Fans of the Persona series and Metaphor: ReFantazio have a thrilling new experience on the horizon—Guns Undarkness, a tactical stealth RPG led by legendary composer Shoji Meguro, is set to launch a free demo during the upcoming Steam Next Fest. This marks a major milestone for the indie project, offering players a firsthand look at its unique blend of turn-based combat and stealth mechanics.
Shoji Meguro Leads Ambitious New JRPG Project
Guns Undarkness is spearheaded by Shoji Meguro, the acclaimed composer behind the iconic soundtracks of the Shin Megami Tensei and Persona series. Since departing Atlus in 2021, Meguro has embraced indie development while continuing to contribute music to major titles. For Guns Undarkness, he joins forces with Ilya Kuvshinov, renowned character artist from Ghost in the Shell, and rapper Lotus Juice, known for his contributions to Persona 3, to create a deeply atmospheric and stylistically rich JRPG.
Originally unveiled at Indie Live Expo Winter 2021, the game gained momentum through a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2022, surpassing its stretch goals. Now published under Kodansha Game Creators Lab, Guns Undarkness is poised to enter Early Access later in 2025, with a free demo available on Steam Next Fest starting February 24, 2025.
A Tactical Stealth RPG Inspired by Metal Gear Solid and Persona
Set in the year 2045, Guns Undarkness unfolds in a world teetering on the edge of collapse. Players assume the role of an operative in a private military company, undertaking high-stakes missions alongside allies while unraveling a deep conspiracy that could determine humanity’s fate.
The gameplay seamlessly integrates stealth and turn-based tactical combat. During stealth segments, players navigate environments undetected, setting up advantageous conditions for battle. Successfully ambushing enemies grants strategic benefits in combat, where precise command input, weapon selection, and team coordination are key to victory.
The upcoming Steam demo offers approximately 20 minutes of gameplay, featuring a full tutorial that introduces core mechanics such as movement, stealth, combat commands, weapon handling, and early-game tactics. Designed to showcase the game’s tone and systems, the demo provides a solid glimpse into what players can expect.
Guns Undarkness is scheduled for Early Access release in Spring 2025 on PC, delivering around 10 hours of content at launch. While an exact release date has not yet been announced, fans can look forward to deeper updates as development progresses. Stay tuned via Steam for the demo and future announcements.
