Sandfall Interactive recently shared on their social media, saying: “We’re currently exploring a wide range of future improvements.” The hint at “new content” suggests possible DLC to expand the game’s universe. They’re also considering broader localization options to reach more players, though they noted no timelines or details are set yet.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 follows the volunteers of Expedition 33, a group racing against time to stop the Paintress, a mysterious entity who awakens yearly to paint a cursed number on a monolith, wiping out everyone of that age. With a mix of turn-based combat and real-time moves like dodging and parrying, it offers a fresh RPG twist, drawing inspiration from classics like Final Fantasy and Persona. It earned a 92% critic score on OpenCritic and a 9.7/10 user rating on Metacritic, marking it as one of 2025’s top games.

One possibility is exploring the war between the Painters and the Writers, a conflict teased in the main story but left mostly unexplored. Fans are also eager to learn more about the Dessendre family, whose connection to the Paintress could spark a new tale. New content could uncover the fates of past expeditions, building on the notes and journals scattered throughout that hint at their tragic stories.

Clair Obscur already features the Endless Tower, a challenge mode testing combat skills, so new content will likely focus on story-driven additions. Sandfall’s lead writer, Jennifer Svedberg-Yen, last month in an Instagram Q&A also said: “If players really want it, we’d love to add more, and with the reactions so far, the chances look good.” While the studio has focused on polishing the base game, their openness to DLC mirrors the strong fan demand, with over 95% positive Steam reviews from 83,623 players as of June 2025.

The post Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 could soon get new content first appeared on IndieGames.

Fallen Fates

Fallen Fates is an upcoming top-down action RPG developed by Hibernian Workshop, the creators of Astral Ascent. Set in a sprawling, hand-drawn pixel art world, the game emphasizes exploration, intense combat, and epic boss battles. You can expect a rich, immersive experience with a focus on challenging gameplay mechanics, though specific details about the story, characters, or setting remain under wraps.

Cosmic Holidays

Cosmic Holidays is an upcoming 2D platformer adventure game developed by I AM A DOG Studio, set for release in 2026 for PC, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch. Youguide Cibo, a lovable alien stranded on a mysterious planet after a shuttle crash, as he journeys to reach his vacation resort. The game features a hand-drawn art style with lush, interconnected ecosystems filled with unique flora and fauna. Cibo’s distinctive ability to inflate his head allows him to glide, bounce, roll, propel himself, absorb shocks, or get stuck in tight spaces, enabling creative interactions with the environment.

Death Tower

Death Tower is a 2.5D isometric roguelite tactical RPG developed by Headbang Club, set to release on Steam, PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch. The goal is to ascend through the tower’s forbidden levels, each with unique ecosystems, challenges, and enemies. Gameplay blends stealth, hacking, and combat, utilizing melee weapons, special attacks, and heavy artillery. The game features 6 playable characters, around 30 enemy types, 4 distinct biomes with unique bosses, 10+ mini-bosses, 75 weapons, 75 hacks, and 10 class trees with 75 skills.

ENDLESS Legend 2 – Necrophage Faction Spotlight

Endless Legend 2 is an upcoming turn-based 4X fantasy-strategy game, a sequel to Endless Legend, developed by Amplitude Studios and announced for early access release in 2025. Set on the planet Auriga, the game builds on its predecessor’s legacy with a randomized world map, hexagonal grid-based gameplay, and a focus on empire-building through exploration, conquest, research, and diplomacy. The Necrophages return as a warmongering, insectoid hive faction, designed for aggressive expansion and military dominance. Their playstyle revolves around constant warfare, rapid growth, and consuming enemies to fuel their empire.

Paper Sky

Paper Sky is an upcoming semi-open world action-adventure game developed by solo developer Matthieu Houllier under Brute Force, set for release in late 2025 on PC, Mac, Linux, Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. In this hand-crafted, physics-based game, you control a customizable paper plane, inspired by Disney’s Paperman, navigating stylized landscapes with advanced aerial dynamics. The core mechanic involves switching between a gliding paper plane and a rolling paper ball to build momentum, bypass obstacles, and uncover hidden secrets through jumping and gliding.

Cairn

Cairn is an upcoming rock-climbing simulation adventure game developed and published by The Game Bakers, known for Furi and Haven, with a planned release in 2025 for PC and PlayStation 5. Described as a “survival climber,” the game follows Aava, a professional mountaineer aiming to be the first to summit Mount Kami, an unclimbed peak. Played from a third-person perspective, Cairn emphasizes realistic climbing mechanics where players manually position Aava’s limbs to navigate rock faces, carefully planning routes and managing stamina to avoid falls that reset progress to the last checkpoint.

City Tales – Medieval Area

City Tales – Medieval Era is a medieval city-building simulation game developed by Irregular Shapes and published by Firesquid, launched in Early Access on May 22, 2025, for PC. You assume the role of a visionary leader tasked with transforming humble camps into a thriving medieval realm. The game breaks from traditional grid-based city builders by using an organic building system, allowing you to freely draw district outlines, within which villagers autonomously construct homes and paths based on their movement patterns.

Chase Tag – New Trailer

Chase Tag is a fast-paced, competitive multiplayer action game, available on Steam with a planned release in 2025. Drawing inspiration from the classic playground game of tag, it transforms the concept into arena-based PvP experience where players control candy-themed athletes in a colorful, cartoonish 3D world. The objective is to outmaneuver and tag opponents before a timer expires, using dynamic environments filled with platforms, trampolines, and ramps to gain tactical advantages.

The Funskin Project

The Funskin Project is a survival horror game developed by Studio Richoux, which will be available on Steam. Set in a strange, timeless universe, you explore a mysterious island in a non-linear fashion, solving puzzles, managing scarce resources, and fighting to survive deadly encounters. Time is also a precious resource. Be careful, when night falls, you could find yourself facing the most dangerous threats.

Tears of Metal

Tears of Metal is a medieval hack-and-slash co-op roguelike developed and published by Paper Cult, set for release in 2025 on PC via Steam. You lead a Scottish battalion to reclaim your island from invaders influenced by the mysterious Dragon Stone Meteor, which brings both enemies and dangerous powers. The game blends intense third-person combat with strategic elements, allowing you to strike, parry, and command troops in real-time across 45 handcrafted battlefields.

MIO: Memories in Orbit – Teaser Trailer

MIO: Memories in Orbit is an upcoming Metroidvania platformer developed by Douze Dixièmes and published by Focus Entertainment, set for release in 2025 on PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. You control MIO, a nimble android, exploring the Vessel, a massive, derelict spaceship overgrown with lush vegetation and rogue machines. Gameplay features challenging platforming and combat, with MIO gaining abilities like a grappling hook, air gliding, and wall-clinging to navigate the labyrinthine, interconnected ship.

Tenjutsu

Tenjutsu is an upcoming roguelike action game developed by Deepnight Games, led by Sébastien Benard, the designer of Dead Cells, and published by Devolver Digital, set for release in September 2025 on PC. The goal is to dismantle these syndicates in any order, using martial arts mastery and a diverse arsenal of weapons, including fists, melee weapons, and firearms. The game features fast-paced, fluid melee combat with tactical precision, emphasizing “one vs. many” encounters where players chain attacks, dodge, and use environmental tactics to defeat enemies.

The Lonesome Guild

The Lonesome Guild is an upcoming single-player top-down action RPG developed by Tiny Bull Studios and published by DON’T NOD, set for release in Fall 2025 on PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. The core narrative revolves around forming bonds with a quirky cast of six misfit companions, each with unique abilities, stories, and struggles, to restore hope and balance. Gameplay emphasizes switching between characters during exploration and dynamic combat, blending action, puzzle-solving, and teamwork-driven mechanics. R

Deadcore Reduxe

DeadCore Redux is a remastered version of the 2014 platformer-FPS DeadCore, being developed by 5 Bits Games and set to release Q3 2025 for PC via Steam. The game blends fast-paced first-person platforming, puzzle-solving, and shooting, using a SwitchGun to activate or deactivate mechanisms and enemies while navigating with jumps, double-jumps, and dashes. The remaster features overhauled graphics with Unity HDRP for PBR lighting and volumetric effects, revamped audio with remastered soundtracks, full gamepad support, a new expansive “Gateway” story level, and a solo ranking system with performance badges.

LavaLoop

LavaLoop is an upcoming music-based 2D shooter/platformer developed by solo French developer Louis Rigaud, set for release in 2026 on PC via Steam. You control three punk musician-fighters battling hordes of beat-bots in a retrofuturistic world. The game features intense, 2-3 minute combat sessions that flow like a concert, with fast-paced arcade-style gameplay blending shooting and platforming. Each enemy moves and attacks to its own musical score, creating a procedural soundtrack that you must sync with to counterattack stylishly.

Sheepherds!

Sheepherds! is an upcoming cozy co-op party game developed by a five-person indie team, set for release in 2025 on PC via Steam, with potential future ports to consoles like Nintendo Switch. You take on the role of sheepdogs, guiding colorful flocks through vibrant, hand-drawn landscapes to dye their wool and craft stylish outfits. Core mechanics involve strategic positioning and barking to herd sheep, which behave realistically by following and influencing each other. The experience is stress-free, with no time limits, mandatory task-sharing, or peer pressure, ensuring a positive, collaborative atmosphere.

Crown Gambit

Crown Gambit is an upcoming narrative-driven tactical RPG with card-based combat, developed by Wild Wits and published by Playdigious, set for release on June 18, 2025, for PC via Steam. Set in the dark fantasy kingdom of Meodred, you guide three paladins – Aliza, a blood-bending swashbuckler; Hael, a mace-wielding cleric; and Rollo, an anchor-waving tanker— – hrough a capital torn by political unrest and a war of succession following the king’s assassination. The game features turn-based card battles where players use ancestral relics to defeat enemies like knights, nobles, and rebel commoners.

Otherskin

Otherskin is an upcoming third-person shooter with Metroidvania elements, developed by Game Atelier and published by FDG Entertainment, set for release in Q3 2025 on PC via Steam, with potential console versions later. Equipped with a high-tech AI-powered suit, Alex gathers intel to combat the Corruption, absorbing alien “morphs” from enemies to gain transformative abilities that enhance combat and movement, such as unique traversal mechanics inspired by earthly creatures. The game blends ranged and melee combat, allowing seamless switching between powerful firearms and fast close-quarters moves.

Elmin

Elmin is an upcoming serene first-person platformer developed by Dejima Games, a small studio led by Julien Ribassin and Gabriel Miller, set for release in 2026 on PC via Steam. You assume the role of the Rider, chosen by Elmin, a mysterious giant bird, to explore interconnected archipelago of islands frozen in time, remnants of an ancient civilization. The gameplay blends exploration, platforming, and flying, with you riding Elmin to soar between islands using wind gusts and unlocking wind routes through ancient technology to control elements.

Fish Stick Protocol

Fish Stick Protocol is an upcoming online multiplayer co-op action-adventure game developed and published by Maracas Studio, set for release in 2025 on PC via Steam. Supporting up to eight players, the game plunges you into chaotic, procedurally generated dimensions to collect artifacts for the mysterious Owner’s peculiar galleries. Expect unpredictable environments with weird gravity, killer plants, and nonsensical anomalies, creating a blend of controlled chaos and cozy fun, inspired by Rick and Morty and Happy Tree Friends.

Poem Ex Machina

Poem Ex Machina is an upcoming anime-style action-adventure RPG developed and published by Amaury Dangréau (under Amaury Hyde), set for release in 2025 on PC via Steam. Set in a futuristic, dystopian city, you engage in fast-paced “Ride X Fight” gameplay, combining stylish combat and high-mobility mechanics like skating or grinding, inspired by titles like Devil May Cry and Jet Set Radio. The game features hack-and-slash and beat ’em up elements, with you battling gangs, soldiers, and abyssal creatures using a mix of melee and ranged attacks.

Guilty as Sock!

Guilty as Sock! is a chaotic online multiplayer party game developed and published by Démon Max, set to release on May 29, 2025, for PC via Steam. Players embody sock puppets acting as lawyers, prosecutors, judges, and other courtroom roles in a hilarious, absurd mock trial setting. The game supports up to nine players in a free-for-all where prosecutors make wild accusations, lawyers use evidence cards to defend or attack, and judges struggle to maintain order, wielding gavels to silence unruly players or toss out ridiculous evidence.

Tako no Himitsu: Ocean of Secrets

Tako no Himitsu: Ocean of Secrets is an upcoming indie action RPG developed by Deneos, led by Christophe Galati, and published by Deneos, set for release in 2026 on PC (Steam) and Nintendo Switch. A spiritual successor to Save me Mr Tako, it pays tribute to Game Boy Advance-era classics like Golden Sun and Illusion of Gaia, featuring 2D pixel-art visuals and a soundtrack by Motoi Sakuraba (Golden Sun) and Masanori Hikichi (Terranigma). You control six unique heroes, each with distinct abilities and “Symbiosis” powers, to confront a crisis involving disappearing wildlife, shadow voids, and the rise of the mysterious Order.

Bonaparte: A Mechanized Revolution

Bonaparte: A Mechanized Revolution is a turn-based strategy and tactical RPG developed by Studio Imugi, released in Early Access on May 21, 2025, for PC via Steam. Set in an alternate 1789 Paris, you embody Céline or César Bonaparte, reimagined versions of Napoleon, in a steampunk-infused French Revolution where steam-powered mechs called Colossi dominate battles. The game blends grand strategy, political simulation, and tactical combat, allowing you to defend the monarchy, reform it, or lead a radical revolution alongside historical figures like Robespierre and Lafayette.

Species: Unkown

Species: Unknown is an upcoming first-person survival horror co-op shooter developed and published by Wanadev, set for release in Spring 2025 on PC via Steam. Set in a dystopian late 21st-century, you control mercenaries sent to investigate a ravaged spaceship, tasked with high-risk missions like extracting black boxes, capturing or eliminating unknown threats, or destroying the ship to contain a creature. Playable solo or in online co-op with up to four players, the game emphasizes strategic collaboration, combining FPS action, stealth, and puzzle-solving to survive alien creatures, zombies, robots, and mutant monsters.

Pardon my French Toast

Pardon My French Toast is an upcoming 3D platformer developed and published by ReRolled Studio, set for release in 2025 on PC via Steam. You control a charming slice of toast who spreads sweets like honey, chocolate, or jam on its face to gain unique abilities, such as sticking to walls with honey for climbing or using hardened chocolate to break objects. The game features dozens of colorful levels where players explore, collect big candies to fuel the ship, and help friendly toasts with various goals.

Hell is Us

Hell is Us is an upcoming third-person action-adventure game developed by Rogue Factor and published by Nacon, set for release on September 4, 2025, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. The game blends intense melee combat with exploration, using swords, spears, and axes to fight chimeras immune to modern weapons, alongside a drone for distraction and puzzle-solving. Its semi-open world lacks maps, compasses, or quest markers, emphasizing “Player-Plattering”—a design philosophy encouraging intuitive exploration, observation, and NPC interactions to uncover clues.

Lifelong

Lifelong is an upcoming pixel-art adventure game developed by Scoppio Software, with no confirmed release date, though it is slated for PC via Steam. In this dystopian narrative, you control a low-level employee at Scoppio Software, a black company depicted in a monochrome world symbolizing its oppressive environment. Gameplay focuses on stealth and puzzle-solving, as you manipulate cameras and devices to orchestrate an escape with coworkers.

How 2 Escape: Lost Submarine

How 2 Escape: Lost Submarine is a cooperative multiplayer puzzle adventure game developed by Breakfirst Games and published by Maximum Entertainment, releasing on June 24, 2025, for PC (Steam), PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch. It features an asymmetrical co-op experience where two players work together across separate devices to prevent a global war. One player, controlling either Haurée or Leroy, explores the interior of a lost submarine, interacting with the environment to uncover clues. The other uses a free companion app (available on PC, iOS, Android) to access maps, codes, and additional information, requiring constant communication to solve increasingly complex puzzles.

A Better World

A Better World is an upcoming interactive fiction adventure game developed by Ludogram Games and published by ARTE Interactive, set for release in 2025 on PC via Steam. In this alternate history narrative, you act as a time-traveling recruit for the A Better World Company, using a computer to alter historical events and reshape the future. Gameplay focuses on making impactful choices that change the course of history, navigating a timeline where each decision creates new outcomes, often with unforeseen consequences.

Lost in Prayer

Lost in Prayer is a traditional grid-based roguelike developed and published by Nine Dots Studio, set to launch in Early Access on July 15, 2025, for PC via Steam. The core mechanic allows you to unlock and play as any enemy that kills you, offering diverse playstyles with unique skill trees and abilities, such as a four-armed angel wielding multiple weapons. Gameplay emphasizes turn-based tactical combat, with push-and-pull mechanics, traps, and environmental interactions to outsmart foes. Procedurally generated levels, permadeath, and extensive loot (hundreds of weapons and armor) ensure high replayability.

Sydless

Sydless is an upcoming fast-paced first-person shooter developed by Opia Games, set for release in 2026 on PC via Steam. You control Diego, a fast-food worker at Randy’s Burger in the late 1990s, trapped in a surreal, reality-warping anomaly where the restaurant distorts into increasingly twisted versions of itself. The core mechanic revolves around a deadly bouncing ball as the sole weapon, which gains speed and destructive power with each hit, requiring precise momentum-based movement like wall-jumping, sliding, and dashing to navigate chaotic environments and defeat distorted customers.

Maseylia : Echoes of the Past

Maseylia: Echoes of the Past is an upcoming 3D Metroidvania platformer developed by Sol Brothers, a French duo, set for release in 2026 on PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2. You explore a vast, interconnected techno-organic labyrinth, blending classic 2D Metroidvania exploration with modern 3D mechanics. The game features open-ended exploration, allowing players to carve their own paths through diverse biomes filled with secrets, forgotten ruins, and wild creatures.

Dead in Antares

Dead in Antares is a turn-based survival management RPG developed by Ishtar Games and published by Nacon, releasing on November 4, 2025, for PC via Steam. The game focuses on managing interconnected systems like food, water, exhaustion, mental health, and energy, while building a camp from ship wreckage. You assign tasks, repair technology, and navigate relationships, where choices shape friendships, rivalries, or betrayals, leading to one of four endings.

Quantic River

Quantic River is an upcoming 2.5D cyberpunk action game developed by FluidFury Interactive, set for release in 2026 on PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG. The game blends fast-paced katana-based combat, focusing on parries, counter-attacks, and fluid attack chains, with deep exploration of dual-layered levels designed for both speedrunners and explorers. You can unlock cybernetic upgrades to enhance combat, mobility, or hacking, slice through destructible environments, and manipulate security systems to access alternate routes.

Fireside Feelings

Fireside Feelings is an upcoming narrative-driven life adventure game developed by Team Empreintes, set for release in late 2025 on PC via Steam. You embody a customizable, adorable character who creates a cozy safe space around a campfire to share and listen to stories in varied, hand-drawn settings. The game focuses on empathy and connection, inviting players worldwide to answer diverse questions, ranging from lighthearted to profound to craft a collective tale filled with compassion.

Ytash a Nocturnal Poem

Ytash: A Nocturnal Poem is an upcoming 2D Metroidvania action-adventure game developed and published by Sunnyside Games, set for release in late 2025 on PC (Steam) and Nintendo Switch. A spinoff of the acclaimed Nocturnal, you control Ardeshir, a master of the Enduring Flame, exploring the dark, forgotten city of Ytash on a compact island. The core mechanic revolves around a unique fire system: striking fire sources ignites Ardeshir’s sword, illuminating the pitch-black environment and enabling stylish combat abilities, but enemies can extinguish the flame, leaving you vulnerable with only one health point.

Follow my Steps

Follow My Steps is an upcoming narrative-driven open-world RPG developed by Midnight Games, set for release in 2026 on PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch. You control Sova, a mother wolf, and her pup Lou, navigating a dreamlike open world to find a new shelter while evading the dangerous Midnight Pack. The game blends exploration, stealth, and magical combat, with six elemental magics used to fight creatures and epic bosses. Core mechanics include using wolf senses to track scents, mark enemies, or uncover hidden treasures, and making moral choices that shape one of 27 unique endings.

HellSlave II: Judgment of the Archon

HellSlave II: Judgment of the Archon is an upcoming dark fantasy dungeon crawler RPG developed by Ars Goetia and published by PID Games, slated for release in 2026 on PC via Steam. A sequel to Hellslave (2022), it continues the series’ grim narrative where players make a pact with the Devil to combat a demonic invasion threatening humanity’s extinction. Ypi must stop six demon lords before a divine purge, choosing one to worship, which grants unique demonic powers and shapes character builds through an expanded passive skill tree.

Barda

Barda is an upcoming survival roguelike bag-building game developed by Mudita Games, the creators of Pilo and the Holobook, set for release in late 2025 in Early Access on PC via Steam, with planned versions for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2. You control Barda, a young girl navigating dangerous forest to find her uncle. The core mechanic revolves around a “bag-building” system, where you collect items to fill a limited inventory, making strategic choices to balance survival resources and combat tools.

Short Announcements

The post AG French Direct 2025: Everything Announced first appeared on IndieGames.

It’s confirmed that the showcase will feature titles from Hibernian Workshop, Focus Entertainment, NACON, Dear Villagers, Devolver Digital, Amplitude Studios, Nine Dots Studios, Ishtar Games, Playdigious Originals, The Game Bakers, Maximum Entertainment, and Sunnyside Games.

Attention will undoubtedly be drawn to Astral Ascent, an ambitious project from Hibernian Workshop that strongly resembles Final Fantasy XVI, as well as ENDLESS Legend 2 from Amplitude Studios, the turn-based survival game Dead in Antares, and Lost in Prayer from Nine Dots Studios, alongside new trailers for Hell is Us, MIO: Memories in Orbit, and Maseylia: Echoes of the Past.

Following the showcase, numerous games will be available on Steam as part of a special festival, where you can try out 20 demo versions and gain deeper insights through interviews and detailed previews.

The post AG French Direct is happening today, featuring 40 games by French developers first appeared on IndieGames.

Within its first three days, Clair Obscur sold 1 million copies. By today, May 27, that figure has reached to 3.3 million across platforms, and that’s not even counting the additional players diving in through Xbox and PC Game Pass. For a brand-new IP crafted by a core team of just 30 people, some of whom were actually new to game development, this is nothing short of phenomenal. Published by Kepler Interactive, a London-based company known for backing bold, creative titles like Pacific Drive, Sifu, and the upcoming Rematch, Clair Obscur truly stands as a testament to what happens when vision and passion collide.

The game boasts an incredible 9.7 user score on Metacritic and a 92 Metascore on consoles, putting it right up there among the elite in its genre. Then there’s the music. Composed by Lorien Testard, the game’s soundtrack has become a phenomenon in its own right. It actually debuted at the top of Billboard’s classical album charts, racking up 33 million streams in its first three weeks and surpassing 90 million by today.

The post Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Sold 3.3 Million Units first appeared on IndieGames.

I never imagined I’d watch a game evolve so much, from spotting Wizdom Academy at last year’s Nordic Game Spring Event, to playing its demos, and now diving into Early Access. It’s like a city-builder mashed with the Harry Potter world, where you’re the head of a wizarding academy, building it from scratch into a fun, magical place. It’s still rough, with plenty of content to come, but if you want a chill city-builder without intense challenges, this one’s worth checking out.

Harry Potter-Inspired School City-Builder with Potential

Wizdom Academy is a single-player management sim where you oversee the construction, operation, and growth of an academy, balancing resources like mana, gold, and fame while nurturing students into skilled mages. The Early Access build offers a playable experience with core mechanics such as building, teaching, and defending against magical threats, but lacks a complete campaign and suffers from bugs and balance issues. The game’s loop involves designing your school, managing staff and students, and addressing challenges like mana droughts.

No matter the starting location – whether sunny, vibrant lands or moody, dark places – every beginning in Wizdom Academy feels pretty much identical. You kick off with a brief “warm-up” tutorial, then dive into quests. I don’t mind the structure, but there’s no free exploration right away; you’re locked into the first part of the tech tree before the world opens up. The game does a solid job teaching you the mechanics, but it can feel a bit dull if you’re craving a true clean-slate adventure from the start.

The core mechanic is constructing your academy on a tile-based grid, starting with a mana-oozing tree as the magical hub. You place prefab rooms such as classrooms, dormitories, exam halls, and utility spaces which are connected by hallways, with the ability to build vertically across multiple floors. The building system is intuitive, with rooms snapping into place and auto-adapting to creative layouts, allowing stacked or sprawling designs. Customization includes 39 unique rooms and 23 decorations, with a tech tree unlocking new structures and upgrades as you progress.

“The building system is intuitive.”

Wizdom Academy’s Quirky Yet Flawed Systems

However, the construction system has issues: builders occasionally fail to start projects, and there’s a lot of issue with upper floors, requiring manual fixes, and the starting grid feels cramped with obstacles limiting expansion. It’s wild how many obstacles clutter the map’s center, it’s a hassle since the bricks you get from them are key. A simpler layout would’ve helped, as it feels overwhelming at times.

You recruit students and teachers, each with 91 unique traits affecting their skills and personalities, shaping their growth from apprentices to mages. Students develop through classes, with their education quality impacting their skills and behavior, but neglected students can become troublemakers. The game’s vibe really shines here as mana fuels all the life and happiness in your academy, and even the council can turn against you if you don’t treat everyone well. It’s a cool touch that ties your choices to the world’s mood.

Teachers are assigned to classrooms, and their success hinges on resources and your management skills. The focus on meaningful education over profit feels fresh, but I wish there was more depth in customizing the curriculum. My biggest gripe is the imbalance, students and teachers have way more negative traits than positive ones. If you don’t stay on top of things, you’ll end up with a pile of troublemaker students. Plus, the best teachers cost a fortune, while the cheaper ones are so bad they’re barely worth hiring.

“Neglected students can turn into troublemakers.”

Balancing Resources and Goals

While mana is crucial, frequent “mana droughts” force you to shut down facilities, throwing gameplay into chaos. Gold, earned from student tuition, pays for building and hiring, while fame boosts your academy’s prestige. Early on, resources are tight, gold trickles in slowly, and mana shortages hit hard, making it tough to hire teachers or fend off magical creatures. If you don’t manage your gold carefully, it can seriously mess you up, especially since early-game gold sources are limited. You can store resources, but those droughts are honestly more frustrating than anything else.

Research points, earned through education, unlock tech tree upgrades, but the game barely explains how it works. You can upgrade anything, yet there’s little info on what each upgrade does or what to prioritize, leaving you guessing. On the plus side, there are 29 explorable locations such as villages, dungeons, and rival academies which sound exciting, though half feel like teasers for future content. The real issue kicks in after the first part of the game: with no clear goals to guide you, continuing feels tedious and directionless.

When it comes to the graphics, they bring classrooms, dorms, and trial grounds to life, with a magical art style that feels like Wizard101. Students and teachers bustling through halls create a lively vibe, and zooming in to watch them work is fun. From a “God mode” view, it looks great, but character models get rough up close. The big letdown is the AI-generated character headshots, which stand out poorly, though the devs plan to swap them for human-drawn art.

“Graphics bring a lively, Wizard101-like magical vibe.”

Ending Thoughts

In the end, Wizdom Academy is a charming but rough wizard school sim that nails a Harry Potter-inspired vibe with fun building mechanics. Its flexible construction and evolving students lay a solid foundation, but bugs, AI-generated art, unbalanced resources, and weak onboarding drag down the Early Access experience. For now, it suits patient city-builder fans who can handle glitches, while casual players should wait for updates or check out the demo.

“Charming but rough wizard school sim.”

Review copy provided by the publisher

3

The post Wizdom Academy – Čaroban, ali nesavršen city-builder first appeared on IndieGames.

New Game Announcements

Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss

• Developer: Big Bad Wolf (The Council, Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong)
• Genre: First-person psychological thriller
• Details: Set in 2053, players control Noah, an Interpol agent from the occult-specializing Ancile division, investigating miners’ disappearances in the Pacific Ocean. The trail leads to R’lyeh, the sunken city imprisoning Cthulhu, promising a Lovecraftian descent into madness.
• Release Date: 2026 (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S)

The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu

• Developer: ACE Team (Clash: Artifacts of Chaos, Zeno Clash)
• Genre: First-person horror with online co-op (up to 4 players)
• Details: Loosely inspired by Lovecraft’s The Mound, this pirate-themed adventure involves treasure-hunting amidst cosmic horrors. It’s a shift from ACE Team’s usual fare, emphasizing cooperative survival.
• Release Date: 2025 (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S)

Styx: Blades of Greed

• Developer: Cyanide Studio
• Genre: Stealth-action with strategic elements
• Details: A return for the goblin thief Styx, set in a vertically designed medieval fantasy world. Players focus on stealing Quartz, navigating open-ended environments with a mix of stealth and combat.
• Release Date: Fall 2025 (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S)

RoboCop: Rogue City – Unfinished Business

• Developer: Teyon Studio
• Genre: First-person shooter (standalone expansion)
• Details: Following the million-plus success of RoboCop: Rogue City (2023), this expansion puts players back in Alex Murphy’s boots. New weapons, brutal finishers, and flashback missions as pre-RoboCop Murphy face off against mercenaries atop Omni Tower.
• Release Date: Summer 2025 (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S)

The Fading of Nicole Wilson

• Developer: Unspecified (Nacon-published)
• Genre: First-person narrative horror adventure
• Details: A teen ghost hunter, Brit, investigates paranormal activity at the Timberline Hotel after her employer’s hospitalization. Armed with a camera and gear, she uncovers forces beyond the supernatural.
• Release Date: 2025 (PC, consoles)

Updates on Previously Announced Games

Hell is Us

• Developer: Rogue Factor
• Details: A post-apocalyptic action-adventure, this gameplay reveal (narrated by creative director Jonathan Jacques-Belletête) showcased its investigation mechanics. Players rely on observation and intuition to unravel a mysterious calamity.
• Release Date: September 4, 2025 (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S)

Edge of Memories

• Developer: Midgar Studio
• Details: A JRPG sequel to Edge of Eternity, featuring third-person real-time combat against monstrous foes in Heryon. New gameplay footage deepened its action-packed narrative.
• Release Date: Fall 2025 (PC, consoles)

Dragonkin: The Banished

• Developer: Eko Software
• Details: A hack-and-slash title that launched in Early Access on Steam on March 6, 2025, coinciding with the event. Post-show interviews offered exclusive footage.
• Release Date: Early Access now; full release TBD

Ravenswatch

• Developer: Passtech Games
• Details: This co-op action roguelike, nearing 1 million players since its September 2024 full launch, unveiled a free DLC: Romeo & Juliet. The duo wields rapier and firearm in tandem, requiring synchronized play.
• Release Date: DLC coming soon (PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch)

Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown

• Developer: KT Racing
• Details: The MMO racing game’s Season 3 launches March 19, 2025, with new modes (Navigation Races, Delivery Missions), QoL features (Solo Mode, AI Difficulty), three new cars, a free 50-level Solar Pass, and custom license plates.
• Release Date: Season 3 on March 19, 2025 (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S)

The Occultist

• Developer: Daedalic Entertainment, DALOAR
• Details: A first-person horror game with initial gameplay footage revealed, promising a chilling experience.
• Release: 2026 (PC, consoles)

RENNSPORT

• Developer: Competition Company & Teyon
• Details: A realistic racing sim expanding to consoles via Nacon’s publishing. Cross-platform play enhances its competitive edge.
• Release: 2025 (PS5, Xbox Series X/S)

Accessories Unveiled

• Revosim RS Pure: Nacon’s first racing wheel (9 Nm Direct Drive), with handbrake, gearshift, and clutch pedal add-ons. Pre-orders opened March 6, 2025.
• Revolution X Unlimited: Official Xbox controller, now pre-orderable.
• Revolution 5 Pro: Official PlayStation controller, showcased with PWR collab.
• RIG 900 Max Headset: Premium audio for gamers.
• DAJIA Arcade Stick: A fighting game staple, highlighted with PWR branding.

The post Everything Announced at Nacon Connect March 2025 first appeared on IndieGames.

Founded in 2018 by Mathieu Girard, Tactical Adventures quickly made a name for itself with the release of Solasta: Crown of the Magister in 2021. The game was praised for its deep tactical gameplay, faithful adaptation of Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition rules, and immersive storytelling. The studio recently unveiled Solasta II during The Game Awards in December.

Girard, CEO of Tactical Adventures, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating that Kepler’s values align closely with those of his studio. He emphasized that this collaboration will help amplify the launch of Solasta II while allowing Tactical Adventures to maintain its production and editorial independence.

Alexis Garavaryan, CEO of Kepler Interactive, welcomed Tactical Adventures into the collective, praising the studio’s commitment to authenticity and its ability to create a standout tactical RPG that resonated deeply with its community. He highlighted the importance of aligning values and elevating the entire group, ensuring that Tactical Adventures’ unique perspective and expertise will contribute to Kepler’s mission.

Solasta II is currently in development for PC and is expected to enter Early Access on Steam in 2025.

The post Tactical Adventures joins Kepler Interactive, marking the beginning of a new chapter for Solasta II first appeared on IndieGames.

The financial struggles are largely due to the poor performance of two key games, Jusant and Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden. Don’t Nod has written down €24 million on these titles, explaining that future sales are unlikely to recover the development costs in what they call an “oversaturated market.”

In addition, the company paused work on two new projects and canceled another, leading to further losses of €7.6 million. However, development will continue on Lost Records: Bloom & Rage and other codenamed projects, P10 and P14.

Facing these difficulties, Don’t Nod has applied to resume trading on Euronext after a temporary halt and is undergoing a major restructuring. The company had previously divided its operations into three branches, focusing on action RPGs, action-adventure games, and narrative adventures, in hopes of strengthening its position in the AA+ game development sector. However, CEO Oskar Guilbert admitted these efforts were not enough to stay competitive.

As part of the restructuring, the company is considering layoffs that could impact up to 69 employees, or 19.7% of its workforce. Don’t Nod is also reevaluating its game portfolio, aiming to streamline internal processes and better align its projects with market demand.

In response to the disappointing results, Don’t Nod is making adjustments to its future plans. The studio will now focus more on its upcoming title Lost Records: Bloom & Rage, which will be released in two parts in February and March 2025. The goal is to maximize return on investment in the short and medium term.

The post Don’t Nod Faces Major Losses and Restructuring Amid Underperforming Releases first appeared on IndieGames.

“The announcement of Gloomy Eyes: The Game is a testament to ARTE’s investment in the world of independent video games. With its surprising artistic universe, innovative and accessible gameplay, and moving story, ARTE’s editorial strategy is in full swing.”

ARTE France head of digital project management and video games co-productions and publishing activities manager Adrien Larouzee

Gloomy Eyes: The Game is about Gloomy, a mysterious zombie boy and Nena, a young girl. Using the unique abilities of Gloomy and Nena, players must solve puzzles and help the heroes in their quest to make sun rise again. They will discover a unique story of loneliness, diversity and love by solving various puzzles in this dark and poetic narrative game.

Gloomy Eyes: The Game invites players into beautifully crafted dioramas, thanks to its original artistic direction and graphical style. These elements directly inherit from the virtual reality experience that won the “Best VR Film” award at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in 2019.

The post Dark narrative puzzle game Gloomy Eyes: The Game has been announced for PC first appeared on IndieGames.