Mistfall Hunter has become the breakout name of the June 2026 Steam Next Fest, a third-person PvPvE extraction RPG from Bellring Games that crossed more than 10,000 concurrent players on Steam alone within hours of its open beta going live. The test is also running on consoles at the same time, so the real player count is higher. If you want to try it, the beta is free and downloadable right now.
Quick answer: Open the Mistfall Hunter page on Steam or the Xbox Store, install the free open beta (about 45GB), and launch it. The build is live now and runs through Steam Next Fest. No purchase or sign-up fee is required.
What Mistfall Hunter is
Mistfall Hunter is a fantasy extraction game built around action-RPG combat. Bellring Games describes it as a third-person action PvPvE extraction RPG, where you drop into a map, fight both other players and AI enemies, gather loot, and try to extract before you lose it all. It first surfaced in October 2024 with a trailer that leaned into a soulslike feel and Norse-inspired setting, which is part of why it stands out against shooter-focused extraction games like Arc Raiders and Marathon.
The current build is the game’s first open beta. It includes the full class roster plus reworked combat systems that point to balance changes since the previous playtest. You can play solo or team up, with groups of up to three.
What’s new in the open beta
Two major additions headline this test. The Withered Knight joins as a new playable class, and the Hallowgrove arrives as a new map. Alongside those, the beta carries the combat improvements noted above.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Developer | Bellring Games |
| Publisher | Bellring Games, Skystone Games |
| Genre | Action RPG, extraction, PvPvE |
| Players | 1–3 (online co-op and multiplayer) |
| Download size | About 45GB |
| Cost | Free-to-play beta |
| New class | Withered Knight |
| New map | Hallowgrove |
| Planned release | July 30, 2026 (if the beta goes to plan) |
How to download and play
You’ll know the beta is working when the client loads into the class select and you can queue into a match. Because the test runs at the same time on consoles, your platform choice does not change access to the open beta itself.
Golden Cipher event and rewards
A Golden Cipher event runs during the open beta. You earn Golden Ciphers by opening chests and defeating monsters, then redeem them for rewards at launch. They are rare drops, and one of them may turn out to be a Steam key for the full game.
Known performance issues
Early impressions praise the combat depth and the look of the game, but performance is the main sticking point. Players have reported stuttering and rough frame pacing even on high-end hardware, and the same problem appeared in the previous playtest. If you hit stutters, that is a known issue with the current build rather than something specific to your setup.
How the open beta fits into Steam Next Fest
Steam Next Fest is Valve’s recurring showcase for upcoming games, with hundreds of free demos available during a single week. The June 2026 edition is live and runs through June 22, with the event opening at 10:00 AM PDT (17:00 UTC). Mistfall Hunter’s beta actually started early, ahead of the official kickoff, which is part of why its strong numbers drew attention so quickly.
If you’re interested in the full game, Mistfall Hunter is slated to release on July 30, 2026, provided the open beta meets the team’s targets. The beta is the best way to judge its combat and extraction loop for yourself before then, and it costs nothing to try while the test window is open.
