On this Friday, we have at least 25 new titles! There’s multiple FPSs, Platformers, Puzzle Adventures, plus others like a 2D Fighter with Presidents, Guild Wars 2 Homesteading, an Action RPG, and old-school Arcade-style games!
Note: All the images shown below in the body of this post are from the respective game’s Steam sales page. I hope you find something to enjoy in the list below!
7 Jobs at the Same Time (Point and Click Simulation)
Why would I ever be interested in doing 7 jobs at the same time when in real life I have my own job? Well, it’s because the trailer looks funny with the soundtrack playing. Plus, it presents doing menial tasks while also watching the Nuclear Control Screen. The reviews also make it sound intriguing, with it being a commentary on work, AI, and more. 93% of 60 reviews are positive!
Bass Harrier (3D Rail Shooter)
I think this 3D Rail Shooter is inspired by Space Harrier in some ways, even though it doesn’t look like it at all. The game is set up so that as the music changes, so does the environment, lighting, and enemies in the stage! The graphics are very distinctive, with weird flat shaded polygon characters that you play as. Because of the originality, I find it kind of intriguing, even though the art style is rather jarring to me. I really wanted to highlight it!
Calm the Storm (Choose-your-own Adventure)
Here’s another original title! It seems to be a choose-your-own adventure audio experience, similar to a podcast where you make decisions to change the story. Accessibility is also a major part of its design so many people can play it easily. That may be the reason why it doesn’t seem to have much real graphics. The trailer shows a lot of narration with the text that goes along with it. I appreciate the accessibility aspect and hope people enjoy it!
Clutchtime™: Tournament Edition (Basketball Deckbuilder)
With one the most chill trailers I’ve seen this week, Clutchtime™: Tournament Edition is a basketball-themed deckbuilder, surprisingly! You use different cards to set up your defense, or overwhelm your opposition on offense. It seems to have a lot of options, with being able to choose different regions to play in and select teams to play against. Win four times, and you win the tournament! Pretty neat, original game!
Craball (Casual Arcade)
This is a straightforward arcade-style game that appears to have gameplay in the style of early eighties titles where you are trying to catch or bounce things. But it also has the look of a more modern release with 3D graphics and animations. There are objects that are falling down from the top of the screen and you’re a crab who’s trying to keep the items from crashing and hitting the ground. I liked the look and sound of the game in the trailer! Plus, you are on the wings of a jet for some reason at one point!
Die. Respawn. Repeat. (Psychedelic Bullet Dodging)
Would you like a psychedelic bullet-dodging game where you try to keep yourself from being killed? I was really struck by the color work in this game, as well as the cool music! There’s not a lot of reviews, but what’s there is positive. It’s a pretty neat looking game and artistically quite original!
Down the Rabbit Hole Flattened (Puzzle Adventure)
Looking for a whimsical, easy point and click adventure set in the world of Wonderland? This one fits the bill! According to one review, the puzzles are pretty easy and there are some small choices that can be made to affect the story. One big plus is that it is fully voiced, which is great! 91% of 12 reviews are positive!
DREADTOME (First-Person Shooter)
For this week’s roundup, this was the first title I found that seemed to be quite popular. It’s a first-person shooter where you’re exploring a library. I really enjoyed the sound effects of the gun in the trailer and it seemed like things were designed well aesthetically. I liked the graphics quite a bit, and it looked cool! In addition to guns, you could also use some sort of special power against your enemies and interact with the environment, too. It takes about 30 minutes to beat and 96% of its 63 reviews are positive!
Electoral Carnage (2D Fighter)
I know there are multiple games that allow you to play as the President of the United States in various ways, and in this one, you’re fighting as one! This is a comical 2D fighter that currently features four different presidents. It is quite positively rated on Steam, with 95% of 23 reviews being positive!
Elysian Inferno (Action RPG)
Here we have an action RPG made by a group of university students. In it, you play as a mage and a warrior who are trapped in the realms of the afterlife. Using magic and other skills, they must relink their souls back together to escape death. Although I cannot say for sure, it seemed like you are able to play as one of two characters and change between them as needed. I may be wrong about that. Anyway, it has a pretty neat art style and some enjoyable music. I think it shows promise, and it is important to encourage young developers as their skills improve!
HAILSTORM (Brick Breaker)
This is the second classic arcade style game for the week (the other being CRABALL)! While having a bit more minimalistic graphics this time, I still enjoyed the trailer, and how it combined brick-breaking gameplay with a slot machine for earning power ups! I hope the developer continues on with the project!
INVERTA (Puzzle Platformer)
People aren’t playing this game much, but I still want to show it off! It’s 2.5D puzzle platformer starring a robot after the world has been ruined. Basically, gravity has been flipped upside down, and you need to solve puzzles to reveal the secrets of what’s happened! I hope it finds an appreciative audience.
Jade Spring (Chill Homesteading)
This is a fan game taking place in the world of Guild Wars 2 where you build your house, decorate it, farm, and relax! The graphics and the sound design in the trailer are really nice and pleasant! I expect that the game will be a lot of chill fun for fans of Guild Wars 2. For more details, feel free to read Llfoy’s great review of it on Steam!
Katharsi (3D Puzzle Adventure)
If you’d like 3D puzzle adventure games and exploring fascinating locations, then this one might be a good one to try! As you journey through a corrupted byzantine cathedral there’s some sort of light that follows you around. You use it to clear away spaces that are blocking your path, thus allowing you to continue your progress through the building. Some reviews said the puzzles are too simple, but it is reminiscent of games like Myst and Talos Principle. I like the style of it a lot!
Line Hopper (Puzzle Platformer)
Wondering what it would be like as a being who lives in two dimensions is something that I find interesting to ponder sometimes. Line Hopper explores this concept through a minimalistic platformer where the player character (Linus) lives in a one-dimensional world where he moves along a single line. Yet, the player is able to change the world to two dimensions at will to solve platforming puzzles. Although it’s hard to explain, I couldn’t help but be fascinated by the game’s trailer and what it was showing. Too bad it only has one review so far!
Luddite Rampage (3D Destruction)
If you just want to relieve stress and destroy stuff with cartoony 3D graphics, then check this one out. The reviews say that the game has some really great music and art style. Plus, the physics of items being destroyed and thrown about in the office are better than expected! The trailer seemed like a lot of mindless fun so I wanted to share it!
The Music at the end of the World (Point and Click Visual Novel)
In this point and click visual novel title, it’s the end of the world after a final winter. You’re one of only people still alive in a desolate city. All the while trying to survive, and keep yourself from going crazy. I really liked the art style and found one of the trailers quite intriguing!
Naja Medjai (Souls-lite 3D Platformer)
Although I didn’t think this was amazing, I still thought it showed some talent and care in how the game was designed. It is a Souls-lite 3D platformer taking place in ancient Egypt. The 3D platformer sections seem to have some collecting elements and a grappling hook mechanic that is used to get around. While there are also boss fights to contend with at various points as well. I think some will enjoy it!
Oh, Bugger! (First-person Shooter)
We have at least two really good-looking first-person shooters this week! After DEADTOME, there’s this one where you’re in a luxury space hotel that has been overrun by a bunch of alien monsters. From the images, the game has mission objectives in levels, which is a good touch. One of the reviews really liked it, in that it has infinite ammo, a jetpack, and destructible environments! Another great student project, with 90% of 11 reviews being positive!
The Operator (Narrative Puzzle Adventure)
I was impressed while watching the trailer for this game since it had such a dramatic soundtrack and obvious connection with a famous organization based in the United States. It is a narrative adventure game where you solve puzzles and gather data to help agents who are in the field. You are the newest operator at FDI. It is currently free at the Epic Games Store this week.
Palette Cleanser (3D Platformer)
Wow! This is a sweet looking 3D Platformer where you are a robot who is trying to restore the color to your futuristic garden so that it is bright and vibrant again. This is done by capturing aliens who are nearby and using them to restore the garden to its former luster. Although I don’t know this for sure, in some ways it reminds me of Pikmin or Tinykin. Note: I haven’t played either of those games, so I could be wrong. Palette Cleanser seems to be really charming and is another student project, so that’s great to see!
Paper Pusher (Psychological Horror)
A psychological horror game that I would never want to play, and found to be quite chilling. You choose who lives or dies based on what is written on these short, one-page reports about the person. Intriguing idea, and the one review I saw made me want to share it here.
Pip Puzzle: Pip and Ooma’s Battle (Puzzle Battler)
Puzzle fans rejoice! This is a title that harkens back to games such as Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo, where you have two characters dropping gems and trying to line them up so that their colors match. After doing so, the gems are shattered and then go to the other player’s area where they have to deal with it. The art style is really cool (as are the animations when you defeat someone), and the music is rocking! Of the 11 reviews that the game has, 90% of them are positive! Check it out if it’s the kind of genre you like.
Replicomica (Comic Book Visual Novel)
Visual novels are a pretty popular genre these days, however this one is more like an interactive comic book. Your character journeys through a series of handcrafted dreams through augmented memories. In some ways, robots guide you as you travel from one place to another. According to the game’s tags it may also have puzzle platformer elements as well. It currently has 10 reviews, all of which are positive!
Serious Survivors (Boomer Shooter)
OK, so you may want to double check before clicking on this game. It has some words in the trailer and description that some may find offensive. Beyond that, Serious Survivors is a Boomer Shooter with roguelite elements while seeming to be a mix of Serious Sam and Duke Nukem 3D! I really enjoyed the attitude of the trailer, which fit the style of the game well! You go around arenas getting guns and blowing away a swarm of aliens through any means necessary. It has a ton of chunky pixelated blood and attitude. I think this will be an entertaining choice for a number of people. 88% of 34 reviews are positive!
SKYGUARD (Third-person Shooter)
In a world of airships, robot marauders are attacking these trading vessels in route to their destination. It is up to you, as a member of the SKYGUARD to defend the ships in this couch co-op third-person shooter! I really like the art style of the game, and the gun customization seems really diverse, as shown in the trailer. This is another student project for the week!
They Came for More Pasta (Puzzle Adventure)
The first thing that gripped me about this game was the art style. It looks like a 16-bit SNES game, but it’s actually a puzzle adventure title with some funny dialogue and visual novel aspects. Aliens have overtaken Italy, not for power or conquest, but for the food! As a pasta delivery man, solve puzzles and try to defeat them. I really enjoyed the trailer, with its entertaining dialog and personality. There aren’t a lot of reviews yet, but people seem to like it!
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