CobraTekku Games and Canadian developer Studio Moka have announced that their upcoming roguelite mining and city-building game, CitaDrill, will participate in Steam Next Fest from October 19 through October 26, 2026. The event will feature a newly expanded playable demo, giving PC players an opportunity to explore the game’s combination of underground exploration, resource management, strategic construction, and action-oriented combat ahead of its planned release later this year.
CitaDrill Brings Mining, Strategy and Survival to Steam Next Fest
MUNICH, Germany, October 6, 2026 — Independent publisher CobraTekku Games, working with Montreal-based Studio Moka, has confirmed that CitaDrill will be featured during the October edition of Steam Next Fest.
The upcoming PC game combines elements of roguelite progression, mining simulation, city building, and tactical combat within a mysterious underground environment.
Players assume the role of a captain responsible for operating a massive subterranean drill while developing and protecting a mobile settlement.
The expanded Steam Next Fest demo introduces the game’s core mechanics, including resource collection, settlement construction, crew management, and defensive combat.
With its stylized presentation and changing environments, CitaDrill aims to combine methodical exploration with increasingly demanding survival challenges.
Players Must Drill Into a Mysterious Planet and Build a Surviving City
At the center of CitaDrill is a massive drilling operation that takes players deeper into an unfamiliar planet.
As the expedition progresses, players collect materials, unlock construction options, and expand a settlement protected by a dome.
However, survival requires more than gathering resources. Players must determine how to distribute materials between infrastructure, defensive equipment, and upgrades to their drilling machinery.
Resource Management and City Planning Drive Progression
Each expedition requires players to make decisions about building placement, worker assignments, and resource allocation.
The mobile settlement functions as both a base of operations and a defensive position against underground threats.
Players can construct new facilities, assign workers to operational stations, and develop increasingly efficient systems to support continued exploration.
Additional blueprints become available throughout the game, creating opportunities to improve buildings, expand capabilities, and develop new strategies.
The progression system also introduces different captains and city layouts, providing alternative approaches across multiple playthroughs.
Underground Monsters and Boss Battles Add Tactical Challenges
Although mining and construction form the foundation of the experience, CitaDrill also incorporates action-focused encounters.
Players must defend their settlement against hostile underground creatures, including enormous enemies known as citapedes.
Waves of monsters, hazardous environments, and challenging boss encounters require players to prepare defensive systems and adapt their strategies.
C.A.T. Provides Guidance Throughout the Expedition
Players receive assistance from C.A.T., an onboard Drill Operating System that also serves as a supervisor.
Through interactive dialogue, C.A.T. provides instructions, gameplay hints, and commentary as players navigate the underground environment.
The character’s dialogue also introduces humor into an otherwise demanding survival experience.
Beyond combat, players must manage a crew of cat-like workers, referred to as cat-izens, who help maintain the drilling operation.
Balancing worker productivity, infrastructure development, and defensive preparations becomes increasingly important as expeditions advance.
Roguelite Progression Encourages Repeated Expeditions
CitaDrill incorporates procedurally generated runs, meaning players encounter changing conditions and challenges across successive attempts.
An unsuccessful expedition does not necessarily end overall progression. Instead, players can begin another run while gradually unlocking additional gameplay possibilities.
The structure encourages experimentation with different settlement layouts, resource strategies, and character choices.
Core gameplay features include:
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Mining deeper into a mysterious planet to discover resources and uncover its story.
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Building and expanding a protected underground settlement.
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Managing resources, construction priorities, and worker assignments.
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Upgrading drilling equipment, infrastructure, and defensive weapons.
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Directing a crew of cat-like workers to maintain operations.
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Fighting waves of underground creatures and powerful bosses.
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Exploring procedurally generated environments across repeated runs.
Expanded Demo Includes Tutorial and Training Simulation
The Steam Next Fest demo also features a tutorial and training simulation designed to introduce players to the game’s interconnected systems.
The training experience covers movement, controls, enemy behavior, attack mechanics, and settlement management.
These introductory systems are intended to help players understand how construction, resource allocation, and combat influence one another.
CitaDrill also features psychedelic-inspired background music, complementing its stylized visuals and unusual underground setting.
Studio Moka and CobraTekku Games Prepare for 2026 Release
Studio Moka is an independent game developer based in Montreal, Canada. The studio focuses on combining unconventional gameplay systems with narrative-driven experiences.
CitaDrill explores themes of survival and sacrifice through its depiction of a civilization operating aboard a massive underground drill.
Publisher CobraTekku Games was established in Munich in 2022 and operates within the BXDXO group. The company supports independent developers through publishing resources, industry expertise, and marketing partnerships.
Steam Next Fest Dates and Release Plans
CitaDrill is scheduled to participate in Steam Next Fest from October 19 through October 26, 2026, with its expanded demo available during the event.
The full game is planned for release later in 2026, although a specific launch date and pricing have not been announced.
For PC players interested in mining simulations, roguelite adventures, and strategy-based city builders, the upcoming demo offers an early opportunity to evaluate CitaDrill’s combination of exploration, settlement management, and underground combat before its full release.
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