Some of the most interesting RPGs and hybrids appeared on TBL in October
The Indie Showcase returns with 10 of the most promising indie RPGs we’ve covered and featured on TBL this October.
This lineup has a bit of everything. There are some intriguing first-person dungeon crawlers that shake up the genre’s usual formula, a tactical RPG reminiscent of classics like Front Mission and Valkyria Chronicles, and even an auto-battler inspired by Battle Brothers that’s absolutely worth keeping an eye on, plus plenty more.
In short, it’s well worth taking five minutes to dive into this October Indie Showcase.
Descent of Lunaris
- Developer: Unison Games
- Release date: 2026
- Platforms: PC
- Steam Page
The first project I want to talk about is a first-person sci-fi dungeon crawler RPG with grid-based exploration and a hybrid combat model.
It’s called Descent of Lunaris, and it features standard encounters that play like a classic JRPG; turn order, party formation, skill usage, and long-run resource management matter, while deeper floors switch to tactical, tile-based fights that add positioning, area control, and multi-phase bosses.
Progression leans on party tinkering: operatives can pick subclasses, allocate stats, and layer affinities, passives, and gear modifiers to solve different dungeon hazards as the setting shifts from industrial corridors to more surreal spaces.
The game is developed and published by Unison Games and is planned for PC via Steam, targeting a 2026 release window.
Of Grit & Graves
- Developer: Melted Monster Game Studio
- Release date: March 6, 2026
- Platforms: PC
- Steam Page
Just a few hours ago, I announced Of Grit & Graves on TBL’s pages. A party-based RPG built around dice-driven tactics. You lead four classic roles, Warrior, Cleric, Rogue, and Wizard, through procedural dungeons where positioning, line-of-sight, and traps shape every encounter.
Actions resolve via attribute-tied dice pools (you can roll physics-based 3D dice or skip to instant results), while enemies use threat-aware AI and spellcasting.
Between expeditions, you return to town to invest stat points, buy weapons and armor, slot powerful relics, and prep a limited spell loadout across seven distinct environments and varied quest objectives.
Developed and published by Melted Monster Game Studio, Of Grit & Graves is planned to launch on March 6, 2026, for PC via Steam. A free demo went live if you want a hands-on look at the class kits and dice system.
Five More Minutes
- Developer: PurpleTurtle
- Release date: 2026
- Platforms: PC
- Steam Page
Another interesting project is Five More Minutes. A roguelite deckbuilder where each “run” starts by picking one of three starting genres, then layering in cards and memorabilia from different genres to build synergies.
Each genre brings its own card pool and strategies, and you can fuse genres mid-run to unlock rule-breaking combos. Progression is light RPG: you level up to gain extra actions and health, and you collect mementos that tweak your deck and playstyle as you move through nostalgic videogame worlds.
Developed by PurpleTurtle and published by Zugalu Entertainment, Five More Minutes is planned for PC via Steam with a 2026 release window. A Steam playtest is available by request, and the team is also running a Kickstarter to help hit stretch goals.
Rising Army
- Developer: Rising Army
- Release date: Q4 2025
- Platforms: PC
- Steam Page
Lately, I’ve been talking a lot about Rising Army, both here and on the YouTube channel, and that’s because I see tremendous potential in it.
An easy description is Autobattler Battle Brothers. But, in more detail, players have a camp sim for raising, outfitting, and commanding a medieval host. Manage resources and morale between missions, promote captains into special roles, and train individual soldiers, each with distinct traits, needs, and gear.
Injuries and permadeath shape the roster and the camp’s mood. The hand-crafted campaign spans regional maps with points of interest to loot, mission modifiers, and battle objectives that feed a dynamic “King’s satisfaction” meter with rewards and consequences.
Developed and published by Arkbits, Rising Army targets a Q4 2025 launch on PC via Steam, with a free demo available now that you should try.
Shadows of Thornkeep
- Developer: Tryzna83
- Release date: Q4 2025 (E.A.)
- Platforms: PC
- Steam Page
I love first-person dungeon crawlers, and this month I’ve featured quite a few of them here. Next one is Shadows of Thornkeep, a grid-based dungeon crawler where a necromancer-like guide raises “lost souls” to form a party, then sends them on expeditions across a rain-lashed island.
Exploration is step-by-step, combat is strictly turn-based, and progression leans on loot and camp management. Fallen heroes can return, but revival has a cost.
The planned Early Access will center on a Thornkeep camp hub and includes three distinct regions with their own underground layers, enemies, and gear, offering roughly ten hours of play.
Developed by Tryzna83, it is planned to launch on PC (Windows) via Steam in Q4 2025 as an Early Access release, with an expected EA period of about three to four months before full 1.0.
Dr. Alb’s Prodigy
- Developer: Super Tiny Studios
- Release date: TBA
- Platforms: PC
- Steam Page
Now for something bold and original, Dr. Alb’s Prodigy. A post-apocalyptic roguelite RPG that mixes real-time movement with turn-based encounters. Runs play out across small zones, combat nodes, and points of interest, where you scavenge gear and materials, then pivot to tactical turns when packs or elites show up.
The command menu drives attacks and skills, with a timing bar to boost damage; outside those moments, you can roll-dodge shots, perform close-quarters takedowns, and use firearms.
Progression hinges on roguelite loops, randomized levels, loot, and ability upgrades, plus side quests and NPC interactions that feed back into your next attempt.
Developed by Super Tiny Studios, it is currently listed as “Coming soon” for PC via Steam.
Havoc Heirs
- Developer: Jay Sugarman
- Release date: 2026
- Platforms: PC
- Steam Page
Havoc Heirs is a hand-drawn, single-player, turn-based RPG set across the five connected continents of the Lands of Marana. Classes have distinct combat kits, while equippable rings and permanent Blessings shape builds from run to run.
Progression hinges on a Psychosis system that grows as you fight, making you stronger but increasingly unstable, then can be reset at campfires. Randomized enemy and boss encounters add a roguelite layer on top of choice-driven questlines that can change characters and outcomes.
The game is developed by Jay Sugarman and is planned for release on PC via Steam in 2026, with a target window of fall 2026.
Blood Sword
- Developer: Prime Games
- Release date: TBA
- Platforms: PC
- Steam Page
One of the most interesting projects, in my view, in terms of graphic style and gameplay potential is definitely Blood Sword, which adapts the classic Dave Morris and Oliver Johnson gamebooks into a party-based tactical RPG.
Players command up to four heroes, built from class kits and skill trees, in grid-based, turn-based combat where positioning and ability synergies decide tight encounters.
Outside fights, a branching narrative pushes hard choices: exploration across cities, dungeons, and wastelands can trigger alternate outcomes, including party member deaths that carry forward as lasting consequences.
The result aims for a story-driven campaign with permadeath stakes rather than a free-roaming sandbox.
Developed and published by Prime Games (the studio behind Fabled Lands), it is planned for PC via Steam with the release date still to be announced.
Sigils of Nightfall
- Developer: 2 Wedges, Monumental Collab
- Release date: TBA
- Platforms: PC
- Steam Page
I don’t have enough dungeon crawlers. One with quite an original twist is Sigils of Nightfall, which blends a roguelite deckbuilder with a first-person dungeon crawler.
Each run starts with a flawed character and a bare-bones deck; you add and combine cards to build synergies while managing scarce resources. Movement is room-to-room through an unstable dungeon, picking the next node and handling events that can help or harm your build.
Fights are strictly turn-based, pushing tradeoffs, damage, mitigation, status effects, against grotesque enemies, and the MÖRK BORG-inspired setting leans into grim consequences for greedy choices.
As of today, the game is listed as coming soon on Steam, with a free playable demo available. 2 Wedges and Monumental Collab developed it, and you should try it and wishlist it now.
AXERAS
- Developer: Inverse Atelier
- Release date: TBA
- Platforms: PC
- Steam Page
Last one on this October indie showcase is AXERAS, a turn-based tactical military JRPG about commanding Acorns Company in the Evestrian Civil War.
Battles lean on combined-arms play: deploy infantry teams and military hardware, call in airstrikes and drone support, and use unit abilities to control the map rather than just wipe squads.
Enemies can be killed or captured, with captives recruitable later, while survivors gain XP, rise in rank, and face permadeath if you misplay. Choices during and between missions alter scenarios and endings, and the campaign is framed by hand-drawn anime-style cutscenes.
Developed by Inverse Atelier, AXERAS is a PC release on Steam with no launch date yet.
