Hazard Pay, the dystopian block-pushing puzzler from developer Smitner Studio, launches on September 10, 2026. The game arrives on Linux, Mac, and Windows through Steam, with a native Linux build confirmed in the launch plans alongside a playable demo available now.
Quick Facts
- Release Date: September 10, 2026
- Platforms: Linux, Mac, and Windows (Steam)
- Developer: Smitner Studio
- Demo Availability: Available now on Steam
Cleanup Shifts and Dystopian Puzzles
Set in an odd version of 1982, Hazard Pay casts players as cheap staff working for IPT, a firm tied to massive biohazard spills. The core gameplay loop draws heavily from Sokoban-style block pushing. Players use a mop, a bucket, and their wit to clear crime scenes of blood, bodies, waste, and broken gear across more than 70 hand-built rooms.
Mechanics grow more complex as shifts progress. Walking through blood leaves red footprints that must be cleaned, while acid vats can remove grime and help solve subsequent environmental puzzles. Doors may require live wiring, and blood can even carry an electrical charge, turning the gore itself into a puzzle tool.
Levels, Tracking, and Plot
Each run tracks the player's step count, with global and friend leaderboards planned to support route optimization. Alongside the puzzle mechanics, the narrative unfolds through clues discovered in each room detailing IPT's hidden crimes. Players ultimately face a choice regarding whether to continue the corporate cover-up.
While native Linux support is confirmed via Steam, Steam Deck support remains unannounced. However, fans can test the current demo via Proton to evaluate the puzzle loop, step tracking, and blood-trail mechanics ahead of the September 10 release date.