We may never get Bloodborne on PC, but we did get the excellent fan demake Yarntown, created by solo developer Max Mraz of Moth Atlas. Since then, Mraz has adapted and expanded that core concept to create Tombwater, a new, original soulslike that infuses Yharnam-style eldritch horror into a Wild West setting. If you’re sad that Rockstar never gave Red Dead Redemption 2 its own version of Undead Nightmare, this exciting new Lovecraft-tinged action RPG might be the perfect salve, and you can try it for free on Steam right now.
As you step onto the cursed streets of Tombwater in search of a lost friend, it’s immediately clear that this ghost town has more than earned its harrowing reputation. What was once a prosperous mining hub is now a decaying husk where the tendrils of madness reach around every corner. The few people that remain seem all but lost to despair, and unknowable horrors lurk among the shadows – Tombwater is a true soulslike as much in theming as it is in structure.
As a big fan of Yarntown, and how it adapts Bloodborne-like concepts into a top-down action game, I’m very pleased to see Moth Atlas working with a fresh setting and story of its own making. The result is something that feels strikingly faithful to the fundamentals of soulslikes, and its haunting pixel-art horrors are a sight to behold.
The new Tombwater demo lets you play through the origin story that sets up the world and lore of the eponymous town’s fall, along with the opening scenes of the full game and an early boss fight. You’ll get a quick introduction to the mechanics, and have the chance to test out four melee weapons, five ranged options, and five powerful spells that call on the darkness – and perhaps even your own sanity, if you’re not careful.
The Tombwater demo is available now on Steam. You can download it and play for free. Moth Atlas is planning to launch the full game in 2025.
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