Demonschool, an upcoming school-life tactics RPG from developer Necrosoft Games and publisher Ysbryd Games, has debuted a new trailer during the PC Gaming Show, offering a fresh look at its eerie blend of strategy gameplay and supernatural storytelling. The title is on track for release in the third quarter of 2025, and will be available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, and Windows PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store.
Set on a mysterious island university, Demonschool follows the story of Faye, a freshman who arrives on campus only to find it overrun by supernatural forces. Drawing inspiration from titles such as Persona and Shin Megami Tensei, as well as the stylings of Italian horror cinema and Japanese horror manga, players will guide Faye and her classmates through a semester of occult investigations and grid-based tactical battles.
The game’s combat system takes place on a chess-like tactical grid, where players can plan each character’s movements during a Planning phase and then watch them unfold in real time during the Action phase. The ability to rewind and reattempt strategies adds a layer of flexibility to the experience, with abilities ranging from Faye’s devastating kicks to Ti’s terrain-shifting rock columns and Knute’s supportive healing skills.
Players can form a battle party from a roster of 15 playable characters, each with their own unique skills and personalities. Outside of combat, students can participate in side quests, training sessions, and social activities to strengthen both their abilities and relationships. Building strong interpersonal bonds unlocks powerful combo attacks, providing a further tactical edge in battle.
Brandon Sheffield, creative director at Necrosoft Games, shared some insights into the team’s approach to world-building:
Our team took great pride in fleshing out the world of Demonschool as much as possible. With plenty of class and demon assignments to complete, characters to hang out with, and minigames to play, students won’t run out of things to do on Jabberwock Island.
