Hello everyone!

We're excited to share a new update for the Spark in the Dark demo, featuring new mechanics, improvements, and many fixes.

This is the final major update for the demo. The next big step is the Early Access release, planned for Q1 2026.

In Early Access, all three Dungeon tiers will be available. Our team is currently focused on finishing the second and third tiers, along with refining the core game systems.

Spark in the Dark Update 0.017

Save System

Your progress is now saved when resting at a campfire. You can exit the game and return later to continue right where you left off.

If your hero dies permanently, the save file is deleted.

Revival in Monster Lairs

After death, the hero now has a chance to wake up in a monster lair.

The system considers which monsters were nearby at the moment of death, as well as the distance and accessibility of their lairs.

The hero revives with injuries (the number depends on the difficulty level) and lies still. Monsters ignore him until he gets up – giving the player a chance to choose the right moment to escape.

It’s a small but meaningful second chance after death.

Dagger Throwing

The hero can now throw daggers.

They bounce off hard surfaces, stick into wood, and stay lodged in enemies – you can recover them after a fight.

Initially available to the Thief and Warrior, other classes can learn this skill by finding a skill book.

Ancient Shields and New Enhancements

Ancient shields have been reworked and new types have been added with varying weight and durability.

Shields can now have the following enhancements:

• Reinforced Base – extra protection
• Sturdy Straps – resistance to knockback
• Leather Padding – reduced stamina cost

Some shields also feature a spike that deals small damage to monsters when they hit the shield – unless they attack with a weapon.

Spiders and Webs

Sometimes, after a spider dies, you may find that its abdomen has burst open – and small spiderlings have crawled out.

Also, stepping into active webs now not only slows the hero but attracts nearby spiders.

Campfire Nightmares

If the hero has absorbed too much Darkness in the Dungeon, nightmares may appear during rest.

Drinking by the fire can reduce the chance of nightmares – but drinking too much may cause a hangover.

New hero voice lines at the campfire have also been added.

Armor Repair and Equipment Wear

Armor repair benches have been added and can be used outside of camp.

Weapons can now break permanently if not repaired in time.

Crossbows wear down with use and can be repaired just like lanterns.

Storage and Inventory

You can now store items in containers located in safe zones.

The system respects item size and container capacity.

Controls and Gamepad Support

Added key rebinding support for mouse and keyboard.

Added visual layouts for PS4 DualShock, PS5 DualSense, Xbox, and generic gamepads.

Fixed an issue with camera stick controls on gamepads.

UI Improvements

• Added item stat icons instead of text.
• Added a new "Keys" category to the inventory.
• Updated skill book illustrations.
• Added a list of key story events to your run statistics.
• Various other UI fixes and improvements.

Also included:

• Dynamic chest content display
• Hero fatigue animations
• Fixes and polish based on your feedback

Localization Update:

Spark in the Dark is now available in Chinese, Hungarian, and Czech!

Thank you for supporting the project and following the development! 💀