Hey indie game lovers! If you’ve ever felt the soul-crushing pressure of deadlines, buggy code, and creative burnout, Just A Shadow Game is about to hit different. This dark fantasy roguelike ritual-builder from Vietnam-based IndieLab turns the horrors of game development into addictive gameplay — and the brand-new playtest is live right now from May 13 to May 25, 2026.
Published by Soft Source Publishing, the game blends strategic deckbuilding, monster summoning, and spell rituals with a meta-narrative that will make every indie dev (and gamer) smile knowingly. Tormented by the sinister entity known as Shadow, you play as a developer trying to finish their game while reality unravels.
What’s New in This Playtest
This updated playtest goes much deeper than the previous demo. You’ll get to experiment with fresh content that makes every run feel unique and replayable.
| Feature | What It Adds to the Game |
|---|---|
| Protagonist’s Room Interface | Central hub for chapters, clans, cards & lore |
| Meta Progression System | Earn Inspiration Points to unlock new cards |
| Multiple Clans | First clan + brand new second clan with unique buildings, troops & relics |
| New Spell Cards | Scaphism, Cadew, Incubation, Sunny-Side Up, Dreamfall |
| New Buildings | The Well, Pain Altar, Mechrow Assembly |
| Roguelite Systems | Full Relic system + Relic Shop Room |
These additions bring serious depth to ritual building and combat while tying everything together with the game’s clever story about game development struggles.
System Requirements (Minimum & Recommended)
| Specification | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10/11 | Windows 10/11 |
| Processor | Dual Core 2 GHz | Dual Core 2 GHz |
| RAM | 4 GB | 6 GB |
| Graphics | 2 GB VRAM | 4 GB VRAM |
| DirectX | Version 11 | Version 11 |
| Storage | 2 GB | 2 GB |
Want more indie gems and upcoming releases? Check our indie game news hub and best roguelike games 2026.
For the full genre background, read the Roguelike Wikipedia page.
The playtest is completely free during these two weeks. Join the official Discord (https://discord.gg/DGmVyMps) to get access and share your feedback directly with the developers. They’re actively looking for thoughts on gameplay feel, pacing, and system design.
This could be one of the most creative indie titles of 2026 — don’t miss your chance to play early!
FAQs
When does the Just A Shadow Game playtest end?
The playtest runs from May 13 to May 25, 2026, giving you two full weeks to dive deep into the dark fantasy roguelike experience.
