From Press Release:
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA — Hell Byte Studios has launched Blood Reaver, its debut dark-fantasy co-op FPS, on Steam Early Access today.
Established in 2023 and fuelled by a lifelong passion for heavy metal, dark fantasy and the round-based shooter genre, the Adelaide-based studio spent years building the game they always wanted to play. A launch trailer is available now.
Become the last surviving Blood Reaver, a cursed warrior tasked with stopping a demonic uprising across a world already on its knees. Armed with heavy metal firearms and blood magic artefacts, players fight through ruins of fallen empires, sunken towns and the remnants of hell itself. Play solo or with up to three friends. Every run will test how well you adapt, build and survive.
Blood Reaver is a round-based wave shooter for 1–4 players. Each wave brings more demons faster, tougher, more relentless. The game doesn’t slow down until you’re dead.
Combat runs on two systems.
Weapons follow a linear progression: find them, upgrade them, grow stronger as the run goes on.
Abilities work differently, charge them by killing demons, then spend them on a powerful burst of Blood Magic, Ethereal Arts or Forbidden powers.
Between waves, the Deck of Fates and the Blood Infuser let players upgrade their character and weapons, producing fresh combinations every run.
Each map also hides environmental lore, clues about who the Blood Reavers were and what’s really driving the invasion.
“It’s live. After everything it took to get here, Blood Reaver is finally in the hands of the people it was built for.”
— Jackson Hole, Hell Byte Studios
Key Features
- Blood-fueled abilities: Kill demons to charge powerful spells across three schools of magic, Blood Magic, Ethereal Arts, and Forbidden powers.
- In-run upgrades: Use the Deck of Fates and Blood Infuser to upgrade your character and weapons between waves.
- 1–4 player co-op: Play solo or with friends on Steam.
- Hidden lore: Each map contains story content that slowly pieces together the world of Blood Reaver.
- Round-based escalation: Every wave hits harder. Survive as long as you can.
- Dark-fantasy setting: Inspired by Doom, Bloodborne and Dishonored, built for players who want atmosphere with their gunplay.
Blood Reaver is available on Steam for 14.99 USD
About Hell Byte Studios
Hell Byte Studios is the indie developer and publisher behind Blood Reaver. A team of lifelong wave shooter fans, they set out to build the game they always wanted, one that honours the genre while bringing something fresh to the table. Blood Reaver is their first commercial release.
