Sankei Digital Inc. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Sozo Otsuka), through its game label “HYPER REAL,” announces it will publish “Helcast,” developed by Ricpau Studios from Sweden. Early access for the game on PC (Steam) is scheduled to start in Q1 2027.
World Premiere of First Playable Demo at gamescom 2026
“Helcast” is a deckbuilding roguelite inspired by Norse mythology, which combines “merge puzzle” mechanics—throwing weapons onto the stage and merging identical ones for attacks—with physics such as mass, speed, collisions, and rebounds.
The demo version will be unveiled for the first time globally at the HYPER REAL booth in the Indie Arena Booth at “gamescom 2026,” held in Cologne, Germany, from August 26 to 30, where players can experience the first realm filled with monsters from Norse mythology.
Lead developer of Ricpau Studios, Rickard Paulsson, says, “We are really looking forward to letting visitors at gamescom experience the gameplay for the first time.”
Defeat the gods with physics combos! Unique and responsive battles
—Odin, father of all, declares war on the underworld—
The “dishonored dead,” released from Helheim, seek to turn Asgard into rubble and ash. The guardian Modgunn, who bridges life and death, is tasked to end this chaos. By collecting weapons, spells, and totems, Modgunn builds a deck to slay the gods and heads into battle from the land of the dead toward Odin.
In “Helcast,” players enjoy unique, challenging battles that combine falling object merge puzzles and physics. Throw weapons onto moving platforms, merge identical weapons to create bigger and stronger ones, and deliver powerful blows to enemies.
Reading the mass, speed, collision, and rebound of weapons and triggering continuous merge combos is key to victory. Modgunn’s attacks hit enemies positioned directly above where the merge occurs—so no matter how powerful your combos, they will miss if you misjudge positioning. Master physics and battlefield arrangements to wipe out gods and the dead alike.
Forge your own “Godslayer” strategy—create new tactics with each challenge
Choose your class, enhance weapon cards, and build your deck to create your own “Godslayer build.” The “Shield Maiden” accumulates armor with every merge combo, strengthening defense to withstand onslaughts head-on. The “Huntress” uses piercing arrows for ranged attacks, combining magical effects—burn, freeze, life-steal—and taking out multiple enemies at once. Each class’s abilities and items allow you to discover new strategies every time you play, whether you defend through relentless offense or dominate the battlefield with enchanted arrows.
Totems and spells can instantly shift the tide of battle. Hit the “Eagle Totem” with your weapon, and fierce birds descend to attack all enemies. Leave the “Oath Ring” on the field, and each merge triggers extra damage. If your targeted weapon is buried, use the “Pulse Stone”—a shockwave blasts surrounding weapons, opening a path to the one you need.
Rickard, the lead developer, comments, “’Every run is different’ has become a cliché, but with Helcast’s physics-based merge system, each move truly changes how the game unfolds. Thanks to our collaboration with HYPER REAL, we’ve elevated the vision we originally imagined to new heights.”
Early access begins in Q1 2027. The early access build will feature four realms and the first intense boss battle. Version 1.0, the full release, will finally let you take on Odin himself. Stay tuned for further updates!
Wishlist now! https://store.steampowered.com/app/3430620/
【Product Information】 Title: Helcast Genre: Physics-based Merge Puzzle × Deckbuilding Roguelite Developer: Ricpau Studios Publisher: HYPER REAL Release: Early Access starts Q1 2027 Platform: PC (Steam) Supported Languages: Japanese, English, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, French, Spanish, German Store page: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3430620/
【About Ricpau Studios】 Ricpau Studios is a five-person indie game development team based in Gothenburg, Sweden, founded by developer and artist Rickard Paulsson. The members have experience with games ranging from indie to AA and AAA scale. “Helcast” is the studio’s first commercial release.
【About HYPER REAL】 From Japan to the world—a cross-cultural game label that goes beyond “play.” HYPER REAL reinterprets video games as a cultural medium like music and film, aims to expand games beyond reality (“HYPER REAL”), and brings such games from Japan to the world. We support creators mainly in Japan and Asia in pursuing unique and innovative expression and expanding their creativity globally.
Official website: https://hyperreal.jp
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