About This Demo

NOTE: The Demo will be updated regularly with new content and fixes until June of 2026.

The first builds will be HEAVILY limited and focused on the gameplay side, as I polish everything up and finish the story. A lot rests on the PROLOGUE's shoulders, and I would not want to rush the chapter, but I also need to open up the demo as soon as possible for public feedback. This is the best compromise I could reach.

Thank you for your patience.

DARKHAND is a story-driven RPG about desperation, vice, and the cost of second chances. Climb a hundred floors of artificial luxury and hidden horrors, while falling further and further down the hole of one-sided compromises and concessions.

In the short PROLOGUE episode, bond with Damian & Co as they try to outplay fate itself, using card battles inspired by traditional turn-based RPG mechanics. But in this casino, especially, nothing lasts forever, and trusting anyone is a bet you make against yourself every day.

This episode's scope is very small compared to the full game, but you will still get to experience small parts of the following:

• Intricate plot: The story has no shortage of twists and mysteries, and it's up to you to piece everything together.

• Card-based combat: A deceptively complex system where Spades attack, Hearts heal, Clubs defend, and Diamonds give chips, but your action bar forces you to plan each turn carefully. 

• Not just characters: Your actions have consequences on the people around you. Shape relationships, unlock hidden content, and reveal multiple endings.

• Unique soundtrack: Traverse through the game listening to over a hundred tracks of different styles and genres, landing anywhere from synthwave to chiptune, rock, or even orchestral.

• Plenty of side content: Includes gambling minigames such as plinko and 1980's inspired videogames.

• Stylized retro visuals: 16-bit era inspired art under a layer of (optional) dream-like effects.

Mature Content Description

The developers describe the content like this:

This game contains references to mature themes, including gambling, substance abuse, crime, mental health struggles, and suicide.
These elements are non-graphic and presented in a narrative context.
No explicit sexual content or graphic violence is shown.