To request a copy of this game when it's available, please visit: https://sbx.gg/beingandbecoming

ATMOSPHERIC METROIDVANIA BEING AND BECOMING REVEALS 2026 RELEASE WINDOW & NEW STEAM PLAYTEST, OUT NOW!

Dive into a world of stunningly nostalgic pixel art, storytelling, combat and exploration!

NICOSIA, Cyprus – Jan. 20, 2026 – The collective dream calls to you! Publisher CRITICAL REFLEX (Mouthwashing, No, I’m not a human) and developer Ichthys have released a new open playtest on Steam today for the atmospheric, pixel-art metroidvania Being and Becoming, alongside the reveal the game will officially launch in 2026! Play through the game’s intro, explore multiple locations, learn to use several types of weapons and abilities, meet different NPCs, and fight two epic bosses and a wide variety of enemies.

Being and Becoming Steam Playtest Trailer: YouTube
Media Assets: Download

You are a would-be martyr, rescued from a watery grave and plunged into the Collective Dream: defy the prophecy of The Word, defeat the corrupted, gain new weapons and abilities from those who came before, and save the Dream by breaking the other dreamers free of the tyranny of The Word. Don’t let beauty dull your vigilance: the deeper you descend, the more treacherous the world becomes.

Key Features

• Discover Echoes of the Past: Follow in the footsteps of the divers who came before you and take what they no longer need. Find new weapons and abilities to help you explore the Collective Dream.
• Expand Your Arsenal: Assemble an array of weapons wielded by noble spirits ensnared within the torment of The Word. Weave intricate combinations of attacks to annihilate your foes.
• Explore an Interconnected World: Venture across a vast, interconnected world which unfolds with unique visual style and mechanics.
• Gorgeous Pixel-Art Aesthetic: From picturesque to grotesque, each location has its own ambience and feel, decorated with detailed handcrafted backdrops. Each boss has a distinctive personality, emphasized not only by the story, but with dozens of unique animations and environmental interactions.
• Fully Voiced-Over Characters & Atmospheric OST: A diverse cast of charming and terrifying voice-acted characters and bosses. The soundtrack is filled with dynamic and atmospheric tracks that are both shaped by and directly shape gameplay.

Play the Being and Becoming playtest now on Steam and wishlist the game today! To dive deeper into all things CRITICAL REFLEX, visit www.criticalreflex.com, and follow along on X/Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube!

About Ichthys

Ichthys began as a single man's dream and grew into a collective dream encompassing a team of talented people with a shared goal in mind: to live by the rule of cool and tell meaningful stories. Working diligently for The Word, this team of dreamers put their heart and souls (literally) into creating visually stunning games that awaken spirits.

About CRITICAL REFLEX

CRITICAL REFLEX is an indie game publisher obsessed with genre-blending, rule-breaking, brain-melting games. We help devs polish the weird, sharpen the wild, and launch their projects loud. Known for titles like Buckshot Roulette, Lunacid, Mouthwashing and No, I'm not a Human, we champion the unforgettable experiences. Genre is a prison and we ate the warden.

About CR Channel

CR Channel is the CRITICAL REFLEX publishing label focusing exclusively on indie horror. Join the Discord here: https://discord.gg/FrzN8srBfy

Media Contact

Tyler Gardner
Sandbox Strategies for CRITICAL REFLEX
tyler@sandboxstrat.com
www.sandboxstrat.com