Steam has a new free demo for an upcoming game with gorgeous visuals, available for you to try now.
Spider House is an indie studio set to release its fairy tale-inspired adventure game Gretel & Hansel in the future, a modern re-imagining of the classic Newgrounds Flash game from 2009.
Not only will this game recreate the first two parts of the original title, but it adds a third part to the game, completing the tale that has been 16 years in the making.
Gretel & Hansel sports hand-crafted graphics made from real watercoloured paintings, meaning everything you see in-game was actually done by hand rather than on a computer.
It gives the game a unique look that should set it apart from other indie games. I mean, from looking at the images on the Steam store it certainly caught my eye.
“Abandoned deep in the forest, Gretel & Hansel must use every trick they know to survive the journey home. Along the way, they’ll face devious puzzles, sinister creatures, and an all-seeing, ever-hungry witch,” reads the description.
“Gretel & Hansel “treats” players to 50+ uniquely animated deaths—some absurd, others chilling. Dying isn’t failure here—it’s part of the fun. In fact, death may reveal secrets, unlock treasures, or open new paths.”
If you’d like to check it out, you can download the Gretel & Hansel demo from Steam now.
This trial version includes the entirety of Part 1.
The demo currently has 100% positive reviews on Steam as of writing this, giving the download a “Positive” rating.
“Way back in 2009, I played this on Newgrounds and had the most fun. Now in 2025, I’m still having a blast playing this game,” reads one review.
“They took an already dark fairy tale and somehow added an even darker and creative spin to it. Beautifully designed and always keeps you on your toes, try it out.”
Another review calls it “an honor to be part of the closed beta testing for the game, being able to give suggestions, find bugs and translate the game to my native language was a really fun experience, the community also helped a lot on finding more bugs and with the overall context of the sentences in-game, which contributed with my positive experience working on the game.”
As for when it will be released, there’s no confirmed launch date yet for Gretel & Hansel.
So for now, you’ll have to check out the demo until a new update is given.
This sounds like an exciting opportunity for gamers! The beautiful visuals and free demo make it even more appealing. Looking forward to seeing how the community reacts to it!
Absolutely! It’s great to see developers offering free demos like this; it really allows gamers to experience the quality before committing. Plus, the hand-crafted aspect suggests a lot of care went into the game design, which is always a good sign!
experience the game before committing. Plus, with such stunning visuals, it’s exciting to see how the gameplay mechanics will complement the art style. It’s definitely a win for both developers and players!