Indonesian indie developer Dark Wagon Studio has unveiled a new gameplay trailer for Echoes from Below, a dark fantasy tactical RPG combining grid-based strategy with dungeon survival mechanics.
Alongside the trailer, the studio has opened registrations for a Steam Playtest, with selected players set to gain hands-on access starting September 15, 2026, during Steam’s Party-Based RPG Fest.
Set in the lantern-lit depths of a dangerous dungeon, Echoes from Below sees players recruit hunters from a surface village and lead them into increasingly perilous encounters. Battles are fought on grid-based maps, with positioning, line of sight, destructible environments and knockback mechanics playing a key role in combat.
One of the game’s defining mechanics is its tactical body-swapping system, allowing players to take direct control of different squad members and adapt their approach during battle.
Relationships Can Change the Battlefield
Beyond its tactical combat, Echoes from Below places a strong emphasis on relationships between party members. Battles can trigger dynamic events that develop romances, rivalries and mentorships, with these relationships affecting party synergy and combat performance.
Hunters must also contend with psychological stress alongside their physical health. As morale falls, characters can break formation, panic or even turn against their own allies.
The game’s permadeath system further reinforces these relationships. When a hunter dies permanently, their loss can affect the surviving party, with lovers grieving, students carrying grudges and rivals reacting to their fallen companions.
27 Classes and Consequential Choices
The Steam Playtest build features 27 character classes, offering a varied roster that includes traditional roles such as Knights, Mages and Scouts alongside unconventional classes including Miners, Priests and Gourmets.
Other key features include destructible terrain, line-of-sight mechanics, knockback abilities and cooldown-based skills that do not require mana.
The game also features handcrafted 2D sprite art and atmospheric lantern-lit environments, accompanied by a soundtrack described by the studio as Content-ID-free.
Players interested in trying Echoes from Below can now request access to the upcoming Steam Playtest ahead of its September 15 launch.
