Prepare to Join a Rag Tag Group of Cavers in Cavern
Indie developer Dogma Quest has announced its newest project, Cavern, with a planned release window set for late 2026. Brendan Roarty, who runs the one-man studio, previously created Bunny Hill, a fast-paced physics-based skiing game with a hyperpop style. With Cavern, he shifts toward a more experimental design that focuses on player-driven creativity.
In Cavern, players join a ragtag group of cavers who set out to document the mysterious Mirror Cavern for a television special funded by the fictional Geo Cave Survey. The game centers on a unique swapping mechanic that lets players transform objects in the environment at will. Players can turn a slime into a harmless pot, a stick into a powerful weapon, or create useful tools like decoys and potions to handle different situations.
The game generates cave levels procedurally, ensuring that each run feels different. Players must experiment constantly, adapt to changing conditions, and build creative combinations to survive. Each character can swap objects freely and unlock more swap options as they progress deeper into the cavern, allowing for more complex and chaotic strategies.
The system encourages players to push boundaries by placing objects in unexpected ways and discovering unusual interactions within the world.
With its strong focus on experimentation and sandbox freedom, Cavern looks like a fresh addition to the roguelike genre. More updates are expected as development continues toward its 2026 release. For those eager to dive into the game, there is a free demo on Steam for everyone to try out.