The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu Steam Next Fest Demo Invades the Jungle

ACE Team has released a fresh gameplay overview trailer for The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu, alongside a playable demo available during Steam Next Fest in June 2026. The new footage shifts focus to the game's oppressive jungle setting, showcasing how team coordination and mental stability play out under the canopy of a Mesoamerican rainforest.

Known for their bizarre art direction in games like The Eternal Cylinder and Zeno Clash, the Chilean studio seems to be leaning heavily into claustrophobic environments and psychological distress for their latest venture.

Surviving the Claustrophobic Jungle

Unlike typical horror titles that stick to dark corridors or sterile facility walls, this overview shows teams of players navigating a dense, humid jungle. It is an environment designed to disorient and separate players. Thick foliage restricts visibility, and ancient ruins serve as potential ambush sites for the hostile creatures roaming the map.

FAUNA and flora are equally lethal here. Players must coordinate to manage resources and maintain lines of sight. Getting separated in the dense undergrowth is an easy way to get picked off by the monsters and fauna that stalk the expedition team.

Sanity Drains and Shared Hallucinations

The standout feature of the new gameplay trailer is the visual representation of the sanity mechanics. As your character’s mental state deteriorates, the game starts throwing hallucinations at you.

These visual anomalies range from minor visual distortions to phantom creatures that look completely real. Crucially, these hallucinations are client-side; a monster charging at you might not be visible to your teammates. Acting on false information can lead to wasted ammunition or, worse, friendly fire. Maintaining your team's mental health is just as important as keeping your health bar full. For a closer look at these sanity rules, read our breakdown of the sanity mechanics and hallucinations.

Hands-On With the Steam Next Fest Demo

With Steam Next Fest currently underway, players can download a playable demo of The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu directly from Steam. The demo gives players a first taste of the core loop, highlighting early-game jungle exploration and basic team survival mechanics.

The full version of The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu is scheduled to launch on July 15, 2026, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. If you are looking for details on pricing and availability, check out our summary of platforms, release date, and price information.

While the full release will support crossplay, community reports from the Reddit gaming forums suggest that the current demo build is focused on Steam matchmaking, with crossplay functionality during the Next Fest demo remaining unconfirmed. For more details on the co-op structure, check out our guide on cooperative, solo, and crossplay features to prepare your squad before heading into the jungle.