Vaultbreakers Demo Hits Steam: 3-Player Co-op RPG Gets PvPvE Twist

Ever wanted a co-op dungeon crawler where the biggest threat isn't just the monsters, but maybe another player? BetaDwarf's new top-down extraction action RPG Vaultbreakers just dropped a free demo on Steam, and it's already pulling in positive reviews within 24 hours.

The Danish studio behind Minion Masters announced the demo during the Triple-i Initiative Showcase. You and up to two friends can dive into a corrupted fantasy world as "Breakers," hunting ancient artifacts that shape your combat style. Think careful prep, gear builds, and sharp timing rather than just stat-checking your way through.

Combat here is all about reading the room. You'll need to watch enemy attack patterns, dodge at the right moment, and strike when they slip up. Even regular fights can be deadly, so sometimes sneaking past a tough foe beats picking a fight you can't win. Your home base, the Sanctuary, starts as a ruin and grows as you gather resources, recruit NPC allies, and unlock permanent upgrades that fit how you like to play.

The demo is the first public build after multiple closed tests. You can explore part of the first map, Wolfwood, follow the tutorial and main quests, and take on your first Vault-destroying challenge. Two characters are playable: Nymera, an elf ranger who excels at ranged attacks, and Bjornir, a tough warrior with ice attacks and high durability. You can go solo or bring up to two friends, with two PvE difficulty options. Progress rules are split: Legacy Points carry over to launch for extra rewards, but story progress doesn't.

BetaDwarf also confirmed a PvPvE mode coming October 15. While exploring, you might run into the Chosen of Maldrakor, player-controlled shapeshifter factions. You can fight them, avoid them, or even team up, and their actions can shift how missions play out. But the devs stress PvP is just seasoning, not the main dish. The core is exploration, combat, strategy, and adventuring with friends.

The full release is planned to include PvPvE and five heroes total, with the remaining three appearing in an upcoming Alpha Test. Square Enix Collective is helping publish. Will you be jumping into the demo this weekend?