You can start playing Titanium Court now, a must-try demo featured in the Steam Next Fest.

Ten months from now, Titanium Court will likely be celebrated with several game of the year awards.

While my experience with it was limited to just 90 minutes, it was certainly enough time for me to sense its unique appeal—a sort of magic that got me hooked from the outset. Upon launching it on my Steam Deck at 5 PM Friday, I quickly found myself captivated by its blend of match-3 mechanics and tactical RPG elements.

Titanium Court presents itself as a match-3 puzzle game, but that’s a simplification. The core lies in its tactical RPG features, allowing players to reshape the battlefield as they play. Matching three tiles grants food for deploying troops, strategically moving landscapes to hinder enemy approaches, and causing adversary fortresses to vanish through clever tile combinations.

This engaging High Tide phase can extend, contingent on effectively executing combos of cascading matches.

As you dive deeper, the game also offers inventive mechanics. There’s potential for shops selling diverse troop types, hospitals for healing, and treasure chests requiring keys for unlocking. However, if you set a catapult ablaze, beware—the fire can spread and potentially burn down your own court!

A point worth noting here is the game’s charming narrative style. AP Thomson’s artwork shines with emotional sparks, while the humor brings to mind styles reminiscent of Terry Pratchett, delivering playful yet profound quips.

Want to experience the magic? Download the demo here.