New action-RPG with corporate satire launches on Steam with launch discount in tow

After nearly six years of development, Sleepy Castle Studio and HypeTrain Digital finally released Escape from Ever After on January 23, 2026. The game, which first saw some popularity through its Onboarding prologue in 2024, has officially landed on Steam with a 20% launch discount and a clear goal: to compete alongside classic turn-based RPGs with a very satire-heavy theme. Players play as Flynt Buckler, a storybook hero who discovers that his dragon nemesis has been replaced by middle managers. A real-world megacorp, Ever After Inc., has converted fairytale realms into sources of cheap labor.

The gameplay is a direct homage to the original Paper Mario series, and uses a 2.5D paper-design and "timed-hit" action commands. Success in battle requires active participation to nail button presses for extra damage and "flawless blocks" on defense. Outside of combat, players get to navigate the corporate headquarters hub, where they can decorate their own office, engage in office banter, and recruit fellow employees to join their resistance against the board of directors.

The game has only just come out, but initial reception has been strongly positive, particularly regarding the game's "jazzy, big-band soundtrack". However, like the other game launches we've covered recently, the 1.0 launch for Escape from Ever After hasn't been entirely perfect. Going by early feedback from the community on Steam, there have been a few "Day 1" technical hurdles, including inconsistent parry windows and occasional softlocks during side quests. There's also a lack of localization for certain languages, specifically French, which some players in the community hub aren't really happy about.

Escape from Ever After is built on Unreal Engine and is pretty accessible, all things considered. It only needs 4 GB of RAM and an entry-level GPU to run. For Steam Deck users, it's a mixed bag: while the game is fully playable and performs well, some in-game text can be small and hard to read on the handheld screen. Despite these gripes, the consensus is that Escape from Ever After uses its narrative very well, alongside sharp writing. It's priced at $19.99, post a 20% launch discount.