Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more

BetaDwarf’s free Vaultbreakers demo is available on Steam, and Square Enix Collective is returning as the game’s publishing partner. The demo is playable now, but it is a PvE-only slice; the separately announced Alpha Test is where BetaDwarf has scheduled the next test period.

What’s in the Vaultbreakers demo?

The free demo, announced on 8 October 2026, offers a portion of the game rather than the full experience. Steam describes Vaultbreakers as a top-down extraction RPG with PvE and PvPvE adventures, but the demo itself is PvE-only.

Players can try:

  • Two Vaultbreakers: Nymera and Bjornir.
  • Part of the first map, Wolfswood.
  • An upgradable haven and perks.
  • Onboarding and main quests through the first Vaultbreak.
  • Co-op with up to two friends, for three players total including the host.

The demo is free to install from Steam.

Is PvPvE playable in the demo?

No. The game is framed as supporting both PvE and PvPvE adventures, but the Steam demo listing specifies PvE-only play. BetaDwarf’s separately announced Alpha Test is scheduled for 15 October 2026 at 10:00 CEST through 21 October 2026 at 23:59 CEST; check the official BetaDwarf announcement for the current schedule and access details.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Does demo progress carry over?

Carryover depends on which version you mean. BetaDwarf says demo progress carries into the Alpha Test. For the full release, Steam says Legacy Points carry over, while other demo progress will not and may be reset before launch. The Alpha Test carryover statement therefore does not mean that all demo progress persists into the released game.

#1 Best Overall
Sale
Goblin Vaults Board Game | Outwit & Outbid to Fill Your Vaults with Loot | Trick-Taking Bidding Set Collection Strategy Family Card Game | 30-45min for 1-5 Players Ages 14+ by Thunderworks Games
  • PLACE YOUR BID: Attempt to win a loot card by playing a high card into the central cell block or play a low card to keep it for yourself. Match the suit of the central warden card to earn a special action.
  • BUILD YOUR VAULT: Stash loot cards in your vault, and arrange them wisely to maximize final scoring.
  • SCORE POINTS: Earn gear tokens, the ultimate measure of success, based on the position of cards in your vault, their suit, or card patterns.
  • ENDLESS VARIETY: Each game is a new challenge as scoring objectives change every time you play.
  • 1-5 Players, 30-45 Minutes, Ages 14+

What does Square Enix Collective’s return mean?

BetaDwarf remains the developer. The studio says it is continuing with the same team and creative vision, while Square Enix Collective returns as publishing partner. BetaDwarf says it retains design decisions and will continue using player feedback to shape the game. Steam lists BetaDwarf and Square Enix as publishers.

Square Enix Holdings’ news index also lists a Square Enix Ltd. demo announcement dated 9 October 2026, one day after BetaDwarf’s announcement.

Rank #2
Spin Master Games, SolidRoots Crash, The Crypto Currency Family Strategy Game from The Makers of Mind The Gap, Family Games for Game Night, Ages 14+
  • Get in, Get Rich, Get Out – Dive into the hilarious world of made-up cryptocurrencies. As the values of the coins fluctuate, so does your cash value. Make timely decisions to maximize your profits
  • No Crypto Knowledge Needed – Parodying the crypto craze, game board displays the current value of each fictional coin. Move the coins up & down based on the results of the crash & value dice rolls
  • Family Game Night Game – Engage in friendly competition & strategic thinking with your loved ones at your next family game night & friends gathering. Ideal for 2-6 players, ages 14 & up
  • FAMILY GAME NIGHT: Make memories with board games for kids 4-6, board games for kids 6-8 & board games for kids 8-12. Take the fun outside with camping games & outdoor games for adults and family
  • SPIN MASTER TOYS & GAMES: Looking for kids games, yard games & card games for grown ups, kids or teen? Shop everything from family game night, travel games, puzzles for adults & family games
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

Can you use a controller?

Steam lists full controller support, including Xbox controllers. A controller is optional; the official materials do not require one or recommend a specific model.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.