This one came as a bit of a surprise, especially since the developers—known for Hard West and the recently released pirate-themed Rogue Waters—seemed like they’d be taking a breather after their latest effort. But apparently not, as they’ve just announced their next tactical RPG: Nightmare Frontier.
The assets and gameplay structure appear to build on Rogue Waters, but with a completely different setting—an alternate, dark Wild West filled with strange and unsettling creatures. Launching in Q2 2025 via Early Access, this marks the debut of what the studio calls the first-ever Tactical Extraction Looter, a genre mashup with teeth.
In Nightmare Frontier, you play the Ringleader, commanding a ragtag crew of scavenger fighters as they plunge into the ruined husk of a once-prosperous boom town, now overrun by Dreadweavers—monsters drawn from your squad’s personal fears. Think tactical turn-based combat, but with a heavy dose of psychological horror and risk-versus-reward tension.
Each run, you can decide to push deeper for better loot, or play it safe and live to fight another day. Enemies get more dangerous the more fear you stir up, and the Nightmare Level scales with your choices. Want better gear? You’ll have to earn it by killing what haunts you and salvaging supernatural scrap to craft weapons that mix early 1900s firepower with occult tech.
Combat is described as a “gun ‘n’ slash” system that emphasizes chained shots, positioning, and brutal takedowns. Outside the battlefield, you’ll manage your gang, upgrade your gear, and even recruit new survivors to join the madness—though their mental baggage might attract fresh horrors.
Ice Code Games is aiming for a Q1 2026 full release, but wants the community deeply involved from day one. “We’ve worked with publishers before and it’s… complicated,” the devs write. This time, they’re steering the ship with feedback at the core. Monthly updates, an active Discord, and experimental features via beta branches are all on the roadmap.
Nightmare Frontier launches Q2 2025 on PC via Steam. Below is an overview, screens and trailer.
About The Game
Welcome to the first Tactical Extraction Looter where you pit your courage and leadership against fears made manifest: the Dreadweavers. Your band of scavengers ventures into American Dream turned American Nightmare of the alternative 1900s, to reclaim a devastated former boom town. For those brave enough to make the best of it, the opportunities are now… supernatural!
Tactical Gun ‘n’ Slash
The next evolution of tactical combat is here: rain lead on enemies by chaining trick shots and overcoming dread. Then get in their midst and rearrange the odds by pushing, countering and combining attacks.
American Dream turned American Nightmare
The city will never be the same but you can work with it: lead the counterattack against the Dreadweavers and push ever deeper into the Nightmare. Taking back city quarters will bring you face to face with fresh horrors and into new paths forward.
Tactical Extraction Looter
Cowardice rarely pays the bills but you can’t enjoy your gains when you’re dead. Push your luck and the danger you face while maximizing the loot you can grab and live to fight another day. Limitless raids lure you deeper into the Nightmare and making the most profitable calls is why you, the Ringleader, pay yourself the big bucks!
They Are What You Fear
Face off against monsters born from your band’s deepest fears: push the challenge and raise the Nightmare Level for things to get more deadly and more interesting quickly. Learn to game the system of fear and courage to choose your battles.
Crafting and Upgrades
Harvest materials from defeated nightmares to craft and enhance increasingly insane weapons, merging early 1900s technology with supernatural alchemy. Unlock new ways to send the monsters back to the Hells they crawled out of.
Hone Your (Ring)leadership
While you rest your aching guns and reload your muscles, manage your equipment, invest in new abilities or press some rescued fresh meat (heh, heh) into service. Just remember: their weakest points will attract the monsters like blood attracts hungry sharks.
