The amazing indie developers have at Snowcastle Games have officially released the very first playable demo for their upcoming single-player adventure, Lysward. Set in the stunning but punishing fantasy world of Umbra, this new title swaps out the usual woodland zombies for a much more realistic threat: extreme, blistering desert heat.
Core Demo Features
- Full access to the game’s opening story act and initial memory-recovery missions.
- Two powerful Amri magic abilities used to grow plants and manipulate the environment.
- A fast, pilotable sand-speeder vehicle to easily cross the massive desert dunes.
- Crafting blueprints to upgrade your gear and create clothing that resists the sun.
- Encounters with mysterious desert creatures that can either help you or hunt you.
Turning up the temperature
Prepare to wake up stranded in endless sand dunes with a total case of amnesia, making shade and water immediate priorities. The newly released demo lets you experience the entire first act of the story, focusing on piecing together the main character’s forgotten past while exploring the high-tech ruins of an ancient civilization. Thankfully, you won’t be braving the wasteland alone. Early on, you team up with Gjorna, an incredibly endearing “hogbunny” companion who helps guide you through the harsh environment.
Amri magic
Having unique botanical powers is a must in Lysward. You can instantly sprout plants and trees straight from the barren sand to harvest vital resources. This magic is also your best bet for handling the local wildlife, which ranges from helpful critters to aggressive predators. To make exploring the massive dunes actually fun, the developers have also thrown in a speedy, drivable hovercraft so you can quickly zip between points of interest.
Developer Fun Fact Sheet
- Founded back in 2009, Snowcastle Games is a passionate independent studio based in Oslo, Norway.
- Their breakout RPG hit, EARTHLOCK, has racked up an impressive eight million downloads across PC and consoles.
- Before tackling the harsh deserts of Umbra, the team released the cozy, cooperative spin-off Ikonei Island.
With the demo officially live to the public, it’s clear Snowcastle is building a fresh, story-driven twist on the standard survival loop. The contrast between battling a lethal climate and instantly growing lush, green safe havens creates a really clever gameplay dynamic. Blending fast-paced vehicle exploration with magical resource gathering gives this scorching adventure a totally unique vibe that fans of the genre should absolutely check out.
Are you ready to test your survival skills in the scorching sands of Umbra, or are you holding out for the full release? Let us know your thoughts and early impressions in the comments below!
Title ID Card
- Developer: Snowcastle Games
- Publisher: Snowcastle Games
- Engine: Unreal Engine
- Platforms: PC (Steam)
- Release Date: To Be Announced
- Genre: Single-Player Survival Adventure
Dev & Play Media 
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