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Press release:
Seattle, Washington, 11 June 2026 | Indie game studio (and best friend duo) autotroph games is excited to announce Haunted Heist, a hilariously hostile party game coming soon to Steam. Step inside a maze-like luxury mansion and choose a side: Defend your home turf as a cryptid-like Trickster, or join the ragtag group of Heisters looking to pull off a daring gem heist. The game, which has amassed over 50M views across social media platforms, will be available on Steam later this year.

A Party Game Made By Friends, For Friends
Drawing influence from popular co-op horror games like Lethal Company and Dead by Daylight, fun meets fright in this heist! Drop into the Tricksters’ procedurally generated mansion and assume your role as Heister or Trickster; Heisters receive a flashlight to guide the way and a gun for protection, while Tricksters enjoy night vision and a suite of tools for sabotage. As a Heister, listen for the pitter-patter of murderous bare footsteps and avoid enemy Tricksters lurking on the walls or in the shadows. Each party has a clear objective to win: Heisters must collect all of the gems scattered around the map and return them to their home base before the 10-minute timer runs out, while Tricksters aim to dispose of or sabotage Heisters. Suited for 3-10 players, grab your friends and prepare to outwit opponents, survive the haunt, and win before time runs out.

He’s Right Behind Me, Isn’t He?
Proximity chat means limited comms, so be sure to warn your fellow Heisters of nearby threats using walkie-talkies, or use fast reflexes to fight back with your handgun. If a teammate is downed, revive them with defibrillators, or abandon the body so they may oversee the chaos in third-person spectator mode. In addition to teamwork, Heisters also have a suite of tools and power-ups at their disposal. These abilities can restore depleted resources, enhance equipment, or assist with navigating the dark halls. Be mindful to conserve energy, however, as these boons will quickly drain your battery power. Coordinating power-ups and locating nearby batteries is essential, as Tricksters are lurking with abilities of their own.

Harness Teamwork to Survive the Haunt
Beware Heisters: Tricksters have a wide variety of…tricks up their sleeves. Invisibility, muting, ambush attacks, and more—each with cooldowns that reward clever timing under pressure. Tricksters can harass, mislead, and terrify their opponents, making every room or hallway a potential trap. Voice-swapping abilities confuse friend with foe, and 1:1 disguises that leverage recordings of players’ past voice notes turn trust into a weapon of destruction. Skilled Tricksters mix mind games with lethal ambushes, becoming an unpredictable and unsettling force of chaos. Split from your group of Heisters, and you’re likely to meet a quick demise

Join the Discord for A Chance to Playtest Haunted Heist!
Looking to try out Haunted Heist? Join the Discord before June 27th for access to the upcoming playtest! Be a part of the first group of players to check out the new character style overhaul (led by former Lead Animator and Character Modeler of the indie hit Sable, Micah Holland of MonitorHead Studios) and other improvements available in the full game.

Gameplay Features:

Asymmetrical PvP Mayhem – Heisters work together to gather gems while Tricksters sabotage, deceive, and hunt them through a haunted mansion.

3–10 Player Party Chaos – Perfect for friends, stream nights, and community games with flexible team sizes. High chaos, proximity chat, and emergent storytelling create highlight-worthy moments every session.

Fast, Replayable Rounds – Quick matches encourage experimentation, laughs, and revenge rematches. Every round takes place in a new layout with fresh routes and hiding spots.

Unhinged Trickster Abilities – Invisibility, disguises, night vision, voice swapping, muting, ambush attacks, and more—each with cooldowns that reward clever timing.

Combat & Tools for Heisters – Utilize handguns, flashlights, flares, and defibrillators while scrounging for powerups that enhance your gear.

Gather your friends to join the Discord and wishlist Haunted Heist on Steam so you won’t miss the full release. Watch cool devlogs on the autotroph YouTube and check out additional content on Instagram and Bluesky.

About autotroph games
autotroph games is an indie studio based out of Seattle, Washington, formed by developer Jakob Herlitz and designer Dominic Giardini. Originally from the Northeastern U.S., the two became friends in middle school, started making YouTube videos soon after, and somehow ended up across the country together. They’re making Haunted Heist so that they have something fun to play with Jakob’s 3 brothers every Wednesday night.