Game Demos – Ms. Bella's World

3–5 minutes

Gamers love a challenge, and bullethell games have a special way of getting the adrenaline going. Recently, I tried out several demos that caught my eye, and I think they have potential. Here are five bullethell demos that impressed me—and one bonus that isn’t a bullethell!

1) Karate Survivor
Release Date: October 30, 2024

From the Steam page: “Become a martial arts master in this survivor-like roguelite inspired by action movies of the ‘80s. Use your fists, feet, and the environment to fight off relentless thugs. Master powerful combos, enhance your skills, and remember: everything around you is a weapon!”

Graphics: Colorful pixel graphics with the charm of old kung-fu movies, evoking memories of Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee.
Sounds: Solid music and sound effects that complement the action well.
Gameplay: Starts off fun, but the difficulty curve outpaces your character quickly—even with upgrades. Watch out: just touching mobs deals damage!
All in All: I had a great time with the demo, and I’m excited to see how the full release turns out. Hopefully, they’ll fine-tune the balance before launch.

2) Submarine Survivor
Release Date: TBD

From the Steam page: “Dive into the ocean’s depths, face fearsome sea creatures, and collect their experience crystals. In this roguelite action game, upgrade your submarines with various combinations of weapons and chips. Become the Lord of the Ocean!”

Graphics: Bright, simple visuals that still manage to look great.
Sounds: Basic but fitting music and sound design.
Gameplay: Starts easy, but things escalate fast. Each world offers unique modes like avoiding poisoned waters or dodging falling barrels. Replayability looks high, with lots of variety.
All in All: This one seems like it’ll be a solid entry in the genre. Now if only we had a release date…

3) Achilles: Survivor
Release Date: TBD

From the Steam page: “Achilles: Survivor is a dynamic single-player bullet heaven game where you face thousands of enemies, build destructive structures, develop your character, and survive waves of enemies.”

Graphics: Dark and gritty 3D graphics with a ¾ perspective—very reminiscent of aRPGs.
Sounds: Atmospheric music and sound effects that fit perfectly.
Gameplay: Easy to pick up but challenging quickly. You gather gold during each run to unlock permanent upgrades, making future runs easier.
All in All: With Greek mythology, permanent upgrades, and fast-paced action, this looks like it’ll be entertaining for several hours when it finally releases.

4) Smol Survivors
Release Date: TBD

From the Steam page: “Smol Survivors is a 2D reverse bullet-heck where smol blocks have become lost and need to find their friends while fighting through hordes of enemies.”

Graphics: Adorable blocky characters in bright, colorful worlds.
Sounds: The sound effects are nice, but I don’t recall there being any music.
Gameplay: Accessible and quirky, with fun weapons like soap, straws, and…cats? (Yes, cats.) Very easy to get into, perfect for newcomers to bullethell games.
All in All: If the price is right, this will be a great little game to pick up when you have a few spare minutes.

5) TemTem Swarm
Release Date: November 13, 2024

From the Steam page: “Unlock mighty abilities, find Tems to evolve, and discover wild synergies in this survivor-like bullet heaven. Play solo or with friends in online co-op with up to 3 players!”

Graphics: Gorgeous 3D graphics with classic TemTem characters in a colorful world.
Sounds: Excellent music and sound effects that really elevate the gameplay.
Gameplay: Easy to start but challenging as you progress. The permanent upgrades help, and the Tems can evolve during each run.
All in All: This one feels like it’s going to be a hit—if the price is right. Definitely one to watch when it releases in November!

Bonus Mention: 2048 – Dungeons
Release Date: TBD

Okay, so this isn’t a bullethell game, but I just had to mention it. If you enjoy puzzle games like 2048 and roguelike combat, this one’s worth a look.

From the Steam page: “A game that mixes 2048 puzzle mechanics with a roguelite style of play. Train your character, recruit allies, and test your luck in the dungeon of Blockshire.”

Graphics: Low-poly visuals with a high fantasy theme.
Sounds: Solid and fitting for the gameplay.
Gameplay: If you like number puzzles and strategic, turn-based combat, this is right up your alley. Just be warned—it crashed on me once and froze another time. Definitely still needs a bit of polishing before release.

There you have it—five promising bullethell demos (and one unexpected extra) that I think are worth keeping an eye on. Whether you’re dodging barrels underwater, throwing cats at enemies, or channeling your inner Achilles, these games all offer something fun and unique.

Have you tried any of these demos yet? Or maybe you’ve got a recommendation of your own? Let me know in the comments!

Until next time—stay sharp, dodge everything, and bye for now!

2–4 minutes

From time to time, I check out the game demos on Steam to see if anything peaks my interest. Frequently I’ll find a little game that, after looking it over, I end up adding to my wishlist. Most of these games tend to be lighthearted puzzle games, fantasy or science fiction RPGS, or the ever-growing list of survival games coming out.

Rarely do I add a walking simulator to my list. However, this one was so bizarre, and reminded me so much of something H.R. Giger would have dreamed up, that it ended up there.

The game is called Necrophosis. By the developers Dragonis Ares and Adonis Brosteanu, this game is tagged as Lovecraftian, Surreal, Walking Simulator, and Mystery.

The description of the game, from the Steam Page, reads –

“Necrophosis inspired by Zdzislaw Beksinski is a chilling first-person horror adventure, plunging you into a nightmarish realm teeming with grotesque forms and ominous visuals. Delve into eerie landscapes and uncover secrets in this atmospheric journey through the macabre.“

I had never heard of Zdzislaw Beksinski before, so I looked him up. He was a Polish painter, photographer, and sculptor born in 1929, specializing in dystopian surrealism. And, might I add, he did it quite well.

From the 1960s to the 1980s, he entered what he referred to as his ‘fantastic period,’ focusing on surrealistic, detailed environments of death and decay. Despite the grimness of his work, he insisted many of them were optimistic and was uninterested in hearing interpretations, even going so far as to leave his works untitled.

Like Giger, I wouldn’t call his art pretty, and I wouldn’t hang it on my wall. But also, like Giger, I can’t help but be drawn to many of his pieces. I found myself staring at them for some time in contemplation, wondering what he was thinking as he crafted each piece.

Inspired by Beksinski’s haunting visions, Necrophosis captures a similar sense of grim fascination. In the demo, you’re dropped into the story with very little knowledge of who you are or why you’re there. You have to figure out how to navigate this desolate world of death and decay, where everything that is has already perished and even death itself can die. There aren’t even enemies to fight; you are truly alone in your isolation.

After stumbling around for a while, missing obvious clues as I stared at the dark, graphical feast in front of me, I finally started to pick up the gameplay, just in time for the demo to end.

I was relieved. I wanted more. I needed to know why this world was the way it was. How far into the future was this reality, and was it truly the end of time?

Now, I find myself reflecting on what I experienced in the game so far and eagerly awaiting a release date so I can continue exploring this unsettling terrain. Despite Beksinski’s insistence that he didn’t know the meaning behind his art, I find myself yet searching for some glimmer of it in both his work and the world of Necrophosis.

If the whole game continues as it began, then I highly recommend it for people who love darkly atmospheric simulators that leave you pondering life, mortality, death, and all that comes after.

And if you want to see more, I’ll be streaming the demo later today at 7:30 pm EST on YouTube and Rumble. I welcome you to take the journey with me, and perhaps you too will find yourself wanting to know more.

Until next time …