Alien Archeologist Demo Now Available! - Time to Get Digging
Land on Mars and Unearth the First Two Layers of This Interplanetary Mystery!
Kraków, Poland (October 12, 2026) – Black Lantern Collective is pleased to announce that the first playable demo for Alien Archeologist is now available on Steam! Dig your way through the first two layers of secrets to get a taste of what the full game will have in store when it releases in the next few months.
Developed by TheClassifiedX, Alien Archeologist takes mechanics inspired by games like A Game About Digging a Hole and PowerWash Simulator and introduces you to a lovingly crafted world that begs to be discovered. Sent to Mars by a dodgy debt refinancing company called Cash 4 Cache, you’re told of rumored alien riches beneath the planet’s surface that could be sold to pay back your loans. Dropped off at a dusty shack with an aging shovel and a robot companion named GOOBER, it’s up to you to dig up anything you can find, sell ore for new equipment and upgrades, and see just how deep this patch of dirt goes.
If you do manage to find something truly alien, you’ll need to bring it up to the workbench, scrape off the rocks, and give it a thorough cleaning. Each device consists of several scattered pieces. So, once you’ve found them all, you’ll need to assemble them and figure out exactly what this doohickey does.
Beyond that, the soft soil at the main dig site is full of discoveries. Follow in the footsteps of pioneers who came before. Excavate forgotten hallways, laboratories, and vehicle bays. Stay on the lookout for hidden treasure chests and cosmetic items, and who knows what might be happening on the surface when you pop out of your deep dark hole? Plus, the chill music that accompanies your digs is an absolute vibe.
Key Features
- DIG - There’s a soft patch of soil behind the shack the company’s put you in. Grab a shovel, start scooping, and pick out anything that glimmers. There are valuable artifacts down there, and who knows what else?
- UPGRADE - Fill your bag full of ore, shake it into the grinder, and use the earnings to get better gear. Improve your shovel, your lamps, the blast radius of your TNT, and all of the tools you use to clean up the artifacts after you find them.
- RESTORE - Find an artifact? Bring it topside and clean it up. Spray off the dust, pick off the rocks, and spit-shine it so it doesn’t look a thousand years old. Assemble matching pieces. Then figure out what that item does.
- DISCOVER - You’re not the first one on this treasure hunt. Excavate forgotten passageways and learn what happened to the pioneers who came before. Will you learn from their mistakes or make new ones of your own?
- GOOBER - What kind of company would leave you alone on a desert planet? For all your social needs, we’ve provided GOOBER, a spiffy little vacuum bot, who can assist you with all sorts of chores like finding spare materials, building extra TNT, and… murder? Nevermind that. GOOBER can be augmented with a number of customizable features, including bow-ties and cat ears. Nothing to fear.
The first two layers of this mystery are ready for you to freely explore now on Steam, and we have a feeling that once you get started, you won’t want to stop until you’ve shoveled through every nook and cranny.
About Black Lantern Collective
Black Lantern Collective is a group of experienced horror specialists that works with artists from around the world to provide the support and expertise necessary to make a splash in today’s saturated market, as well as developing their own games.
Find out more and see all the current and upcoming releases from Black Lantern Collective on Steam and join the Discord server to connect with the community.
Press Contact
All media inquiries can be made to pr@ukiyostudios.com
