Splatchinko comes to Lucca’s Indie Vault: Italian cosmic pachinko roguelike with Steam demo
Italian indie creativity comes to Lucca
Splatchinko brings an alien, detachable eyeballs and some outrageous pachinko physics to Lucca Comics & Games 2026. The Milan-based indie project from Stupidi Pixel appears among nine Italian studios selected for Indie Vault, the dedicated showcase running at Palazzo Guinigi from October 28 through November 1.
Organizer Excaliber published the official lineup on October 26. Splatchinko also appeared at the Tokyo Game Show earlier in the year, but its participation in Lucca is a separate development: the new focus is the gathering of Italian independent developers and the chance to discover their games in person.
Pachinko physics become turn-based combat
The game takes a familiar pachinko board and uses it as a turn-based roguelike combat arena. Players launch the alien protagonist’s detachable eyes among pegs, obstacles and enemies. Each bounce changes the trajectory, potentially amplifying damage or triggering unexpected interactions.
Smart play involves more than finding a lucky angle. Different eyes and upgrades can modify the physics, apply effects and turn one collision into a chain reaction. The design creates a playful contest between planning and uncertainty, with strategic combinations rewarding experimentation.
Branching routes, encounters, shops, rewards and bosses provide the roguelike structure. Your route and chosen mutations can produce very different runs. Chance plays a role, but selecting upgrades and managing risk remain decisions with real consequences.
A wonderfully strange interstellar romance
The narrative premise is knowingly absurd: a cosmic creature that once devoured worlds falls in love. When a mysterious force kidnaps its partner, it sets off through dangerous planets and bizarre galaxies to bring them back.
That emotional motivation sits alongside dark comedy and the possibility of astronomical destruction. Colorful pixel art gives the universe a distinctive identity rather than presenting it as straightforward science fiction.
The solo developer and release plans
Stupidi Pixel is the project of Milan-based developer Fabio Taurisano. An October 1 press announcement describes him as the solo creator responsible for design, programming, pixel art, animation and music. His previous work includes Death Noodle Delivery.
The same announcement anticipates more than 100 eyes and over 70 mutations in the full release. Those figures are developer-stated ambitions, not an independently verified inventory of content in a finished product.
Steam currently lists November 12, 2026 as the planned PC release date. A free demo is already available, allowing players to experiment with the ricochet-driven battles before the complete game arrives. The demo’s availability should not be mistaken for the full release.
English, Italian and German interface and subtitle support are among the languages listed on Steam. Players unable to visit Lucca can therefore try the unusual formula directly on PC and decide whether its mix of physics and tactical choices works for them.
THE SIGNAL // 06 MIRROR TEST: an independent editorial connection
An unexpected bounce can force you to reconsider your perspective. That is an editorial association with MIRROR TEST, the sixth artwork in Smart GFX’s independent THE SIGNAL collection. Its canvas edition is a real product available in the Smart GFX store.
This canvas is not official Splatchinko merchandise. Smart GFX does not claim any affiliation with Stupidi Pixel, Stratos Gaming or Lucca Comics & Games. The reference is an independent creative connection, not a partnership or endorsement.
Primary sources and further reading
The sources below let readers check the details firsthand. Excaliber confirms the Indie Vault lineup, Steam provides demo and release information, the October 1 announcement outlines the developer and planned features, and the official press kit explains the game’s concept.
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