Shroom and Gloom price
One paid version, one free one, and a stated plan not to change the price when Early Access ends. Here is what each option costs and what you give up by not paying.
Every way to play, and what it costs
| Option | Cost | What you get | The catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shroom and Gloom (Early Access) | $14.99 | Both pathways, all five characters, quests, saves and achievements | Still in development; see what is planned |
| Shroom and Gloom Demo | Free | The demo build on Steam | No saves, no progress into the full game (details) |
| Steam bundles | Shown on the store page | Shroom and Gloom paired with another game, such as Slots & Daggers or The Loopler | Only worth it if you want the other game too |
| The 2024 itch.io prototype | Released free | The early prototype the full game grew from | A different, much older game build; not the Steam version |
The prototype was released for free on Team Lazerbeam’s itch.io page in September 2024 (announced in Team Lazerbeam devlog on itch.io: We did it! Shroom and Gloom Prototype is here!, 13 September 2024). It predates the demo, the Devolver deal and every system added since, so treat it as a piece of history rather than a free copy of the game.
Is Shroom and Gloom free?
No. There is no free-to-play version. The demo is the free, legal way to try it, and it is a real slice of the game rather than a trailer. The demo page explains how it differs from Early Access, which matters for deciding whether the demo is enough to judge the paid game by.
Steam lists Family Sharing for Shroom and Gloom on the Shroom and Gloom on the Steam store, 10 September 2026. What that feature is, and why it is not multiplayer, is covered on the multiplayer page.
Will the price change at 1.0?
“No, we do not currently plan to adjust the price of the game between Early Access and Full Release.”
Team Lazerbeam, answering in the Early Access notes on Shroom and Gloom on the Steam store, 10 September 2026
Two words in that answer carry weight: “currently plan”. It is a plan rather than a guarantee, but it sits on the store page itself. The content the price covers will grow over Early Access, as the release date page explains.
Is it worth the money?
Both answers turned up in Steam reviews and discussions in the first days of Early Access.
Worth it now
“There’s already enough in the current version of Early Access to justify the price” in a Steam user review, 13 September 2026
“I think there is a fair whack of starting content for the price personally” in Steam discussion: Is there a good amount of variety yet?, 11 September 2026
Wait
“Early access came a little too early for this one.” in a Steam user review, 13 September 2026, from a player whose game would not let them move.
“Wait a year before you buy” in a Steam user review, 13 September 2026, from a player who found it too easy.
The movement problem in that first negative review was reported by demo players too (see Steam discussion: Unable to play. I see the "W" card but nothing is happening, 18 June 2026), so a few minutes in the free demo is a cheap way to see whether your keyboard, mouse or controller setup is affected. The full spread of opinions is on the reviews page, and system requirements lists what your PC or Mac needs.
Refunds
Shroom and Gloom is sold through Steam, so the standard Steam refund policy applies to it like any other Steam purchase.