Deepward could be the next great dark shooter
Doom: The Dark Ages received its substantial Revelations expansion on 7 July. However, Microsoft announced layoffs at id Software almost half a year? No—the announcement came the day before the expansion launched, with almost half of the studio’s employees affected. A later update reassured fans that the team still had “the crew we need to build the games and tech we’re known for”, although uncertainty around the series remains understandable.
One promising alternative is Deepward, a fast-paced first-person shooter built around roguelite systems. Its wounds carry lasting importance, and death is presented as a genuinely fatal setback rather than a minor inconvenience. Fans of intense arcade gaming news may want to keep this one on their radar.
A brutal shooter set beneath a cursed mansion
The announcement trailer shows dual-wielding characters forcing their way through doors, cutting and shooting into zombie hordes, and disturbing the environment around them. One sequence features candles being knocked aside to disrupt a red-painted pentagram. Whether the substance is paint or blood is left deliberately unclear.
The action takes place in the Depths, a nightmarish setting that combines a sinister mansion with an enormous underground maze. Torture chambers and rivers of acid add to the danger, while the enemies include roaring monstrosities that would feel at home in a classic demon-blasting FPS.
Players will be able to move between six different characters. Each has individual weapons, abilities and health meters, giving the party more variety than a single interchangeable protagonist.
Sanity is another enemy
Deepward also borrows the idea of a sanity system from Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem. As a group of veteran mercenaries pushes farther into a cursed estate in the Carpathian forests, the danger extends beyond physical attacks.
Hallucinations, warped visuals, unnatural whispers and mounting psychological pressure blur the boundary between reality and madness. The experience aims to make the setting itself feel hostile, with its tension rising alongside the pounding soundtrack.
That combination of aggressive shooting, horror atmosphere and mental disorientation gives Deepward a distinct identity. It is less a straightforward military shooter than a descent into a place where retreat may no longer be possible.
When can Australians play Deepward?
The main uncertainty is the launch timing. Echofall Games is targeting Steam for 2027, but no narrower release window has been announced. A demo is available for players who want an early look.
Echofall Games includes key developers who previously worked on projects at Madfinger Games and HGames-ArtWorks. The team is clearly pursuing the grim subject matter and relentless pace associated with the strongest entries in the Doom tradition.
While Deepward is not an arcade release, its immediate weapons, enemy-heavy encounters and readable character roles could appeal to fans choosing a dedicated arcade shooter setup. For anyone planning a home gaming space, RETROCADE’s arcade machine buying guide is also a useful starting point.
What to know at a glance
- Genre: Fast-paced first-person shooter with roguelite mechanics
- Setting: A cursed estate, labyrinthine Depths and the Carpathian forests
- Playable cast: Six characters with individual weapons, abilities and health meters
- Developer: Echofall Games, with talent from Madfinger Games and HGames-ArtWorks
- Release: Planned for Steam in 2027, with a demo currently available
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