News: Handmancers first Major Early Access Update is now Live
Handmancers, the first-person Rock-Paper-Scissors roguelite deckbuilder developed by 58BLADES and published by Human Qube Games, has received its first major Early Access update. Launched on May 5, 2026, the game quickly earned Very Positive reviews on Steam for its innovative tactical combat system. The update, released on May 29, directly addresses community feedback gathered since launch, introducing significant improvements to gameplay, balance, UI, and overall user experience. Priced at $14.99, Handmancers blends simple Rock-Paper-Scissors mechanics with deep deck-building, where players craft powerful hands using cards, Gems, Artifacts, and Corruption systems while managing CRAMP limitations from heavy plays.
Key additions include a highly requested multiple save slots system, allowing independent management of different runs and profiles. Combat pacing and readability have been greatly enhanced through expanded visual feedback, clearer action responses, improved loot flow, and better boss encounter presentation. The SPRINT mechanics received a major overhaul, with normal SPRINT no longer discarding CRAMPs. Other gameplay changes feature separated Curo rewards from loot options, a confirm button during loot selection, distinct visuals for Cursed Artifacts, perfect SPRINT feedback, and proper boss music termination. Balance passes were applied to bosses, artifacts, and CRAMP interactions, alongside numerous bug fixes, localization improvements, faster loading screens, and a skip cutscenes option.
The core experience remains a tense tactical mind game in first-person perspective, where every encounter demands strategic deck manipulation and hand sign mastery amid increasingly chaotic runs. Players reshape builds continuously through synergies and corruption risks to push deeper. Developers plan ongoing Early Access expansions with new content, characters, enemies, events, and community-driven refinements leading to the full 1.0 release. The update underscores the team's commitment to iterative improvement based on player input, solidifying Handmancers as a standout indie title blending accessibility with strategic depth.