Handmancers Debuts in Early Access: The All-Italian Game that Transforms 'Rock Paper Scissors' into a Fantasy Deckbuilder

Starting today, 5th May 2026, the new indie title Handmancers is available in early access on Steam, developed by the Italian team 58BLADES. The project originates from a simple yet ambitious idea: to reinterpret the classic "rock, paper, scissors" in a gaming context, transforming it into a complex and strategic experience.

The game presents itself as a first-person roguelite deckbuilder, set in a fantasy universe marked by faction conflicts and dominated by magic. The basic mechanics are inspired by the famous traditional game but are expanded through a card system that allows players to build their own fighting style. Each challenge translates into a strategic duel, where deck customization is crucial. The title offers over 10,000 possible card combinations, greatly expanding tactical possibilities.

One of the most distinctive aspects of the project is its artistic department: every element, from characters to environments, including animations and objects, has been entirely hand-crafted. The visual style is inspired by the Arcane series, with a strong aesthetic impact that integrates with dynamic gameplay.

Additional Details on the Development of Handmancers

The development of Handmancers has lasted three years and has gone through various phases, including difficulties related to initial editorial collaborations. Despite this, the team managed to bring the project to international publication thanks also to the support of HumanQube. The game marks the studio's first major global launch.

The title has already achieved significant results in preliminary stages: it was presented at Milan Games Week 2023 and reached the Top 50 out of over 1400 games during Steam Next Fest 2024, in addition to surpassing 50,000 demo downloads.

The choice of early access reflects the developers' desire to actively involve the community, gathering feedback to improve the product over time. The launch, initially planned for March, was postponed to avoid coinciding with Slay the Spire 2, a decision that generated a strong positive reaction online.