New Steam Game is Like Pokemon If It Were a Sci-fi Shooter

A new Steam game is giving Pokemon and creature-collecting fans something a little more explosive to chew on. Voidling Bound has a free demo on Steam, and its core premise reads like a genre mashup many players didn’t know they needed: creature collecting in the spirit of Pokemon, but with the action reimagined as a fast-paced third-person sci-fi shooter.

While some players hope the Switch 2 can fix Pokemon, others have looked to other creature collectors to dethrone Nintendo’s king. Voidling Bound is developed and published by Hatchery Games, and the title marks the team’s first release. At its foundation, the game revolves around discovering, hatching, and evolving mysterious alien creatures known as Voidlings. Instead of turn-based battles, combat plays out in real time, with players actively firing weapons, dodging incoming attacks, and coordinating abilities via cute alien companions.

Voidling Bound Blends Monster Collecting With Third-Person Shooters

While the game doesn’t release until June 9, a demo for Voidling Bound is available now on Steam, highlighted as part of the platform’s Next Fest. Better yet, if players enjoy the demo and pick up Voidling Bound on release, save data carries over. The slice of content to try out includes six missions and two different Voidlings to experiment with. Missions vary between wave-based arenas and open, objective-based maps. In those larger zones, there are plenty of collectible upgrades and Voidling eggs awaiting eager explorers. Both of those resources feed into Voidling Bound’s evolution system, which allow for further Voidling customization.

Like traditional monster-taming games, Voidling Bound promises players will grow attached to their companions through stat growth and branching evolutions. However, where Voidling Bound diverges from genre staples is in how those creatures participate in battle. Combat unfolds from a third-person perspective, placing players directly in the action. Players can move freely through arenas, attack enemies with ranged or close-quarters abilities, and scour for upgrades hidden about. The result is a system that feels closer to a sci-fi action RPG than a traditional creature battler.

Evolution appears to be a central hook in Voidling Bound. Rather than each Voidling being locked to a single transformation, or no evolution like poor Shuckle, the game offers a branching tree of options. Depending on player choice, creatures can evolve different parts that emphasize distinct combat strengths. And because Voidlings can possess varying natures, no two builds need to look the same. Players can refine companions for offensive burst damage, defensive utility, or specialized support functions. When paired with direct player-controlled combat, those specializations become immediately noticeable on the battlefield.

Next Fest charts show Voidling Bound near the top, right alongside the popular new Vampire Crawlers demo. Reception on Steam has been favorable, with the demo holding at “Overwhelmingly Positive” for reviews. Players highlight the game’s combat pacing and the integration of its evolution systems into active gameplay. A recurring sentiment among early impressions is that Voidlings feel like true combat partners rather than passive pets. Their growth tangibly alters encounters, giving progression a sense of impact beyond cosmetic changes.

While Voidling Bound is still a little ways away, its combination of sci-fi aesthetics, third-person shooting, and creature evolution systems positions it in a relatively unique niche. Monster-collecting games are hardly rare, but few attempt to merge that formula with fully real-time shooter combat. For players who were attracted to Mewgenics’ unique take on the Pokemon formula, Voidling Bound offers intriguing entry to the creature collecting genre, and a free opportunity to try it firsthand. The demo is live on Steam now for anyone curious enough to bind their first Voidling and see how this genre fusion holds up under fire.