One of the biggest problems facing the video game market is the problem of “discoverability.” There are so many new releases that some of them get lost in this vast ocean of titles. And we’re talking about interesting, high-quality games, not shovelware. Keep in mind that in 2023 alone, 14,000 new titles were released on Steam. 14,000. Naturally, small developers don’t have much financial room for marketing, so they necessarily turn to social media, where the currency is defined.
What is popular on these platforms usually bets on some extreme impressions. Original aesthetics that hit the eye directly, very realistic graphics, surprising mechanics, etc. In general, when you are one of the crowd, you have to do something to stand out, otherwise you will get lost. It is reasonable. Of course, you can’t overdo it, there must also be an element of familiarity. Because very foreign, confusing, and not easy to sell. It is difficult to accurately assess the impact of this environment on game design, but it is certainly a major factor in creative decisions. But perhaps that is for another article.
Today I just want to shed some light on 10 upcoming titles that I’ve been curious about and that many people probably don’t know about. Or they do and have simply forgotten about. After all, a lot of them show up for a few shows and then disappear for 2-3 years.
I do this—and I hope to do it more often from now on—because in all this, we must not forget the role of the private press. Perhaps the most important responsibility it carries is: to bring worthy titles to the surface, outside of traditional marketing channels, to shine a light on new creators, and to expand the promotional pool based on the quality of ideas rather than the advertising budget. Well, that doesn’t mean that most of these titles are just obscure games, and I’m reclaiming them from the realm of obscurity. Not even.
Some of the titles below have a major publisher behind them (Devolver, Annapurna, Raw Fury of this World), have been featured in trailers, and some haven’t. My criteria was more intuitive, and therefore not entirely reliable. As someone who follows the industry closely, I get the impression that many of them are not particularly well-known to the general public, I don’t see them mentioned much in major forums or on social media, and they don’t have any massive commercial momentum beyond a specific niche audience, or at least not an audience that I’ve noticed. They’re not Silksong or UFO 50 or, for that matter, “Playdead,” titles with a solid name behind them that can be more easily promoted. I could be wrong! But never mind, an article like this certainly wouldn’t hurt anyone. In fact, if one person sees something here that they didn’t know about and finds it interesting, they’ve more than served their purpose.
And to make the article more valuable, if you want, put in the comments the corresponding games that you find interesting but feel are not particularly well known.
militia man
Developertall boys
passage: unknown
Platforms: Computer
In this truly bizarre immersive simulation, the player is imprisoned in a small town under the constant surveillance of a giant policeman. His goal, of course, is to escape. The policeman’s dominant presence creates a surreal, suffocating atmosphere directly, with the Russian developers behind the game stating that their main sources of inspiration are the works of Kafka, Dostoevsky, Tarkovsky, and Mikhalkov. According to them, it is thematically oriented to issues of power and responsibility, inspired by life in Russia. I don’t know, of course, if they can be considered worthy of artists of this genre, but these influences have already given the game a unique identity. If we add to the mix the immersive sim and the fact that the title is based on a system of dialogues and actions with which the player can influence the mood of the policeman, the whole package turns into a very ambitious project that deserves our attention.
phoenix springs
Developer:Calligram Studio
passage: September 16, 2024
Platforms:steam
Probably the most aesthetically interesting game of the year is this new noir point and clicker from the newly founded Calligram Studio. Made up of just three people and described as an art collective rather than a game studio, it’s finally ready to release its first game with Phoenix Springs, a creation that took its first steps in 2017. Aside from the stunning aesthetics, the development team promises that the puzzles are part of the narrative and not isolated elements of the design and that the inventory will consist of “ideas, concepts and elements.” We’ll find out how well all of these connections work together in September.
The Blue Prince
Developer:Dogbomb
passage:2024
Platforms:steam
Blue Prince is an original mix of elements and genres that makes it very difficult to describe on paper. Very roughly, the player himself places rooms to explore the palace and uncover its secrets. Having already received excellent reviews in previews, not only from the media, but also from famous designers such as Daniel Mullins (Pony Island, Inscryption) and Sam Barlow (Her Story, Immortality), the first game from the small Los Angeles-based studio seems like a “special” case. Fortunately, we won’t have to wait much longer to find out, as it is expected in 2024.
follow the meaning
DeveloperHiking Mind Studio
passage:3the Quarter 2024
Platforms steam
A small coastal town, a sanatorium with shady tactics and a detective to solve the mystery. This beautiful puzzle adventure (around two hours long according to its creators) has a handcrafted texture, which makes it very interesting, at least visually. The newly founded studio promises mystery, black humor and clever puzzles in its debut and we hope they complete the project successfully.
Untitled FPS
Developer:fresky
passage:2025
Platforms: unknown
The new game from the creative duo of Vreski Studios may not have an official title yet, but the leaked footage is already making us look forward to it. From the guys behind the Hong Kong Massacre (which inspired the “that” scene in John Wick 4), we wouldn’t expect anything less in the entertainment department. As a spiritual successor to the first-person shooter Max Payne, the new game from the Swedes already looks like a chaotic ballet of bullets and shrapnel, featuring some of the most visually pleasing particle effects we’ve ever seen. Hopefully we’ll have more information soon.
Royal cabbage
Developer:Copisoft Company.
passage: unknown
PlatformsPC, Switch
The work of one developer, Dome – King Cabbage, is a visual novel set in the world of a monster-collecting RPG. Weird? Not so much the contrast between the hyper-realistic 3D visuals and the cute 2D sprites in its aesthetic. Honestly, I don’t know exactly what to expect but the result that emerges in the published material has a strange charm. If Mr. Joe Buchholz can tie all of this together with something worthwhile in writing, we’ll be dealing with a true gem of the genre.
We kill monsters
Developer:glass gun
passage: unknown
Platforms:steam
Probably the most “safe” from a promotional standpoint, thanks to Annapurna behind it, We Kill Monsters is the brainchild of a single developer named Jacob Williams. The soul-like structure and co-op support for up to 4 players wouldn’t mean anything to me if I wasn’t blown away by the visuals, mood and atmosphere the title exudes. The way the hero stacks things on his back gives him a look that seems destined to become iconic, and the lore of a gradual descent into darkness in pursuit of angels is compelling. I was convinced from the first ten seconds of the trailer.
take out the animal’s entrails
DeveloperMichael Rifdsher
passage: unknown
Platforms:steam
The most experimental of the games here, Visceratum uses real photos, plasticine animation, and stop-motion to create a dark, eerie world that seems to have sprung from Cronenberg’s wild imagination. The truth is that stop-motion has a special, uneasy feel that lends itself to horror, as films like Mad God and the terrifying Wolf House have proven. With its emphasis on body horror and a world that seems to have been taken over by the body, Visceratum feels like a bizarre nightmare, and if it can do something substantial in the interactivity department, it’s sure to haunt us.
Phonopolis
Developer:Amanita Design
passage: unknown
Platforms:Steam (currently)
In a city with an authoritarian regime, the player is called to resist. Well, Amanita Design is not a random group. The Czechs always have a distinctive design in their games and it seems to be the same here, where they have created a cardboard world with great vitality and expression. But what interests me most about Phonopolis is its political theme and how they will deal with it and translate it into gameplay. But we may still be a long way from release.
Janet De Mornay is a slumlord (and witch).
DeveloperMysterious ghost
passage: unknown
Platforms:steam
“We wanted to make a horror game, so we asked ourselves: In 2020s Australia, what is truly scary? And to be honest, the answer came pretty quickly: being a tenant. Oh, it would be funny if it wasn’t true! Janet DeMornay is a slumlord (and witch), and in addition to a fictional title, she also has a fictional concept, I understand. Its creators describe it as a horror comedy about the fears and difficulties of a tenant. In fact, they were asking their site and other tenants to share their terrifying stories about… renting to add them. The landlady here is also a witch (why not?), with unexpected visits and exhausting inspections. Its gruesome theme, which I’m sure will have the vast majority of tenants nodding in agreement, is presented as an escape room with horror touches that look really scary.
“Total alcohol fanatic. Coffee junkie. Amateur twitter evangelist. Wannabe zombie enthusiast.”
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