Tantalus: A Party-Based RPG Set in a Crumbling Hell

11/6/2026, 10:16:01 AM (JST)

Release date: 11/5/2026

Tags: #adventure #rpg #jrpg #party-based-rpg #puzzle #exploration #2d #cartoony

Reference prices

Japan

¥ 1,350 (JPY)

Steam JP

$9.99 (USD)

Steam Global

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Live Store Snapshot

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Japan Price: ¥ 1,350
Global Price: $9.99
Price in Your Region: ¥1,350Prices as Steam lists them per country. What you are actually charged depends on your Steam account settings.Regional prices checked: 8 Nov 2026
Sale Status: Regular pricing
Price Checked At: 11/6/2026, 10:16:01 AM (JST)

Key highlight

Tantalus is a party-based RPG set in a crumbling Hell, where battles aim for surrender rather than death. Play as Yerba, a demon accused of heresy, and join Satan to overthrow the One True God.

Who this is for

If you're looking for an RPG with a dark mythological setting and a unique surrender-based combat system, Tantalus is worth checking out.

Details

Overview

Tantalus is an unorthodox role-playing game from solo developer James Cooper Freeman, released on November 5, 2026. It casts you as Yerba, a woman who dies and is reborn as a demon, accused of heresy and placed in the custody of Hell under the cruel angel Mastema.

But she meets Satan—a demon of a long-forgotten pagan deity—who has a plan to topple the regime of the "One True God" and free the wrongly convicted from Hell. To do so, he needs Yerba's help, along with a mysterious woman named Lilith and a treasure from God's most sacred sanctuary.

The game is a single-player, party-based RPG with a 2D, cartoony art style. It blends adventure, puzzle, and exploration elements, and offers adjustable difficulty, custom volume controls, and a keyboard-only option.

The full game contains blood and gore, including depictions of torture and mentions of cannibalism, as well as minor swearing, sexual references, and characters in states of undress.

Highlights

Undying battles with a twist: Combat is not about killing enemies but eliciting a surrender—by pain or by knockout. This unique mechanic changes how you approach every encounter.
A crumbling penal colony: Explore the depths of Hell, a penal colony in decay, and uncover its secrets as you journey toward God's sanctuary.
A cast of unlikely allies: Team up with Satan, a demon of a forgotten deity, and the enigmatic Lilith, each with their own motives and abilities.

Who It's For

Tantalus is for players who enjoy narrative-driven RPGs with a dark, theological twist. If you like party-based combat, puzzle-solving, and exploring a richly imagined underworld, this game will appeal to you.

The adjustable difficulty and keyboard-only option make it accessible to a wide range of players, though the mature content means it's best suited for adults.

Game Info

Developer/Publisher: James Cooper Freeman
Release Date: November 5, 2026
Genres: Adventure, Indie, RPG
Modes: Single-player
Features: Custom Volume Controls, Adjustable Difficulty, Keyboard Only Option
Languages: English
Content Notes: Blood and gore, torture, cannibalism references, minor swearing, sexual references, partial nudity