Devlog 01: The Shadow Games - Back in the Dungeon and Rushing to Kickstarter

It’s official: after a roughly 10-month hiatus, I’ve dived back into development on The Shadow Games! Thanks for your patience while I took some time off. I’m incredibly energized and have already made significant strides as we push toward the ultimate goal of online, multiplayer dungeon gameplay.

Major In-Game Progress

Since returning, the focus has been on building out the core systems that will make this game viable as an extraction TCG hybrid:

• New Menu Screens: The old, rough menus are gone! We now have cleaner, more intuitive menu screens for better navigation and setup before jumping into a run.
  
  
• Spell UI Overhaul: A major new feature is the user interface designed specifically for spell selection and organization during gameplay. Managing your deck and spell slots is now a core mechanic, and this new UI makes that process clear and engaging.
  
  
• First Steps in AI: A very crude, initial NPC has been implemented into the world. It’s the first step toward populating the dark corners of the dungeon with threats and targets.
  
  

Refining the Vision and Craft

Over the past year, while I was taking a step back from The Shadow Games, I was focusing on seriously leveling up my skills in 3D modeling and animation. I’m thrilled to start translating this newfound knowledge directly into the game to improve character models, environmental assets, and combat fluidity. Expect a massive jump in visual quality and polish in the coming weeks!

Extraction Meets TCG

The foundational vision for The Shadow Games is clearer than ever. This is a deliberate and unique mashup, heavily inspired by the tense, high-stakes looting and extraction mechanics of games like Tarkov and Dark and Darker, blended with the strategic deck-building and competitive element of classic TCG games like Pokémon and Magic: The Gathering.

The old demo—while a proof of concept—suffered from memory leaks and issues created by simply hacking things together. Now, with a better understanding of the engine and a solid blueprint for the final product, we’re building the new demo with stability and long-term functionality in mind.

The Road to Kickstarter

I've set an ambitious target: I intend to launch The Shadow Games on Kickstarter by the end of this month!

This means I'll be working tirelessly to improve the game, squash bugs, and deliver a more cohesive, stable, and playable demo experience than the first one. My immediate focus is stabilizing the core loop and integrating the new visual assets.

If you haven't yet, you can check out the current build and support development here:

The Shadow Games - Alpha Access by TapTouchClick

Stay tuned—I'll be back soon with more updates as we get closer to the campaign launch!

— The TapTouchClick Team