On January 24th, Gravity Game Arise announced a playable demo version for their upcoming 2D side-scrolling action-adventure “Aeruta” which combines dungeon exploration and bakery management on Steam.

The release of a playable demo comes less than a month following the conclusion of the playtest demo event held from December 28th, 2023 which concluded on January 8th, 2024.

Developed by FromDawn Games, in Aeruta players assume the role of Chaia, a girl with fox ears, as she embarks on two quests: “dungeon exploration,” where she gathers bread ingredients from various areas, and “bakery management,” where she runs a bakery, fulfilling customer requests.

Chaya, who has always admired “heroes,” begins working part-time at the bakery owned by Effie after accidentally causing damage to a bakery during a quest.

In the side-scrolling dungeon exploration section, the enemies, though cute in appearance, are deemed “very dangerous.” The fluid motion and action portrayed through detailed pixel art are quite seamless and very well put together.

When it comes to bakery management, adorable customers with animal ears flock to enjoy the array of delicious bread. Striving to make amends for the accidentally damaged oven, Chaia diligently bakes bread using materials gathered from the dungeon, arranging them attractively for customers while maintaining the store’s cleanliness.

This trial version offers players a chance to experience not just the opening, the first stage, and a boss battle, but also the bakery management segment. Providing a glimpse into both facets of the game’s charm, I highly encourage interested individuals to give it a try.

Additionally, to celebrate the trial version’s release, an official giveaway campaign has been organized for Japanese consumers.

Aeruta is set for an early access release in spring 2024, while the full version is slated for release in autumn 2024.