- Update Notes for 2027.09.27 - 27 September 2026
This update contains two minor adjustments related to the save point update:Restarting the level, once there is a save point, now requires two double-taps on the restart button. This change was made to make sure that you won't trigger a restart by mistake, when you only intend to reload the current save pointThe default controller binding of the hint button on game controllers has been fixedAs a special note, the default controller bindings were modified to better accommodate the the save point functionality, but only for new users to make sure custom bindings aren't destroyed. For existing users to get the intended bindings you will need to reset them in the settings.I hope you're enjoying the game!
- The Save Point Update - 20 September 2026
This release introduces save points, a feature which many have requested, and which is a major step forward for the game! Save points further improves the emphasis on puzzles by minimizing the need to repeat part of the level which you've already figured out.You can create a save point at any time that the game is settled (this mostly means that nothing is actively falling or exploding)If you die, or use the regular restart functionality, you go back to the save point rather than to the start of the chamberYou can updated the save point at any time, though only a single one is saved at a timeThe save point feature has been carefully designed and tested, and I think it works well, and really fits with the rest of the game. It is however a major feature with significant complexities, and if you find any problems, please report them to me!Besides this major new feature some other work has…
- Update Notes for version 2026.08.26 - 26 August 2026
This update contains a small feature and a fix:There is now a setting which enables you to postpone the final chamber of each episode. This was previously not possible as these chambers were intended as skill gates. It's still not enabled by default, but if you want, skipping these can be enabled.The gameplay settings menu has had a couple of minor fixes.I hope you're enjoying my game!
- Polish Update 2026.08.23 - 23 August 2026
This is a fairly small update, with one fixed chamber, one replaced bonus level, and some new details and polish.Fixed the episode 2 level RhizaReplaced the bonus level Szimmetria with a newly designed level called KathairóImproved the player idle animation with a small sound effect and a new animation variantImproved some story textSome minor visual improvementsI hope you're enjoying the game, and if you do and haven't left a review yet, please do! It really helps with the Steam algorithm.
- End of Summer Discount - 10 August 2026
The end of the summer is approaching, at least here in Sweden, and to celebrate the imminent arrival of shorter days, more rain, and lessened risk that people try to lure you away from the computer and drag you to the beach, I'm putting The Portsmoor Abysm on sale! The game will be discounted by 30%, the cheapest it has been, for one week, starting today!
- Update Notes for version 2026.08.07 - 7 August 2026
This is a small update, with one visual update and some minor tweaks.The boulder art was some of the oldest in the game, and some of the first I made using Aseprite. It has now been replaced with new boulders that better match the rest of the game, and my improved abilities, in particular the new dirt and background tiles that were introduced post-release.Some text snippets have been updated along with other minor tweaks.
- Swedish Translation - 30 July 2026
This update includes one major new feature, a chamber fix, and a couple of new bonus chambers.The Portsmoor Abysm now has a Swedish translation available. This may be significant for those who would prefer to play the game in Swedish, but also because it means the game is now ready for further translations if I can find people willing to perform the actual translation work. The episode 3 chamber Varkár has been updated to only have one known solution.Two new chambers have been added to the bonus episode, rounding the number of bonus chamber out to 18, the same as all other episodes. This means that the game now has a total of 90 chambers.A couple of very minor issues have been fixed.If you find issues with the language used in the game, please report to me and I'll try to fix it. I hope you're enjoying the game!
- Update Notes for version 2026.07.13 - 13 July 2026
This update introduced a new environmental detail, updates one chamber, and replaces another.The chamber Explosive in episode 1 (and the demo) has been reworked again, likely for the last time because I'm now fully happy with the result.The new puzzle-focused chamber Frango replaces Throng in episode 2. Throng has been moved to the bonus episode.The new chamber Limulus replaces Motsats in episode 3. Motsats has been moved to episode 2, and Kathegetēs has been moved to the bonus episode.Interacting with the storm drains in the catacombs will now present you with a small reference to a classic game. Do you know which one it is? Please comment!I hope you're enjoying the game! This update was updated on 2026-07-14.
- Update Notes for version 2026.07.08 - 8 July 2026
This update contains a small graphical improvement, a new bonus chamber, and a small bug fix:The floating dust particles now vary in speed when playing at fast forward or slow motion speed, to provide better feedbackA new bonus chamber was addedFixed a physics bug which only showed up in very specific circumstances, likely only ever in the newly added bonus chamberI hope you're enjoying the game!
- Update Notes for version 2026.06.30 - 30 June 2026
This update contains two small bug fixed, and a couple of content updates:Minor fix for the game run timerMinor fix for a detail in how the Stasis Seal works Fix for the episode 4 chamber called MuuriMinor change to the bonus chamber called MomentumIntroduced a new bonus chamber called SimulI hope you're enjoying the game!
- Update Notes for version 2026.06.22 - 22 June 2026
This update contains a bug fix, some new settings, and a couple of content updates:The timer in each level didn't handle the newly added fast forward functionality quite correctly, this has now been fixed.There are now settings to disable all story popups, as well as the tips that pop up in the early chambers.The final chamber in episode 2 has been updated to be more streamlined, and a completely new chamber has been added to the bonus content.I hope you're enjoying the game!
- Update Notes for version 2026.06.17 - 17 June 2026
This update contains one content update and a bug fix:The Episode 1 (demo) chamber Móshì has been replaced with Yosou, once again increasing the focus on puzzles.A bug has been fixed where a late game monster misbehaved when pushed under specific circumstances. Those circumstances got substantially more common with the latest content update. Thanks Ryz for helping me reproduce this issue!I hope you're enjoying the game!
- Major Chamber Update - 14 June 2026
This update replaces several chambers with newly constructed ones, and improves several existing chambers. The overarching goals were:More chambers with focus on puzzles, fewer with focus on physics, timing, and precise controlsShorter and tighter chambers with fewer distractions and unnecessary stepsGreater focus on making sure each chamber has a clear purpose, and brings something newMaking sure chambers aren't broken in the sense that the intended puzzle can be bypassedMost of the chambers that were removed from the main game will still be available to those that finish the main story line, along with two completely new chambers, and a couple of previously decommissioned ones. This new "episode" is not considered core content, but a rather a small bonus. The changes are as follows:Episode 1 - Updated Explosive and AvalancheEpisode 2 - Replaced Dans, updated RhizaEpisode 3 - Replaced…
- Update with Fast Forward Functionality - 4 June 2026
This update contains one new feature, along with some minor tweaks:The game now supports new fast forward functionality, which increases the rate at which it runs. This is intended for situations where you need to wait for e.g. a monster to line up just the way you want it.The sound playback has been updated in a way which might increase performance when many sounds are being played simultaneously.I hope you're enjoying the game!
- Update Notes for version 2026.05.25 - 25 May 2026
This update contains two new settings related to performance, and a minor UI update:The number of floating dust particles can now be pared down, all the way to zero if desired.Atmospheric effects such as fog and light shafts can now be disabledA new system for informing the player in the few cases where settings are not applied immediatelyNone of these are likely culprits, but can be tried if you run into performance problems. I hope you're enjoying the game!
- Steam Deck Compatibility - 13 May 2026
The Portsmoor Abysm started as a jam game, which I kept working on, and eventually decided to release on Steam. One of the primary reasons to put this game on Steam was to make it easily accessible on the machine where I personally prefer to play this kind of game: The Steam Deck.Thus, The Portsmoor Abysm was always designed to work well on the Deck. While I mostly play the game using a keyboard while developing, the first thing I do to test and prepare for any release is to get it onto the Deck and play it there. To work well on a handheld device the game:Is fully controllable with handheld controls, no exceptionsHas text sized to be legible on the Steam Deck screen by defaultHas graphics which are correctly scaled and clear on the smaller screen, without stretching Has levels designed to make sure can always see what you need at the same timePerforms well enough to be respectful of bo…
- Demo/Episode 1 Chamber Update - 11 May 2026
Hello! This update brings a number of updates to the chambers in the demo of The Portsmoor Abysm, which also make up the first episode of the full game. The goals of these chamber redesigns, along with some previous changes, are:To increase emphasis on the puzzle elements of the game, rather than the timing/action elementsTo make sure almost every chamber has some kind of puzzle element, with fewer purely dedicated to puzzle element introductionTo tighten up a number of chambers that were unnecessarily long, to provide a more focused experienceTo better the represent the full game, which is more puzzle oriented than the demo wasIn order to achieve this the chamber Szimmetria has been replaced by a new one called Gorogoro, and the chambers Abominations, Explosive, Veiled, Pale Brood, and The Pale Queen, have been updated. This is in addition to previous updates with the same goal, includ…
- Atmospheric Effects Update - 7 May 2026
Hello Everyone!Version 2026.05.07 contains a significant graphical update, along with a couple of minor bug fixes.New and varying atmospheric effects has been introduced across all four episodes, including fog and light shaft effects.A minor physics bug has been fixed, where boulders would not obey the rule that they should keep moving the same direction after falling when being pushed or sliding over an edge.The "Skip chamber" button has been renamed to "Postpone chamber" to emphasize that you can come back later, and a bug has been fixed where the button could not always be pushed on levels which had already been postponed.The default for number of allowed postpones per episode was raised from 2 to 3, it can be altered in the settings.I hope you enjoy the changes, and that you're enjoying the game. If you do, please leave a review, it will help more people find and play The Portsmoor…
- Update Notes for version 2026.04.27 - 27 April 2026
This update contains one content update, and an aesthetic enhancement.The chamber Quartet (formely Hex) in episode 1 is replaced by Metallassó, a more puzzle-focused level, to ensure that the demo better represents the puzzle focus of the complete game.Episode 2 now has fog.I hope you're enjoying the game!
- Major Environment Art Update - 20 April 2026
Hello! Version 2026.04.20 contains major updates of the environment art across all four episodes, resulting in a more consistent look for the entire game, including far less repetition for the dirt and the empty space behind it. See the included before/after screenshots from the first three episodes for examples. I hope you like the changes, and that you're enjoying the game If you do, please leave a review, it will help more people find and play The Portsmoor Abysm! Episode 1 before/afterEpisode 2 before/afterEpisode 3 before/after
