Monday Was an Indie Bloodbath: We Got Deckbuilders, DS Horror, Ghosts, and Musket Fire All at Once

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Written By NLM Team

Holy crap, slow down! Usually, Monday is a wasteland for new releases, but yesterday just dropped a whole damn feast on us. We got cards, cult classics reborn, cooperative spookiness, and eighteenth-century strategy, all hitting Steam on October 27th. My backlog is weeping already.

Seriously, it's a good spread. Whether you're into roguelikes, shitting your pants in the dark, yelling at ghosts with your friends, or meticulously managing musket supplies, Monday delivered something fresh to chew on. Let's break down the menu.

Decktamer: Gotta Tame 'Em All (Literally)

First up, hitting Steam yesterday, is Decktamer. This one's mashing up two genres I have a crippling addiction to: deck-building roguelikes and monster catching. You dive into some abyss, fight weird creatures, and instead of just getting cards handed to you, you tame the enemies to add their cards to your deck.

The catch? If one of your creature cards dies in battle, it's gone forever. Permadeath for your cards? Brutal. I love it. It's turn-based, and apparently, you can even transfer abilities between creatures to make unholy abominations. It's sitting at "Very Positive" reviews already, and launched with a nice discount. Definitely keeping an eye on this one.

Dementium: The Ward: DS Terror Gets a Proper PC Outing

Also launching Monday was Dementium: The Ward, a remaster of that cult classic Nintendo DS survival horror FPS. I remember being blown away that something like this ran on that little handheld back in '07. It's got that Silent Hill-meets-Doom 3 vibe – derelict hospital, grotesque monsters, limited flashlight use forcing you to choose between seeing and shooting.

This isn't that garbage PC port the sequel got; this one's apparently done right, supporting up to 4K, running smoothly, and crucially, keeping the original's grimy art style intact. It even has retro display modes if you want the authentic 240p experience. It might feel a bit simple or repetitive by today's standards, but for a dose of comfy, nostalgic horror, this looks like the definitive version fans have wanted.

Lost Lullabies: The Orphanage Chronicles: Co-op Ghost Hunting in the '80s

Also dropping yesterday, Monday, is Lost Lullabies: The Orphanage Chronicles in Early Access. This is another co-op horror joint for 1-4 players, leaning into the Phasmophobia-style ghost investigation gameplay. Set in 1980, you're exploring an orphanage that burned down in 1960, trying to identify and deal with pissed-off spirits based on real local legends.

The gameplay loop seems interesting. First, you investigate using various equipment (24 types apparently) to figure out what kind of ghost you're dealing with. Then, phase two involves solving puzzles based on that ghost's specific tragic backstory to either neutralize or appease it. It's launching with 2 story chapters (out of 4 planned) and 4 ghosts (out of 18 planned), so it's definitely early days. But the realistic graphics look promising, and messing with voice interaction sounds like fun. Could be one to watch if they nail the execution.

Master of Command: Musket Smoke and Starvation Sim

Finally, the fourth game to launch yesterday, Monday, was Master of Command, a real-time tactical strategy game set during the Seven Years' War. This looks like it's aiming for grognards like me who appreciate historical detail and logistics.

It's not just about the battles – though those promise to be brutal affairs where morale, stamina, and terrain matter. The big focus seems to be on army management. You customize your regiments with historical gear that actually affects stats. You march across a real-time, procedurally generated campaign map shrouded in fog of war, dealing with ambushes, supply shortages, and roaming enemies.

Crucially, your army is persistent. Losses matter. Units gain experience, officers level up, and if you march too far, your men will starve. With 150 historical units promised, this could be a deep, demanding strategy experience. If you like your strategy games with a heavy dose of consequence, this might be your jam.

So yeah, a surprisingly brutal Monday for new releases. My wallet's already hurting. Which one are you diving into first? Let me know.

NLM Team
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