After getting lost in ethical discussions about AI and the sudden rise of AI-slop at Steam Next Fest, today I’m back on duty, playing human-made games and telling you all about them. My first demo of the day is a good one, too.
Ignitement is the name of the game, and it’s the work of Sørb, with Mad Mushroom providing publishing support. It’s a flame-powered action-roguelite with a gloomy atmosphere and some mesmerising particle effects. Inspired by equal parts Diablo and Vampire Survivors, I think it’s one to watch.
I’ve been jumping between demos this week and last, but Ignitement might be one of my favourites so far, thanks to its easy approach to upgrading and spellcrafting. The narrowed focus on flame-powered attacks keeps things simple at first, but it’s not long before you’re adding new properties to your arsenal.
It’s the particle effects and the weapon interactions that had me enthralled. Jets of flame wash across your field of view, swirls of smoke billowing beyond. The rest of the presentation is quite rustic, but I think this ensures your focus remains locked on those flames.
Whether I was blasting a stream of fire or launching fireballs into my enemies, I was having a good time. My attacks felt weighty and impactful, and the maps are somewhat interactive, further adding to the atmosphere and sense of place.
If you’re looking for a demo to warm you up this Next Fest, Ingitement is worth a download. It has certainly piqued my interest ahead of the game’s planned launch on Windows PC, in Q1 2027. Wishlist it here on Steam.
