Most Survivors-style games test how long players can last against increasingly overwhelming waves of enemies, but Delve Survivors takes a different approach by giving players time to think. Developed by iDiOSLAB and published by NGJ Corporation, the dungeon-crawling RPG combines the build experimentation and rapid progression associated with the genre with turn-based combat, where every move can make the difference between survival and defeat.
Delve Survivors will bring an expanded demo to Steam Next Fest, running from October 19 to 26, 2026. The demo features four dungeons, three playable classes, hundreds of items, and multiple game modes, offering players a chance to experiment with different builds before the game’s full release.
Unlike traditional Survivors games, where enemies attack in real time, Delve Survivors only allows enemies to act when the player does. This shifts the emphasis away from reflexes and towards tactical positioning, resource management, and carefully considering each move. Players must fight through randomized dungeons, collect equipment, and develop increasingly powerful combinations of skills while working their way towards each dungeon’s depths within a limited number of turns.
Warrior, Archer, and Magi are the three available classes, each offering different possibilities for character builds. Weapons, armour, accessories, and skills can be combined in numerous ways, while persistent progression allows players to carry loot and equipment between dungeons. The game also features three modes, ranging from a more relaxed Casual experience to Hardcore, which introduces permadeath, and Casual Rogue, where players risk their equipment instead.
The demo offers over an hour of gameplay for the average player, with different classes, randomized dungeon layouts, and build combinations providing reasons to return for additional runs. Players can also compete on online leaderboards, while varied enemy behaviours and boss encounters aim to make combat about more than simply accumulating enough damage to overwhelm opponents. Mouse, keyboard, and controller support are all included.
The Steam Next Fest version will also introduce Hellgate, a challenging late-game dungeon intended to test players’ builds and provide a more extended experience. This additional content will only be available in the demo during Steam Next Fest, giving players a limited-time opportunity to explore more of the game ahead of its full release.
According to co-creator Ryan Wolf, the goal was to retain the compact, pick-up-and-play appeal of Survivors games while bringing more of the exploration, strategy, and character development associated with traditional dungeon crawlers into the formula. With its turn-based approach, Delve Survivors aims to offer a different kind of challenge, one where taking the time to consider the next move is just as important as building a character capable of surviving what lies ahead.
Delve Survivors will be available to try through its expanded Steam demo during Steam Next Fest, which runs from October 19 to 26, 2026.