Zelda Meets Subnautica In Gorgeous New Action RPG

Published Aug 2, 2026, 5:00 PM EDT

If an irresistibly adorable art style doesn’t win you over, Zelda-inspired exploration and Subnautica-esque underwater backdrop certainly will. Cozy visuals will lure you in, but the deeper you venture, the more this game hints at a far more complex odyssey beneath its endearing exterior.

At its heart, Tidespawn is an underwater fantasy action-adventure RPG where exploration takes center stage, as revealed on its official Steam page. Forget wandering through forests or mountain ranges; instead, you'll dive into an interconnected ocean world filled with lost kingdoms, ancient ruins, and forgotten secrets, all brought to life with vibrant retro-inspired pixel art. Developed and published by Long Lost, Tidespawn doesn’t have a release date yet, but you can already wishlist it on Steam.

One look at the trailer and Long Lost’s description of Tidespawn, and you’ll find it eerily reminiscent of The Legend of Zelda. As you level up, you’ll upgrade your abilities, discover hidden paths, and solve environmental puzzles to reach areas that were previously inaccessible. That focus on gradually expanding your toolkit and revisiting the world with new abilities echoes the satisfying sense of discovery that has been a hallmark of many of Zelda’s best adventures.

Combat is also a major focus in Tidespawn. The Steam page highlights fast-paced, strategic combat enhanced by ability upgrades throughout the adventure. And you won’t be alone: a transforming companion joins you on your journey. The developer calls this companion Neptune, a small fish that can transform into a living trident, serving as both your weapon and your guide. Together, you’ll face powerful enemies and uncover the secrets of a lost underwater kingdom.

Outside of combat, Tidespawn has plenty of progression systems to keep players busy. You’ll need to focus on upgrades, crafting, and hub preparation, all to buff your character up before another trip into the depths. As you explore the campaign, you’ll experience a lot of cinematic memories, side quests, and lore, implying that narrative is just as important as exploration.

All that said, Tidespawn’s most intriguing mechanic has to be its dynamic moon and tide system. Long Lost explains that the changing phases of the moon directly affect gameplay, altering the tides and opening up new possibilities as you explore. The developer also notes that the lunar cycle transforms the ocean itself, introducing new dangers, including a Blood Moon that makes the underwater world significantly more unforgiving. It's a mechanic that could make revisiting familiar areas feel fresh throughout the adventure.

Tidespawn supports co-op, so players can explore its underwater world with friends. If you’re not a multiplayer person, don’t worry—the game also supports single-player. Its interconnected world, puzzle-solving, combat, and progression systems have all the makings of an adventure that’s just as fun to share as it is to tackle solo.

While it doesn’t have a launch window yet, Tidespawn looks to be one of the more promising upcoming indie action-adventure RPGs based on what we’ve seen so far. Those interested should soon have an opportunity to contribute to an official Kickstarter campaign, but for now, there's little to do but wishlist it on Steam and keep an eye on updates.

Brand Valve

Original Release Date September 12, 2003