Play the demo during Steam Next Fest
From October 19 to 26, 2026, the Dead Hand demo is part of Steam Next Fest (starting at 10 AM Pacific time). Play the Warrior and the Sniper, then tell us what you think on Discord.
A game by Hauteroche Studio
A roguelike deckbuilder where your cards are both your actions and your resources.
- Steam Next Fest — October 19–26, 2026
- Release planned for Q4 2026
How it plays
Somewhere in the ruins, someone is still alive. Every card you play is a resource spent — an irreversible choice. Your provisions run dry, the horde closes in. You build, adapt, die — and go again.
Every card is a choice
Each card has an effect, and an energy value while it stays in your hand. Your hand’s energy, capped at 10, pays for the cards you play. Play it now, or keep it to fuel something bigger?
One run, one life
Cross ruined zones, fight the horde, scavenge food, ammo and gear, and shape your deck along the way. When you die, you start over, a little wiser.
Never fight alone
Allies fight at your side. They grow stronger with their own kills, and every level unlocks a new card.
The survivors
Six survivors to start with, and more to come. Each one has their own deck, weapons and story.
In the demoWarrior
A hardened survivor. Melee fighter with makeshift gear.
“She always listened to the radio. If she’s alive, she heard.”
In the demoSniper
A cold-blooded sharpshooter. Deadly at range but fragile up close.
“A horde doesn’t march in step. That one did.”
Cop
A disciplined law enforcer. Balanced in combat with baton and pistol.
“Everybody eats, everybody sleeps, everybody comes home. That was the rule.”
ZooKeeper
Robust and patient. Neutralizes threats with status effects (Weak, Vulnerable, Poison) before delivering the killing blow.
“The animals heard it before we did.”
Hunter
Agile and cunning hunter who turns enemy aggression into traps. Fights with fists, kicks and improvised firework tubes.
“The name’s Hunter. I hunt a man, not the dead.”
Fighter
Bare-knuckle martial artist. No firearms: chain her cards into combos for devastating effects.
“I was on watch.”
Eight biomes
From flooded tunnels to an overrun zoo, each zone has its own enemies, events and colors.
In the demoThe Metro
Flooded tunnels and abandoned trains, under miles of concrete.
Shopping Mall
Looted galleries, gutted storefronts, neon still humming.
The Forest
Trees that took back what had been taken from them.
The Hospital
Sterile corridors where the outbreak started.
In the demoMilitary Base
Barbed wire, protocols, and rations still under seal.
In the demoOvergrown Town
A town the vegetation is slowly digesting.
In the demoThe Prison
Doors open, guards gone, inmates still in.
The Zoo
The cages are empty. The walkways are not.
Allies
Allies can’t die, and they level up with their own kills: level 2 at 3 kills, level 3 at 7. Each level adds a stronger card. Leave them the finishing blows.
Rottweiler
Crocodile
Eagle
Wolf
Drone
Bramble
Gallery
Videos
Trailer
Gameplay
Fact sheet
- Developer
- Hauteroche Studio
- Genre
- Roguelike deckbuilder
- Platform
- PC (Steam)
- Engine
- Godot
- Release
- Q4 2026 (planned)
- Demo
- Free on Steam (Warrior and Sniper)
- Languages
- English, French, German, Spanish, Mexican Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, Turkish, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese
Join the survivors
Wishlisting on Steam is the best way to support a solo studio, and you’ll be notified on release day. Steam Next Fest runs from October 19 to 26, 2026.