Death Union and Flashlight Games have announced that *The Hero Party Has Been Wiped Out* will be released on November 10, 2026. The game was originally scheduled for release in July 2026, but a delay had been announced due to production issues.
Now that the release date has been finalized, the game has surpassed 150,000 Steam wishlist entries as of this writing. A new trailer released alongside the announcement offers a brief glimpse of in-game artwork and scenes from inside the dungeons.
From a shattered party of heroes, only one can be saved
This RPG is described as a “high-tension, emotionally intense” experience where you confront the “karma” of your broken comrades and help them bring closure to their stories.
The player is the sole survivor of a rescue party sent to find a party of heroes who went missing in a dungeon.The four people you finally find are all broken in some way: the “Hero” who has lost the ability to speak, the “Mage” who has lost their magical power, the “Warrior” who has lost their body, and the “Priest” who has lost “something” (the word is censored).
You can save only one of them, and you’ll aim to escape the dungeon alone with the partner you choose.
A card battle where you steal, shatter, and turn into curses
Combat takes the form of turn-based card battles. All items in your inventory become part of your “hand,” and each has a set number of uses.
Since the enemy’s next action is announced in advance, the real challenge lies in how you respond with your limited resources.
Your partner also joins the battle, and your combat style changes depending on who you choose—whether it’s a hero who revives from the brink of death, a warrior who rages with reckless abandon, or a priest who wields powerful healing spells. There are also mechanics in place, such as a wizard who has lost their magic dealing zero damage even if equipped with a “Flame Staff.”
The main way to obtain items is by “looting” them from enemies. If you disrupt an enemy’s stance with an attack and land the “final strike” with your weapon, a “fatal blow” occurs, instantly defeating the enemy and allowing you to seize their equipment. Since the items you can loot are specific to each enemy, deciding what to take from which enemy is crucial.
Weapons and items break once they’re used up, but that “final strike” just before they break is extremely powerful. Not only do damage and healing amounts skyrocket, but special effects may also occur.
For example, the “Lifeless Sword,” which normally drains your own HP to strike, will absorb HP from the enemy for that one final strike. You can also intentionally shatter a weapon even if it still has uses remaining. There seem to be situations where it’s advantageous to deliberately use it up, even when resources are scarce.
Furthermore, “curses” are generated from shattered items. By using these curses to “resist,” you can apparently undo the effects of traps you’ve triggered or bad rolls on the roulette.
If you are defeated, you’ll have to retry from that floor, and you can use the Curses you’ve accumulated to create desired items or convert the remaining ones into experience points. Each time you die, your next challenge becomes easier.
Four completely independent routes and multiple endings for each of the four characters
Throughout the game, conversations along the way will lead you to confront the secrets your partners harbor and the “unresolved ties” they left behind in the dungeon.
Your relationship with your partner changes based on your choices, which can lead to bonds, mistrust, or even dependence. Each character’s route is completely independent, and the ending you reach after clearing the dungeon depends on the partner you choose and the decisions you make.
The text volume exceeds 400,000 characters, and there are over 400 illustrations, each drawn specifically for this game. The estimated playtime is approximately 6 hours per route, for a total of 4 routes, and each route features multiple endings.
Over 100 types of weapons and items are available. You can choose between two combat styles: “Resolve and Will,” where you fight by timing your attacks, and “Choice and Fate,” where battles are based on probability; neither choice affects the story.
Key Features
Exploring Dungeons Full of Danger A card battle system where you use items with limited
uses as your hand to challenge dungeon enemies. Your battle strategy changes depending on the partner you choose.Acquire
New Weapons with the “Fatal Blow” System You can loot items from enemies by defeating them using the “Fatal Blow” system. Deciding which enemies to target and what to loot is where your strategy comes into play.Weapons Become Stronger When Shattered: A weapon reaches its peak power
during that “final use” just before it breaks. Even when supplies are scarce, deliberately shattering and discarding a weapon is the key to victory.Use the power of “Curses” to twist an unfavorable fate. Use “Curses”—a resource generated from
shattered items—to nullify traps and bad luck. Even if you suffer a defeat, the Curses will fuel your level-up, giving you an advantage in your next challenge.How this two-person escape story ends depends entirely on your mindset. Conversations and choices
along the way will shape both your relationship with your partner and the story itself. Completely independent routes and endings await for each character.
*The Hero Party Has Been Wiped Out* is scheduled for release on PC (Steam) on November 10, 2026. The price has not yet been determined.
Ahead of the release, a demo version allowing players to experience the game up to the battle against the first boss, “The Exile,” is scheduled to be released soon. This demo will reportedly allow players to play as all four partners available in the full game. Further updates will be announced on the game’s official X account and Steam store page.
