Helcast, a physics-based merge-puzzle roguelite deckbuilder inspired by Norse mythology, is heading to PC through Steam Early Access in the first quarter of 2027. Developed by Ricpau Studios and published by Japan-based HYPER REAL, the game will make its public demo debut at gamescom 2026.
The upcoming title combines deckbuilding strategy, physics-driven weapon placement and puzzle mechanics within a journey through the realms of Norse mythology. Players take control of Modgunn, a bridgekeeper caught in a conflict between the Underworld and Asgard.
Helcast Brings Physics and Merge Puzzles Into Roguelite Combat
The story begins after Odin, the All-Father, declares war on the Underworld. The dishonorable dead escape Helheim and threaten Asgard, leaving Modgunn to fight her way from the realm of the dead toward the home of the gods in an effort to end the conflict.
Rather than relying on conventional turn-based combat, Helcast centers its encounters around physics-based merge puzzles. Players drop weapons onto shifting platforms and attempt to combine matching items, creating larger and more powerful weapons while damaging enemies.
Successful attacks require players to consider factors including mass, velocity and ricochets. Carefully aimed weapons can create multi-hit merge combinations, but positioning is important because Modgunn attacks whatever is directly above a completed merge.
That system is designed to make individual encounters less predictable, with physics influencing how each weapon moves and where potential combinations develop.
Different Classes Offer Distinct Combat Strategies
Shieldmaiden Focuses on Defense
Players will be able to approach battles through classes with different mechanics. The Shieldmaiden combines offensive attacks with defensive durability, using successful merge combinations to build armor during combat.
This approach is intended for players who want to absorb enemy attacks while gradually strengthening their position on the battlefield.
Huntress Uses Ranged and Magical Attacks
The Huntress instead emphasizes ranged combat through magical bows and arrows. Her attacks can incorporate effects including Burn, Chill and Life-Steal, giving players additional ways to weaken enemies and sustain themselves during longer encounters.
Both classes will be available as part of the game’s debut demo, allowing gamescom attendees to experience contrasting approaches to its combat system.
Spells and Totems Can Reshape the Battlefield
Beyond weapons and class abilities, Helcast features Spells and Totems that can alter the arena and create additional tactical opportunities.
The Eagle Totem summons a bird of prey that attacks all enemies when the Totem is struck. The Oath Ring increases damage following each successful merge, while the Pulse Stone sends nearby objects flying in different directions.
These abilities can be used to reposition weapons, clear obstacles and reach items that would otherwise be difficult to merge beneath a growing stack.
The combination of physics and tactical abilities means players must account not only for the strength of individual weapons but also for how objects interact within the arena.
Gamescom Demo Will Introduce the First Realm of Hel
The first playable demo will be available during gamescom 2026 at the Indie Arena Booth in Hall 10.2. Players will battle through the first realm of Hel and encounter mythical enemies while testing the game’s merge-puzzle mechanics.
The planned Steam Early Access release in Q1 2027 will expand the experience to four realms and include the game’s first boss battle. The eventual 1.0 release is expected to continue Modgunn’s journey toward a confrontation with Odin.
“It’s cliché to say no run is ever the same, but with physics-based merge mechanics, we can say that literally every turn within Helcast’s gameplay is unique,” said Rickard Paulsson, lead developer at Ricpau Studios. “HYPER REAL has taken our original vision for Helcast to new heights, and we look forward to gamescom attendees taking the first look at gameplay at the end of the month.”
Helcast Targets PC Early Access in 2027
Helcast is scheduled to launch on PC through Steam Early Access in Q1 2027. The game will support English, Japanese, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, French, Spanish and German.
With its combination of roguelite progression, deckbuilding concepts, merge puzzles and physics-driven combat, Helcast is positioning itself as a distinctive take on the increasingly crowded roguelite genre. Its gamescom debut will provide the first opportunity for players to see how those mechanics come together before the Early Access launch next year.
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