Hades & Dead Cells Collide In Outstanding New Adventure You Can Play Free Soon

A new game that mixes elements from both Hades and Dead Cells is set to hit Steam and other platforms next year, and you may soon be able to play it for free. With tons of new arrivals on the platform every day, it’s common to get lost among titles, having to often filter what you like from the list of new games. There are great additions, but many of them are hidden gems on Steam, and you need to either have a keen eye or get some recommendations on which game you should play next.

Many games tend to have a brief moment in the spotlight during events, where developers can showcase their work to the public, even if it is still in progress. Screen Rant had the opportunity to check out a brand-new game set to be released on Steam in 2027 during Gamescom LATAM 2026, at the Abragames booth, and can confirm that this new roguelite may be your next big adventure.

Talaka Is An Upcoming Roguelike Inspired By Hades & Dead Cells

The game in question is called Talaka. Developed by Potato Kid and published by Acclaim, the indie game is a fast-paced action roguelike that is heavily inspired by Hades and Dead Cells. In the game, you control the eponymous Talaka, a young warrior who sets off on a journey to find her missing grandmother. However, she is driven into a mystical land, full of dangerous creatures, but powerful beings willing to aid her.

In an interview with Screen Rant, Potato Kid co-founder and artist Stiven Valerio explains that “Talaka’s core gameplay is meant to feel like Dead Cells, but it also brings elements seen in Hades.” The side-scrolling platforming gameplay wears its Dead Cells inspiration on its sleeve, with fast-paced combat and relentless enemy encounters. Hades, however, inspires the paths you take and the upgrades you get.

With every stage you beat, you get a few possible directions to tackle, and you know exactly what type of boon you’ll get in the next room. Moreover, you also have encounters with deities. Instead of gods from the Greek pantheon, however, you meet Orishás from Afro-Brazilian folklore/religion. In Talaka, you meet deities like Yemoja and Eshu, who will greet you with buffs for your build.

One of the things that stands out the most is that Talaka looks gorgeous. As the main artist behind the game, Valerio tells me that “everything is digitally hand-drawn and then animated,” a statement that explains the unique art style for this new roguelike on Steam. Apart from talking to one of the developers for the game, Screen Rant was also able to test a demo available at Gamescom LATAM 2026.

Talaka’s Demo Is Already Stellar

Talaka fights enemies and avoids falling projectiles during combat.

Right out of the gate, Talaka feels great. The roguelike is fast and punishing, but one of its main qualities so far is how responsive it feels. The more you play, the more the game feels like an improvisational dance, positioning and moving Talaka across the battlefield to deal with the enemies, despite how fast everything happens on screen. Even within a short demonstration, I was surprised at the amount of gameplay and upgrade options I had at my disposal.

It’s usually tough for a game to compare itself to other titles of such high quality and critical acclaim, but my feeling is that Talaka has everything that it takes to become one of the greats – at least so far. I’m particularly excited to see how much more the game grows, not only in terms of playtime, but also in the mechanics and gameplay options that players will be able to choose on their runs.

Valerio told me that, while Potato Kid is currently working hard on the game, the studio does plan on releasing a free demo on Steam by the end of the year. The Talaka demo has yet to be confirmed with a release date, as plans may get pushed back, but it may not be too long before players around the world get to test this Brazilian indie gem for free.

I tested huge AAA productions like Invincible VS, Marvel Tōkon, and Phantom Blade Zero at Gamescom LATAM 2026, and I’m eager to say that Talaka was one of the two best games that I had the privilege of playing at the event. While the Steam game (which is expected to be released on other platforms) feels great because of its Dead Cells and Hades inspirations, I’m excited to see more of its unique DNA and what becomes of this promising project.

Screen Rant’s attendance at Gamescom LATAM was sponsored by Abragames.