13Z: The Zodiac Trials
Steam News 12 February 20263mo ago

Demo Update: Year of the Horse Quest!

Hey Zodiac Challengers! We’ve got a brand new demo update to share… and with it, we’re also going to close out this chapter of the Trials soon. This update is part celebration, part milestone, and part farewell to the c…

Update log

Full 13Z: The Zodiac Trials update

The complete published notes, normalized for clean reading and source attribution.

Repeated intro

Hey Zodiac Challengers! We’ve got a brand new demo update to share… and with it, we’re also going to close out this chapter of the Trials soon.

Extracted changes

0 fixes2 additions7 changes0 removals
  • Gameplay
  • Store
addedHey Zodiac Challengers ! We’ve got a brand new demo update to share… and with it, we’re also going to close out this chapter of the Trials soon.
changedFireworks, Red Packets, and an Exclusive SkinIf you want to celebrate with her, Fuxi the Village Intern has prepared a festive activity just for Challengers.
changedFireworks, Red Packets, and an Exclusive SkinDuring your runs, you can now collect Red Packets. When you return to the village, give them to the Horse Zodiac to help build Firework Stations.
changedFireworks, Red Packets, and an Exclusive SkinBuild all 12 stations and you’ll unlock:
changedFireworks, Red Packets, and an Exclusive SkinA full panoramic fireworks display across Turtle Village
changedFireworks, Red Packets, and an Exclusive SkinAn exclusive event skin you can carry into the full game. Yep. This one follows you home.

This update is part celebration, part milestone, and part farewell to the current demo before things start shifting in much bigger ways.

Year of the Horse Arrives

In celebration of the Year of the Horse, you’ll finally get to meet none other than the Horse Zodiac herself.

Normally, she’s busy with a very important job… driving the sun and guiding the passage of time for all realms. Casual. No big deal.

But for this special occasion, she’s taking a short break to wander Turtle Village, take in the sights, and watch the fireworks display. But whether there are fireworks at all depends entirely on you. 🙂

Fireworks, Red Packets, and an Exclusive Skin

If you want to celebrate with her, Fuxi the Village Intern has prepared a festive activity just for Challengers.

During your runs, you can now collect Red Packets. When you return to the village, give them to the Horse Zodiac to help build Firework Stations.

Build all 12 stations and you’ll unlock:

  • A full panoramic fireworks display across Turtle Village

  • An exclusive event skin you can carry into the full game. Yep. This one follows you home.

This is a small celebration, and a send off for this version of the Trials.

An Important Milestone

We’ll be closing the current demo at the end of this month so we can fully focus on production for the next phase of 13Z.

🌻[UPDATE Feb 28]: We’re keeping the demo live through March to celebrate 13Z: The Zodiac Trials being nominated for the IGF x WINGS Awards. Winners will be revealed during the GDC Festival of Gaming on March 11, 2026 (6:30pm PT).

So when you see 13Z again, whether through future playtests, exclusive previews, or the full release, a lot will have changed. New systems. New content. New chaos. Possibly new ways to die.

What’s Next?

If you’d like to stay close as the next version of the Trials starts taking shape, come hang out with us.

Join our Discord for future playtest announcements and dev updates. Follow our free Patreon blog for sneak peeks and work-in-progress content.

We’ll be sharing more as things evolve, especially as the next chapter begins to form.

Enjoy the fireworks. Greet the Horse Zodiac with the respect she deserves. Make the Snake Zodiac just slightly jealous, hehe. Grab the skin.

Discord / Patreon / X (Twitter) / Tiktok / Youtube / Reddit

Crafted with love, Mixed Realms

Source

Steam News / 12 February 2026

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