RibCage Games’ rhythm-action roguelite Alpha Nomos has a firm launch date. The studio’s beat-timed slasher, built around a guitar-swinging hero named Cello, arrives simultaneously on three platforms this fall after cycling through public demos and festival showings.
Quick answer: Alpha Nomos releases on October 12, 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. No separate unlock time has been confirmed.
Release status and confirmed date
Status: Confirmed. The launch date is locked to October 12, 2026. That date has been shown on the game’s release trailer and matches the planned unlock listed on its store pages. A specific hour and time zone for the unlock has not been published, so plan around the calendar date rather than a countdown clock.
Because no exact unlock time is confirmed, treat any hour-specific claim as unverified. The date itself, however, is consistent across the game’s own materials.
Platforms at launch
All three versions ship on the same day. There is no staggered or timed-exclusive window.
| Platform | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PlayStation 5 | Oct 12, 2026 | Single-player |
| Xbox Series X|S | Oct 12, 2026 | Optimized, cloud saves, achievements |
| PC (Steam) | Oct 12, 2026 | Steam Achievements, Family Sharing |
The Xbox listing also flags support for Xbox One and handheld play, alongside Series X|S optimization. On PC, you can add it to your wishlist and get notified at launch through its Steam store page.
Try the demo before launch
A playable demo is available on Steam right now, so you can test the rhythm combat ahead of the full release. You can grab it from the Alpha Nomos Demo page.
The demo is a good way to check how your controller and system handle the beat timing before you commit, since precise inputs matter more here than in a standard action game.
What you’re actually playing
You control Cello, a jester-styled fighter who swings an electrified guitar that doubles as a melee weapon. Combat runs in sync with the soundtrack. Striking on the beat, weaving quick notes and rests between hits, and chaining attacks builds combos that climb from C up to S rank. A timing bar sits at the bottom of the screen, waveform boundaries mark the arena, and hit ratings like “PERFECT” pop when you land cleanly.
Runs are roguelite. You collect a resource called Junk and pick up musical powerups that change both how you fight and how each run sounds. Every upgrade is modeled on a real audio effect, so different combinations produce different playstyles and tunes across attempts.
As an example, the “PingPong Delay” upgrade triggers a second bomb that carries over built-up damage. It raises base damage from 40 to 42 and pushes the damage multiplier from 50% to 55%.
Between fights, you talk with NPCs who help flesh out the ruined, music-broken world. Those include Trunk, an elephant, and Armiger, an ape blacksmith.
PC system requirements
The game runs on Unity and needs a 64-bit copy of Windows. It’s a one-time purchase with no microtransactions. Here’s what your PC needs.
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 / 11 (64-bit) | Windows 10 / 11 (64-bit) |
| CPU | Core i5-6500 / Ryzen 3 1200 | Core i7-6700 / Ryzen 5 1500X |
| RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB |
| GPU | GTX 1050 / RX 560 | RTX 2070 / RX 6600 |
| Storage | 15 GB | 15 GB |
DirectX 12 is required in both cases. The PC build supports keyboard and mouse plus Xbox, DualShock 4, and DualSense controllers, with all dialogue delivered as text subtitles.
How to confirm it’s live
On launch day, you’ll know the game has unlocked when the Steam page switches from a wishlist prompt to an install or buy button, or when a wishlist notification arrives. On console, the store listing flips from a pre-release state to a download option. Until the date rolls over to October 12, 2026, the demo is the only playable version.
