Local Melbourne developer Barrel Smash Studios have announced that their next project Oceaneers is coming to Steam in 2026. A demo and public playtest (via Steam) have also been teased as “dropping soon”.

Two-person developer Barrel Smash have described Oceaneers as “…. a survival-crafting colony sim set in a flooded world of unstable islands. Build your colony, scavenge debris, craft equipment, and train your survivors. Construct a raft and fend off sharks as you explore island bunkers and uncover lost Float-Tech from an old-world corporation.”

I highly recommend checking out the Gameplay Trailer embedded below to get a feel for the gameplay and style.

A comment from developer James Thomas was shared in the Press Release… “After first concepting the idea back in January 2023, it’s exciting to be launching a second PC title on Steam. As huge fans of colony sims and crafting survival games, it’s been a fun challenge figuring out how to smoothly integrate story and objectives into these very sandboxy genres while still keeping replayability high. We grew up in the golden age of Sierra and LucasArts games, and we hope players enjoy this extra layer of quirkiness on top of the mechanics they already love.”

Barrel Smash Studios first title Demonlore released in 2022 and can be found on Steam here.

About Oceaneers

Oceaneers is a survival-crafting colony sim set in a flooded world of unstable islands. Build your colony, scavenge debris, craft equipment, and train your survivors. Construct a raft and fend off sharks as you explore island bunkers and uncover lost Float-Tech from an old-world corporation.

Control a group of stranded survivors trying to stay afloat in a flooded world. Build up the perfect island colony, keep your survivors happy, and protect them from dangers on land and sea!

Survive on Floating Islands

Island life is not all sunshine and coconuts. With sparse resources and limited island space, planning will be essential as you construct workstations, manage food production and secure drinkable water – all while making sure your island refuge stays above water.

Master Raft Crafting

Design and build your own raft! Start small with a simple paddle, then research large rafts with bigger engines that can haul islands to your home colony.

Stay Afloat, with Buoyancy Tech

Re-discover island buoyancy technology from a mysterious pre-flood corporation. Construct early warning systems and research Float-Tech contraptions to keep your islands afloat.

Go on Expeditions!

One tiny island won’t be enough for long term survival… Send survivors on expeditions to collect resources from different biomes. Gather what you can before the islands sink or float away.

Keep Sea Spirits Up

Motivation is the key to survival! Keep a close eye on hunger, thirst, tiredness, comfort and other needs, or you’ll find survivors slacking off, or leaving your group! Take advantage of each Oceaneer’s skills and traits to create an efficient island community.

Fend Off Threats Above and Below

Learn the truth of the sinking islands. Uncover hidden clues, find lost artifacts and discover tales from lost Oceaneers. But beware… some mysteries are best left underwater!

Game Features

• Control multiple characters in this single player experience.
• Design multiple rafts and send survivors on expeditions.
• Haul islands back to your colony to expand your island home.
• Improve island buoyancy with contraptions that keep islands afloat.
• Research and unlock advanced workstations and upgrades.
• Survive against weather events, and threats on both land and sea.
• Farm crops, prepare rations and cook meals.
• Customize your survivor names, traits, hair styles… including beards & mustaches!
• Uncover the deep sea storyline plot alongside the survival journey.