Shadow Rush, a solo project from Ghostlore developer Andrew Teo, is now playable as a free Windows demo on Steam. Released on 12 June 2026, the isometric action RPG combines short runs, manual combat, character rerolls and a build system based on collectible Shards. Teo describes it as a smaller, more focused project than Ghostlore, with development continuing toward a currently estimated comfortable completion date of 16 April 2027.
What Shadow Rush is
Shadow Rush is an isometric action RPG with roguelite elements. Its design centers on fast-paced encounters, quick repeatable runs and experimentation rather than a sprawling collection of separate progression systems. The goal is to make trying a different build or rerolling a character quick and meaningful.
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Andrew Teo describes the game as a solo side project for “action-RPG purists” while work continues on the next Ghostlore game. He also says he wants the design to be “highly intentional,” which helps explain the project’s deliberately narrow scope: Shadow Rush concentrates its customization around one main system instead of reproducing every subsystem found in a larger action RPG.
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Simple controls, manual attacks
The basic controls are deliberately compact:
- WASD: move your character.
- Left-click: perform a manual attack.
- Right-click: dash.
Although Shadow Rush has some of the accessibility of a streamlined survivors-style game, it is not hands-off. Attacks still require player input, so positioning, timing and deciding when to dash remain part of the combat loop.
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Four phases determine your spells
Every attack or dash advances through four phases, labeled I, II, III and IV. Your currently equipped Shards determine which spells activate at each phase. This creates a rhythm in which the same basic actions can produce different effects depending on where you are in the cycle.
The system is intended to reduce the number of hotkeys without removing tactical decisions. Instead of assigning a large collection of abilities to separate buttons, you trigger effects through ordinary attacks and dashes, then shape those effects by changing your Shard loadout.
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What Shards do
Shards are collectible, equipable spells. You can swap them between the game’s six playable characters to construct different builds. Because spell activation follows the four attack-and-dash phases, the order and combination of Shards matter as much as simply collecting them.
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That structure supports the game’s roguelite focus. A run is an opportunity to test a configuration, observe how its phase triggers behave in combat and then try a different arrangement on the next attempt. The result is a build system built around iteration rather than a single permanent setup.
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How Shadow Rush differs from Ghostlore
| Area | Shadow Rush | Ghostlore |
|---|---|---|
| Design scope | Intentionally smaller and more focused | Broader game with multiple customization systems |
| Core experimentation | Concentrated in phase-triggered Shards | Spread across several customization systems |
| Run structure | Short, repeatable runs and character rerolls | Not characterized by the Shadow Rush announcement as the same short-run focus |
| Relationship | A clean-slate project, not a sequel | The developer’s earlier game |
The comparison is therefore about breadth versus focus. Ghostlore offers more separate avenues for customization, while Shadow Rush puts its build experimentation into the interaction between six characters, Shards and the four-phase combat cycle. Teo has described Shadow Rush as a clean slate rather than a direct sequel.
Demo availability and development status
Free Windows Steam demo
The Steam Community announcement titled “Steam Demo is released!” was published on 12 June 2026. SteamDB records the free demo as Windows-supported, developed and published by Andrew Teo, with a release timestamp of 12 June 2026 at 09:28:28 UTC.
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To try it, open Steam, search for Shadow Rush, choose the demo listing and install it on a Windows PC. The available build should be treated as an in-development demonstration rather than a final representation of all planned content.
Updates are still arriving
Official updates document balance changes and a planned sub-boss addition. The project’s itch.io development log also records ongoing work, including a Dodge update dated 5 October 2026. That activity indicates that mechanics and content can change as feedback is incorporated.
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When will Shadow Rush be released?
The developer’s current comfortable completion estimate is 16 April 2027. This is an estimate, not a guaranteed launch date. No final commercial release date, final price or complete platform list has been announced in the available updates, so those details should not be treated as settled.
For now, the confirmed way to play is the free Windows Steam demo. Players should expect balance adjustments and additional content before the project reaches its intended completion.
Who should watch Shadow Rush?
- Players who prefer active, manual attacks over fully automatic survivors-style combat.
- Fans of short runs that make it easy to test a new build.
- Action-RPG players who enjoy optimizing interactions between abilities rather than managing many hotkeys.
- Ghostlore players looking for a more concentrated experiment from the same developer.
Its appeal will depend on whether the four-phase cycle and Shard swapping provide enough variety over repeated runs. The demo is the clearest way to judge that loop while development remains in progress.
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