Hungry Horrors, a card-based deckbuilding adventure built around British and Irish folklore, will leave Steam Early Access and launch its full 1.0 version on October 13, 2026. Developer Clumsy Bear Studio is preparing the indie title for its full release after more than two years of development and a strong reception from Early Access players.
The game takes an unusual approach to encounters with monsters: instead of fighting them, players must keep them fed. Cards represent traditional dishes, turning each encounter into a strategic race to satisfy a creature before it reaches the player.
Hungry Horrors Builds Momentum Ahead of Full Release
Hungry Horrors entered Steam Early Access in January 2026 and has since maintained a 98% Very Positive rating across more than 250 user reviews, according to information released by Clumsy Bear Studio.
The project has been developed over roughly two and a half years by the studio’s two-person development team.
At launch, the game will feature eight playable biomes inspired by locations across the British Isles, ranging from green meadows to atmospheric highlands. Players will encounter 34 folklore-inspired Horrors, including Dullahan, Jenny Greenteeth and Queen Mab.
The full version will also include 62 playable dishes based on traditional recipes from Britain and Ireland, along with 13 legendary characters such as Herne the Hunter and the Wulver.
Cooking Replaces Combat in Folklore-Inspired Adventure
Rather than relying on conventional combat mechanics, Hungry Horrors challenges players to manage each creature’s hunger and culinary preferences. Every card represents a meal, while flavour combinations and taste chains influence how effectively players can satisfy the Horrors they encounter.
Seasonings can be used to upgrade dishes, while cookware, potions and artefacts modify strategies from one run to another. Players will also encounter events and legendary characters as they progress through the game’s folklore-inspired world.
The story follows a spoiled princess forced to act after a ravenous curse spreads across her kingdom and a dragon awakens at its center. Her task is to improve her cooking abilities and feed the Horrors threatening the realm, accompanied by a sarcastic cat that comments on her journey.
Clumsy Bear Studio said the game’s Horrors, non-player characters and artefacts draw from regional legends and folklore, ranging from widely recognized figures to lesser-known local stories. Its food cards are similarly grounded in traditional British and Irish recipes.
Two Game Modes and Expanded Progression Arrive in Version 1.0
The full release will offer two main modes. Campaign is a story-driven roguelite experience available in Vanilla and Spicy difficulty settings. Banquet is designed as a shorter and more challenging roguelike mode with its own difficulty levels.
Version 1.0 will also include the Book of Taliesin meta-progression system, giving players an additional layer of progression across their adventures.
Other gameplay elements include seasonings, cookware, potions and artefacts that can change how individual runs unfold. The game also features 33 unique death animations for situations in which a Horror manages to reach the player.
Pixel Art, Original Music and Steam Deck Support
Visually, Hungry Horrors uses colorful 1990s-inspired pixel art, combining cozy indie-game aesthetics with darker elements drawn from traditional folklore and horror.
The soundtrack features original music composed by Henry Taylor, designed to complement the game’s whimsical presentation and folklore-driven setting.
For its full Steam launch, Hungry Horrors will be Steam Deck Verified. The game will also support several control options, including full controller support as well as mouse-only and keyboard-only configurations.
The combination of turn-based strategy, deckbuilding and regional folklore gives Hungry Horrors a distinctive premise within the crowded indie roguelike market. With its Early Access period approaching its conclusion, Clumsy Bear Studio will move the project into its full 1.0 release on October 13, bringing its complete collection of biomes, recipes, creatures and progression systems to Steam players.
Nicholas Sparks is an award-winning American writer whose bestselling novels have captivated readers for decades. Renowned for his emotional storytelling and timeless themes of love and hope, he remains one of the most influential authors in modern romance literature.
