SAN MATEO, Calif. – Feb. 19, 2026 – Below the Crown, a love letter to chess, roguelikes, and dungeon crawlers, maneuvers into a prime position for its 1.0 release on PC via Steam in April 2026, as revealed today at the Convergence Showcase.
Developer Misfits Attic, responsible for the 20+ awards-winning strategy game Duskers, reimagines one of the world’s oldest games in a glitchy, retro-style dungeon setting.
Navigate mazelike chambers as a powerful spell-wielding Wizard, accompanied by a party of classic and original game pieces including Knights, Mad Queens, Mimics, and more. Outwit enemy Archer Queens and check the opposing Bosses to survive each run and earn untold riches. All while being psychologically evaluated by an unknown entity!
Defeat the dungeon’s daunting defenses with clever maneuvers and prime party positioning, or cast prepared spells and set off fiery explosions to escape to the next chamber. Collect skills and upgrades to open up new strategic opportunities, and equip runes to boost each challenge – and raise the stakes.
Compete in global daily challenges against other Wizards, show off victorious runs to the world, and learn strategies from others by viewing their runs. You can also unlock and explore the Random Dungeon and Infinite Dungeon – can’t stop, won’t stop!
Explore a magical take on a centuries-old tabletop mainstay perfect for grandmasters and beginners alike, infused with the character of gaming and film legends. The team behind the crown hails from studios that developed household names like the Diablo, God of War, and Call of Duty series, as well as DreamWorks’ masterpieces like Bee Movie, Shrek 2, and How to Train Your Dragon.
“One of our goals with Below the Crown is to bring more players into the chess atmosphere, crafting a fun and accessible experience for newcomers, while maintaining the classic and challenging strategy elements for long-long fans like myself,” said Tim Keenan, Founder, Misfits Attic. “We’ve had a blast over the past months improving the game for the better with our community, and are eager to deliver this mysterious chess experience in its 1.0 glory this April.”
Below the Crown is now available on Windows PC via Steam Early Access. Ahead of the 1.0 launch, check out brand new content launching with the Beta in early March. With this launch, Wizards will gain the ability to save their replays, dive into the Infinite Dungeon, enjoy added animations, and more!
Seek more information about Below the Crown and the Misfits Attic team on Bluesky, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, strategize with other wizards on Discord and Reddit, and search #BelowTheCrown on social media.
About Misfits Attic
Misfits Attic is an independent game studio based in San Mateo, CA. It strives to create big, small games with attitude and immersive experiences infused with the team’s dark sense of humor. Its founding members have over 50 years of experience in the film, game, and design industries. The studio is best known for the award-winning RTS Duskers, as well as the critically acclaimed action-puzzler A Virus Named TOM. The team is currently developing a love letter to chess, roguelikes, and dungeon crawlers, Below the Crown, planned to release on PC via Steam early access in Q4 2025.
For more information, visit the official website.
