- Open the Gates to the New Demo! - 19 June 2026
The first region of the game (Bram) is playable in its entirety! Those that have been following The Transylvania Adventure of Simon Quest since the beginning are aware there was a demo from 2021 of this region; however, this demo is from the completely rebuilt game, featuring smoother visuals, controls, and an overall more polished experience!Choose between two play modes: Adventure: allows you to explore the Bram region, speak to villagers, and work your way to the cursed Bram Mansion (and yes, you CAN pet the dog!). ORAction: skip all of the SMALL TALK and go straight to Bram Mansion! Lots of secrets to find in this region alone: 8 subweapons/utility items an alternate route a minigame a hidden boss …and more! The demo also includes the full intro cutscene bringing players up to speed about what's going on in the distant land of 15xx Transylvania!This is the first publicly available d…
- TASQ is at MAGFest 2026! - 8 January 2026
Set Up at MIVS!The Transylvania Adventure of Simon Quest will be at MAGFest 2026 from Thursday, January 08 to Sunday, January 11! Visit the Retroware booth set up in the MIVS indie area in Hall C on the Expo Level for free posters, swag, and a chance to play the latest gameplay demo!But if you can't make it to MAGFest this year, you can wishlist The Transylvania Adventure of Simon Quest and look for a demo in the near future!Be sure to follow Retroware's developer page to stay up-to-date on all our games, news, and more!https://store.steampowered.com/developer/retroware
- On a Journey of Retribution! - 27 August 2024
The Transylvania Adventure of Simon Quest follows the story of a disgruntled vampire hunter on a journey of "righteous" retribution! When Simon Quest was on the brink of achieving the glory of defeating Dracula, his vampire-hunting rival swooped in and defeated the Count before he had a chance! Unwilling to be considered the “second-rate” living in his rival’s shadow, Quest decided to do the one thing no vampire hunter would ever even THINK of: resurrecting Dracula! But in order to do so, Simon will have to collect several artifacts related to Dracula, gathering them together to restore the Count to his full power--ripe for Simon to defeat him! So, how could there possibly be any unforeseen consequences for raising the most fearsome vampire back from the dead? Nothing, right? …Right? Stay tuned for even more updates as we continue on with development! Be sure to follow Retroware’s publi…
- TASQ at TooManyGames 2024! From 06/28 - 06/30! - 26 June 2024
It’s that time again! Retroware is proud to be showcasing our games at the TooManyGames 2024 convention this weekend! If you’re in the area and down to play some games, head on over to the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, PA from Friday, June 28th to Sunday, June 30th! We’ll be featuring a bunch of our games–all available to play! There’s a whole lot to see and experience at the convention, so don’t miss this opportunity to visit our booth, check out some merch, and play all of our past titles and the current ones in development! We’ll see you at TooManyGames 2024! And don’t forget to visit the Steam event page for TooManyGames, showcasing all of the games (and honorable mentions) that will be featured at the event! https://store.steampowered.com/curator/44973690/sale/TooManyGames2024 Be sure to follow Retroware’s developer page to stay up-to-date on all our games, news, and mo…
- Taking a PEEK Inside Bram Mansion! - 13 June 2024
While The Transylvania Adventure of Simon Quest continues its development, take a peek inside Bram Mansion–one of the many different places you can visit on your journey for vampire-hunting glory! Look, you can’t be a professional vampire hunter if you’re afraid of the dark…and Skelebones! Enter Bram Mansion–a place of somber, melancholic auras and terrifying creatures of darkness. Inside Bram Mansion, you’ll find creepy ghouls who aren’t welcoming of guests! Luckily for you, as an expert vampire hunter, you should have no problem fighting your way through all of them, right? Right! As with other mansions in TASQ, be sure you’re well-prepared for whatever you can handle by equipping yourself with the right items from shops! Knowing how and when to dodge attacks would also be nice, too… Stay tuned for even more! Be sure to follow Retroware’s publisher page to stay up-to-date on all our g…
- Whipped Into Shape! - 24 May 2024
Every vampire hunter needs a good weapon at their side! That's why Simon Quest’s preferred tool of destruction is a whip! Easy to deploy, quick to inflict damage, and useful across different terrains! When dealing with enemies Simon will perform one swing each time you press the Attack button. Pressing it multiple times will allow him to do more swings in a row. Punish enemies that get too close! You can also use your whip to swing across open ledges! Time it right and you’ll latch onto a high object and swing across! Just be sure you jump down at the right time! As you travel further into your adventure, you’ll be able to upgrade your whip to take on different forms! Be on the lookout for any upgrades you can find in shops and at other points during your journey! Stay tuned for even more! Be sure to follow Retroware’s publisher page to stay up-to-date on all our games, news, and more!…
- The Classicvania You WISH You Played Before! - 14 May 2024
Taking inspiration from classic titles is an age-old practice when it comes to making games–especially modern retro ones! In The Transylvania Adventure of Simon Quest (TASQ), players will certainly appreciate the motifs, themes, and color palette in-game harkening back to familiar titles of the past! Following the story of vampire hunter Simon Quest, players will embark on a journey across the world to raise the evil Count Dracula from the dead–all for the sake of obtaining the glory stolen by your rival! Gameplay sees players controlling Simon as he traverses numerous environments, each complete with their own brand of menacing monsters! As a skilled vampire hunter, Simon is equipped with a deadly whip, which he can use to dispatch enemies, activate spawn point lanterns, or swing across wide gaps! In each town you visit, you’ll be able to purchase items at shops using coins obtained fr…
- Ask And Ye Shall SAVE PROGRESS! - 3 May 2024
Saving in TASQ is a simple endeavor! In every town, you’ll encounter different monsters that appear and attack only at night! Luckily, you can enter a church to seek refuge! Along with having their own shops, towns will have a church you can use to rest through the night (and avoid having to battle any ghastly ghouls), or save your progress. Interact with the angel statue inside churches to do so. For those who do not wish to face the monsters prowling around certain towns, you can always choose to sleep through the night by talking to one of the nuns inside the church. At least monsters can’t get inside!...right? Look forward to even more as we continue with development! Be sure to follow Retroware’s publisher page to stay up-to-date on all our games, news, and more! https://store.steampowered.com/publisher/retroware
- Giving 'Em a Good KICK! - 17 April 2024
Don't feel like using your trusty ol' whip to dispatch your foes? Not willing to jump over them and let bygones be bygones? Then try using a good KICK! Reminiscent of a mechanic from certain retro games, this sliding jump kick allows Simon to move quickly to the left or right--with an animation some players may find familiar! Simon can even use this maneuver to dispatch common enemies, specifically Skelebones! You can also make use of this as a means of dodging enemy attacks, like the flail attack from this boss! Look forward to making good use of this sliding jump kick to take down Skelebones or escape peril in a flash...or, just do it because it looks cool! Stay tuned for even more! Be sure to follow Retroware's publisher page to stay up-to-date on all our games, news, and more! https://store.steampowered.com/publisher/retroware
- Entering the Mansion! - 10 April 2024
Mansions are prime locations for all things monstrous, creepy, and dangerous! But to access these foreboding structures, you’ll need to complete the respective quests in each new region! In Bram, for instance, you’ll need to do a little searching to find the mansion’s key! As defined by lead developer Programancer: “Requirements are different depending on the mansion…Generally, the idea is you get what you need to enter a mansion by completing each town’s little quests.” Upon completing a region's mansion quest, you'll be able to access it and take on the monsters within! Don't forget to grab enough hearts to use your subweapons and stock up on gold to prepare beforehand! You can look forward to encountering all the different mansions, and expect to discover different methods of entering each mansion on your Transylvania adventure! Check back here for even more! Be sure to follow Retrow…
- Looking Through the Lens #2 - 4 April 2024
We’re back with the second half of our interview with Joe, our inhouse video editor! How do you think the atmosphere and story distinguishes itself from Prison City and Dumpy & Bumpy--another one of Programancer's games? Joe: This is Programmancer’s horror game opus. Nothing in this game is short of that electric passion and care that Programmancer puts into all of his projects. Along with his signature sprinklings to make everything pop, this is most certainly a fan of these games creating a game, and sparing no expense. You don't have to get into any specific details, but do you think TASQ has opened up some future content ideas for you as a video editor? Joe: It absolutely has! Whether I get a chance to bring all of those ideas to fruition is to be seen, but not only is it in my wheelhouse, but it’s like it was made for me. Especially being a creator as a whole, not just video editin…
- Looking Through the Lens! - 2 April 2024
Our inhouse video editor, Joe, shares his insights into working on making content for The Transylvania Adventure of Simon Quest! Take a look! So, here we are working on The Transylvania Adventure of Simon Quest! As a video editor, how does it feel to go from working on Prison City to TASQ? Joe: It's a pretty smooth transition, as both games are in the same wheelhouse aesthetically, but I'm enjoying TASQ much more, since I can connect to the source material. It's based on one of my favorite game series of all time. I'm a huge horror and retro gaming fan, so working on a modern-retro game dealing with Dracula and other devious denizens of Wallachia is very on-brand for me and a blast to be a part of. What do you think makes TASQ different and/or similar to Prison City? Joe: Again, the aesthetics are the same wherein you could look at both as "lost" games of yesteryear, and have them fit a…
- Looking Back at PAX East 2024! - 29 March 2024
With PAX East 2024 now in the rearview mirror, we wanted to share some of our photos and experiences at the event! Here’s a photo of our booth setup showing all the games we featured! We’re so grateful for all the interest and excitement we got from so many of you who visited our booth to play The Transylvania Adventure of Simon Quest! Lead developer Programancer was on the scene answering questions from players and conducting interviews on the game! The TASQ demo featured 2 options for players to choose from: Adventure or Action. “Adventure” allowed players to explore the overworld of TASQ, while being able to speak with NPCs, and go on side quests. Selecting “Action” thrusts players straight into the Bram Mansion, showing off the combat mechanics, Subweapon usage, and a boss battle at the end! We’d like to give a HUUUGE thanks to everyone who showed up to play at our booth, and we hop…
- TASQ will be at PAX East 2024! BOOTH 15031 - 19 March 2024
Going to PAX East 2024? Stop by the Retroware booth (15031) and play the demo for The Transylvania Adventure of Simon Quest (TASQ)! With 2 distinct play options to choose from–ADVENTURE or ACTION–you can experience the gameplay of TASQ in one of two distinct paths! Adventure Choosing "Adventure" lets you explore the world of TASQ! Interact with villagers and get a glimpse at the designs of the overworld! Action Choosing "Action" will launch you straight into a dark mansion filled with menacing monsters guarding a piece of Dracula himself! Fight your way to the boss room and get a feel for how the combat will function in TASQ! And be sure to try out our other games available to play, or pick up some pins, physical games, and more at our merch section! We’ll also be featuring LOVE 3, AVGN I & II Deluxe, Prison City, Eagle Island Twist, Toxic Crusaders, and Iron Meat! We’re excited to be f…
- Simon Quest Who? - 13 March 2024
Simon Quest is the protagonist of this adventure across Transylvania! But who exactly is he? Lead developer Programancer provides some insight into his character… Programancer: Even though he's not given any dialogue in-game (as I prefer the player to insert their own thoughts into situations)- Simon is a bit of a lighthearted, albeit brash, and rebellious person. He raised himself from a young age as the result of a close call with Dracula, and he's hellbent on restoring his disgraced family's honor by fulfilling their legacy and duty as vampire hunters. He's witty and clever- which helps him get out of most situations, and while people see him as a bumbling fool, he's more than capable of getting out of any situation he finds himself in. On the surface it may seem like he is simply resurrecting Dracula for selfish reasons, but maybe there's more to that than is immediately apparent- y…
- You SHALL NOT Pass! - 12 March 2024
Wielding a sword and shield, these fully armored knights are ready to defend the staircases of Bram Mansion! Those daring enough to challenge these Stairmasters can try attacking them using their trusty whip, though you’ll have to line up Simon’s sprite to get them on the swing! Another way to deal with these dark knights is to keep your distance and use throwable subweapons! Stairmasters can move up or down stairs, so be sure to aim well to take down these enemies! Check back here soon for more updates! Be sure to follow Retroware’s publisher page to stay up-to-date on all our games, news, and more! https://store.steampowered.com/publisher/retroware
- What’s All the BUZZZZ?? - 7 March 2024
Did you know? Murder Hornets can murder you! As their name suggests, these damn bugs will stop at nothing to buzzzz toward you and sting you to death. Luckily for you, you happen to be a (questionably?) well-trained vampire hunter, who happens to own a whip capable of keeping these flying critters at bay! When strolling through the town of Lugosi at night, you’re guaranteed to run into several Murder Hornets–on the prowl for a late night snack of human flesh! Unlike other towns, such as Bram having zombies in the late hours, Lugosi will have Murder Hornets appear–likely because The Hive is located nearby. And, like most other common monsters, killing Murder Hornets with your whip will cause them to disintegrate into flames. THAT'S how you solve Lugosi's evening pest problem! Stay tuned for even more updates along the way! Be sure to follow Retroware’s publisher page to stay up-to-date o…
- Crabs on the Menu?! - 5 March 2024
Shellors are crab-like monsters inhabiting the underground section of the Bram Mansion. Along with several Manfish, these crustaceans hunt on top of rocky platforms, eager for their next victim! Although they tend to just move from side to side, Shellors will sometimes stop and produce columns of bubbles! While most novice adventurers may view these bubbles as harmless, they’ll knock you off your feet if you happen to crash into one while trying to hop a gap! Or you could just…ya know…drop a ROCK on ‘em! And unlike most common fiends, Shellors will require two cracks of the whip to dispatch, so don’t let up for a second! Stay tuned for even more as we continue with development! Be sure to follow Retroware’s publisher page to stay up-to-date on all our games, news, and more! https://store.steampowered.com/publisher/retroware
- Lighting the Way to Respawn! - 29 February 2024
Across Transylvania, you’ll come across spooky-looking lanterns that will light up as soon as you walk past them for the first time (or when you return to them at a later point). Lanterns are helpful landmarks that serve as a checkpoint respawn location in the event you happen to die while in the overworld. Conversely, dying in mansions will cause you to start at the beginning of the section you died within. For lanterns, you'll respawn at the last one you passed, so be sure to…ya know, NOT die. Also! If you happen to attack a lantern enough times, their flames will go out, which means you won't be able to spawn back at that lantern. Unless, of course, you pass it again, which will reactivate it. Long story short: DON'T attack any checkpoint lantern! Stay tuned for even more! Be sure to follow Retroware’s publisher page to stay up-to-date on all our games, news, and more! https://store.…
- Something’s FISHY! - 28 February 2024
You’ll think twice before taking that casual stroll above deep water pools! Enter the Manfish! These gilled goons will jump out of the water and land on the platform you’re moving across! With webbed hands and feet, they’ll walk on rocky platforms hunting for their next prey, so you best take them down before they take YOU down into the deep with them! And just HOW can you deal with these fishy Manfish? Why, with your trusty whip, of course! You can attack a Manfish with your whip, and, like Skelebones and other lightweight enemies, they will burst into flames upon defeat! Stay tuned for even more updates as we continue with development! Be sure to follow Retroware’s publisher page to stay up-to-date on all our games, news, and more! https://store.steampowered.com/publisher/retroware
