As part of IGN Fan Fest 2026: Fall Edition, we can reveal a new gameplay trailer for Send in the Clown, the upcoming one-hour comedy RPG where players become history’s least-appreciated clown as he tries to save a 12-year-old’s birthday from her brat brother.
Co-directors Nick Park and Jacques Mouledoux walk us through the latest look at Send in the Clown, focusing squarely on the game’s climactic, one-and-only turn-based RPG battle.
Yes, the team built a whole battle system for just one fight, and all the roads that lead to it are pretty hilarious.
Players will step into the oversized shoes of Pockets as he tries to save Miranda’s party from her brother Tad. To do so, he’ll need to recruit characters and gather items, which will in turn unlock each character’s unique ability.
For example, if he can teach a single dad how to dance, he’ll unlock a dance troupe attack. If he helps hype up Miranda’s friend Nasser, the team will be able to use the ‘Be a Hero’ move that protects an ally from damage. Lastly, if you are able to give a mother a break from watching her baby so she can lay be the pool, she will be able to throw said baby at an enemy for ultimate damage.
We also got a tease of other ways you can help turn the tide of the final battle in your favor, including finding Tad’s baby photos, finding religion, and waking Nanna. Developer Mad Herons wouldn’t reveal what would happen when you find those things, but the reward will surely be useful.
Send in the Clown is set to debut later this year on PC via Steam, and you can check out the demo right now.
For more from IGN Fan Fest 2026: Fall Edition, check out our main guide that explains how to watch, what to expect, and more.
Adam Bankhurst is a writer for IGN. You can follow him on X/Twitter @AdamBankhurst, Instagram, and TikTok, and listen to his show, Talking Disney Magic.