Carnival Hunt Breaks Into The Indie Premier Top 50 as Final Open Playtest Goes Live
Upcoming asymmetric horror game Carnival Hunt has achieved a major milestone by earning a place among the Top 50 finalists at The Indie Premier 2026, a showcase celebrating some of the year's most promising independent games. At the same time, developer Beer Night Studio has launched the game's final open playtest, giving players one last opportunity to experience the multiplayer horror title before it enters Steam Early Access on July 23, 2026.
The open playtest runs from July 3 to July 6 and is available to anyone who requests access through the game's Steam page. According to the developers, this final test is intended to stress-test matchmaking, gather community feedback, and fine-tune gameplay systems ahead of the Early Access launch. Everyone who participates will also receive an exclusive pre-release cosmetic reward that will remain permanently linked to their Steam account.
Carnival Hunt pits one player against a team of survivors in a haunting mechanical carnival. While a single participant takes control of the terrifying Carnival Monster, the remaining players become wind-up Bunnies who must cooperate to survive and escape. A unique winding mechanic forces survivors to constantly recharge themselves and teammates, while proximity voice chat adds another layer of tension because the Monster can overhear nearby conversations. Vertical level design, environmental hazards, and teamwork-focused objectives further distinguish the game from other asymmetrical horror titles.
Being selected as one of The Indie Premier's Top 50 provides another boost of visibility ahead of launch and highlights the growing interest surrounding the project. With its final public playtest now underway and Early Access just weeks away, Carnival Hunt is entering the most important stage of its development. If the developers successfully refine the experience based on community feedback, the game could emerge as one of the standout multiplayer horror releases of 2026.
