Minimap announced that dark fantasy turn-based RPG Billy the Hero, developed by indie game studio JOJOJOJOsoft, is participating in Steam Next Fest and showcasing a free demo.
Running from Tuesday, October 20 at 2:00 AM to Tuesday, October 27 at 2:00 AM KST, this edition of Steam Next Fest is an online event offering players the opportunity to try free demos of various upcoming PC games. During the event, players can share a wide range of information about the titles through developer livestreams, chats, and other features.
Scheduled for official release in the fourth quarter of 2026 on PC via Steam, Billy the Hero follows the adventure of the protagonist, Billy, a formerly notorious criminal who awakens as a bear on the mysterious 'Hell Island' with no memory of his past. Players must help Billy—who is exploring the desolate island without knowing why he is there—recover his lost memories and build his own kingdom to stand against 'The 7 Lords of Sin' ruling the island. Along the way, hand-drawn 2D art merges with bizarre yet humorous character designs, weaving dark comedy and social satire into a dark fantasy backdrop as players uncover the mysteries surrounding Billy's past.
The combat system adopts a strategic turn-based approach that replaces traditional mana and stamina with combinations of four-colored gems and numbers. The tide of battle can turn depending on when and how many of these limited four-colored gems are consumed, while calculating the numbers inherent to attack skills to hit specific totals triggers bonus effects. However, an incorrect choice can completely nullify the attack itself, requiring precise calculations. Furthermore, the game introduces a mechanic that awards extra experience points for finishing a battle with remaining gems, delivering the tension of constantly weighing risk versus reward—deciding whether to overpower enemies quickly with powerful skills or conserve resources for greater progression rewards.
Beyond combat, the game offers a wealth of content including exploration, town management, and companion recruitment. Players can build up a city using a ruined shopping mall as their base and expand their influence by recruiting unique characters with their own backstories as allies. The bonds forged with recruited companions directly affect combat capabilities, and the choices and actions players make throughout their journey determine the story's ultimate ending.
Players can download the free demo from the Steam store page to get an early taste of Billy the Hero's unique world and turn-based combat, and adding the game to their wishlist will allow them to receive notifications upon official release. Further details about the game and demo are available on its Steam page.
