Demos – CtrlAltNoob

10 PlayStation 5 Demos – August 2023

While you need PS Plus Premium to access certain game trials, that doesn’t mean every demo on the console is gated by a paywall. In fact, as I was doing some exploring in the PS Store I found an entire section dedicated to demos. In this age of Steam Next Fests providing lots of opportunities to try games before you buy or that you otherwise may not have, I think it’s great to have consoles involved in that too. While they don’t have their own festivals yet, there is still an interesting catalogue available.

I don’t know about everyone else, but gaming at my PC is an entirely different vibe to gaming on my PS5. Feet up on the couch, blanket at the ready, candle on and controller in hand, it is the coziest of times. I find console to be perfect for night time wind down game sessions, so I have decided to use these sessions to make my way through 10 of the available demos.

This is a ranked list, so keep scrolling to see my favourites!

10. Fall of Porcupine

Developer: Critical Rabbit

Release Date: 15 June 2023

Fall of Porcupine is a unique story adventure. The collision of work and daily life – an exciting reflection of an unhealthy healthcare-system. Experience the exciting story of Finley and his friends in a lovingly illustrated world and uncover the darkest secrets of Porcupine and its residents.

Upon booting up Fall of Porcupine I very quickly was reminded of Night in the Woods. Not only because of the anthropomorphic animals, small town energy and autumnal vibes, but the layered, colorful, simple yet bold aesthetic is very pleasing to my eye. The gameplay feels similar in that sense too. This is a narrative first game and walking around talking to other characters is a big chunk of what you are doing, followed by minigames as you carry out your duties and other tasks.

While I enjoyed the ending of the demo, the rest didn’t really grab me in any big way. Partly that is my fault, as I realized a little way in that the themes of failing health care systems may be a little too real and sad for me to really want to spend time exploring at this current time. But other that that I also felt that the game was just a little slow for me. One of the mini games didn’t seem to be working for me and I wasn’t super engaged in the activities I was presented with. I did really enjoy the character designs, but the aesthetics weren’t quite enough to make up for the other parts that didn’t quite hit for me.

Demo Length – 1+ hour
Would I play more? – No

9. BROK the InvestiGator

Developer: COWCAT

Release Date: 26 August 2022

The very first PUNCH & CLICK! Brok is an innovative adventure mixed with beat ’em up and RPG elements. In a grim world where animals have replaced mankind, what kind of detective will you be?

As mentioned in the description above, Brok the InvestiGator is a point and click adventure and a 2D side scrolling beat ’em up in one. I am on the record for being a lover of the former, particularly the detective kind. But I am really not a fan of the latter at all. I thought I would try it out because I like to judge every game individually and every game could be the one that helps a genre click. Unfortunately that wasn’t the case, and predictably, I really liked half of what this game was while really disliking the other half.

The adventure side of the game had everything you would expect, with fun additions like interrogations that I particularly enjoyed. Another great detail is that there are often multiple approaches to a problem, allowing you to dive in fists first, or sometimes even avoid combat all together. Something else to be celebrated are the adaptability options, allowing the game to be as inclusive as possible, whether that is for people like me who would alter the difficulty for entertainment purpose, or more importantly adaptations for visually impaired folk so they get to enjoy the game too. Despite this, unfortunately the game didn’t click with me. I suspect the potential for combat at any time combined with the classic cartoon aesthetic were a little far outside of my preferences. Having said that I would urge anyone else that is curious to give it a go.

Demo Length – 2 hours 30 minutes
Would I play more? – No

8. NEO: The World Ends with You

Developer: Square Enix & h.a.n.d.

Release Date: 19 October 2022

“Only the possibility of you can change our fate”
Rindo comes to the grim realization that his life is on the line when he is forced to compete in the so-called “Reapers’ Game.”

This one feels very heavily inspired by Persona 5 (maybe others but I have only played 5 myself), at least in a visual sense. It takes place in some of the same locations but that isn’t the only reason. It clearly strives to have its own strong, bold, recognizable style in the way that Persona does. In some ways this works out, I particularly like the comic-esque UI that NEO adopts when a conversation is taking place. Conversely, sometimes it feels slightly over stylized for my tastes, and while the music will be perfect for some people, for me it left me wishing for something a little more catchy or memorable.

NEO: The World Ends with You is an action JRPG set in the streets and districts of Shibuya. On a seemingly regular day, something changes and our protagonists are drawn into a game. The overall game itself consists of animated cutscenes, dialogue, moving around areas solving quests and combat. Attacks stem from pins which you collect and level up as you go.

The idea of my game characters being in a game themselves is always a fun one to me, but one of the reasons it didn’t work for me was because I could not connect with their response. They were not asking any of the questions that I wanted to ask and after playing for 2 hours, the game still did not tell me what the first line of the description above is about. There is a chance that my issues stem from the writing and the pacing, but there is also a chance that what this game adds up to be is just not for me. It is a shame because the game systems evident in the menu (collectibles, levelling up pins etc) looked enticing. Sadly it just seems to be one of those game where I like the idea of a lot of it, I just don’t enjoy the gameplay that goes along with it.

Demo Length – 2 hours
Would I play more? – No

7. Toodee and Topdee

Developer: dietzribi

Release Date: 4 August 2021

A cosmic turbulence caused the 2D Platformer and the Top-Down Puzzler dimensions to merge! Switch between Toodee and Topdee and their unique perspectives to overcome hard-as-nails challenges, solve mind-melting puzzles and defeat huge bosses.

It doesn’t take long for Toodee and Topdee to show what makes it special. The seamless transitions from 2D to top down on command never ceased to make me stop and think ‘coooool’. This is a puzzle platformer which is a genre that can be so hit or miss for me that I almost didn’t give this one a go. I am really glad I did though because even though it isn’t entirely for me, I love to see the wild things that are being created by people much cleverer than myself.

What I didn’t expect was to be taken in so much by the opening. The story set up was fun and strong and it made me immediatly more interested to stay along for the ride. You are controlling two characters but never at the same time, so while this game can be played in co-op, it is also perfectly playable solo. In fact, I am very curious to how this game would feel to play with another. Since so many of the puzzles feel timing based, I could see it making or breaking relationships.

Demo Length – 37 minutes
Would I play more? – Probably not. Maybe if it was on PS Plus and I had company.

6. Final Fantasy XVI

Developer: Square Enix Creative Business Unit III

Release Date: 22 June 2023

The 16th standalone entry in the legendary Final Fantasy series marks a darker turn for the RPG franchise, with a complex tale of revenge, power struggles and unavoidable tragedy.

Final Fantasy XVI reimagines the series’ iconic summons as Eikons. These deadly creatures are housed within Dominants, men and women who inherit their immense power at birth – whether they like it or not.

I put off playing this one for a while because I knew I was long, but once I got started time completely flew by. I should say, the only Final Fantasy I have played is a chunk of FF14 and the first hour or 2 of FF7 Remake, so the only expectations that I had were from the praise I saw in the media, and any marketing material I saw. And as is often the case, my expectations were quite different from what the game actually is.

Final Fantasy XVI feels big, epic and dramatic – particularly the opening – but I did feel like I sometimes struggled to follow what was going on on the screen. Particularly when creatures of any scale were involved and/or lots of particles and effects. Whether that is deliberate or not is one consideration, but for me it breaks my immersion a little, as it goes from ‘woah, that’s neat’, to ‘I literally have no idea who is winning this fight’ and I just have to wait till the action is finished to catch up on what happened. That isn’t my only issue with the style.

There are plenty of quieter, character focused moments with lots of relatively short cutscenes strung together, telling the story of what is going on. The style of the game means that these scenes transition via fade to black, and I can’t say I have ever been bothered by that before – I even use it myself sometimes – but the regularity it was happening, despite how nit picky it feels, really started to bug me. I can’t say what could be done differently, but every single time it happened I felt a little more irritated as I lost my immersion once again.

All of the complaints above are VERY subjective. None of them mean that I didn’t enjoy the game overall. I am so down for the medieval fantasy war setting. Every time anything felt familiar enough, a fantasy element or creature entered the scene and gave me a fleeting delight. Fleeting because of course the plot is very dark and serious. Political drama and intrigue, backstabbing, grief and bad circumstances feel like they are all going to be themes going forward and they are themes I enjoy a lot.

It’s just, from one of the latest AAA titles to release, I did expect maximum immersion so got a shock when it wasn’t quite as ‘smooth’ as I expected. But other than that, I loved phoenixes as a theme, the music is great, there is some cheesyness to balance out the dark and I am still interested to see where it goes. Sometimes stylistic differences are something that I grow to love over time so a demo potentially isn’t going to give me the best impression of a game like this.

Demo Length – 2 hours 30 mins
Would I play more? – I think I would

5. Sea of Stars

Developer: Sabotage Studio

Release Date: 29 August 2023

Sea of Stars is a turn-based RPG inspired by the classics. It tells the story of two Children of the Solstice who will combine the powers of the sun and moon to perform Eclipse Magic, the only force capable of fending off the monstrous creations of the evil alchemist known as The Fleshmancer.

The only JRPG’s I have really played are Pokemon and Persona 5 but I am very interested in broadening my horizons. On one hand, that means I don’t have a huge base for comparison but on the other, I get to come in with fresh eyes and have an experience I can’t compare with anything else.

I did enjoy what I played. I particularly liked the character designs when shown in their portrait form. The dungeon was interesting with different types of areas but the boss did feel like it took forever. It was quite an adjustment for me to get used to how to play, particularly having timing based reactions in turn based combat. Many times I completely screwed up my plan with bad timing and had to rethink what I was doing. But navigating the point spending systems as well as the ability types was fun and I would be interested to continue.

Demo Length – 1 hour 30 mins
Would I play more? – Yes

4. Viewfinder

Developer: Sad Owl Studios

Release Date: 18 July 2023

Challenge perception, redefine reality, and reshape the world around you with an instant camera. Viewfinder is a new single player game offering gamers hours of interesting and fun experiences while uncovering the mysteries left behind.

I could be inclined to compare Viewfinder to Superliminal, Maquette or even The Unfinished Swan, but the only reason for that would the use of innovation and creativity. In reality, this game doesn’t really compare to any other.

How does this game work? I do not know. I think you have to try it yourself to really feel how bizarre it is to get to alter the environment right before your eyes. It is mind bending and trippy and I can only imagine how surreal the full game gets. It is also artful and the demo does a great job of showing you the possibilities of what is still to come.

Based on this incredibly quick demo, my only complaint is that the narrative felt slightly disjointed to me. I was dropped into the game and there was some dialogue but I couldn’t even tell who it was aimed at. I would imagine that this is a product of the demo and the main game has a clearer set up as opposed to the abrupt start. But if that is the only complaint I have then I would say that is a pretty successful start! Also, I have to shout out the menu UI. It looks great.

Demo Length – 25 mins
Would I play more? – Yes

3. Mythic Ocean

Developer: Paralune LLC

Release Date: 9 Jan 2020

Teach the gods to create a better universe – or mess it all up in Mythic Ocean, a narrative exploration game where your choices shape the fate of the cosmos.

Myt hic Ocean already had a head start for my affection by being set underwater, but upon going in with no expectations, I got so much more than I bargained for. I was immediately struck by not only the beauty of the graphics, but how enjoyable the dialogue felt. I have played a few games in which I feel there is too much dialogue at the opening, going for flavor over substance and losing me fairly quickly. This game did the opposite where the opening conversation was not only pleasant to have but intriguing.

In my hour playing I was starting to get concerned that I was playing the entire game. But even though it is relatively short, there is a replayability to it due to the nature of the gameplay. To start, you are exploring different biomes, interacting with the beings that live there. As you find who you are looking for, you enter conversations, giving them advice and potentially influencing their actions. More characters are added in the full game giving more different outcomes for your decisions.

The vibes were great, the audio was great and I loved the characters. One in particular was my favourite (no spoilers) and it was a joy getting to know them. I only wish that everything I did was in the full game instead as I would like to see where it would have lead!

Demo Length – 1 hour
Would I play more? – Yes

2. Process of Elimination

Developer: Nippon Ichi Software

Release Date: 11 April 2023

A hapless student named Wato Hojo finds himself among a group of talented detectives and must take part in their investigation to stop a prolific serial killer that hides among their ranks. Can they solve the case before they’re all eliminated?

This is the first of the demos that I played and I enjoyed it so much, I didn’t think anything would top it. On a day that I wasn’t feeling well, I was looking for something that would entertain me while requiring minimal input and this was it. Process of Elimination is a visual novel. It is mysterious and while some horrible things are happening, the cast of characters keep it energetic and fun. We find our self in the weirdest of situations and going along on the ride is very appealing.

Obviously, visual novels contain a lot of text sections, but quite a way in the game also reveals that there is more to it. The demo only contained the tutorial version, but there are gameplay sections all about investigation. I almost want to call them turn based strategy, in which you set up your team in the grid based environment. Using abilities and leadership, you guide the team in an attempt to solve the mystery you are faced. I don’t feel like I played enough of this to know how much I like it, but it is certainly an intriguing concept that I would like to jump back into.

I had never heard of this game before stumbling upon it in the demo section of the PS Store, and with some research I found it isn’t the easiest game to obtain. It is only available on PS4 (PS5 by extension) and the Switch. I don’t know the reasons that it is only on these specific platforms but it is a shame because I certainly had a tonne of fun during this opening section. If you do have a console and it sounds interesting I would definitely recommend giving it a try.

Demo Length – Long (I didn’t time this one but I was sad when it was over).
Would I play more? – Yes, I intend to eventually

1. Chants of Sennaar

Developer: Rundisc

Release Date: 5 September 2023

Legend says that one day, a traveler will reunite the Peoples of the Tower who are unable to communicate with each other. Observe, listen, and decipher ancient languages in a fascinating universe inspired by the myth of Babel.

Chants of Sennaar is what I like to call a logic based puzzle, with added freedom to explore. It is a game of translation in which we figure out what people are saying based on the interactions we have and the environment around us. The further you progress, you simultaneously feel more and less understanding. More as you begin to recognize common words, less as you don’t yet know the new context around them. But finding new unidentified words is an exciting moment, setting the brain into motion about what they could mean.

In a game about deciphering language, the lack of external dialogue is an expert choice. The minimalism serves it beautifully, allowing the player to give their full attention to the current moment and recalling anything they have already learned that could be relevant. This tone is served aesthetically too, with an art style reminiscent of Sable and a palette akin to Journey, it is easy on the eye and soothing on the brain.

I absolutely loved this demo. Considering it is on the shorter end of the length scale compared to some of the others I played, it left a long lasting impression and the desire to decipher this entire language.

Demo Length – 45 mins
Would I play more? – Yes, right now please!

There we have it, 10 demos currently available on the PS5. While I don’t necessarily recommend them all, I appreciate every single one of them for giving me the opportunity to try them out without having to make any commitments.

I had a blast doing this and would love to do more in the future, although they will probably be shorter, 5 or 6 seems like a good number!

If you enjoyed this, below you can find more similar content including other game lists, first impressions, favourites and recommendations.

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Indie Showcase #51-#100 – Top 10

My Indie Showcase series has reached its 100th video! That is a milestone worth celebrating and what better way than to shout out the stand out games from the latest 50 videos.

Making this list was difficult to say the least. We have played some absolute gems over the last year and I couldn’t be more excited about the future of gaming. But that made narrowing them down all the more tough. I got there in the end, but as a compromise, the list is not in a ranked order.

I have to shout out The Rewinder, Medieval Dynasty, Wylde Flowers and Beyond R: Rule Ripper. On another day any one of these games could have been on this list.

If you would like to see the top games from my first 50 Indie Showcase videos you can do so here. Here’s to another 100!

What is Indie Showcase?
Every Saturday I try out a different indie game on my YouTube channel. It started out as short, free-to-play games on Steam and games from bundles, but soon extended to demos, games I recieved codes for and games on subscription services.

Slay the Princess [Demo]

Developer: Black Tabby Games

Release Date: 2023

You’re here to slay the princess. Don’t believe her lies.

I am beginning with Slay the Princess because not only did I love the game, but I also think it is my best Indie Showcase to date. The uncertainty, the mystery, the voice acting, the art, the mind games and everything else all came together to create a game that could have been made especially for me. While I could have explored the demo a little more to find more branches, I didn’t need to as I am 100% sold on the game and would like to experience the rest in full release.

Slay the Princess is a visual novel that feels like it is all about the dialogue tree. Navigating choices in order to unravel the mystery is as intriguing as it is entertaining, because as much as you are playing the game yourself, it is hard to shake the feeling that the game is playing you right back.

Wishlist it here to stay up to date.

Roadwarden [Demo]

Developer: Moral Anxiety Studio

Release Date: 12th September 2022

Roadwarden is an illustrated text-based RPG that uses isometric pixel art and combines mechanics borrowed from RPGs, Visual Novels, adventure games and interactive fiction.

Here’s a secret. Every time I sit down to record a game that I know is going to be text heavy I get nervous. Every single time. Thankfully with Roadwarden my worries were completely eased by the immersion that I experienced. That sounds counterintuitive – a text based adventure being so immersive, but well written world building does that to me in a huge way and this is full of it.

Roadwarden is a text based rpg with a distinctive colour palette. The pixel art gives just enough to show you the locations you are visiting then the words populate it with history and life. This game somehow made me desperately want to hit the road to experience adventures of my own, not at all deterred by the stories of said road.

Buy it now here.

Scarlet Hollow [Demo]

Developer: Black Tabby Games

Release Date: 11th June 2021

Return to the crumbling coal town your family built generations ago for the funeral of your aunt. You won’t be able to save everyone. You might not even be able to save yourself

Created by the same developer as Slay the Princess, I did not expect that they could have made another game that I liked more than this one – which is a huge compliment to both of their games since I really like this one. I played Scarlet Hollow (episode 1) first and it immediatly took a place in my heart, enough that I purchased the game to do a full Let’s Play some day.

Scarlet Hollow is an eerie visual novel with some very interesting trait choices right off the bat, including one that I think completely made the game for me. The art style is distinctive and memorable, it doesn’t hold back and I just want to see more of it!

Check it out here.

Buddy Simulator 1984 [Demo]

Developer: Not a Sailor Studios

Release Date: 18th February 2021

Thanks to next generation AI technology, BUDDY SIMULATOR 1984 simulates the experience of hanging out with a best buddy! Your buddy learns from you, constantly adapting to your interests and personality. But most importantly, your buddy can play games with you!

Another Game that I purchased was Buddy Simulator 1984. I wasn’t in the biggest rush to get it as I have so many other games to play, but it cropped up in a great indie bundle and I couldn’t pass it up. The experience of the demo was so well done and ended perfectly, I wonder how the rest of the game compares.

In Buddy Simulator we create our own AI buddy by inputting commands into a machine. The games that we play with our Buddy are fun, as well as the between moments, watching our friend grow and evolve. I don’t want to say more than that, but it was certainly a demo that I did not forget in a hurry.

Available to buy here.

Coral Island [Early Access/Game Pass]

Developer: Stairway Games

Release Date: 11th October 2022

Coral Island is a vibrant and laid-back reimagining of farm sim games. Be who you want and experience enchanting island living at your own pace—live off the land, nurture animals, build relationships with a diverse cast of townsfolk, and make the world around you a more vital and harmonious place.

In my time doing Indie Showcase I have tried out a LOT of cozy games. They can be very hit or miss for me, and the more I try, the more I learn what I value in these types of games. Coral Island feels like exactly what I am looking for.

With a very aesthetically pleasing town to explore, Coral Island has the potential to be the low stakes with lots to do ‘podcast game’ that I love to play. Farming, upgrading and making friends are as far as I got but I know there is more as the devs are very active and open about what is to come. Coral Island is just a place that I want to be.

Buy in Early Access here.

Backpack Hero [Demo]

Developer: Jaspel

Release Date: 15th August 2022

The inventory management roguelike! Collect rare items, organize your bag, and vanquish your foes!

The most recent addition to the list – as it is game 98 of 100 – is Backpack Hero. Based on the premise this one could have gone either way for me, but I enjoyed it so much, I may have bought it outright if I had enough time to get addicted to a game right now.

Backpack Hero is a turn based roguelike that has a focus on strategic inventory tetris. Every item that you pick up takes up precious space in your bag. The limited space forces you to try to get over any ‘too good to use’ syndrome that you may have, as well as make difficult choices as empty spaces can be just as valuable as a treasure. Throughout the game you are making your way through dungeons, fighting groups of enemies while collecting their treasure, if you can carry it.

Check out the steam page here.

Vampire Survivors [Game Pass]

Developer: Poncle

Release Date: 20th October 2022

Mow down thousands of night creatures and survive until dawn! Vampire Survivors is a gothic horror casual game with rogue-lite elements, where your choices can allow you to quickly snowball against the hundreds of monsters that get thrown at you.

Vampire Survivors was almost bumped off this list as I added in Backpack Hero, thinking that one roguelike was enough. But how could I do that when I purchased the game on Steam as I wanted to continue playing so much. The real reason is because I don’t feel like I got quite as obsessed as others when the game was really taking off. But just because I didn’t, it doesn’t mean that this game doesnt deserve a place in the top 10.

In Vampire Survivors, all you have to do is move your character to dodge enemies, collect things, and make choices to see how long you can survive against the masses. It is super easy to pick up and play, I got more than my moneys worth and I am not done yet! It served me well as a great ‘1 or 2 runs before bed’ kind of game.

Buy it here and look out for DLC.

Abscission [Demo]

Developer: Beyond Booleans

Release Date: Q4 2023

Abscission is a Lovecraftian, story-driven horror point-and-click investigation game. It involves searching crime scenes for evidence, combining clues and questioning suspects. Puzzles can have multiple solutions as you guide the protagonist – Detective Will Stanhope – through the story.

I am unsure how I heard about Abscission but I am so glad I did. Murder mysteries and detective games are among my favourite genres and I am always very happy to find them. Particularly when the cases are compelling like this one.

During my time with the demo I encountered some pretty ghastly scenes, both of the crime and the eldritch kind. The point and click set up had me combing crime scenes, questioning witnesses/suspects and problem solving as I tried to put together a strange series of events.

When I played the Abscission demo it was only available on Itch but since then they have also put up a Steam page!

Casebook 1899 – The Leipzig Murders [Demo]

Developer: Homo Narrans Studio

Release Date: Coming Soon

Feel like a real 19th-century detective in this retro pixel-art detective adventure. As well as featuring classic point & click gameplay you will have to draw your own conclusions and use a deduction board to find the real culprit under several suspects in four murder cases.

Like I said before, I am partial to a detective game. While both Abscission and Casebook 1899 are point and click adventure games, they feel very different both tonally and in play.

Casebook 1899 – The Leipzig Murders is a series of cases that you gather clues in order to solve correctly (or not). I can’t help but compare this to the Sherlock Holmes games – particularly ‘Crimes and Punishment’ and ‘The Devils Daughter’. Imagine those games but rather than 3D action adventure they leant more towards 2D puzzling. That is what this is and if that excites you, it should!

Wishlist it here.

You Will (Not) Remain [Free-to-play]

Developer: Bedtime Phobias

Release Date: 7th January 2022

You must stay in your apartment as the city around you falls to an Eldritch horror.

Finally – going back to Indie Showcase roots – I had to include a short, free-to-play narrative game. But not out of obligation – You Will (Not) Remain earned the spot all by itself. Two things struck me with this game. The first was the ability to tell a complete story in a short amount of time. That was one of the my big interests as I begun this series – to see what people could make within a small game, whether that is run time or complexity. The second was the simple yet striking art.

You Will (Not) Remain is a short but sweet (?!) narrative game. Taking place in an apartment, we spend time with our main character as they contemplate life in their apartment as the world crumbles – or has already crumbled – around them.

Play for yourself here.

Thank you for reading and thank you for any support, be that financial, engagement with my content or moral support via kind words. It is all very much appreciated and helps me continue my work.

Also, thank you if you have ever engaged with any of the games that I have showcased. Other than the enjoyment that I get out of trying such a variety of games and being inspired by peoples work, the ultimate goal is to be able to help indie games, working as a signal booster to help games find their audience.

If you are looking for even more interesting indie games, I have you covered. Here are links to all of my previous Indie Showcase work.

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Indie Showcase – Steam Next Fest June 2023

The Steam Next Fest of June 2023 was a big one. One week, MANY demos! I didn’t actually plan on covering the festival this time as life has become pretty busy, but who was I kidding? It should be clear by now that I can’t resist the allure of the demos, especially when so many others have taken to enjoying these festivals as much as I do.

I didn’t make any video content this time so instead, I have documented my top 6 demos below!

Wishlisting a game on steam helps the creators by aiding in discoverability as well as keeping you informed, so if you see something that you like then don’t be shy about hitting the Wishlist button.

6. Wizard with a Gun

Developer: Galvanic Games

Release Date: 2023

Wizard with a Gun wasn’t even on my original download list but it got recommended by a friend. I didn’t manage to play it in time but thankfully the demo was extended so I still got to try it out, and I am glad for that!

Wizard with a Gun is a stylish, action driven roguelike in which we go back in time in an attempt to prevent the end of the world. Again, and again. The game had me immediatly with its opening animated cutscene, setting the scene with a sad song showcasing the downfall of previous heroes. The wild western, dark fantasy and dystopian feelings merge perfectly in a muted yet somehow still colourful style.

The game play is fun, collecting as much as possible in the short time limit so that you can advance your home base, without getting too greedy and loosing it all. Scanning everything you come across so that you can learn more about them, but not until you get back to the safety of the tower. There is no time to be wasted out in the world, it is a mad dash to find what you need before the chaos takes over.

+ So very stylish.
+ Fast paced with breathers.
+ Fun to discover new things.
+ Looks like there will be plenty of customisation to build up to.
+/- The time limit on runs does keep it interesting, but I usually like reading things as I find them so it takes some adjustment to not waste time.

Check it out for yourself here.

5. Flutter Away

Developer: Runaway Play

Release Date: 3rd August 2023

Another game that I almost missed, partly because I ran out of time but partly because I was pretty sure that I was going to want to play this one fully. And I was right.

Flutter away is zen to its core. While the demo was short, it felt like a wonderfully refreshing palette cleanser after playing so many other games before it. Exploring a forest with camera in hand, we are journaling the creatures we find and the moments we experience.

If you are like me and use rainforest sounds as a relaxing background noise, you are going to feel right at home with this game. Calm immediatly washed over me, followed by delight at not only discovering critters, but the way in which they are documented. The journal is so lovely, I wish I had half of the creativity when it comes to the illustrations.

+ Very relaxing.
+ Love the creatures, especially getting up close looks using the perch.
+ The environment is stunning.
+ The atmosphere is well done with both the audio and the on screen life.
+ The journal.
+/- Very short, this was of course only the demo, but the steam description does also describe the game as short so that is something to be aware of.

Here is the Steam page.

4. Broken Roads

Developer: Drop Bear Bytes

Release Date: 2023

This is the first demo that I tried this festival. I didn’t finish it, not because I didn’t enjoy it but because I was sold and didn’t want to see anymore without having the rest of the game waiting for me.

Broken Roads is an Australian made and Australian set narrative driven RPG. What struck me immediatly was how much I enjoyed the writing. Whether or not I would like these people in real life is another question, but I very quickly got to enjoy the characters as their dialogue gave good indication of their personalities. Sometimes, in games characters feel very obviously like NPCs and fictional side characters, but these characters felt lived in, even within a couple of lines.

The other thing I love is that Australia feels like a great setting for post apocolyptic drama. The sheer size and hostility of some of the terrain pose troubles at the best of times so that feels like it will add an extra twist on a common genre. It is a country that isn’t massively explored in video games currently but I feel that it will have a lot to offer and I am ready for it.

Finally, from what I played, the drama felt really well done. I have no way of knowing how much it branches in the long run, but I immediatly felt the consequence of a questionable decision and I look forward to seeing what else is in store.

+ Dialogue felt real.
+ Characters felt lived in.
+ The setting.
+/- The game feels like it will have depth (putting this as a neutral point because I can’t say for certain yet, but what I played was very satisfying).

If this interests you, you can find out more here on Steam.

3. Moonstone Island

Developer: Studio Supersoft

Release Date: Q3 2023

Imagine if the turn-based combat in Pokemon was a deckbuilding style. Now imagine that game crossed over with Stardew Valley. I can’t think of a more appropriate description for this game than that.

Moonstone Island could be the next big thing as far as cozy games go. Within the time I spent in this game, I felt freedom. There was gentle guidance as to what to do, but I had the thrill of having a world to explore, people to meet and making the decision of what I wanted to do. All of that with the bonus of being followed around by an adorable little friend.

I am not a huge fan of deck builders. More often than not I will bounce off them pretty hard, so when I first discovered that was the combat side of this game, I was slightly disappointed. However, the more I played I found I was getting on well with it. It wasn’t super punishing (as far as I saw) and you could bring items that you had prepared in the overworld into the dungeon with you, tying both sides of the game together flawlessly.

I play a lot of demos of these types of games, whether it is for Indie Showcase (see The Garden Path, Spirittea, Roots of Pacha, Little Witch in the Woods, Wylde Flowers and Research Story for examples) or just for myself as it is a genre that I like. They can be very hit and miss for me. This one is a hit.

+ Creature follows you around.
+ Both parts of the game tie together well.
+ A sense of freedom.
+ The idea of filling a barn.
+/- The combat involved deckbuilding (it could be a good intro to that genre)

Check out the Steam page for more information.

2. The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood

Developer: Deconstructeam

Release Date: 2023

The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood is perhaps the game that surprised me the most. I had only seen some of the visuals in the past but did not know what the game actually was. Turns out it is a game I am super into.

In this game, we are a witch in exile. What else could a witch in exile do other than make a deal with a demon god in order to get some relief in these hard times? As part of this deal, we get to make our own deck of tarot cards. So, a portion of this game is talking to folk, a portion is giving readings, and a portion is making the cards themselves.

In order to make cards, we spend points that we earn from readings on choosing which elements to include in said card. After that, we are given free rein. As long as some specific parts appear on the card, you are free to adjust it as you please. This was very enjoyable, creating little scenes out of the pieces I had managed to scrape together. Planning ahead to make the perfect card could certainly be a possibility, but there is a creative challenge in putting together what you have, making unexpected combinations into their own little stories. Not to mention how gorgeous the art itself is.

The demo didn’t dive into the card reading portion of the game but now that I have the beginnings of a deck, I desperatly want to use it!

+ Beautiful pixel art.
+ Being able to use that art in fun ways.
+ Intrigued at what the rest of the game entails.
+ Lots of choices.
+ Abramar.
+/- The dialogue had high highs and low lows. Quite a way into the demo, the scene changed and I felt like I was playing a different game (that I unfortunately didn’t like very much). But for the demo, for me, the highs outshined the lows.

Wishlist it on Steam here.

1. House Flipper 2

Developer: Frozen District

Release Date: 2023

If you are surprised that House Flipper 2 is at the top of my list, I am right there with you. But that is because I didn’t even know it was being made! House Flipper is one of those games that got me through some difficult times. It is the perfect game to be playing whilst also watching TV or listening to podcasts. It occupies the job of keeping your hands and part of your mind busy while also allowing for some creativity.

The fantastic things about House Flipper 2? It seems to have learned a tonne from its predecessor. It runs so smoothly and it flows so well. There were parts of the previous game that were tedious, so they have decided to just get rid! Not only that, but because everything can be done so quickly, it feels like a dopamine farm. Funnily enough, it gives me Powerwash Sim feelings (which is a compliment by the way), but even better because there is more variety to it. You are constantly completing tasks, seeing the houses before you improve at a very satisfying pace.

I didn’t even realise I wanted it, but now I need it and it could be one of the very few games I buy this year. It is not going to be for everyone but for the people that are interested, I don’t think you will be disappointed.

+ Learned from and improved upon the original House Flipper.
+ ‘Just one more thing’ flow.
+ The perfect accompaniment to TV, YouTube or Podcasts.
+ A little more involved than games like Powerwash Sim.

You can take a look for yourself on Steam here.

That is it for another Steam Next Fest. Of course, I didn’t get to try all of the demos I would have liked but these were my favourites from the bunch that I did. If you would like to check out any of my previous coverage please take a look at the links below!

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Indie Showcase – Steam Next Fest February 2023

It is Steam Next Fest time! That’s right, it is once again time to celebrate the indie games being created day in day out, all around the world! I love to take this opportunity to play as many demos as possible, trying out as many as I can in my never ending quest to see what passionate developers are creating.

If you are looking for coverage of all genres I’m afraid you won’t find it here. Racing games, rhythm games, deck builders, challenging games, shooters and horror (with a couple of exceptions) are absolutely not my genres. Personally, I am not terribly interested in combat or anything too fast paced. I very occasionally dabble in management games, survival games and simulators but they aren’t my biggest focus. The types of games I am looking for include interesting narratives and ways to tell said narratives. I like exploring interesting spaces and moving in interesting ways. Level design, world building, art direction, story and atmosphere all matter a great deal to me. Whether that is a cozy time gathering materials to craft objects, or a thrilling time investigating a grisly murder. An epic adventure across lands unheard, or an intimate story one can only experience by playing for themself. I game for feelings and I game for escapism. I game for different perspectives and I game for art. Finally, as we all do, I game for fun.

Now that you have an idea of my tastes, shall we begin the search for my Noob Picks of the Steam Next Fest February 2023!? Let’s go!

And that is a wrap on the Steam Next Fest February 2023! You can find my 10 favourite demos below and if you are interested in seeing more, I have created some YouTube Shorts.

Sherlock Holmes The Awakened

Developer: Frogwares

Release Date: Q1 2023

Sherlock Holmes The Awakened was added to my wishlist the second that it was announced. Last year I streamed both Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishment and Sherlock Holmes: The Devils Daughter, and while they weren’t perfect games, we had a lot of fun with them. I have yet to play Sherlock Holmes: Chapter One, but when I saw a demo for The Awakened I was tentatively excited. This game is a reimagining of the 2008 game of the same name. I have no experience of that version so I can only talk in the context of the previous titles that I know.
The game plays similarly to Crimes and Punishment and The Devils Daughter, but also feels noticeably different. Firstly, this takes place in a Lovecraftian world, so naturally it is going to have a different atmosphere. But beyond that, based on the demo, I am thrilled by the changes they have made. There are too many to list but it feels tighter. The mechanics simultaneously feel easier, make more sense and yet feel more tricky. The demo did drop us in the middle of the game so I can’t speak for the story, except for how much I loved what I played. It had the drama that I have grown to expect from both the cinematics and the character alike.

+ Made in Ukraine.
+ I really like what I have seen from this version of the character.
+ The environments look great.
+ The Lovecraft influence lends very well to the timeframe and setting of Sherlock Holmes.
+ Fun detective gameplay.
+ Drama.
+ The end of the demo. If you know, you know.
+ An optional environment scan to highlight clues you may have missed.
+ New added mechanics like pinning clues to your HUD, which in turn effects the clues you may find.
+/- The new systems have a chance of making the game more difficult.
– Facial animations and hair textures aren’t quite as good as everything else is visually.

Highly recommend this one, here is the Steam page.

Lakeburg Legacies

Developer: Ishtar Games

Release Date: Q2 2023

Lakeburg Legacies is the city building management game that I had no idea that I wanted, but now that I have tried it, boy do I know it. The unique mechanic in this game is that you are recruiting individuals with specific skills, interests and desires to live in your village. You then play matchmaker, finding an individual that is compatible to be their partner while also hopefully having the skills you need to fill in your job market. As time passes and you build more resources, the city grows, as do the number of residents and their families. You are free to choose where they work where the more skilled they are, the more they produce.

If you enjoy management games and/or city builders but often find yourself overwhelmed, this could be the game that you are looking for. I didn’t find it too difficult but I did find it very satisfying. Not to mention the attention to detail is great. The sheer number of ways that a character can look means all of my villagers are individual, and their outfit changes depending on the job that they have. This individuality makes the happiness meter feel like more than just a number like it often feels in other games of its kind, and instead something that feels a lot easier and more interesting for me to engage with.

+ Really fun management loop.
+ Attention to detail.
+ Nice to look at and easy on the eye.
+ Huge variety in portraits.
+ Lots of choices to make without too much micromanaging.
+/- Not too difficult (again, whether this is a good thing or not depends on what you are looking for).

If this interests you, you can find out more here on Steam.

Mika and the Witch’s Mountain

Developer: Chibig, Nukefist

Release Date: 2023

My initial impression of Mika and the Witch’s Mountain was if Death Stranding and A Short Hike had a child. I don’t think I was that far off, but I would perhaps replace Death Stranding with Lake. In the Demo, we play as Mika, who must climb to the peak of a mountain to prove she can be the witch that she desires to be. As misfortune has it, all she has to her name is a broken broom. Thankfully, there is a job opening at a local delivery service in which her ability to fly makes her the perfect candidate. We proceed to deliver packages in the village, swooping and diving, on a mission to buy a suitable broom for the journey. Combining fun, unique movement mechanics with a delivery game feels like the next step for a sub-genre that appears to be growing, particularly in the indie scene.

+ The cutscenes are adorably animated.
+ The world is full of critters, bringing it to life.
+ Movement is fun.
+ A sense of freedom.
+/- Seems to have a progression loop of – do jobs to get better equiptment, which allows you to do more difficult jobs, to get more equiptment.

Check out the Steam page for more information.

Mineko’s Night Market

Developer: Meowza Games

Release Date: Coming Soon

When you think of crafting in video games, I think it is quite natural to think of gathering resources to create weapons, tools, better resources, armour, alchemy and sometimes furniture. It’s not very often that you would think of hand crafts, like paper crafts and flower crafts. That’s where Mineko’s Night Market comes in. Set on a Japanese Island, it didn’t take long to get a sense of a cute and hilarious culture that I would like to spend more time in. The demo was very short with no sense of how the ‘Night Market’ side of the game will actually play out, but it charmed me so much based on exploring and chatting to the townsfolk that I am already sold on the game. All I want to do is help this village become again what it once was. In addition, the 2D/3D design blend together to craft something as beautiful as you would hope that a game about crafting would deliver.

+ The art style means that every frame looks like it could be a still painting in a very distinctive style.
+ The character design is fun, they all have character.
+ Made me laugh more than once.
+ The location feels culturally wonderful.
+ Feels seamless and well made.
+ Cats.
– My only complaint is that I didn’t realise that I could run till the end of the demo, if there was a prompt I missed it and one area is quite big, making the walk speed feel very slow.

Wishlist it on Steam here.

Boxes: Lost Fragments

Developer: Big Loop Studios

Release Date: Coming Soon

In Boxes: Lost Fragments, we are solving puzzles to open intricate boxes, locked by mechanisms that are even more complex than the puzzles themselves. Although I admittedly haven’t played The Room – aesthetically, it feels very similar. I feel fans of one could certainly find enjoyment in the other. Each box that you open is contained within its own level, but the process of opening it is a journey in itself. The fun and elaborate designs make opening a lock exciting as you don’t know what wild mechanical process it is about to set in motion. The gameplay is smooth, it looks great and while what is happening on the screen can look complicated, the beauty of the demo was in its simplicity.

+ The way the boxes change as a result of your actions is satisfying.
+ Lovely graphics.
+ Smooth as heck.
+/- I found the puzzles quite easy (I have no idea whether to expect them to get more difficult or not and whether that is a good thing or not depends on the individual).

You can take a look for yourself on Steam here.

The End of the Sun

Developer: The End of the Sun Team

Release Date: Q4 2023

In The End of the Sun we travel to the past, guided by fire to aid in peoples fates. This is a walking simulator in which we identify what is going wrong and figure out ways to fix it, following the journey of a couple throughout their life. The game is gorgeous, and the Slavic mythology and design really bring the atmosphere to life. I want more, to learn more about both the lifestyle of these folks and the folklore surrounding them.

+ Gorgeous scenery.
+ A fun, unique idea for a walking sim.
+ The atmosphere.
+ The way that you can feel the culture and time period in the environment.
+ The mythology.
+ The game directs the player without explicitly telling you what to do.
+ Guardian Angel Simulator?

Check it out here.

The Star Named EOS

Developer: Silver Lining Studio

Release Date: Coming Soon

From the creators of Behind the Frame: The Finest Scenery is this relaxing point and click puzzle game. Or at least, the demo was relaxing. During my 30 minutes with the game I solved an escape room style puzzle in a beautiful art style along side some very chilled out music. Throughout this time, we get to know a little about our character and his relationship with his mother. The section played gave off the energy of love, creativity, and mindfulness. I assumed that this is how the rest of the game will be too, until the end. As I reached the abrupt finish, I am left wondering whether this is after all going to be a chill, peaceful experience, or is it going to break my heart instead?

+ Art style is nice to look at.
+ Fun puzzles.
+ I like the positive messaging so far.
+ Chill vibes.
+ Taking photos can reveal more story and flavour.
+/- Unsure whether it is going to stay chill.
+/- The demo wasn’t about the finding a good angle or correct lighting side of photography.
+/- Can be played entirely with the mouse. All movement is click and drag.
– There is some vaguely hint-y text as you explore, but I personally would have preferred a dedicated hint system.

For more information check out the Steam page here.

Planet of Lana

Developer: Wishfully

Release Date: Q2 2023

Planet of Lana is a side-scrolling, puzzle adventure game that takes you on a journey through a sci-fi narrative. Many games of this type are going to be compared to Inside as it is a classic and a staple of the genre. I am pleased to say that this game really feels like its own fresh take while still having a somewhat familiar style. The colours are vibrant, giving the world life in a surprisingly soft way. While we are only told the story through the world and haven’t yet seen much of it, I am sold on the idea that this is a world worth protecting. As appealing as the environments are, there are dangers both big and small, bringing a nerve-wracking contrast to the peace and beauty. Finally, a key detail that separates this game from others like it is that we have a friend. Not only do we control Lana, she then controls an adorable little chinchilla-monkey critter. Having two controllable characters in puzzles creates moving parts that you can’t really create in a single character scenario. The game may take your breath away with the vistas, or cause you to hold it in intense stealth moments. Either way, it is sure to be quite a ride.

+ Stunning backdrop.
+ The little friend adds to the narrative and the gameplay.
+ The contrast of the enemies is effective.
+ The eco-system makes the world feel alien but alive.
+ Something new for Inside fans.
+/- I get the impression that there is going to be quite a bit of stealth.
+/- Some of the enemies in the demo were based on fast moving spiders, it will probably work well for most people but this is just a personal bummer as I don’t hate spiders and am starting to fatigue of how they are treat in media (and as an extension in society) as a whole.

Try it out for yourself here.

A Tower Full of Cats

Developer: Devcats

Release Date: 2023

A Tower Full of Cats – a continuation of A Building Full of Cats and A Castle Full of Cats – is a hidden object game where you have to find, wait for it, cats! Depending on your personality type, you may meditatively scour the environment, precisely clicking everytime you find a little fury delight. Alternatively, you may furiously click everything you see (or don’t see) in a slightly different kind of meditation. Either way, this game provides a little humour and observation training in an easy to use, well presented package. I would love a game like this on mobile to play on the go using touchscreen. The best part? The game is developed entirely by 5 rescue cats.

+ Cats being cats.
+ The doodles are very charming.
+ Search your way through different themes.
+ The music is great and themed to each location.
+ The way colour is used.
+ Therapeutic.
+ Adopt don’t shop.
+/- There is not a whole lot to it, it’s like an interactive Where’s Wally.
– I imagine I will get frustrated if I have used my hint and have a single cat left to find.

Wishlist here on Steam.

Voltaire: The Vegan Vampire

Developer: Digitality Games

Release Date: 27th February 2023

While Voltaire isn’t a game that I will personally continue, I have to give it a shout-out. It is quirky and whimsical while being cute – but not in an overbearing way. It would be easy to think this game was like Cult of the Lamb based on the fact this has base building aspects in the rogue-lite genre, not to mention the art style. But when you start playing you realise that it isn’t really like that at all. Rather than dungeon crawling – slaying any enemies in your path through procedurally generated areas – the enemies will come to you. Expect tower defence as you are protecting your home and land. Hunger is your biggest currency and you have to divide your attention between growing plants to satiate that, and deciding which plots to give up to protect the plants, ensuring that you still have a yield by the time the sun rises. There is a learning curve that is a bit beyond me, but if you enjoy tower defence then you should certainly check it out. The awesome opening cutscene set up the charm that follows and I really hope that this game finds it’s audience.

+ Great animated opening cutscene.
+ Charming concept and execution.
+ Lots of decisions to be made.
+ Randomised perks were exciting.
+/- Tower defence/base building rogue-lite.
+/- Complexity.

More info here on Steam.

This is the second festival that I have covered under the Indie Showcase name, the first being October 2022 where I created a magazine. If you would like to check out any of my previous coverage please take a look at the links below!

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Indie Game Festivals – 2022 Releases

Over the last couple of years since the very first Steam Game Festival, I have spent a lot of time playing the demos of Indie Games. The idea of these festivals was fantastic to me. Games get the chance to showcase what they are, and I get the chance to try games that I may not try otherwise. Since then, I have covered festivals on my blog, on my YT channel and in my discord. It is something that I enjoy very much and would like to continue for years into the future. Seeking out the Indie gems is like panning for gold and when you find it, it makes you want to shout from the rooftops.

I got the idea to look back over the demos I have played back in July when 4 of those games released in one month! It is so nice to see games that I first tried back in 2020 finally get their release. So here are the demos that I enjoyed that have released this year, and some more to watch out for in the coming months. I haven’t played them all but I am itching to!

March 19th – Eternal Threads – Cosmonaut Studios

Eternal Threads is a single-player, first-person story-driven puzzle game of time manipulation, choice and consequence.

I prioritised playing this demo, not only because it looked up my alley but it is set in the North of England. I was not disappointed. Taking place within a house, this narrative based walking sim absorbed me, flashing between the past and the present, piecing together what happened. This is a game that I would love to stream sometime.

You can check out Eternal Threads on Steam here.

April 14th – Cat Café Manager – Roost Games

Travel to the sleepy village of Caterwaul Way and rebuild your grandmother’s cat cafe. Renovate your restaurant, befriend the local cats and townsfolk, forge lasting friendships, unravel catty mysteries, and build a home for dozens of unique felines!

Cat Café Manager is a very chill, cute, management game. The problem with management games is that you don’t know whether there will be a difficulty spike, or equally, whether it will stay engaging for long. As far as I can tell, this is a nice, easy going game that would be a good entry to the genre for anyone intimidated by management sims or looking for something that isnt too taxing on the brain.

Buy or Wishlist it here.

May 20th – Apico – Tngineers

APICO is a laid-back beekeeping sim game about breeding, collecting, & conserving bees! Set in a series of lush environments, APICO uniquely combines resource gathering, biology, and beekeeping minigames, taking ideas from a mix of real-life and fantasy apiculture & floriculture.

This is another management game, but instead of serving food you are breeding bees! The simplistic art style is easy on the eyes, giving way to the addiction of repopulating the island. I really enjoyed trying to breed them all, and the demo is still available so you can try bee-fore you buy.

Find it on steam here.

July 14th – Escape Academy – Coin Crew Games

Welcome to Escape Academy. Train to become the ultimate Escapist. Solve Puzzles. Hack Servers. Meet the Faculty. Brew the perfect cup of tea. Escape Rooms in single player or co-op with a friend – local or online!

Escape Academy is a delightful escape room puzzle game. If you enjoy escape rooms then you are sure to like it. With a fun story between and silky smooth gameplay, I can’t recommend this one enough. This is the only game on the list that I have played in full, and you can too right now if you have Game Pass!

Here is a link to the steam page.

July 15th – The Final Earth 2 – Florian van Strien

The Final Earth 2 is a vertical sci-fi city builder. Earth is unlivable, so you decide to create a space colony. Gather resources, then build and research your way to a better future! Grow your city from an exploration ship to a huge metropolis, full of advanced technology. What will you build?

This is a great city builder. Easy to pick up, but so difficult to put down. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with it. The graphics are simple but clean and clear, making a visually unique game that you can get creative with. Definitely a recommend from me.

Check it out on Steam here.

July 20th – Hazel Sky – Coffee Addict Studio

Hazel Sky is a heartfelt adventure about a young engineer facing his destiny and his desires. Fix ramshackle flying machines and jump, climb, swing, and slide through a beautiful, mysterious world.

Hazel Sky is one of the earliest demos that I played and I was very happy to see it recently get a release. I can’t speak for the rest of the game, but the demo made me laugh out loud, and contained intrigue that made me want to see the rest of this world.

You can take a look for yourself here.

July 28th – Bear and Breakfast – Gummy Cat

Bear and Breakfast is a laid-back management adventure game where you build and run a bed and breakfast…but you’re a bear.

I am seeing a trend here. And the trend is lovely, laid back management sims. In this one, you play as a bear running a bed and breakfast. I really do have a spectrum of management covered! You can explore while gathering resources to make your business the best that it can be and meet the people(?) around you, all with minimal stress!

For more info check out the Steam page here.

July 28th – Lord Winklebottom Investigates – Cave Monsters

It’s the 1920s and the world’s foremost detective is about to embark on his most challenging case yet. Thankfully, in this world that’s not quite like our own, there’s nobody better to crack the case than the great detective and gentleman giraffe, Lord Winklebottom.

I really want to play this game! Lord Winklebottom is a classic, point and click murder mystery adventure game. I love the style, it feels so nostalgic and has charm. The people are animals (obviously), fully voiced, and British. As someone who loves playing detective.. Yes please to all of the above!

Buy the game for yourself here.

September 13th – Deadwater Saloon – Creative Storm Entertainment / Tanglefoot Games

Dive into the wild west as a saloon owner in a volatile frontier town. Customize your character and face the consequences of your choices as you forge friendships and enemies of townsfolk, travellers, outlaws and lawmen. Build the most famous saloon in the territory, or be overwhelmed and destroyed.

I was so mixed about this one. On one hand, I had problems with it. But on the other, I couldn’t stop playing. Two hours in and I finally forced myself to stop. At the time of writing the game has just released, so I will be interested to see if the problems have been fixed!

Check it out on steam here.

All of the above have released so far this year. But wait.. There’s more! September and beyond are full of releases.

September 22nd – Beacon Pines – Hiding Spot

Beacon Pines is a cute and creepy adventure game. Sneak out late, make new friends, uncover hidden truths, and collect words that will change the course of fate!

I really enjoyed this one. The mixture of its really unique art style, and the contrast of cute but eerie makes me want to continue. The closest tone I can think of is if Night in the Woods, except younger characters. The gameplay however is a story book narrative puzzle. You collect terms that you can add to the story in certain places to alter the sentences and as a result, branch the paths. I have seen similar mechanics in Fate of Kai, and Indie Showcase demo Storyteller, and I have loved them every time. If this couldn’t be better, it is, because it will be available day one on Game Pass! I’m really looking forward to see how this one does.

Wishlist on Steam here to be notified when the game releases!

September 26th – Monorail Stories – Stelex Software

Monorail Stories is an adventure game focusing on extraordinary things happening to ordinary people. Board the monorail and experience a special story about humanity, friendships, and intertwined destinies manifesting during the everyday commute.

This is another demo that I played a long time ago. It was short but sweet, telling a story and building a world through rides on a monorail. You only need to look at the screenshots to see how much care has gone into the art. I wish them all the luck for a successful launch!

Wishlist on Steam here.

September 27th – Dome Keeper – Bippinbits

Mine for resources, choose from powerful upgrade paths and fend off waves of alien attackers in this innovative roguelike mining action game. There’s just enough time to mine a little deeper, find a little more and get back to defend before the next wave attacks your dome.

I played the Dome Keeper demo earlier this year as recommended by a few friends. They were right, it was a blast! In this roguelike your time is split between mining for resources and defending your base, using upgrades gained from said resources. It is fast paced, easy to learn but I imagine not so easy to master, and has that ‘one more try’ appeal. I hope this one blows up!

Wishlist here on Steam now.

September 28th – The Excavation of Hobs Barrow – Cloak and Dagger Games

The Excavation of Hob’s Barrow is a folk horror narrative-driven adventure. Explore the isolated moors of rural Victorian England as you uncover the mysteries of Hob’s Barrow. The answers lie in the soil…

I am generally not a fan of horror so I avoid it, but for whatever reason this is one of the demos that I played. And honestly? I was so glad I did. I played this one on my own without recording and I remember having a great affection for it. But – my memory being my memory – I can’t remember exactly what happened or how it played. What I do know, is that it immediately went on my Wishlist, and I would love to stream it sometime after it releases. The art is gorgeous and I want to be back in that atmosphere.

Previously known as Incantamentum, you can wishlist on steam here.

2022 – Nobodies: After Death – Blyts

Nobodies: After Death is a puzzling point-and-click adventure in cleaning up dirty work. After your agency takes out a target, you make the evidence disappear without a trace. Find a way to get in, get out, and leave no bodies behind.

I loved the demo for this one and it is still available now! The best comparison I can make is that this is like a point and click, escape room style game. You are cleaning up after murders and trying not to get caught by solving the puzzle of the area you are in. The art is gorgeous which sounds like a contrast to the concept of the game, but it makes it even more fun to see where you might end up next. I hope this one finds its audience because the demo is a strong recommend from me!

Follow along on Steam here.

2022 – Organs Please – TECHHOME

A dark and satirical management sim, where you take control of a recycling factory with a twist: it recycles humans. Your job is to decide who gets to escape our dying planet in a cozy spaceship and who sacrifices their blood, sweat and tears for humanity. Literally.

Finally, Organs Please doesn’t have a release date except 2022. Despite the dark humour in the dire world that we are living in, it is easy to forget the horrors of what you are actually doing as you enter a flow state of maximum efficiency. The mechanics are introduced at a satisfying pace, building you up from rookie to mega multitasker in no time. I really enjoyed the gameplay of this one and would definitely like to play more upon release.

Here is a link to the Steam page.

And that is it. Apparently this has been a quiet year for games. While that may be true in the AAA spaces, new indie games are coming out every day. It can be hard to know how to filter through the volume of games, so hopefully someone will not only find this list useful, but also give these ones a chance! Some of these games were created solo and they are absolutely excellent. Let me know if you give any of them a go!

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Indie Showcase #1-#50 – Top 10

It is slightly late but upon looking back over my Indie Showcase so far, I thought it would be fun to pick out some favourites. I originally planned to do this when I reach 100 videos, but picking out the 10 best is already proving to be difficult so I am going to go ahead and do it now!

For those who don’t know, during my weekly Indie Showcase series I try out an indie game for give or take an hour. It started as short, free to play games but evolved into demos, bundle games and games that I received a code for. I wasn’t sure how long it would last but as it turns out, I already have over 50 more games lined up! So, here are my top 10 highlights from my first 50 weeks, in alphabetical order so that I don’t actually have to rank them.

The Cast of the Golden Idol [Demo] – Color Gray Games

‘A new kind of detective game that allows you to think and investigate freely. Discover clues surrounding 12 strange and gruesome deaths and build your own theory. Pick your suspect, deduce the motive, unmask the awful truth.’

I love being a detective. I love murder mysteries, figuring out the order of events, solving deaths, and this game is chock full of that. Recommended by Lucas Pope (Papers, Please and Return of the Obra Dinn developer) for people who enjoyed Obra Dinn, I agree that this is very worth playing. Each case had references and call backs to the other cases I worked, leading to a feeling that the full game is going to have a larger overarching story. Based on the demo this is going to be a fun game for logic puzzle enthusiasts and budding detectives alike.

‘Coming soon’ on Steam but you can Wishlist it here.

Cloud Climber [ Free to play] – Two Star Games

‘A surreal first person walking sim about the end of humanity. Explore magnificent sky-bound ruins, and learn why they were built.’

This one is a short, simple walking sim set at the end of an apocalyptic world. The atmosphere, setting and story were all enjoyable to me from the start and I would love to see more of this world. The unique art style only added to the experience, making me explore every nook and cranny of this small world. A solemn experience that I think is worth having.

Cloud Climber is free to download on Steam now.

Dagon: by H.P. Lovecraft [Free to play] – Bit Golem

‘Face unspeakable horrors. Succumb to madness. Welcome to a free daemonic narrative experience inspired by H. P. Lovecraft.’

I played other games that I enjoyed that were more involved than this one, but I just couldn’t bump it from the top 10. While the reasons are really subjective, I may not be the only one to have this experience and I would love to encourage others too. I am not familiar with Lovecraft’s works. I know of Cthulhu. I know that it is supposed to be mind-bending horrors. But the only experience I have had with any of his work is through games that have shared themes. This game is a short, point and click version of one of his stories, Dagon. In this visual novel, the story is told through a stunning set of scenes where the player can look around and click on interactable objects. Not only is the story presented to you, but there are collectibles that give you some insight into the history of Lovecraft himself. I had a great time getting to know some background about the guy who inspired so many works for so many years beyond him. It’s not the most interactive game or the longest, but what it does, it does really well and I encourage anyone who doesn’t know where to start with Lovecraft to give it a try.

It is totally free to play here on Steam.

Firework [Demo] – Shiying Studio

‘An accidental fire at a funeral forces the police to re-investigate a closed case of massacre. Lin Lixun participates the re-investigation by chances. As the investigation goes deeper, the past of the victims gradually emerges. However, the case becomes more bewildering.’

Firework is a Chinese horror puzzle game. Wait.. Horror you say? And Noob played it? This game had the perfect amount of horror for me. It was spooky, I was filled with dread about what might happen next, but none of it was too much. I managed to not only complete the demo, but wish to finish the rest of the game too. Playing games with a different culture to your own will always introduce a new flavour and it left me wanting more.

The full game is available on Steam now for £7.19.

Inscryption [Demo] – Daniel Mullins Games

‘Inscryption is an inky black card-based odyssey that blends the deckbuilding roguelike, escape-room style puzzles, and psychological horror into a blood-laced smoothie. Darker still are the secrets inscrybed upon the cards…’

I can’t believe I still haven’t played the full game. Not only is this a mash-up of a spooky escape room amongst other things, the card game presented in this demo was so much fun. Everyone that I know that has played the full game has recommended it. The only thing I am aware of is that there might be some surprises. But what they are.. I have absolutely no idea. Though, the demo hooked me well enough that I would like to find out.

Inscryption is available for £16.79 on Steam here.

Larry The Unlucky [Free to play] – Strongshell Software

‘Follow Larry’s life to find the source of his lack of luck. Discover his intriguing story and solve puzzles to understand how his life plays out.’

I am so glad that I stumbled upon this game. Heavily inspired by the Rusty Lake series, the first two games in this series are free and they both contain three chapters each. I enjoyed them so much that I will definitely be buying the third. In case you don’t know Rusty Lake, think – weird and morbid but humorous point and click puzzles, comparable to escape rooms. I don’t have a lot else to add except if that sounds appealing to you then they are definitely worth a playthrough.

You can find Part 1 here and Part 2 here on Steam, completely free!

Storyteller [Demo] – Daniel Benmergui

‘With Storyteller you are the one writing the stories! Start with a title, characters and settings and create your own twist on stories familiar and new.’

This charming puzzle game was really fun to play. It is a game where the wrong answers can be even better than the right ones. The game tells a selection of short stories through storyboards. Your job as the player is to fill these storyboards with the correct characters and scenarios in order to complete the story. It is simple but deep, as placing the wrong person can change the entire course of the story. This was a very fine demo and I would love to play more. The release date is TBD and there has been no news for a long time, but it is being published by Annapurna Interactive so we can trust that it will be release when it is ready.

In the meantime, you can Wishlist the game here.

Strange Horticulture [Demo] – Bad Viking

‘Strange Horticulture is an occult puzzle game in which you play as the proprietor of a local plant store. Find and identify new plants, pet your cat, speak to a coven, or join a cult. Use your collection of powerful plants to influence the story and unravel Undermere’s dark mysteries.’

In the Strange Horticulture demo, I really enjoyed having an adventure and a business from the comfort of my own workspace. You can organise it how you see fit and have different panels for you desk and your shelves that you can see at nearly all times, as well as drawers to hide things in. It is a fantasy botany identification simulator with an overarching story. I enjoyed the balance of ‘exploration’ and figuring out which plant was which, hoping you got it correct so you don’t poison your loyal customer.

The full game released in January and is £12.99 on Steam here.

SuchArt: Creative Space [Free stand-alone demo] – Goose Minded

‘Paint on any surfaces with numerous tools in Creative Space — a free sandbox version of SuchArt: Genius Artist Simulator. Create masterpieces, complete commissions, and decorate your studio in the most advanced artist sim!’

Considering this is basically a demo, it contains so much content. Use the paint physics and tools to fulfil commissions and decorate your studio in literally any way you see fit. I had a great time playing around with paint, seeing what all the different tools do, and completing my masterpiece with absolutely no disasters at all. Just take a look at the steam page to see the type of art people have made. It really is a sandbox for the imagination. This demo is so packed full of stuff that it makes the prospect of the full game very exciting.

Both are available on Steam now!

Temple of Snek [Code received] – Aetheric Games

Temple of Snek [Code recieved] – Aetheric Games

‘A snaky tile-based puzzle dungeon adventure. Defend the temple, monch the infidels, and grow and grow and grow…’

They managed to turn the classic snake (I am just realising that we are past the generation that grew up with snake being their first portable game) into a puzzle game with moving parts. Not only that, but they have done it with style. Part rhythm puzzle game, part dungeon escape game, you can gladly bob your head as your Snek swallows her foes whole, growing into the goodest, long, fiercest mama. Since I played they have added decorating your Snek too – ‘Mek-a-Snek’ – you can’t go wrong with some wonderfully customisable Snek fashion. I would love for more people to see this game becasue it really is a cool one. Just be careful not to touch your Snek with your Snek. Snek only knows what the consequences would be. Snek is such a great word. Snek.

Currently in Early Access, it is £9.99 on Steam here.

It was so difficult to narrow this down. There were games that I really liked that just didn’t make it onto the list. There is so much fantastic Indie content out there and it is all thanks to creative developers that take that step to turn their visions into reality. I thank them so much, and ask them to keep up the excellent work (but only at a healthy pace of course). All being well I will be back in another year to evaluate the next 50 and showcase some more highlights!

If you would like to discover more Indie games or stay up to date with the series, here is the entire playlist!

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