Shroom and Gloom Demo: Length, Where to Play, Changes
Demo facts checked:
Demo facts
| Value | Source | |
|---|---|---|
| Where to play | Free on Steam as "Shroom and Gloom Demo" (app 3602770), Windows and macOS | Steam store page |
| Demo released | May 14, 2025 | Steam store page |
| Length | 26 handcrafted tunnels, ending at The Gloom | Steam demo description |
| Fastest recorded run | 16 minutes 5 seconds | speedrun.com leaderboard |
| Demo reception | 1,077 positive of 1,112 reviews (96.8%), Overwhelmingly Positive | Steam appreviews API, Sep 7, 2026 |
| Downloads | 100,000+ as of July 2026 | July 2026 dev log |
| Older prototype | Still free on itch.io, 4.8/5 from 324 ratings — Windows and macOS download, not a browser game | teamlazerbeam.itch.io |
What the June 2026 update added
This was the first demo update since August 2025 and it rewrote how exploration plays, so older videos and guides describe a different game:
- Exploration completely overhauled: light torches to camp in safety, feed the creatures you meet, and reveal, break, fix or unlock what you find
- New prologue chapter, built largely in a one-day game jam, teaching how explore cards change the world around you
- Enemies grow stronger the deeper you go
- Expanded shop inventories and an improved map
- Updated round-up screen at the end of a run
- New ending event for players who reach The Gloom
- Loads of new music and audio, plus visual upgrades across the Underealm
Demo versus Early Access
| In the demo | In Early Access | |
|---|---|---|
| Paths to The Gloom | One path — rocky caverns and mushroom-infested caves | Two paths with entirely unique card pools; the second is the Facility, revealed at Galaxies Showcase |
| Characters | No class selection shown to players | Five playable characters: Paperboy, Lunch-lady, Concerned Parent, Janitor, Activist |
| Meta progression | Hints at what is to come on the end screen | Reworked quest system that unlocks characters and expands card pools |
| Save and quit | Not implemented | Developers call it "obviously a given for the full game" |
| Rest binding | Mapped to E, next to W — easy to trigger by accident | Developers confirmed rest is no longer mapped to E |
| Controller support | Mouse-driven only | In progress, not confirmed shipped at launch |
| Achievements | None | Yes, including hidden ones |
FAQ
Is the Shroom and Gloom demo still available?
Yes. It is a separate free listing on Steam (app 3602770) for Windows and macOS, and it stays up alongside the Early Access release.
How long does the demo take to finish?
It runs 26 handcrafted tunnels and ends at The Gloom. The fastest recorded run on speedrun.com is 16 minutes 5 seconds; most players need several attempts because dying restarts the descent.
Is the itch.io version the same as the Steam demo?
No. The itch.io release is the September 2024 prototype, made in three months, and it predates the June 2026 exploration rework. The Steam demo is the newer build.
Coming from the demo? The card list transcribes what is on the cards, and the exploration guide covers camping, hazards and the pressure The Gloom puts on you for lingering.