PC and Linux are getting a goldfish physics platformer called Barely Breathing

Indie developer Compiling Shaders Games has announced Barely Breathing, a 3D physics-based puzzle-platformer slated for PC and Linux in 2026. The game puts players in control of a goldfish named Sheen who is trying to escape a house. Instead of traditional running and jumping, movement relies on spilling water, flopping between objects, and using physics interactions to create a path forward.

I think this game looks incredibly creative and fun. I have a soft spot for games that take a mundane environment like a kitchen or a living room and turn it into a massive, dangerous obstacle course. The physics-based movement shown in the April 2026 announcement trailer looks like it strikes the right balance between precise and chaotic. You have to carefully aim your jumps, but you are still ultimately a fish flopping on a hardwood floor.

Spilling water to survive

The indie space has seen plenty of physics-based animal games over the last decade. Titles like Goat Simulator popularized the chaotic end of the spectrum, but Barely Breathing looks closer to games like Octodad or I Am Fish. Framing the platforming around a fish out of water adds a literal survival element to the environmental puzzles. Sheen cannot just walk to the exit. Every movement requires momentum, and the environment itself is hostile to a creature that needs water to breathe.

The announcement trailer shows Sheen navigating a series of increasingly precarious household environments. At one point, the fish uses a spilled cup of water as a temporary safe zone before launching across a gap to another wet surface. This implies a mechanic where players have to manage Sheen's hydration levels, moving quickly between puddles to avoid drying out. It is a clever twist on the standard lava-floor platforming trope. The gameplay loop revolves around creating your own path by knocking over cups, utilizing spilled puddles, and interacting with household objects to keep Sheen moving.

The first game from Compiling Shaders

This is the debut title from Compiling Shaders Games, who are handling both development and publishing duties. Building a physics platformer as a first release is an ambitious choice. Physics engines are notoriously difficult to tune, and games that rely on unconventional movement mechanics live or die based on how the controls feel in the player's hands. If the flopping mechanics are too rigid, the game loses its charm. If they are too loose, the platforming becomes tedious.

Self-publishing a debut physics game is a heavy lift, but it also means the studio has complete control over the game's scope. The indie PC market is crowded right now. However, games with highly specific, slightly absurd premises often find a dedicated audience. You only have to look at the success of Untitled Goose Game to see how far a funny animal premise can go.

Steam Deck specs are already listed

The technical requirements are surprisingly light. The game only asks for an Intel Core i3-4160 or AMD Ryzen 3 1200 processor and 4 GB of RAM. It also only requires 200 MB of storage space. That footprint is incredibly small for a modern 3D title. This suggests a tight, focused experience rather than a sprawling open world.

Linux support is confirmed right out of the gate. The game officially targets the AMD Zen 2 architecture and RDNA 2 graphics for its SteamOS minimum specs. Those are the exact specifications of the Steam Deck APU. It is always nice to see developers explicitly targeting Valve's handheld during the announcement phase rather than treating it as an afterthought post-launch.

There is no specific release date or price yet beyond the 2026 window.