Parry Frames Studio and TMXN Games have announced two distinct soulslike PC titles, Stray Dog: Nobody Cares and Among Shadows, expanding the subgenre into animal protagonists and social deduction mechanics. Both games are targeted for release on Steam, though their production timelines differ significantly.
Lupine Action in Stray Dog
Parry Frames Studio is developing Stray Dog, an action title where players control a sword-wielding hound. The protagonist's design and combat style draw direct inspiration from the Great Grey Wolf Sif from Dark Souls.
The development team confirmed that the core combat framework is already complete. The gameplay loop centers on traditional soulslike mechanics, including precise swordplay, parry windows, backstabs, and stealth operations. Parry Frames is handling the project following the completion of their previous title, Crimson Oath. Due to the current early stage of development, the studio has not yet confirmed a launch window.
Social Deduction in Among Shadows
Simultaneously, TMXN Games revealed Among Shadows, a dark fantasy action-RPG that merges demanding combat with multiplayer deception systems. Set within a blighted region, the primary objective requires players to escort a high-ranking Lord during a hazardous Blood Moon event.
The gameplay introduces a layer of tension by embedding traitors within the escort party. Players must balance combat encounters against enemy threats while identifying dishonest team members. TMXN Games has scheduled the title for a commercial release later this year.
The simultaneous announcements highlight the ongoing diversification of the soulslike genre on PC. While Stray Dog relies on established single-player mechanics with a thematic twist, Among Shadows tests the adaptability of action-RPG frameworks by integrating cooperative betrayal systems, providing distinct entry points for players ahead of their respective Steam launches.
This surge of unexpected concepts demonstrates how independent developers are finding creative ways to subvert conventional formulas popularized by FromSoftware. By injecting high-stakes social friction into a demanding cooperative environment, Among Shadows transforms standard escort missions into psychological minefields where failure might come from a trusted ally rather than a boss encounter. Meanwhile, Parry Frames Studio leans heavily into the melancholic, atmospheric storytelling reminiscent of classic dark fantasy tropes, yet recontextualizes them entirely through the perspective of an agile, blade-bearing canine. Both titles underscore a broader industry trend where traditional combat weight, stamina management, and punishing difficulty curves serve as a flexible foundation for wildly experimental storytelling and gameplay hybrids, ensuring that the Steam marketplace continues to see a diverse influx of fresh takes on the formula for the foreseeable future.
