Grim Trials Demo Receives Major Steam Update

Glory Jam and Soft Source Publishing have rolled out a substantial update to the Steam demo for Grim Trials, the heavy metal action roguelite currently in development. The update was officially unveiled during Indie Fan Fest and introduces a range of combat and progression changes shaped by community feedback.

Developers confirmed that many of the additions stem directly from playtesting sessions within the game’s Discord community.

Expanded Skill Tree and Faster Combat

One of the headline changes is an expanded Skill Tree that introduces six new Attack Combo nodes. These nodes, Charge, Aftershock, Finisher, Clash, Momentum and Shadowstep, each feature two upgrade levels and stackable damage bonuses. The additions are designed to accelerate combat pacing and encourage more aggressive build experimentation.

Ranged combat has also been reworked. Players can now fire the crossbow while moving, a change implemented after community members expressed a desire for more fluid ranged play.

Visual Enhancements and Balance Tweaks

The Grim Trials update further improves gear visual effects, making power-ups more visually distinct during runs. Enhanced VFX now trigger clearly within the Trial Grounds, helping players track their build progress more intuitively.

Alongside new features, the patch introduces several balance adjustments and quality-of-life improvements. Potions are now capped at 12 per slot per run. Crafting recipes have been tweaked to smooth progression, blessing appearance rates have been adjusted, bosses now feature stun immunity, and various gear stats have been recalibrated.

Developers advise returning players to create a new save slot to fully experience the updated systems.

A Heavy Metal Reaper Roguelite

Grim Trials places players in the role of Avelin, a young woman recruited as one of Death’s Reapers after an untimely demise. Tasked with hunting impure souls while confronting her own past, Avelin must endure escalating trials across a stylised underworld.

The game blends hack-and-slash combat with roguelite structure, allowing players to craft and customise weapons and equipment across repeated runs.

Grim Trials remains in development, with the updated demo available now on Steam.