Action RPG roguelike Dinghai: The Ocean Pillar has received an expanded demo for Steam Next Fest, introducing a new region, weapons, bosses and additional character-building options.
Set in a world inspired by the Classic of Mountains and Seas, the ancient Chinese collection of mythology, geography and monsters, Dinghai: The Ocean Pillar follows a fallen general who once served Emperor Yan. After being exiled and killed, a fragment of his soul survives for centuries before using a forbidden curse to take over the body of a dying young man and return to the mortal world.
The updated demo arrives alongside a new trailer highlighting the game’s combat, including weapon combos, different builds and battles against creatures and gods drawn from Chinese mythology.
Face Xingtian in the New Heyang Region
The Steam Next Fest update introduces Heyang, a new region plagued by seemingly endless lightning. Players can activate traps scattered around the battlefield to redirect lightning strikes towards enemies.
Waiting within the region is Xingtian, a headless war god from the Classic of Mountains and Seas. According to the legend referenced by the game, Xingtian challenged the Yellow Emperor, was decapitated after his defeat and continued fighting despite losing his head. Players can also discover Zouwu as a hidden boss, with those who manage to find it able to unlock the creature as a new spirit beast.
Another addition is the Aquasunder Dual Blades, a speed-focused weapon capable of slowing enemies and inflicting freeze damage. Building combos with Weapon Arts can unleash Water damage and potentially create ice pillars that deal area damage and knock enemies back.
The update also expands character-building options with new Divine Skills and Talents, providing more possibilities for different builds between runs. Several technical and quality-of-life improvements have also been added to the demo, including 4K resolution support, full key rebinding and adjustable map guidance settings. Progress and items earned during the demo will carry over to the full version of the game.
The Dinghai: The Ocean Pillar demo is now available for free on Steam during Steam Next Fest, with the full game scheduled to launch in 2026.
