Guardians of Azuma introduces you to a new eastern country. Here, the Celestial Collapse, a major disaster, has broken the land and stopped the flow of runes. You play as an Earth Dancer, whose job is to fix the land, fight corruption, and bring the gods back. This new setting, along with classic Rune Factory elements, has been a hit with both old and new fans.

Critics have praised Guardians of Azuma for its improvements, especially in farming and player choice. One reviewer called it “the greatest Rune Factory game yet”, thanks to its advances in farming and its charming characters. Players on Steam are also very positive, with over 800 reviews and an 85% positive rating. The combat in the game is now smoother and more enjoyable, enhanced by a wider array of weapons and skills.

Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma is currently available for PC via Steam, Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2.

The post Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma Reaches 13k Concurrent Players, Showing Great Success for Marvelous first appeared on IndieGames.

Anima: Gate of Memories I & II Remaster weaves together two stories set in a universe inspired by the Anima Beyond Fantasy tabletop RPG. You will follow the intertwined fates of two protagonists: the Bearer of Calamities, a mysterious girl with no memory, and the Nameless, an immortal soul cursed to wander forever. With branching storylines shaped by your choices, the saga offers a deep, dual-perspective narrative that explores themes of destiny, memory, and sacrifice.

The remaster rebuilds both games from the ground up, delivering upgraded visuals, while the fast-paced combat system has been rebalanced, blending real-time action with classic RPG mechanics. Additionally, you can execute various combos and strategic attacks, switching seamlessly between characters using the Dual System to chain devastating moves.

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Deltarune first appeared with free chapters in 2018 and 2021, while the release of Chapters 3 and 4 on June 4, 2025 transformed Deltarune into a fully realized title. Priced at 24.99 € for Chapters 1-4, the game has not only justified its cost but exceeded expectations. It’s now one of Steam’s top-selling titles and ranked among the top-ten most played games after its latest update.

The game’s success stems from several key factors. Firstly, tobyfox’s signature storytelling remains a cornerstone. The narrative, set in a parallel universe to Undertale, introduces new characters like Kris, Susie, and Ralsei, while reimagining familiar faces such as Toriel and Sans. Deltarune also keeps the turn-based RPG mechanics from Undertale but with significant change. Its bullet-hell inspired battles, now integrated into the overworld, offer strategic twist.

Players praise Deltarune for its “incredible storytelling, well-written characters, and wonderful soundtrack”. Many note that despite being unfinished initially, it had “a lot of potential” and has already surpassed expectations with its latest chapters. The free-to-play model for the initial chapters also built a dedicated fanbase, which then supported the paid release of Chapters 3 and 4.

Looking ahead, Deltarune’s future is bright. With Chapters 5 and beyond still in development coming as free updates, players are eager to see how the story unfolds and what new challenges await. Perhaps this new model of integrating and finishing a game could be worthwhile, but maybe only in tobyfox’s case, given he’s already a well-received developer.

The post Tobyfox Strikes Again: Deltarune Becomes a Massive Hit After Undertale first appeared on IndieGames.

POPUCOM

Release Date: June 2, 2025

Platforms: PC

Genre: Multiplayer / Platformer

POPUCOM is a multiplayer co-op platform adventure game. As an adventurer, you are summoned to an unknown planet to embark on an exoplanet expedition with your friends. Face various enemies and use engaging items and techniques to eliminate threats and restore the world to its former glory. The game features two main modes: a narrative-driven story mode designed for two players, and “Party Mode” for three to four players, perfect for chaotic fun and shared laughter.

DELTARUNE

Release Date: June 4, 2025

Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2

Genre: RPG

DELTARUNE is an episodic RPG by Toby Fox, a spin-off from Undertale, set in a parallel universe. You control Kris, a human teenager in a monster-filled town, who enters the “Dark World” with classmates Susie and Ralsei to seal Dark Fountains and save the world. The game blends turn-based combat with bullet hell mechanics, allowing you to fight or spare enemies. Unlike Undertale, it has one ending, emphasizing limited player choice. Chapters 1-2 are free on PC, Mac, Switch, and PS4, with Chapters 3-4 set for a paid release.

The Alters

Release Date: June 13, 2025

Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S

Genre: Survival

The Alters is a sci-fi survival game. You play as Jan Dolski, a miner stranded on a hostile planet, piloting a mobile base to escape deadly solar radiation. Using Rapidium, you create “Alters”—alternate versions of Jan with unique skills based on different life choices. The game blends base-building, resource management, and exploration with a branching narrative, where choices shape Jan’s relationships with his Alters and lead to multiple endings.

Date Everything!

Release Date: June 17, 2025

Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch

Genre: Dating Sim

Date Everything! is a sandbox dating sim by Sassy Chap Games. After losing your job to AI, you receive magical “Dateviator” glasses that transform household objects like your bed, fridge, or even existential dread into 100 fully voice-acted dateable characters. With branching narratives and at least three endings per character, you can romance, befriend, or feud, crafting unique stories in a vibrant, pun-filled world.

Crown Gambit

Release Date: June 18, 2025

Platforms: PC

Genre: Tactical RPG

Crown Gambit is a narrative-driven tactical RPG. Set in the dark fantasy kingdom of Meodred, you guide three paladins – Aliza, Hael, and Rollo – through a chaotic capital torn by a war of succession. Choose a side among throne contenders, wielding ancestral relics in card-based combat against knights, nobles, and rebels. Your choices shape the story, paladin personalities, and multiple endings, blending strategy, visual novel elements, and Celtic-inspired art by Gobert.

Broken Arrow

Release Date: June 19, 2025

Platforms: PC

Genre: Strategy / Tactical

Broken Arrow is a large-scale, real-time modern warfare tactics game by Slitherine. Set in a fictional Eastern European conflict, it features U.S. and Russian factions with over 300 customizable units across six categories, offering 1,500+ combinations. You build armies, deploy via land, sea, and air, and engage in strategic battles on realistic, large maps like cities and refineries. With deep unit customization, a scenario editor, and 5v5 multiplayer, it blends Company of Heroes-style action with Arma-like realism.

REMATCH

Release Date: June 19, 2025

Platforms: PC

Genre: Football / Multiplayer

REMATCH is a fast-paced, arcade-style 5v5 multiplayer football game by Sloclap. You control a single character in a third-person perspective, with no fouls or offsides, ensuring non-stop action in futuristic VR arenas. Emphasizing skill-based gameplay and teamwork, it features manual passing, shooting, and dribbling, with modes like 3v3 and 4v4 alongside competitive 5v5. Customization options include cosmetics, and the game, priced at 30 €, avoids pay-to-win mechanics.

Star Overdrive

Release Date: June 19, 2025

Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S

Genre: Action-Adventure

Star Overdrive is an open-world sci-fi action-adventure, in which you play as Bios, a spacefarer stranded on the alien planet Cebete, searching for your lost lover, Nous. Using a hoverboard and keytar, you speed through diverse biomes, solve puzzles, and battle enemies. The game blends Zelda: Breath of the Wild-style exploration with Tony Hawk-inspired traversal, featuring a retro-futuristic aesthetic and synth-rock soundtrack.

BitCraft Online

Release Date: June 20, 2025

Platforms: PC

Genre: MMORPG

BitCraft Online is a sandbox MMORPG. Set in a single, procedurally generated world, you are awaken as mystical beings, building shelters to survive. The game emphasizes crafting, farming, hunting, and city-building over combat, with a freeform skill system where you master abilities through practice. You can create towns, trade, or unite cities into empires, shaping a dynamic, player-driven world.

Shuffle Tactics

Release Date: June 24, 2025

Platforms: PC

Genre: Deckbuilding

Shuffle Tactics is a roguelite deckbuilding tactical RPG. Set in the cursed kingdom of Asteria, you battle the Glimmer Curse as heroes like Doberknight or Catalina, using strategic card combos and grid-based positioning. With 500+ cards, 20 sidekicks, and diverse biomes, it blends Final Fantasy Tactics and Slay the Spire for deep, replayable combat.

DREADZONE

Release Date: June 26, 2025

Platforms: PC

Genre: Survival

DREADZONE is a survival game by Eshed, set in a post-apocalyptic quarantine zone ravaged by the Zeno-29 virus. Players scavenge resources, craft tools, build shelters, and fight zombies, mutants, animals, and rival survivors in a gritty open-world. With first-person combat, base-building, and co-op multiplayer, it offers a tense, atmospheric experience.

Ruffy and the Riverside

Release Date: June 26, 2025

Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch

Genre: Platformer

Ruffy and the Riverside is a open-world 3D platformer. You play as Ruffy, a bear with the magical SWAP ability to copy and paste textures, for example, turning ice into lava to solve puzzles and explore Riverside. Joined by friends like Pip the bee, you battle villain Groll to save the World Core. With hand-drawn art, playful side quests, and collectibles, it blends Banjo-Kazooie-style charm with innovative mechanics.

The post Top 12 Indie Games Releasing in June 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.

The original Switch, already a phenomenon with 2.74 million units sold in its launch month and 15.05 million in its first full year, is closing in on the Nintendo DS’s record of 154.02 million units. With 152.12 million units sold by FY25’s end after moving 10.8 million units, and a projected 4.5 million more in FY26, it’s almost certain to become Nintendo’s best-selling console ever.

Yet, as the Switch nears the end of its lifecycle, FY25 showed declines:

• Net Sales: Fell 30.3% to 1.16 trillion yen ($8.03 billion) in FY25.
• Profits: Dropped 43.2% to 278.8 billion yen ($1.9 billion).
• Hardware Sales: Declined 31.2% to 10.8 million units.
• Software Sales: Decreased 22.2% to 155.41 million units.
• Digital Sales: Slid 26.5% to 326 billion yen ($2.25 billion).
• Mobile/IP Income: Fell 27% to 67.6 billion yen ($466.8 million), impacted by reduced revenue from The Super Mario Bros. Movie.

As the original Switch winds down, Nintendo is looking to the Switch 2 to spark growth, projecting FY26 sales of 1.9 trillion yen ($13.1 billion). With strong anticipation and Nintendo’s proven track record, the Switch 2 is set to make waves, potentially surpassing its predecessor and reinforcing Nintendo’s dominance in gaming.

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Originally scheduled for April 9, 2025, preorders were delayed after the Trump administration announced significant tariffs on the same day the Switch 2 was fully revealed. These tariffs have led to price adjustments of roughly 5-6 percent for most accessories. The Pro Controller’s price has risen from $79.99 to $84.99, and a pair of Joy-Con 2 controllers now costs $94.99, up from $89.99. The Nintendo Switch 2 dock faces a 9 percent increase, moving from $109.99 to $119.99, while the Nintendo Switch 2 Camera sees a 10 percent hike, jumping from $49.99 to $54.99.

The camera’s price increase could affect Nintendo’s plans for its new “GameChat” feature, designed to make the Switch 2 a social hub where players can chat across different games. While Nintendo confirmed USB-C support for third-party cameras, which could offset the price hike, manufacturers of those devices may also raise prices due to the tariffs.

Although the Trump administration paused most of its announced tariffs on April 9 for 90 days, the 145 percent tariff on goods made in China remains in place. Recent messaging from the administration has been unclear, with exemptions granted for devices like smartphones and monitors on April 11, but video game consoles were not included. Officials later clarified that these devices were re-categorized rather than exempted, adding uncertainty.

If the tariffs take full effect after the 90-day pause, Nintendo’s current price adjustments may not cover the additional costs for devices entering the U.S. To prepare, the company may be rushing to move consoles from its manufacturing hubs in China and Vietnam to the United States. Nintendo also warned that further price increases for the Switch 2, physical games, or other products could occur depending on future market conditions.

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According to the Steam page, Titanic Scion offers a dark sci-fi story and gameplay that’s easy for newcomers to pick up. If you played the first game, you’ll love the expanded scope of this one. Plus, you can customize your Arsenal with different parts, which you can earn by defeating enemies or researching in the game’s Factory. There are 24 Arsenal sets to collect, with unique designs inspired by things like ancient weapons and Japanese mythology.

They also shared a link to a video showcasing the game’s systems, giving players a closer look at how it all works. This new game builds on the original Daemon X Machina, which came out in 2020, and brings the series to modern platforms like Nintendo Switch 2.

The post Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion Shares New Action-Packed Gameplay Trailer first appeared on IndieGames.

Interestingly, I recently came across a Reddit post discussing how LEGO, much like Nintendo, has shifted its focus away from kids and toward adults with disposable income. Could the same be happening with Nintendo? Who is their real target audience now? Are their first-party titles compelling enough to justify buying the console, or are we just seeing the same types of games recycled year after year?

When the Nintendo Switch 2 was first announced at Nintendo Direct last week, initial reactions were largely positive. A hybrid console with upgraded hardware, a larger screen, and promises of enhanced gameplay? Sign us up! Yet Nintendo’s decision to withhold the price during the showcase, whether due to last-minute indecision or fear of backlash, already hinted at potential trouble.

Now, as the excitement of the reveal fades, it’s becoming clear that the Switch 2 is stumbling out of the gate. Between questionable design choices, a steep price hike, and a concerning approach to game pricing, what once seemed like a surefire hit is starting to feel like a misstep. Let’s not forget who’s steering the ship at Nintendo, president Shuntaro Furukawa, a businessman first and foremost, not necessarily someone with a deep understanding of the gaming industry. Is this yet another case of corporate greed taking priority? Only time and sales figures will tell.

A Pricey Console That Feels Like a Half-Step Forward

At $449.99 for the base model, the Nintendo Switch 2 is the most expensive console Nintendo has ever launched. For context, the original Switch debuted at $299.99 in 2017, a price that felt reasonable for its groundbreaking hybrid design. Even the Switch OLED, with its premium display, retailed at $349.99. A $150 jump for the Switch 2 feels like a gut punch, especially when you consider what you’re getting, or rather, what you’re not getting.

The Switch 2 boasts a 7.9-inch 1080p LCD screen, improved processing power, and a slightly refined design with dual USB-C ports and a more adjustable kickstand. On paper, these are nice upgrades, but they don’t scream “next-gen.” The decision to stick with an LCD screen instead of OLED, especially after the Switch OLED’s vibrant display, feels like a step backward. Competitors like the Steam Deck offer comparable (or better) specs at similar or lower price points, with access to a vast library of discounted PC games. Meanwhile, the Switch 2’s hardware, while improved, doesn’t seem to close the gap with modern consoles like the PS5 or Xbox Series X in any meaningful way.

Then there’s the timing. Nintendo’s announcement came alongside news of new U.S. tariffs on imported goods, particularly from countries like Vietnam, where much of the Switch 2’s manufacturing takes place. These tariffs, ranging from 10% to 49%, have already forced Nintendo to pause pre-orders in the U.S. to “assess the impact.” Analysts are speculating that the base price could climb to $500 or higher if the tariffs stick. Nintendo reportedly stockpiled units to mitigate the initial hit, but once those run dry, consumers could be looking at an even pricier console.

The Game Price Hike: A Cash Grab Too Far

If the console’s price tag raised eyebrows, the cost of Switch 2 games has sparked outright outrage. Nintendo has set a new standard for its first-party titles, with flagship launch game Mario Kart World retailing at $79.99 digitally and a staggering $89.99 for physical copies. Other titles, like Donkey Kong Bananza, start at $69.99, still a significant jump from the $59.99 norm for Switch 1 games. For comparison, even high-budget PS5 and Xbox Series X games typically launch at $69.99, and those often involve massive development costs for photorealistic graphics and sprawling open worlds. Nintendo’s family-friendly fare, while polished, doesn’t seem to justify the premium.

What stings even more is the lack of transparency. Nintendo didn’t mention game prices during its Switch 2 Direct presentation, leaving fans to discover the $80-$90 price tags after the fact. This sparked a firestorm on social media, with Reddit threads and livestream chats flooded with demands to “drop the price.” The backlash was so intense that former Nintendo marketing leads have suggested the company is in full “war room” mode, scrambling to address the PR nightmare. Yet, so far, Nintendo’s response has been silence, a risky move for a brand that thrives on goodwill.

The pricing model raises deeper concerns about value. Mario Kart World may be a “significantly expanded experience” compared to past entries, but $80-$90 for a kart racer feels too much when you consider that Mario Kart 8 Deluxe launched at $59.99 and became one of the best-selling games of all time. Nintendo’s argument seems to hinge on the idea that their games offer unmatched quality and replayability, but that logic falls flat when you realize they’re charging $10-$20 more than competitors for titles that don’t appear to push technical boundaries.

And don’t get me started on the $10-$15 “upgrade fees” for Switch 1 games optimized for Switch 2. Asking players to pay extra for better frame rates on games they already own feels like double dipping, plain and simple.

A Launch Lineup That Lacks Punch

Price hikes might be easier to swallow if the Switch 2 launched with a killer lineup, but the reality is underwhelming. Mario Kart World is the lead title, joined by Donkey Kong Bananza and a great choice of third-party ports like Hades II, Borderlands 4 or Split Fiction. There’s also Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour, a $10 tech demo that’s essentially a paid tutorial, hardly the free pack-in like Wii Sports or Astro’s Playroom that could showcase the console’s potential.

Compare this to the original Switch’s launch, which had The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, a game that redefined open-world adventures and justified the console’s existence on day one. The Switch 2’s lineup feels safe, not revolutionary, and it’s hard to see it driving mass adoption at these prices.

The reliance on “Switch 2 Editions” of existing games, like Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, further muddies the waters. These enhanced versions come with a cost, either through paid upgrades or full-price repurchasing, which alienates fans who’ve already invested in the originals. Nintendo’s history of stingy discounts doesn’t help, unlike Sony or Microsoft, who regularly slash prices on older titles, Nintendo games rarely drop below $40, even years after release. This approach might maximize profits, but it risks pricing out the younger and more budget-conscious players who flocked to the original Switch.

However, there’s at least one Switch 2 exclusive worth getting excited about: The Duskbloods, an upcoming online multiplayer title from FromSoftware that supports up to eight players. During the Nintendo Switch 2 Showcase, the developers debuted a short trailer offering a glimpse into the game’s world and core themes. Drenched in dark, gothic atmosphere, the teaser opens with a cryptic reference to an unnamed knight of “light.” The game seems to introduce a fully original universe with its own lore and cast, including one particularly striking character who appears to hunt monsters in vampiric fashion.

The Bigger Picture: A Risky Bet

Perhaps the most frustrating part of the Switch 2 saga is Nintendo’s apparent disconnect from its audience. The company has always marched to its own beat, but its refusal to address pricing concerns or clarify the tariff situation feels tone-deaf. Fans aren’t just upset about the cost, they’re upset about the lack of communication. When the 3DS launched at $250 in 2011 and flopped, Nintendo quickly slashed the price to $170, turning it into a success. That kind of bold course correction seems unlikely here, at least in the short term, as Nintendo doubles down on its premium pricing strategy.

There’s also the issue of physical game ownership. Reports suggest that Switch 2 game cards may act more like external drives, requiring installation and potentially limiting true ownership. This move, combined with higher physical game prices, undermines one of Nintendo’s strengths: the collectible, tangible nature of its cartridges. For a company that’s leaned heavily on nostalgia, this feels like a misstep that could alienate longtime fans.

Nintendo’s pricing decisions don’t exist in a vacuum. The gaming industry is grappling with rising development costs, inflation, and economic uncertainty. But while Sony and Microsoft have gradually inched toward $70 games, Nintendo’s leap to $80-$90 feels like a power move, one that assumes fans will pay anything for Mario and Zelda. The problem is, the Switch 2 isn’t launching into the same market as its predecessor. The original Switch thrived because it was affordable, portable, and packed with must-play exclusives. At $450 (or more), with $80-$90 games and a modest launch lineup, the Switch 2 risks pricing out the casual players who drove its predecessor to 140 million units sold.

Not Everything Is Lost

Worse still, this price hike could give other publishers the green light to follow suit. If Nintendo, a company known for its relatively modest development budgets, can charge $80-$90 for a game, what’s stopping Ubisoft, EA, or Square Enix from pushing their Switch 2 titles into the same territory? The ripple effect could turn the Switch 2’s game library into one of the most expensive on the market, undermining the console’s appeal as an accessible, family-friendly platform.

Compare this to recent rumors about Grand Theft Auto VI, which some speculate could launch at $100 due to its unprecedented scope and Rockstar’s ambitious vision. While $100 for a sprawling crime epic might raise eyebrows, it’s at least conceivable given the sheer scale of GTA. Charging $80-$90 for Mario Kart World, a kart racer with updated visuals and a few new tracks, feels indefensible by comparison.

There’s still hope. Nintendo has a history of course-correcting, whether through price cuts, budget models like a Switch 2 Lite, or software that makes the cost feel worthwhile. But right now, the Switch 2 feels like a console caught between ambition and miscalculation. The hardware upgrades are solid but not spectacular, the game prices are hard to justify, and the looming threat of tariffs only adds to the uncertainty. Nintendo needs to start listening to its fans, not just its accountants, or it risks turning its next big chapter into a cautionary tale.

The post [OPINION] We Need to Talk About Nintendo Switch 2... first appeared on IndieGames.