Live, Roll, Die, Live Again—Celestial Return is a Striking Cyberpunk-Noir Narrative RPG Coming Spring 2026
Backed by publisher Shoreline Games and funded at over 200% on Kickstarter, this dark, dice-based adventure invites players into a world of cosmic horror and corruption
Istanbul, Türkiye – January 13, 2026 – Survival is optional in Celestial Return, a cyberpunk-noir, dice-based narrative RPG from storytelling veterans Metaphor Games, launching on PC via Steam in spring 2026 in partnership with publisher Shoreline Games.
Celestial Return is a story-rich, boldly stylized sci-fi adventure where dice are your bullets, your bribes, and your last breath. Don the well-worn loafers of Detective Howard, a man with nothing left to lose, as he traverses the neon-washed streets of the decaying Netherveil City, where its corpses are clawing back to life and horrors loom in the shadows. You will investigate a string of suicides that reek of cosmic horror and corporate corruption where your only tools are your rusted badge, a loud-mouthed sentient rose, and a pocketful of stolen dice.
“Celestial Return has always been about creating a deeply immersive narrative experience that resonates with fans of both video games and storytelling-focused board games,” said Bilge Gul Cakir, Co-Founder / Author at Metaphor Games. “We are so honoured by the outpouring of support from our community, and we never imagined our gritty noir game would achieve 200% funding. Partnering with Shoreline Games allows us to amplify our vision and ensure the game reaches the widest possible audience. We’re excited to see how this collaboration will bring our community’s dream project to life in new and exciting ways.”
“This team has an undeniable work ethic and penchant for storytelling and developing rich, narrative driven storylines. But not only that—their community has spoken, and the support for the game’s development has been incredible to watch,” said Keith Kawamura, CEO of Shoreline Games. “So, to be a part of their journey translating those narratives from board games to video games, is something we absolutely wanted to be a part of, and are incredibly grateful to do so.”
Celestial Return Key Features:
- Doomed Gameplay Loop: Earn and spend your dice while leveling up your own personality, to gain the edge needed to survive conversational combat. It’s sometimes violent, but always desperate.
- Simple Currency: Dice aren’t just tools. They’re oxygen. Earn ’em, spend ’em, lose ’em. Hoard them too long, and opportunities vanish. Roll recklessly, and resources burn.
- Welcome the Crossroads: Discover a vast sci-fi story, rich with twists, turns, mind-bending crossroads, and a branching narrative fully shaped by your decisions.
- Sounds & Visuals to Bleed For: Immerse yourself in a completely hand-drawn world where manga’s precision meets the raw nerve of American comics
- Choices Matter: Your choices are the weapons and your mind the battlefield. Decide the outcome with each small step. Just remember: Intelligence picks locks in silence. Virtue pleads for mercy. Foolishness laughs at the abyss
Expanding the world of Celestial Return beyond the world of video games, Metaphor Games has also released the first in a series of Webtoon comics that delve deeper into the seedy underbelly of Netherveil City, with more episodes planned to release in the run up to the games’ launch. Designed as a living companion to its video game counterpart, the comic’s narrative ties directly into the game, blurring the line between game and graphic novel, with the final episode ending exactly where the game begins.
Metaphor Games—composed of award-winning writers from TTRPG publisher Metis Creative—successfully rallied a strong Kickstarter community around Celestial Return with fans around the world, surpassing its funding goal by more than 200% and earning the coveted “Projects We Love” distinction. By partnering with Shoreline Games, Metaphor Games gains the support of a publishing studio experienced in bringing narrative-rich and system-driven games to global markets, ensuring Celestial Return will thrive both within and beyond its Kickstarter origins.
Celestial Return launches in spring 2026 for Windows PC via Steam. To follow along for news and updates, join the community on X (Twitter) and Instagram
About Shoreline Games
Shoreline Games is an independent publisher focusing on unique, eye-catching narrative-driven games developed by talented studios worldwide. Their catalog of indie titles ranges from the academia inspired Sanatorium: A Mental Asylum Simulator, to the wicked roguelike deck builder Dice of Arcana, and most recently, Cyberpunk-Noir Narrative RPG Celestial Return. For more information, please visit www.shorelinegames.com.
About Metaphor Games
Metaphor Games is the digital gaming partner of Metis Creative. While Metis continues its work in the TTRPG space, Metaphor Games is a dedicated studio for channeling that same expertise in narrative and world-building to digital experiences. Metaphor Games sees games as a unified art form, where visuals, writing, and music fuse into one living whole. This philosophy is at the heart of Celestial Return, their first digital title and a true passion project. Learn more at https://www.metaphorgames.com
