulator and Roadcraft complete its attractive
product range. astragon games are available world-wide on many different platforms such as consoles, smartphones, tablets, and PC. Visit www.astragon.com for more information.

About BeardedBrothers.Games
BeardedBrothers.Games was founded in 2018 by brothers Darek and Lukasz Skrzypkowski in Warsaw, Poland. The company makes games that use procedural generation to create immersive gameplay with high replayability and prides itself on creating projects together with the gaming community. Visit https://beardedbrothers.games/ for more information

Play the port sim’s Steam demo now and master the skills of dockwork with a towering range of realistic vehicles

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Jan. 15, 2026 – Today Saber Interactive, the studio that brought you excitingly challenging sim hits like SnowRunner and RoadCraft, has released a new Heavy Machinery Trailer for Docked, the realistic port simulation game coming later this year to PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. In this latest gameplay video, you’ll meet the eight steel beasts that play a vital role in making the bustling Port Wake run like clockwork. From the ground level all the way up to the top of the stacks, you’ll take command of these massive machines, loading, unloading, moving, lifting, storing and transferring tons of cargo to bring Port Wake back to life after a devastating hurricane.

Working the docks ain’t easy, but with the right tools, you’ll get the job done!

Docked will launch with eight dynamic port vehicles: the STS (Ship-to-Shore) Crane, Reach Stacker, Straddle Carrier, Terminal Tractor, Hopper, RMG (Rail-Mounted Gantry) Crane, RTG (Rubber-Tired Gantry) Crane, and MHC (Mobile Harbor Crane). Each is expertly engineered with the raw power and precise handling needed to fulfill your contracts.

Ready to prove you’ve got what it takes?! Docked’s free Steam demo is out now and has already generated loads of buzz from players around the world.

Test your skills at the height of the storm with three unique vehicles. Unload dangerous cargo from a distressed vessel using the giant Ship-to-Shore Crane, move cargo to the storage yard with the Straddle Carrier, and handle hazardous freight and containers under pressure with the Reach Stacker.

So what are you waiting for – roll up your sleeves and let’s get to work revitalizing Port Wake!

Play Docked’s Steam demo today and wishlist the game on Steam, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.

About Saber Interactive

Saber Interactive is a worldwide publisher and developer consisting of 15 studios in the Americas and Europe. Creating games for all major platforms based on original and licensed IPs, Saber’s titles includeWarhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando, Jurassic Park: Survival, Turok: Origins, Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival, World War Z, SnowRunner, Expeditions: A MudRunner Game, A Quiet Place: The Road Ahead, Bus Bound, Docked,and RoadCraft. Founded in 2001, Saber is known for two decades of development partnerships with leading developers and publishers, including producing The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt for Nintendo Switch, Halo: The Master Chief Collection, Crysis Remastered, and many others. Learn more at https://saber.games.

90s classics inspired survival horror meets turn-based tactics gameplay

January 15, 2026 – Independent developer Team Vultures and publisher Firesquid Games are proud to announce that their tactical turn-based survival horror Vultures – Scavengers of Death, will release a demo on Steam this February 12. As an operative of the VULTURES mercenary unit, you will scavenge the infested metropolis for materials and information that could cure the infection plaguing the world.

The game puts you in the shoes of two agents, each with their own combat styles and customize their load out before entering a mission. Once inside, choose your tactics carefully. You may not want to engage in every battle, sneaking can be a viable option but when you do engage, you must rely on your tactical training in turn-based combat. Aim for vital spots or disable opponents to slow them down. Use any method to get out alive with the target.

Content of the Demo

The demo will give access to the very first mission of the game which takes place in a Police Station. The playable character is Leopoldo, 3 different weapons will be available in this mission (combat knife, pistol, shotgun). The average Playtime when you are new to the game is roughly ~45 minutes to play the whole mission.

Leopoldo is on a mission to investigate the last location where Thiago Schultz, a scientist who worked for Eugenesys Corporation, sought refuge one day before the incident (outbreak). He must investigate the station for any records or evidence Thiago may have left behind. This could be the first lead toward understanding what really happened…

Scavenge a Ruined City

The city is full of information left behind after the infection. Piece together a path to the cure by extracting relics, notes and items from various locations, each with their own obstacles. Survive along the way by scavenging for any tools that can aid you, keys to unlock your way and new weapons to expand your skills.

Classic Survival Horror

Inspired by some of the most foundational Survival Horror franchises like Resident Evil; Vultures embraces a retro PS1 aesthetic and mechanics that lead to a tense, horror filled exploration. Isolated as a single agent in the dark halls of the city, every choice could lead to a successful mission or death.

Salento Valley – Ground Zero

A once bustling metropolis, Salento Valley now lies as a desolate battleground in the wake of a bio-hazard disaster. As a VULTURES operative, you will face increasingly challenging odds as you make your way through the city’s ruins. Horrifying mutants and abominations lay in wait for fresh blood like you.

About Vultures Team

Mateo and Giovanni are a pair of friends and colleagues who have been creating games and software together for over 9 years. They stand out for crafting experimental mechanics and embracing a retro and unconventional artistic style. Occasionally, their games incorporate touches of social and political critique, often questioning consumer society and rampant capitalism.

About Firesquid

Firesquid is a developer-focused publisher helping teams realize their vision. We form deep and trust-based relationships with our partners. Firesquid aims to create a catalog of strategy titles that modernize and revisit the genre while delighting our players the world over.

Paris, France, January 15, 2026 – 5 Bits Games today releases DeadCore Redux on PC on Steam, inviting players to take on the Tower’s trials in a high-speed FPS-platformer built around precision, momentum, and mastery. As a thank you to original climbers of the Tower, players who own the 2014 DeadCore on Steam will automatically receive a 40% loyalty discount on DeadCore Redux at launch.

DeadCore Redux drops you into a colossal structure hanging in the void, where every jump, shot, and Dash drives you toward one objective: reach the Summit and break the Cycle. After an endless fall through magnetic storms, you wake with no memories facing a massive Tower in the mist, and each level turns that ascent into a dense mix of moving platforms, traps, and patrolling entities that reward bold, fast routes and clean runs.

At the core of DeadCore Redux stands the SwitchGun, a versatile tool that lets you toggle platforms, gravity fields, and patrolling entities in real time, tying every shot to your movement as you chain dashes, unlock upgrades, and turn safe routes into high-speed lines with new shortcuts and secret areas. The game pushes you to master each level, learning routes and refining timing until runs feel seamless, while Sparks unlock challenging bonus stages, Logs reveal the Tower’s past explorers, and music tracks feed into a custom Speedrun Mode playlist. A dedicated Speedrun Mode with online leaderboards, extra Sparks levels tuned for optimization, and a tiered rank system that scores your performance turns the climb into a true playground for routing and competition. 

Rediscover DeadCore

DeadCore Redux is a remaster of the 2014 FPS-Platformer DeadCore.

Original Key Features:

• Explore a mysterious world composed of immense and staggering levels with many secret passages to discover.
• Find new powers, upgrades, and lore elements to reveal the secrets of the Tower.
• Unlock 10 Sparks Levels to challenge other players in Speedrun mode.
• Immerse yourself in an atmospheric journey thanks to a lengthy soundtrack ranging from ambient to dubstep.

Redux New Key Features:

• New Graphics: Entirely remade in the Unity HDRP engine featuring modern PBR lighting and volumetric effects, new 3D models and textures, revamped VFX, and a new UI.
• New Audio: Completely revamped SFX, a remastered soundtrack, and improved audio mixing for more immersion and clarity.
• The “Gateway”: A new gigantic Story level to complete before reaching the game’s true ending.
• Solo Rank System: A new offline rank system granting badges for each level based on your performance.
• Gamepad Support: Dedicated gameplay code and UI for game controllers.

Play DeadCore Redux now on Steam.

Fabien di Pardo, Art Director, commented: “With DeadCore Redux, we wanted to keep the soul and difficulty of the original game while making it feel fresh, sharper, and more readable for today’s players.” 

Adrien Pelov, Level Designer, added: “The Tower is more atmospheric than ever, the controls are tighter, and we’ve added new content and features for speedrunners who really want to push their limits.”

About 5 Bits Games

5 Bits Games is an independent game studio based in France, founded in 2014 by a group of former ENJMIN students. The team first released the FPS-platformer DeadCore and has since worked on several other games in the industry. With DeadCore Redux and new projects, 5 Bits Games continues to focus on tight, skill-based first-person experiences that blend platforming, precision, and atmospheric worldbuilding.

Behold a modern take on an era-defining genre with digitized 2D sprites and intense action.

[January 15, 2025] – Award-winning actor and filmmaker Charles Davis and his studio Chunkle Freaky’s Movies Games is proud to announce the studio’s first video game, Obey the Insect God! Coming to PC later this year, Obey the Insect God is your time machine back to the beloved digitized sprites of the late 1990’s. With live-action characters placed into the lair of the Insect God, this one is throwing it back to the classic games you love from the ’90s. Enter if you dare.

Step into the role of a lone warrior in this 2D platforming narrative that takes heavy inspiration from the Kalevala, the national epic of Finland. Fight your way through the lair to find answers that oftentimes create more questions. Difficult fights, powerful boss battles, and mysteries galore await you in Obey the Insect God.

Key Features:

• Digitized Sprites Bring the Lair to Life: With digitized sprites created by live action video clips and photos that were then collaged together and animated into the game, Obey the Insect God throws it back to the height of the ’90s arcade craze.
• Embark on a Retro-Inspired 2D Narrative: Based on the national poem of Finland, the story is as deep as the Insect God’s lair, with live actors, full voice acting, and secrets revealed every step of the way.
• Discover and Deliver Unmatched Fighting Combos: With a variety of enemies and boss types, you’ll need to unlock powers and abilities to survive the lair. Master the timing, the blocking, and the combos to unleash brutal beatdowns on anyone and anything that stands in your way.
• Explore the Lair of the Insect God Your Way: Obey the Insect God features over two dozen unique zones that include a multitude of rooms for you to take the fight to. And with nearly every traversal mechanic available from the start, you can platform your way through the lair in whatever way you see fit. 

The lair of the Insect God is full of danger and terror, so wishlist Obey the Insect God on Steam now to prepare! Stay tuned for more updates as we get closer and closer to the day you can finally uncover the mysteries the lair has to offer.

About Chunkle Freaky’s Movies Games

Chunkle Freaky’s Movie Games is an indie game company in New Jersey. Founded by Charles Davis originally for his indie film projects (including the critically acclaimed Eddie Glum and Tender Kisses), Chunkle Freaky’s specializes in surrealist and offbeat story-driven games. Obey the Insect God is the first video game to be produced by the company.

You have a very specific set of skills… Very specific.

Berlin, Germany – January 15, 2026 | Indie developer Indifferent Penguin is excited to announce that its upcoming high-octane, American football-infused action game Tackle for Loss is launching on PC on 5 February 2026 — just a few days prior to the, somewhat less violent, Super Bowl.

Drawing inspiration from the likes of Hotline Miami and Taken, Tackle for Loss sees players take on the role of a former American football pro battling through a criminal underworld in order to rescue his kidnapped daughter. Bruised, broken, and haunted by concussions, players will have to use raw instinct and explosive strength to make it through the journey unscathed.

Tackle for Loss has a fast and brutal combat system inspired by American football’s four-down rule: limited moves, no room for error, keep moving forward at all costs. With only four offensive actions available on each floor of these multi-story building stages, players will need to study the layout of the rooms ahead of them, plan their route, and then commit to the drive. 

Every character in the game, including the main protagonist, will die in one hit, making every floor a high-stakes puzzle of speed and accuracy. Rapid restarts allow players to immediately get back into the action, honing their strategy for the ultimate run.

“I created Tackle for Loss because I love fast, aggressive action games that feel incredible in the hands,” said developer Daniel Wichterich. “I wanted to create a game that captured the raw energy and violence of American football, but from a completely different angle.”

Tackle for Loss launches on PC on 5 February 2026, and can be wishlisted on Steam.

About Indifferent Penguin Indifferent Penguin is a German independent game studio based in Berlin and founded by solo game developer Daniel Wichterich. Its debut title, Tackle for Loss, is supported by funding from the Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, a German film and media funding agency, and will launch in February 2026.

Experience where the story began with a limited-time 35% discount on SANABI  in celebration of the DLC launch on the Nintendo eShop

SOUTH KOREA – January 15, 2026 – Published by NEOWIZ and developed by Wonder Potion, SANABI: A Haunted Day is now available for free via digital download globally on the Nintendo eShop. Since its PC release in November, the expansion has received overwhelmingly positive reviews for the prequel chapter centered on Major Song during her first encounter with the Brigadier General. 

SANABI: A Haunted Day features non-stop action, complete with combat that utilizes jumps and aerial shotgun attacks, and a solid storyline that lasts approximately two hours. To celebrate its arrival on console platforms, the base game will be available with a 35% discount on the Nintendo eShop for two weeks, until Wednesday, Jan. 28.

“For the fans who originally played SANABI on the Nintendo Switch, we can’t wait for them to experience this new side story as they dive deeper into the game’s universe,” said a NEOWIZ representative. “We will continue to leverage NEOWIZ’s differentiated publishing capabilities to help indie games achieve global success on console and PC platforms.”

The SANABI franchise is part of NEOWIZ’s publishing initiative, which includes indie titles such as Shape of Dreams, Goodbye Seoul and more. NEOWIZ remains committed to working with developers to publish a diverse catalog of games across console, PC and mobile. To learn more about NEOWIZ’s publishing initiatives, please visit the NEOWIZ website.

About NEOWIZ
Established in 1997, NEOWIZ is a global leader in gaming, renowned for blending remarkable storytelling with exceptional gameplay mechanics. With a legacy spanning over two decades, NEOWIZ has solidified its position as one of Korea’s foremost game companies, captivating audiences worldwide with diverse PC, consoles and mobile titles. Recent successes include Lies of P, DJMAX RESPECT, SANABI, Shape of Dreams and Cats & Soup, all emblematic of NEOWIZ’s commitment to excellence and gamers worldwide. Welcome to NEOWIZ, where legends come to life.

About WONDER POTION
WONDER POTION is a team of five passionate video-game enthusiasts with a shared goal of creating “wondrous” experiences through video games. The team created the studio while they were still in college, and their passion and drive for video game development are unrivaled. SANABI was the team’s first project.

Bubba plushies currently available for pre-order!

Brisbane, Australia – January 15th, 2025 – Indie game developer 5 Lives Studios has brought its beloved wholesome traveling merchant adventure Cozy Caravan to Switch today, one week after its 1.0 launch on Steam and Apple Arcade.

For a limited time players can pre-order plushies of fan-favorite character and everyone’s best bud Bubba, courtesy of toy manufacturer Yootooz. The Bubba plushie will be available for another 3 weeks for $29.99 (plus shipping).These plushies are 9 inches tall and offer emotional support wherever you go!

“We know Cozy Caravan‘s Switch release saw a slight delay at the 11th hour, so we want to thank our Nintendo-inclined fans for their patience. Rest assured that this is the complete Cozy Caravan experience and we believe traveling through Harvestvale helping its denizens is an evergreen experience,” said Dean Ferguson, Creative Lead on Cozy Caravan and Co-Founder of 5 Lives Studios.

More about Cozy Caravan:
Cozy Caravan lets you embark on an expedition where the arts of crafting, trading, and exploration come together in an enchanting, adorable world. Create your own cuddly alter-ego and explore open roads with your trusty caravan alongside your best buddy Bubba, setting up mobile markets as you sojourn from town to town. Craft a variety of items through delightful mini-games, then set up your market and trade with the locals. 

Experience the warmth of small-town charm with every friendly gesture along the way. Encounter a rich tapestry of characters with their own stories and quests, deepening the sense of connection and community on your travels.  Stop and say hello to the local townsfolk and join in on fun activities. And keep an eye out, you never know where you might find someone who could use a lift! 

Since its Steam Early Access launch in May 2024, Cozy Caravan courted quite the acclaim, where it’s accrued an average “Very Positive” user rating across over 550 players and won for Excellence in Sound Design at the 2024 Australian Game Developer Awards. In that time it’s received three major updates, adding massive new areas like Harvestvale, Cottonbluff Cove, and Bayside – each bringing all new characters, quests, and cute, cozy vibes!

About 5 Lives Studios
5 Lives Studios was founded by five industry veterans in 2013. Having worked together in various studios for almost a decade, they decided to set out on their own independent venture to create the games they’ve always wanted to make, beginning with their debut game Satellite Reign. Between them, they’ve worked on a wide variety of genres and properties, including Syndicate, Grand Theft Auto, Darksiders, Star Wars, and more.

Up to 1.000 eligible participants can win a Steam key for the action adventure Vampires: Bloodlord Rising

Oberhaching, Germany, January 15, 2026 – To mark and celebrate the upcoming release of the open world action adventure Vampires: Bloodlord Rising, developer Mehuman Games and Publisher Toplitz Productions are inviting players who are already planning to donate blood to participate in a special key giveaway.

Anyone who plans to donate blood at a certified donation center until January 30, 2026, can submit a short declaration through the Blood4Bloodlord website. While supplies last, participants of the raffle can receive a free digital Steam key for Vampires: Bloodlord Rising. Participation in this giveaway is non-compulsory and based on the voluntary blood donation. The full terms and privacy details are available on the website.

Every eligible participant can win one of 1.000 Steam keys for Vampires: Bloodlord Rising. The keys with an overall value of over 30.000€/30.000$ will be made available on the release day, when the game enters Early Access on January 30, 2026.

In Vampires: Bloodlord Rising, blood is a central gameplay element, powering your imposing castle and unlocking new areas as you expand your grip over the gloomy land of Sangavia. In real-life, blood donations have an even greater impact, with one donation being able to help save up to three lives. For those already planning to donate, the #Blood4Bloodlord campaign offers a way to combine a good deed in the real world with a bit of virtual adventure, as players try to become a true Bloodlord.

About the game:

In the dark open-world adventure Vampires: Bloodlord Rising you awaken as a Vampire Lord. Build and customize your castle. Hunt for blood, fight, craft, and gather. Command your loyal servants. Shapeshift into a bat to explore the night and survive the relentless Inquisition, solo or in 4-player co-op.

You awaken from slumber as a weakened vampire lord in the cursed land of Sangavia. Rebuild your fallen castle. Its heart, the Castle Core, is still pulsing with ancient hunger. Fuel the Core with blood to unlock new regions, discover hidden areas shrouded in mist, and reclaim your power in a dark action-adventure with castle building, exploration and RPG elements.

Rebuild your fortress and shape it to your will – with towering halls, secret chambers, and gothic spires rising from the night. Your castle is your refuge, your power, and the true symbol of your growing dominion. The world is filled with prey. Feed on humans and beasts that roam the night to regain your strength and fuel your dark rituals. Command loyal vampire thralls to serve your will – from crafting, hunting, and building to protecting your dark empire.

Vampires: Bloodlord Rising will be available on PC in Early Access on January 30, 2026. More information on the game can be found on the official Steam product page. Or join our official Discord to get the latest info and developments not only on the bloodsucking action adventure but all the exciting titles from Toplitz Productions.

About Mehuman Games
Mehuman Games is a team of nearly twenty professionals – from artists to gameplay designers to programmers. At the heart of this passionate group are members of the former Movie Games Lunarium – the studio responsible for the undeniably successful games Lust from Beyond and Lust for Darkness. Currently we are combining our passion for telling unique stories with the latest technological solutions of the Unreal 5 engine to venture into the opportunities of combining epic storytelling with open world sandbox gameplay. 

About Toplitz Productions
The German-Austrian publisher, whose name originates from the mysterious Toplitz Lake in the heart of Austria, develops and publishes games with “heart & soul” for all platforms. The company consists of a healthy mix of experienced industry veterans and young talents, all of whom are passionate gamers. They enjoy working with creative developers on many exciting titles, such as those from the “Dynasty” and “Giant” series.