FTS: Arc Games' Underwater Adventure "NAUTUS" Begins PC Closed Beta Aug. 31, Sign Up Now!

QUIRKY UNDERWATER ADVENTURE NAUTUS GETS STEAM CLOSED BETA PLAYTEST, SIGN-UP NOW

 Closed Beta Testing Kicks Off August 31, Sign-Up Now at playtest.playnautus.com

In Development from Magic Design Studios, the Indie Studio Behind Have a Nice Death & Unruly Heroes

LOS GATOS, Calif. – Aug. 24, 2026 – Arc Games, a leading publisher of AA and indie titles for PC and consoles, and Magic Design Studios, the indie developer behind acclaimed titles Have a Nice Death and Unruly Heroes, are excited to announce that NAUTUS, the recently announced charmingly quirky underwater adventure, will soon have a Closed Beta Playtest via Steam, with sign-ups available now via playtest.playnautus.com.

The Closed Beta Playtest will begin Monday, August 31, at 7 AM PDT. Magic Design Studios is looking for fans of Dave the Diver, Subnautica, Terraria, and SteamWorld Dig to join the playtest and provide valuable feedback via Discord to help shape the game and be part of its development journey from the very beginning.

Excited to jump into this adventure? Follow and wishlist the game today on Steam! 

ABOUT THE CLOSED BETA PLAYTEST

Sign up for the Closed Beta Playtest and get ready to dive into NAUTUS for the first time ever via Steam starting on Monday, August 31, at 7 AM PDT! This playtest gives players a proper introduction to the game to experience its unique dual-layered gameplay loop:

• On the Surface: Catch your breath, meet and help quirky amnesiac locals, customize your tropical home base, manage resources, and engineer specialized submarine upgrades.
• Below the Surface: Pilot your upgradeable submarine into a beautiful yet dangerous underwater abyss, encounter mutant marine life, navigate environmental hazards, and gather rare materials to craft advanced machinery and gear.

During the playtest, you’ll create your own character, step into the world of NAUTUS and begin your adventure. You’ll meet eccentric locals, like the mayor and Mr. Golden, unlock your own submarine, explore the game's first biome, tackle main and secondary quests, and dive deep into core progression systems. Players can brave the ocean depths entirely on their own, or team up with up to three friends in four-player online co-op to uncover the mysteries of NAUTUS together!

ABOUT NAUTUS

From the indie studio behind Have a Nice Death and Unruly Heroes comes NAUTUS, a quirky underwater adventure where the surface is your cozy sanctuary, but the ocean floor is a whole different beast. Explore the abyss in your upgradable submarine, face strange creatures, gather resources, and recover mysterious artifacts to uncover what happened to the N.A.U.T.U.S. research team and your missing uncle. Return to the surface to craft, build, and befriend its eccentric inhabitants before diving even deeper -- solo or with up to three friends in online co-op.

Game Features

• Explore the Deep Unknown: Navigate breathtaking coral reefs, sunken pirate shipwrecks, and uncharted underwater anomalies that even the local N.A.U.T.U.S. scientists refuse to approach. Make sure to be ready to fight and capture strange creatures that should never have existed!
• Pilot Your Own Upgradable Submarine: Craft specialized modules, protective equipment, and vital weaponry as you take control and update your own submarine. Advance your tech to dive deeper into hostile trenches and defend against aggressive, mutant marine life.
• Adventure Solo or Dive into Online Co-Op Multiplayer: Uncover the mystery of NAUTUS and brave the ocean depths entirely on your own, or team up with up to three players in four-player online co-op and dive into this offbeat adventure together.
• Meet, Befriend and Uncover the Mysteries of a Quirky Cast of Inhabitants: Meet eccentric, amnesiac locals like a tanning-obsessed diver and a quirky expedition chief. Collaborate with them on unique and useful projects and recover lost artifact stones to cure their bizarre phobia of the ocean and restore them to their true selves.
• Solve a Sunken Mystery: Investigate the sudden disappearance of your uncle, Bernard Torpedo, by hunting for ancient relics, hidden clues, and secrets buried in the abyss. Will you uncover the mysteries of your uncle and this mysterious island?
• Develop and Customize a Unique Outpost: Transform a secluded tropical outpost into a thriving home base of your own. Set up vital crafting machinery to refine rare materials gathered from the deep, manage your resources strategically, and build the essential infrastructure needed to fuel your next sub-aquatic expedition.

NAUTUS is available to follow and wishlist now on Steam. For more information, please visit playnautus.com.

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FTS: Arc Games Announces "NAUTUS," an Island Adventure From the Makers of "Have a Nice Death" (PC)

  

FROM THE CREATORS OF HAVE A NICE DEATH COMES NAUTUS: A CHARMINGLY QUIRKY ISLAND ADVENTURE GAME 

Cozy Above. Dangerous Below. Get Ready to Dive into NAUTUS in Steam Early Access Next Year! 

LOS GATOS, Calif. – Aug. 14, 2026 – Arc Games, a leading publisher of AA and indie titles for PC and consoles, and Magic Design Studios, the indie developer behind acclaimed titles Have a Nice Death and Unruly Heroes, are excited to announce NAUTUS, a charmingly quirky island adventure where the surface is your cozy sanctuary, but the ocean floor is a whole different beast. This new, dual-layered, offbeat adventure is set to launch in Steam Early Access in 2027 -- with the release timing for the game to be revealed at a later date.

In NAUTUS, players arrive at the remote N.A.U.T.U.S. research station following an unsettling radio message from their uncle, Bernard Torpedo. Upon arrival, they discover the resident scientists have lost their memories and developed a paralyzing fear of the ocean. As the only one willing to brave the depths, players must pilot an upgradable submarine, encounter mutant marine life, and recover mysterious artifact stones to restore the locals' memories and uncover the truth behind their uncle's sudden disappearance.

The game features a distinct dual-layered gameplay loop:

• Dangerous Below: Take the helm of your submarine and plunge into the ocean abyss. Navigate uncharted trenches, vibrant coral reefs, and sunken pirate shipwrecks as you battle and capture bizarre mutant creatures. Uncover hidden artifact stones and haul back rare materials to craft specialized sub upgrades, gear, and advanced machinery.
• Cozy Above: Return to the surface to catch your breath, build, and unwind. Befriend eccentric island locals and take on quests to help restore their true selves, strategically manage your resources, and expand your tropical outpost into a thriving hub designed to power your next dive deep into the unknown.

Get ready to dive into and explore NAUTUS when it launches in Steam Early Access next year!

ABOUT NAUTUS

From the indie studio behind Have a Nice Death and Unruly Heroes comes NAUTUS, a charmingly quirky island adventure where the surface is your cozy sanctuary, but the ocean floor is a whole different beast. After getting an unsettling radio message from your uncle, you’ll go out on an adventure where you arrive at the remote N.A.U.T.U.S. research station only to find the local scientists have lost their memories and developed a paralyzing phobia of the ocean. As the only one brave enough to face the deep, you must take the helm of an upgradable submarine, encounter and, at times, fight off mutant creatures and recover hidden, mysterious artifact stones to restore the inhabitants’ memories and uncover the truth.

Between riveting yet fascinating expeditions into the underwater abyss below, you'll return to the vibrant surface to catch your breath, befriend quirky scientists, and manage your resources. Blending exploration, action, and deep crafting, you’ll gather materials to upgrade your submarine and gear so you can plunge even deeper into the unknown—with the option to develop on the island to customize your home base over time.  Take on this charmingly quirky journey solo, or team up with up to three friends in online co-op. Prepare to enter a dual-layered world that is full of adventure, mystery and wonder!

Game Features

• Explore the Deep Unknown: Navigate breathtaking coral reefs, sunken pirate shipwrecks, and uncharted underwater anomalies that even the local N.A.U.T.U.S. scientists refuse to approach. Make sure to be ready to fight and capture strange creatures that should never have existed!
• Pilot Your Own Upgradable Submarine: Craft specialized modules, protective equipment, and vital weaponry as you take control and update your own submarine. Advance your tech to dive deeper into hostile trenches and defend against aggressive, mutant marine life.
• Adventure Solo or Dive into Online Co-Op Multiplayer: Uncover the mystery of NAUTUS and brave the ocean depths entirely on your own, or team up with up to three players in four-player online co-op and dive into this offbeat adventure together.
• Meet, Befriend and Uncover the Mysteries of a Quirky Cast of Inhabitants: Meet eccentric, amnesiac locals like a tanning-obsessed diver and a quirky expedition chief. Collaborate with them on unique and useful projects and recover lost artifact stones to cure their bizarre phobia of the ocean and restore them to their true selves.
• Solve a Sunken Mystery: Investigate the sudden disappearance of your uncle, Bernard Torpedo, by hunting for ancient relics, hidden clues, and secrets buried in the abyss. Will you uncover the mysteries of your uncle and this mysterious island?
• Develop and Customize a Unique Outpost: Transform a secluded tropical outpost into a thriving home base of your own. Set up vital crafting machinery to refine rare materials gathered from the deep, manage your resources strategically, and build the essential infrastructure needed to fuel your next sub-aquatic expedition.

The artwork in Nautus is absolutely beautiful. It looks like it was ripped straight out of a storybook!

I can't wait to dive in! - Blu | SDGT Entertainment

NAUTUS is available to wishlist now on Steam. For more information, please visit playnautus.com.

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Creature Keeper: A Call to Arms for Aspiring Monster Catchers + Heroes!

Prepare yourself, hero... because Creature Keeper is here to test your mettle. This pixel-perfect adventure brilliantly blends Zelda-style hack-and-slash combat with the addictive creature-collecting theme of Pokémon, creating a world where strategy, bravery, and well-timed sword swings reign supreme!

Fans of classic action RPGs will find themselves right at home, wielding an arsenal of weapons and charged attacks against formidable foes. But the twist is you’re not battling alone! Your hand-picked creatures fight alongside you, forming an unbreakable bond through training, exploration, and shared victories. And trust me, after a few hours of commanding your beastly battalion, you might even start naming them like they’re part of the family. I named my bat... Bruce! It just feels right.

Beyond combat, Creature Keeper offers creature management, a gardening system to cultivate stat-boosting food on the go with your pocket garden, and environmental puzzles that challenge both your reflexes and your wits. I didn't include this in the gameplay but... take a good look at this screenshot. There are different environmental puzzles that will challenge you, but when you figure them out... you'll be happy you did.

This shield can defend and attack! Hyaaaa!!!!!!

The game’s pixel art aesthetic paints an enchanting world that doesn't lcok the design of the world into a grid the same some games are when made with certain game makers. It's no shade... it's no shade, but you can see more freedom of movement with the animated sprites. The soundtrack pulls you in with adventerous rhythms and adds to the fun!

The controls? Effortlessly smooth... so smooth and simple that, before you know it, you’ll be slicing through enemies, mastering team tactics, and setting your sights on the biggest, baddest boss creatures standing in your way.

Heroes don’t want to just wander aimlessly when they're hot on the trail of accomplishing their mission, so keep an eye on the map so that you don't get lost! Build alliances with mighty creatures, and forge legends that echo through time. So, adventurer, the question isn’t whether you’ll answer the call of Creature Keeper.

It’s how soon you’ll begin your journey. The wonderland is waiting... what’s your move? If you were wondering what the price was... it's $14.99, and it's worth the money. Not just because it's inexpensive, but because it's fun. Oh, did I forget to mention that the game was confirmed for the Switch at a later date? I thought about the Switch as soon as I played this one, so that's perfect. In the mean time, you can grab the game on Epic Games + Steam... which means you can play it on the Steam Deck. So you can grab a bite to eat while on your adventure. Now if you'll excuse me, it's lunch time (BABY!). Pizza and fruit punch are calling my name!

            

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FTS: DON'T NOD's Wholesome Adventure Game "Koira" Releases Today (PC, PS5)

 

DON’T NOD Releases Koira, a Wholesome Adventure Game from Studio Tolima, Available Today on Steam & PlayStation 5

Watch the launch trailer now and begin your journey through an enchanted forest with an adorable puppy companion!

PARIS – April 1, 2025 – DON’T NOD and Studio Tolima are excited to launch Koira on Steam and PlayStation 5 today, with a launch discount of 10% on Steam until April 14. Koira is a heartwarming, hand-drawn adventure featuring a lost forest spirit and her new puppy friend. Together they must journey to safety in the heart of the enchanted forest, solving puzzles, finding friends, and avoiding the hunters lurking along the way.

Koira is a beautifully crafted experience, brought to life with hand-drawn animations and an atmospheric soundtrack that enhances its emotional depth. The game tells a touching story without the use of text, relying instead on visuals, sound, and animation to create a universally accessible narrative. As players explore the enchanted forest, they will uncover hidden secrets, solve environmental puzzles, and build a deep connection between the forest spirit and her puppy companion.

Support the Devs Bundle

Players have the option to support the developers at Studio Tolima by purchasing the Support the Devs Bundle on Steam, which contains the game and 10 pieces of concept art which can be used as wallpapers.

“Bringing Koira to players has been an incredible journey for our team. From the very beginning, we set out to create a universal and emotional adventure and we’re pleased to finally share it with the world. We hope Koira resonates with everyone and leaves a lasting impression, just as it has on us while making it,” said Ben Lega, Founder and Director at Studio Tolima.

Game & Bundle Pricing

The Koira base game is priced at $17.99 / €17.99 before discounts. A 10% launch discount is available on Steam until April 14.

The Support the Devs Bundle, which includes the base game, is priced at $19.99 / €19.99. Since the bundle includes the game, the 10% launch discount also applies on Steam until April 14.

Introducing the Adorable Koira Puppy Plush!

In collaboration with Makeship, a plush of Koira’s puppy will be available to purchase starting April 3! Players can have a cute companion of their very own for $29.99 USD from Makeship’s website.

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