A blood-soaked tribute to the golden age of shooters is coming to Steam in the form of Darkenstein 3D.

The equally old-school publisher MicroProse and a Spanish solo developer Rowye are proud to publish Darkenstein 3D, available October 21 on Steam for the low, low price of zero dollars. A demo is already available for you to see if you still have the reflexes necessary to survive the boom-shoot.

“I spent years immersed in games like Return to Castle Wolfenstein and Enemy Territory, making maps for the latter as well as Quake 3,” said Rowye, creator of Darkenstein 3D in a press release. “Darkenstein 3D is my way of bringing that same fast, chaotic energy back. It is a raw shooter that lives between the first FPS classics like Doom and Wolfenstein 3D and the modern era. Louder, bloodier, silly, and built to be played hard.”

Here’s the rundown and a trailer:

Built as both a tribute and an evolution of classics like Wolfenstein 3D, Doom, and Return to Castle Wolfenstein, Darkenstein 3D blends pure old-school skill-based combat with modern twists in physics, gore, and environmental chaos. It’s fierce, funny, and ferocious — everything fans of retro shooters crave.

Step into the boots of the Hobo Guy, an American drifter caught deep in enemy territory during the 1940s. When his loyal dog Gunther is kidnapped, vengeance becomes the only mission. With nothing but a shotgun, grit, and a rat companion hungry for blood, you’ll battle through bunkers, castles, valleys, and deserts to get him back — uncovering alien secrets and bizarre powers along the way.

Features

• Fast, Old-School Gameplay — No cover, no aim assist, no handholding. Just movement, aim, and survival. Dodge bullets, strafe through firefights, and master the deadly rhythm of retro combat.
• A Story of Desperation (and a Dog) — Rescue your kidnapped companion, Gunther, while unraveling strange mysteries hidden inside enemy strongholds.
• 13 Handcrafted Levels — Castles, caves, valleys, and desert towns; each packed with secrets, keys, treasures, and escalating danger.
• Dynamic Rat Companion — Turn the battlefield into chaos with your vicious rat sidekick. Distract enemies, combo with grenades, and create absolute carnage.
• Explosive Physics & Gore — Enemies fly, gib, and ragdoll in spectacular firefights. Props shatter, debris scatters, and every bullet leaves a mark.
• Pure Package, No MTX — No microtransactions, no battle passes, no currencies. Just one complete, standalone retro FPS.
• Solo-Dev Passion Project — Developed over four years by a single creator, Darkenstein 3D is a labor of love turned full campaign.