A playable demo for The Gate Must Stand is now available on Steam, according to an announcement from publisher Yogscast Games and China-based publisher and marketing firm Gamersky.

The upcoming title blends elements of tower defense, roguelikes and survivor-style action, placing players directly on the battlefield rather than behind defensive lines. Instead of managing towers from a distance, players take control of a warrior tasked with protecting a single, vital chokepoint: the city gate.

Set in a collapsing world under siege, The Gate Must Stand revolves around one core objective — prevent the gate from falling. Players recruit followers, unlock upgrades and combine abilities to withstand increasingly powerful enemy waves and large-scale boss encounters. Each run presents escalating pressure, with choices made along the way shaping how long the defense holds.

A Single Chokepoint, Endless Variations

Unlike traditional tower defense games that emphasize map control and placement, The Gate Must Stand focuses on moment-to-moment combat and collective strategy. Players must coordinate decisions around weapons, modifiers and upgrades while reacting to rapidly changing threats. Failure comes swiftly, as the game features permadeath and run-based progression typical of roguelikes.

According to Yogscast Games Managing Director Simon Byron, the decision to publish the game came from its genre-blending approach. “The Gate Must Stand delivers a unique take on the roguelike genre, and we just couldn’t pass up on the opportunity to bring it to our legion of players,” Byron said in a statement. He added that the studio is eager to see how players engage with the game’s close-quarters combat and high-pressure decision-making.

The newly released demo is designed to give players hands-on exposure to the game’s systems, offering a slice of its combat flow, progression mechanics and escalating difficulty. Each attempt is structured to feel like a climactic encounter, with success dependent not only on reflexes, but on careful planning and adaptability.

Yogscast Games, founded in 2017, has built its publishing slate around smaller independent teams, with prior releases including PlateUp! and Dungeons & Degenerate Gamblers. Gamersky, founded in 2003, operates one of China’s largest gaming portals and provides publishing, localization and marketing services across the Greater China region.