
The demo showcases a fresh take on parkour gaming, signaling potential competition in the niche first‑person traversal market and highlighting indie innovation.
The VHOLUME demo marks a notable entry for small studios into a genre traditionally dominated by larger publishers. IronEqual and STRAFTAT’s partnership blends technical expertise with narrative ambition, allowing them to ship a polished beta without a confirmed launch window. By leveraging Steam’s early‑access ecosystem, they can gather player feedback, refine momentum mechanics, and build community hype—an increasingly common strategy for indie developers seeking sustainable growth.
Parkour‑centric titles have long been defined by Mirror’s Edge, yet VHOLUME differentiates itself through a bleak, bureaucratic storyline set in a brutalist metropolis. The game’s emphasis on exploiting momentum, discovering shortcuts, and mastering time‑based challenges adds a competitive layer that appeals to speed‑run enthusiasts and casual explorers alike. Its first‑person perspective combined with a melancholic narrative offers a fresh emotional texture, potentially expanding the appeal of traversal games beyond pure kinetic thrills.
From a market perspective, VHOLUME arrives as players crave novel experiences that blend narrative depth with high‑skill gameplay. The demo’s availability signals confidence in the title’s commercial viability, while the lack of a firm release date suggests a cautious, data‑driven rollout. If the developers can translate the demo’s polish into a full launch, VHOLUME could capture a niche audience hungry for sophisticated parkour mechanics, influencing future indie projects to prioritize fluid movement systems and immersive world‑building.
Published by Niche Gamer · Brandon (Owner and Publisher at Niche Gamer and Nicchiban · “Outlaw fighting for a better game industry.”)

Publisher IronEqual and STRAFTAT co‑developers Nathan Grange, Léonard Lemaitre, and Niels Tiercelin have released a demo for VHOLUME, their Mirror’s Edge‑inspired parkour game set in a dystopian, brutalist city.
The new playable demo / beta for VHOLUME is now available for PC on its Steam page. A release date has not been confirmed.
VHOLUME is a melancholic first‑person parkour adventure set in a dystopian brutalist city where bureaucracy turns a simple task into an odyssey.
In the derelict capital of Afro‑Eurasia, ruled by an all‑controlling Ministry, Robert embarks on a bureaucratic quest to restore his family’s revoked ration tickets.
The game features movement‑centric gameplay where the player can jump, run, climb, and slide with great freedom. Environments challenge both agility and creativity.
Mastery‑driven players can exploit momentum, discover shortcuts, and break the labyrinthine design, making each run a test of skill and efficiency as they chase target times.
Tags: IronEqual, Léonard Lemaitre, Nathan Grange, Niels Tiercelin, VHOLUME

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