You may have noticed we've been rather quiet on Steam lately. That's because we've been hard at work on the next major update for Halls of Nyarlathotep.
Today we're excited to give you an early look at Hidden Chambers, a new feature that adds optional rooms, expands the game's lore, and introduces a brand-new Perk system.
As you explore the Dreamlands, you may discover mysterious doors leading to optional chambers. Lore Chambers and Challenge Chambers are rolled independently, meaning you might encounter one, both, or neither during your journey.
Once a chamber is completed or failed, it disappears for the remainder of the run.
Lore Chambers offer a glimpse into the world beyond the main path.
Here, you'll uncover fragments of your shattered mind, learn more about the Dreamlands, its inhabitants, and the events that shaped this strange world. Each chamber is designed to expand the game's lore and reward exploration beyond combat.
Challenge Chambers are handcrafted encounters, each built around its own unique idea. Some will test your combat skills, others your awareness, movement, or ability to adapt to increasingly bizarre situations inspired by the Dreamlands and weird fiction.
Successfully completing a Challenge Chamber rewards you with a Perk.
Perks are permanent bonuses for the duration of a run, allowing you to gradually shape your build as you progress.
They are divided into three archetypes:
Brawler: melee combat, resilience, and raw power.
Scholar: occult abilities, sigils, and harnessing madness.
Marksman: precision, ranged combat, and critical strikes.
After clearing a Challenge Chamber, you'll first choose between two randomly selected archetypes. You'll then be presented with three random perks from the chosen archetype and select one to add to your build.
The beta currently contains a limited selection of chambers and perks. The full update will significantly expand both, and even more content is planned for the full release of the game.
If you'd like to help us test the update before its full release, you can access it through Steam's beta branch.
Right-click Halls of Nyarlathotep in your Steam Library.
Select Properties.
Open the Game versions & Betas tab.
Choose the beta branch from the dropdown list.
Let Steam update the game and launch it as usual (if update is not triggered, you may need to force check integrity of the files)
Please keep in mind that this is an early preview. You may encounter bugs, placeholder content, balance issues, and unfinished features as we continue developing the update.
As always, thank you for your support. Your feedback helps us improve the game, and we look forward to hearing what you think of Hidden Chambers.