Support Relentless Dark Development

Relentless Dark is organizing this fundraiser.

Donation protected

I'm just a dude who got bored and wanted to make a fun but scary coop zombie game. If I can do it you can too! It's always been my dream to develop and release a game one day - even if it sells just one copy Thanks again for all of the amazing feedback so far! Can't wait to play this with you all

This project has been a labor of love, and I’m so grateful that Steam allows me to share my passion with the community. I'm currently aiming to create the most intense and terrifying coop zombie horde experience possible, and I'd love for you to join that journey.

After the baseline initial build is released, I plan to allow the community to help steer development as I continue working on it (based on ideas, feedback, concerns, etc.). This is truly my one beloved game that I plan to endlessly improve over the span of many, many years. I know, I know—it sounds like the classic never-ending "Early Development Beta" game that never actually fully releases. The difference, though, is that a lot of times those games never reach a fully stable or enjoyable state that meets the standards of a "released" game. All of the necessities to meet the standards of a "released" game will definitely be there in the near future—but the constant updates and improvements to simply make the game more fun (or scary) will never end! I just don't think I could ever consider this game "done" and set it on a shelf to collect dust. I have the mindset of: how good of a game can one guy make over the span of several years because he genuinely enjoys working on it? Have you ever sat and stared at your Steam library and then had no real burning desire to play any of them? I get that feeling almost every day because I simply have more fun working on my game instead. Every now and then though, I will definitely hop on a game or two with some friends on the weekends. But for Relentless Dark—the game modes, the mechanics, all of it—will be an ever-evolving journey of pursuing the absolute perfect zombie horde game.

Peeking into my daily development life: I have a near-term scope and a far-term scope, and I try to spend at least 90% of my time focusing on the near-term scope. The near-term scope is more of the "necessities"—what I absolutely need to have in order to achieve an enjoyable gaming experience upon that initial release. My far-term scope involves things that are more of the "nice to haves" and "one days," such as a full story campaign and other crazy, far-fetched ideas. I'll eventually be getting closer and closer to working on those far-fetched ideas, and I honestly can't wait to finally get there. But once I cross that line of "no more necessities required" and I'm only focusing on those "cool ideas," I will transition this game out of "Early Development" and into a "full release" at a slightly higher cost. In the meantime though, I don't mind practically giving this game away for free because well - your feedback, ideas, and awesome support are genuinely priceless!

Fortunately, I don't rely on this game for groceries, and I am able to squeeze time in between my job and being an awesome dad.

Disclaimer: As one dude who is still learning as I go, I have absolutely leveraged every possible tool to assist me in reaching my goals. This mostly pertains to the art and graphical assets available in Unreal Engine. The majority of my time so far has been spent on the actual gameplay mechanics, animations, physics, AI blueprints, enemies, guns, maps, menus, networking, etc. I would not consider myself an expert on the graphical art side of things, so I have definitely used all of the free tools and assets available in Unreal Engine to help get me where I am today. But who knows—eventually, I could always do a big graphical asset/character overhaul if I wanted to. Fortunately, it is pretty easy to swap those things out on the fly with Unreal Engine. If you ever want to pursue developing a game yourself, I would highly recommend doing the same! Don't let the things that you may lack block you from reaching your goals! If you are the opposite of me and amazing at graphical assets/art but struggle on the coding side of things—there are so many awesome tools, guides, and tutorials out there that can help slingshot you through those struggles to help make your dreams come true too—thanks to the (sometimes) wonderful internet!

*INSERT GENERIC STEAM DESCRIPTION BELOW*

Relentless Dark is designed to be a pulse-pounding, 4-player cooperative zombie horde game, where teamwork and instinct are pushed to their absolute limits. With a haunting atmosphere, brutal combat, and unforgiving AI, every moment will feel like a fight for survival. Can you and your friends endure the relentless onslaught, or will the darkness swallow you whole?

Thanks truly for reading!

TL;DR

Yes

Why Early Access?

1. Your Feedback Matters

I want Relentless Dark to be shaped by the people who play it. By joining Early Access, you’ll have the chance to provide direct feedback that can help improve the game, especially when it comes to balancing the intense co-op multiplayer and zombie horde mechanics.

2. Help Build the Community

Early Access is about more than just development—it’s about building a community. I’d love for you to be part of this journey as we shape the game together. Your insights, ideas, and support will help make Relentless Dark a fun but relentless experience, and you’ll be a key part of its evolution.

3. Test Multiplayer and Performance

With Relentless Dark being a 4-player cooperative game, Early Access gives me a chance to test server stability, matchmaking, and performance on a larger scale. This will allow me to ensure the multiplayer experience runs smoothly when the game fully launches.

4. Grow Interest and Momentum

Early Access gives me more time to generate buzz around Relentless Dark. Regular updates and improvements will keep the community engaged and excited, while also giving new players a reason to jump in and see what’s new.

5. Set Realistic Expectations

By being transparent about the game’s development stage, I hope to set realistic expectations. Early Access players know they’re part of the development process, and your feedback is crucial as I continue to build and polish the game.

6. Iterative Updates

Early Access lets me release updates and new content gradually, based on your feedback. This iterative approach ensures that each new addition makes the game better - not worse - and that we’re building something together that we all love to play.

TL;DR

I’m looking forward to sharing this journey with you. Your feedback during Early Access will be invaluable in bringing Relentless Dark to life. Thank you to all of those who dare to join me on this amazing adventure!

How long will Relentless Dark be in Early Access?

1. Balancing Gameplay and Difficulty

I’m planning for Relentless Dark to be in Early Access for around 1-2 years. Developing a game as ambitious as this—especially as a solo developer—takes time to get right. Here’s why:

2. Balancing Gameplay and Difficulty

With Relentless Dark being a 4-player cooperative zombie horde game, fine-tuning the difficulty, pacing, and mechanics will be key to making sure it’s both challenging and fun. I’ll need time to test, iterate, and gather feedback to make sure the difficulty scales well and the gameplay feels rewarding.

3. Adding New Content and Features

Over the course of Early Access, I plan to add more maps, enemies, weapons, and game modes. I want to make sure each new feature is carefully implemented and polished. This takes time, and I want to ensure each addition is meaningful and adds depth to the experience.

4. Fixing Bugs and Optimizing Performance

With Relentless Dark being multiplayer, server stability and performance optimization are top priorities. Throughout Early Access, I plan on fixing bugs, improving performance, and making sure the game runs smoothly on as many systems as possible. This ongoing process will require extensive testing and adjustments.

5. Building a Community-Driven Game

Since I’m developing Relentless Dark with the help of player feedback, I want to take the time to listen, respond, and implement suggestions from the community. Creating a great game is a collaborative effort, and I want to ensure I’m making the best possible experience based on your input.

6. Polishing and Finishing Touches

Even after most of the content is in place, I’ll need time for polishing and ensuring everything works together seamlessly. From fine-tuning gameplay mechanics to perfecting the atmosphere and visuals, the final stages of development will be all about giving Relentless Dark that extra level of detail.

TL;DR

In short, I want to take the time needed to ensure that when Relentless Dark fully launches, it will be the best possible version of the game. Your patience and support during this Early Access period will be invaluable in helping me make my dream a reality!

How is the full version planned to differ from the Early Access version?

Upon Relentless Dark Full Release I plan to implement EVEN MORE more maps, enemies, weapons, and game modes - along with fully polished gameplay, fully optimized performance, and a fully refined multiplayer networking experience. I also plan to continue being receptive on additional updates based on player feedback after it's release. The goal is for the full version to be a complete, stable, and polished game that delivers an enjoyable but challenging and terrifying co-op zombie survival experience.”

What is the current state of the Early Access version?

I plan for Early Access of Relentless Dark to feature the core gameplay elements, the co-op mode, basic maps, and a variety of enemies. While it will be fully playable and provide a foundation - it’s still in active development with ongoing balancing, bug fixes, and performance optimizations. Some features, maps, and content may be limited or in progress, but continuous updates are planned to expand and refine the game as fast as I possibly can.”

Will the game be priced differently during and after Early Access?

Yes, Relentless Dark will be priced differently during Early Access. To thank early supporters, the game will be offered at a significant discount until its full release. This discount is meant to reward those who choose to join the development journey and provide feedback along the way. Once the game is fully released with all planned features and content, the price will increase to reflect the finalized product. By purchasing during Early Access, you're not only helping to shape the game but also getting it at a significant discount.

How are you planning on involving the Community in your development process?

We have an official Discord server and a Steam group where players can join discussions, share feedback, report bugs, and suggest new ideas. These platforms are designed to foster a strong community where I can engage directly with players, listen to their insights, and implement improvements based on their experiences. Regular status updates, polls, and Q&A sessions will also help shape the direction of the game as we work together to make Relentless Dark the best it can possibly be.