The HANDS OVER release date is now 13 November 2026. ArtDock delayed its five-player horror game’s planned 30 October Early Access launch after receiving feedback during Steam Next Fest. The full Early Access edition isn’t on sale yet, but the free demo is already playable on Steam.
That is an important change for anyone who expected to play over Halloween. ArtDock announced the new date on 28 October, explaining that it wanted another two weeks to polish the experience. Here’s when Early Access starts, what the game involves and what you can try before the launch.
HANDS OVER release date: why was it delayed?
ArtDock originally planned to release HANDS OVER on Friday, 30 October 2026. The developer subsequently moved the launch to Friday, 13 November 2026, citing issues and improvements identified from Steam Next Fest player feedback, streams and videos.
The new HANDS OVER release date is for the Early Access version, not the finished 1.0 game. ArtDock has discussed a launch discount, but its Steam listing doesn’t yet show a final price.
Can you play HANDS OVER before November 13?
Yes, through the separate free demo. Steam has a Download HANDS OVER Demo option that lets players sample the horror-party format. That download launched on 15 October, before the Steam Next Fest event from 19 to 26 October.
The main store listing currently says the game is coming to Early Access and has no full-release player reviews. Older Halloween announcements still refer to 30 October, but ArtDock’s newer 28 October delay notice supersedes them. The demo being live does not mean the paid game has launched.
What kind of game is HANDS OVER?
HANDS OVER is built for a group of up to five players facing sinister tabletop trials. It’s part horror game, part social contest. The players sit together, bluff, sabotage one another and attempt to survive rounds built around apparently simple challenges.
ArtDock’s Steam description features a dangerous device where participants press teeth one after another, trying not to select the wrong one. Influence cards let players change the odds, protect themselves or turn a rival’s safe-looking move into trouble. The game is designed around the tension between the people at the table.
Will HANDS OVER have co-op and PvP?
Steam lists Online Co-op and Online PvP. The five-player setup involves bluffing and interference, even when people are sharing a table. That gives it a different feel from conventional team-based co-op, where everyone is trying to solve the same puzzle without undermining one another.
For an idea of what the current build feels like, try our HANDS OVER demo guide. It explains how to find the Steam download and what ArtDock has said about influence cards and the dangerous minigames.
What is planned for Early Access?
ArtDock wants to add more trials, modes, cards, customisation and progression during development. The Early Access information suggests roughly six to twelve months of work, but that is an estimate rather than a dated commitment to the final release.
The HANDS OVER release date of 13 November is the start of Early Access. ArtDock expects to keep adding trials and adjusting balance after launch, so the longer-term feature list isn’t a launch-day checklist.
What time does HANDS OVER release in the UK?
Steam confirms 13 November but does not provide a specific UK unlock time yet. There is no official basis to promise a midnight launch. When Early Access opens, the Steam store should show the purchase option and price.
The minimum PC specification currently lists Windows 10 or 11, 8 GB RAM and graphics comparable to a GTX 960 or Radeon R9 280. Steam Deck compatibility is marked Unknown, rather than verified. These are PC requirements for the game, not proof of console releases.
The new HANDS OVER release date at a glance
The paid game is planned for Friday 13 November, while the free demo is available now. You can try the table-based challenges before deciding whether to buy the Early Access version.
If you’re browsing more free Steam demos, our Steam Next Fest October 2026 guide covers the wider event, and our best indie games collection has more smaller games worth a look.
Official developer source: ArtDock’s HANDS OVER Steam page and developer news.
