Doom Meets Hades In the Coolest New Action Game of Gamescom 2026
Dlala Studios, the developer behind 2020’s acclaimed Battletoads revival and Disney Illusion Island, revealed its next project at Gamescom 2026 Opening Night Live: Murals, an isometric action game that defies genre expectations.
Despite its visual presentation and the “Doom Meets Hades” framing in the title, Murals is emphatically not a roguelike. CEO and game director Aj Grand-Scutton was quick to distinguish the game from roguelike comparisons during hands-off previews at Gamescom. Instead, the studio has crafted a narrative-forward action experience that charts its own creative course.
The game represents a significant departure for Dlala Studios, which has primarily focused on beat-em-ups and character-driven platformers. Murals leans into a more story-centric approach while maintaining the developer’s signature visual style and gameplay sensibility. The game reimagines fairy tales, drawing inspiration from classic stories and presenting them in fresh, unexpected ways.
The isometric perspective, while often associated with roguelike designs in player perception, serves as the foundation for what Dlala Studios positions as an original intellectual property. This choice of presentation combined with the action-focused gameplay creates an intriguing experience that aims to carve out its own identity in a crowded action game landscape.
The revelation at Gamescom 2026 marks Dlala Studios’ continued momentum following the success of their previous titles, demonstrating the developer’s willingness to experiment with new genres and storytelling approaches while maintaining their reputation for high-quality, engaging gameplay.