Isometric RPG Banquet for Fools leaves early access March 5 after major update
Indie studio Hannah and Joseph Games announced the full release date for party-based isometric RPG Banquet for Fools – the game exits early access March 5, 2026. Before the final development phase, developers released massive update 6.2, focused on quality-of-life improvements and core system refinements.
The game entered Steam early access September 30, 2024. Initially, the studio planned release for the last Thursday of the month, but discovered this date fell mid-Steam Next Fest – a period when new releases get buried under hundreds of demos. Shifting one week forward aligned with the developers' PR campaign schedule.
All existing early access saves remain compatible with the final version and intermediate updates. However, old saves won't receive certain changes requiring new data tracking – item balancing, quest experience adjustments, collision changes, and map refinements. New saves record additional information that doesn't affect gameplay but will be needed for post-release content.
Update 6.2 overhauled the save system. The menu now contains four rotating autosave slots, displays player names on the right, and adds three Steam Cloud slots for quick save and the first two manual slots. Map interaction became more convenient – players can draw with chalk or erase notes on both local maps and the Invimona map, while the text annotation system received an improved interface.
Inventory management accelerated thanks to a new shortcut. Shift + right mouse click instantly moves an item from a character's bag to alternative storage or sells directly to a merchant, substantially reducing time spent sorting loot after lengthy expeditions. The game added a small but characteristic Banquet for Fools detail – petting a cat grants a buff, and cats themselves can now be tamed through a skill.
Combat systems and controls received serious polish. Ghost followers now display portraits, gems can be ground individually, a weapon swap hotkey was added, vertical sync markers were fixed, a stacking starting techniques bug was eliminated, and armor tooltips more accurately explain the usage stat.
Enemy AI became more aggressive – enemies pursue more frequently across rooms and maps, allies and creatures choose safer positions with additional danger checks, and the exploration system uses the party's best vision radius. Movement mechanics added dodge direction selection, block and dodge are separated to individual keys, and controllers now support expanded menus and hotkey options.
After release, developers will focus on bug fixes, then tackle modes for those who completed the game and additional content throughout 2026. New maps and adventures are planned as free updates.
Banquet for Fools is available in Steam early access.
