Exclusive: Top-Down Horror Soulslike Game Tombwater Details Massive Weapon Arsenal

Newsweek

4 days ago

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Top-down 2D soulslike games are few and far between, with very few instances of games in the genre getting much attention, but the upcoming Tombwater looks like it could change that.
Tombwater is a retro-styled soulslike game – a game genre that typically includes tough combat, limited healing, and lots of dying – published by Midwest Games and developed by Moth Atlas. If you haven't heard of Moth Atlas before, you'll probably at least heard of Yarntown, a "demake" of From Software's Bloodborne created by one of Moth Atlas' developers, Max Mraz.
Key artwork for Tombwater showing a Wild West gunslinger facing off against an Eldritch horror of a creature.
Key artwork for Tombwater showing a Wild West gunslinger facing off against an Eldritch horror of a creature.
Midwest Games
The game is set to include a massive map, lots of exploration, fast-paced combat, and all sorts of Wild West Eldritch horrors to face off against. Key to that experience is its arsenal of weapons, which can make or break a soulslike — thankfully, with a trusty pistol at your side and over 50 melee weapons, firearms, spells, passive charms, and more, Tombwater looks to be delivering in combat options.
Newsweek can exclusively reveal a host of these combat tools, courtesy of Midwest Games and Moth Atlas, which have provided us with a good look at some of the game's weapons, including descriptions, abilities, and unique weapon arts. You can also watch a brief overview for some of these weapons in the video at the top of the page.
Tombwater: Melee Weapons
Tombwater gives players access to a host of unique melee weapons, which are a key part of the Gunslinger's arsenal that let players get up close and personal with enemies. These weapons differ in their speed and strength, and some offer unique abilities called weapon arts that can come in clutch in combat situations.
Blood Rapier : Blade of an infamous alchemist who sought immortality. Restores a small amount of health on each hit. Weapon art: Employ a life-stealing slash, then quickly backstep.
: Blade of an infamous alchemist who sought immortality. Restores a small amount of health on each hit. Weapon art: Employ a life-stealing slash, then quickly backstep. Cursed Pickaxe : Pickaxe weighed down with regrets of the dead and still alive alike. Weapon art: Call regretful visages in a swirl of smoke.
: Pickaxe weighed down with regrets of the dead and still alive alike. Weapon art: Call regretful visages in a swirl of smoke. Anchor : A ship's anchor. Only the modified grip suggests this was previously used as a melee weapon. While slow, its sharp edges pierce deeply for its weight. Weapon art: Throw the anchor, then reel it back on its chain.
: A ship's anchor. Only the modified grip suggests this was previously used as a melee weapon. While slow, its sharp edges pierce deeply for its weight. Weapon art: Throw the anchor, then reel it back on its chain. Streetlamp : A gas streetlamp uprooted from Tombwater's streets, largely unmodified. Successive swings can create a small burst of flame. Weapon art: Gather motes of flame to swirl around in a ring.
: A gas streetlamp uprooted from Tombwater's streets, largely unmodified. Successive swings can create a small burst of flame. Weapon art: Gather motes of flame to swirl around in a ring. Bullwhip: Leather bullwhip. Has a long reach but requires precision. Deals extra damage when striking with the tip.
Tombwater: Firearms
Firearms, as you'd expect, let you take a step back and deal damage from a distance. These, too, often have unique properties and abilities, and between melee weapons and firearms you should be able to tackle just about any situation and take down any weapon.
Oilsprayer : Oddly modified oil can that sprays its contents. Of dubious utility, but foes covered in oil would have difficulty navigating fire.
: Oddly modified oil can that sprays its contents. Of dubious utility, but foes covered in oil would have difficulty navigating fire. Edison Cannon : An experimental contraption based on designs by the gunsmith Medvedik. It fires a bolt of lightning after a brief charge and can only be fired in a straight line, so take care to align your target.
: An experimental contraption based on designs by the gunsmith Medvedik. It fires a bolt of lightning after a brief charge and can only be fired in a straight line, so take care to align your target. Gatling Gun : A Gatling gun that fires many bullets in a slightly uncontrollable spread. Once mounted on a stagecoach, it is now cumbersome but potentially devastating.
: A Gatling gun that fires many bullets in a slightly uncontrollable spread. Once mounted on a stagecoach, it is now cumbersome but potentially devastating. Rattler : An experimental pistol that coats its bullets in rattlesnake venom. Each hit deals a significant amount of poison buildup.
: An experimental pistol that coats its bullets in rattlesnake venom. Each hit deals a significant amount of poison buildup. Infernal Shotgun: Fires shells packed with an alchemical mixture that reacts with blood in its target's body, inflicting fire damage.
Tombwater: Spells
There are about 40 different spells in Tombwater, each offering a unique effect that helps you in combat. Some of these are more offensive in nature, dealing direct damage, while others are more defensive, binding enemies in place or poisoning them if they get too close.
Ox Fist : Conjure a spectral ox to charge forward. Will stagger most foes.
: Conjure a spectral ox to charge forward. Will stagger most foes. Moth Swarm : Summons a swarm of moths that circle around the player, dealing poison to enemies they collide with.
: Summons a swarm of moths that circle around the player, dealing poison to enemies they collide with. Gravefingers : The fingers of a dead man erupt from the earth to claw foes. This folk hex is even more potent in Tombwater, where the dead sleep only lightly.
: The fingers of a dead man erupt from the earth to claw foes. This folk hex is even more potent in Tombwater, where the dead sleep only lightly. Otherworldly Howl : Channels the inner, bestial urges to release an unworldly howl that pushes back any nearby enemies.
: Channels the inner, bestial urges to release an unworldly howl that pushes back any nearby enemies. Fate Bind: Binds nearby enemies to share the caster's date. When hurt, damage received is channeled to bound foes.
Tombwater: Charms
The final part of a Gunslinger's arsenal is charms, which can be equipped at campfires to gain a variety of passive effects. These can do just about anything — like increasing damage output at the cost of more incoming damage, giving the ability to deflect bullets, and even have you bleed spiders to attack your enemies when wounded.
Third Eye Blindfold : Prevents spellcasting if the spell would cause madness
: Prevents spellcasting if the spell would cause madness Spiderwound : Bleed spiders when wounded
: Bleed spiders when wounded Gambler's Charm : Deal increased damage, but also take increased damage
: Deal increased damage, but also take increased damage Bulletbreaker : Allows one to deflect bullets with melee weapons
: Allows one to deflect bullets with melee weapons Lucky Bullet: Increases damage when firing the final bullet in your bandolier.
No exact release date has been set for Tombwater just yet, but it's set to be released on PC via Steam at some point in 2025. Interested players can check out the game early with a demo on the game's Steam page.