Every yr, I find yourself writing roundups of lots of indie showcases. But inevitably, Day of the Devs showcases are all the time my favorites. Originally an annual in-person present in San Francisco run by Double Fine, Day of the Devs has added digital showcases to its lineup in recent times and simply this yr hooked up its in-person and digital present to The Game Awards.
Day of the Devs constantly reveals off a few of the most creative, bizarre, and thrilling upcoming indie video games within the trade, and this yr isn’t any exception. I can’t choose favorites, so right here’s a little bit tiny rundown of every little thing we simply noticed within the present, although I extremely suggest watching every trailer your self too!
Militsioner
Militsioner, from the sport studio TallBoys, is described as a primary particular person runaway sim, the place the participant is a wrongly-accused civilian trying to flee a metropolis beneath the watchful eye of a large (like, really huge) policeman. The trailer mixes wholesome doses of absurdity, horror, and political commentary, with gamers in a position to benefit from a “Tamagotchi-like temper system” to work together with anybody within the metropolis…together with the enormous policeman. Maybe complimenting him sufficient will get him to ease up on you?
Nirvana Noir
From Feral Cat Den, the staff behind Genesis Noir, comes a sequel of types in Nirvana Noir. While the aesthetic will likely be acquainted to Genesis Noir followers, Nirvana Noir comes with a burst of brilliant coloration, and is described as “acid-tinged psychedelia.” It follows a watchmaker named Norman who “confronted an unattainable choice, and selected the unattainable: to reside two lives” with all the implications and struggles that brings. Nirvana Noir continues to be a methods out, however has launched a crowdfunding marketing campaign and is coming to Steam, and Xbox by way of Game Pass at a later date.
Thank Goodness You’re Here
You’ve heard of platformers, however Thank Goodness You’re Here is outwardly a “slapformer” from developer Coal Supper that embraces British comedy. Set in a little bit city within the north of England, Thank Goodness You’re Here follows a salesman who has arrived to satisfy with the mayor – however has proven up too early and has tons of time to kill. So kill time he does, by getting as much as all types of mischief round city with the locals and working foolish errands for them. It’s coming in 2024.
Flock
We’ve seen Flock earlier than, however by no means fairly on this stage of element. Flock, from developer Hollow Ponds, places the participant on the again of a hen flying round attractive landscapes. As you journey, you may sing to and allure creatures you meet, finally getting them to comply with your flock via the sky. But many creatures are difficult and like to cover, and also you’ll want to make use of shut remark to categorize every creature and study one of the simplest ways to allure it into your group. Flock is coming to Xbox, Steam, and PlayStation in spring of 2024.
Kind Words 2
If ever a sport deserved a sequel that statistically was most likely not going to get one however then miraculously did anyway, it’s Kind Words – lofi beats to write down to. The authentic Kind Words was a tiny however transferring sport the place gamers may write letters to different random gamers about their worries, fears, needs, and goals, and obtain variety responses again. Now, developer Popcannibal is increasing on the concept by setting Kind Words 2 in a metropolis that provides gamers all types of various methods to speak and share. You can write poetry in a espresso store, share needs to the evening sky on a mountain prime, or scream into the void fairly actually. The Steam web page is reside now, and playtest signups can be found.
Hermit and Pig
Do you want Mother 3? Well, we’re nonetheless not getting a localization of that within the States, however Hermit and Pig from developer Heavy Lunch Studio offers off fairly large Mother 3 aesthetic vibes. Its fight pulls from the Mother sequence in addition to Pokemon, Paper Mario, and Street Fighter, asking gamers to decide on strategies of assault that appear like they’d be impactful to every enemy. For occasion, you may’t punch a cockroach – however you may stomp one! Even conversations are battles, in a manner, since Hermit isn’t so nice at speaking to folks and might take cringe harm from interactions gone improper. Hermit and Pig is a “mushroom-infused” RPG a few man and his pig uncovering a conspiracy, and it‘s coming to PC in 2024.
Dome-King Cabbage
I’ve watched the Dome-King Cabbage trailer a number of instances, and I’m nonetheless not absolutely positive what this sport is, however I do know that I’m actually, actually into it. Here’s what we do know. It’s developed by Cobysoft Co. and is supposedly a brief visible novel set on the planet of a monster-collecting RPG. Parts of the trailer regarded loads like an RPG Maker sport, however these have been interspersed with extravagant FMV sequences with surreal imagery and odd cartoon characters. Apparently the creator made it whereas stressed instructing lessons in Japan and laying on the ground utilizing a bottle of detergent as a pillow. I don’t know what to make of all that, however each time Dome-King Cabbage makes it to PC and Switch, I’m dedicated to enjoying it to see what it’s all about.
Ultros
From developer Hadoque, Ultros is a Metroidvania with true Metroid inspirations. You get up after crashing your ship to search out you’ve landed on a large area uterus that incorporates an historic demon named Ultros. Exploring the alien planet, you end up assembly alien creatures and planting seeds of recent life as you additionally destroy enemies. Ultros is a sport about cycles, with a “loop” mechanic that permits you to begin over at particular story moments to attempt to unlock new outcomes. It’s coming to PC, PS5, and PS4 on February 13, 2024.
Loose Leaf
The builders of Boyfriend Dungeon, Kitfox Games, have introduced their subsequent sport: Loose Leaf. It’s a “tea witch simulator” that guarantees “probably the most in-depth tea brewing sim ever.” Players can management substances, temperature, stirring, steeping time, and extra to attempt to make the absolute best cup of tea. But it’s not nearly tea – you’re a tea witch. So you’ll even be creating relationships together with your clients, doing tarot readings, and serving to them make sense of their issues.
Holstin
Holstin, from developer Sonka, is a psychological survival horror sport set in a 90s Polish city haunted by one thing ominous. While it will probably seem at first look to take a top-down view, Holstein is all about altering perspective. The digicam may be rotated to disclose secrets and techniques within the surroundings, and whereas capturing enemies you may change to an over the shoulder perspective for higher purpose. Holstein has two demos at present accessible now on Steam, with a 3rd on its manner in 2024.
Oddada
Developed by Sven Ahlgrimm and Mathilde Hoffmann, Oddada is a “no-pressure, roguelite music builder” the place you may experiment by constructing little buildings and cities that double as musical contraptions. By inserting homes on completely different landscapes, you may create your personal miniature soundtracks.
Cryptmaster
Word sport nerds, concentrate. Cryptmaster, made by Paul Hart and Lee Williams, places you within the footwear of a revenant working for a necromancer who wants your labor to outlive. What sort of labor? Word video games. By guessing the names of things in chests across the underland you’re exploring, you acquire the letters to spell them, which you’ll then use to spell completely different phrases, regain the talents you knew in life, and clear up different word-based riddles and puzzles. Cryptmancer has acquired a little bit of RPG, a little bit of dungeoncrawler, and a complete lot of phrase sport in it, and it’s popping out in 2024 to PC.
Llamasoft – The Jeff Minter Story
Digital Eclipse, the creators of The Making of Karateka, introduced a brand new interactive documentary entitled Llamasoft – The Jeff Minter Story. It’s simply what it feels like: an interactive deep dive into the life and profession of designer and programmer Jeff Minter, who based Llamasoft and led growth on video games like Polybius and Gridrunner. Digital Eclipse describes the documentary as a “digital museum of design paperwork, playable video games, and all-new movies” telling the story of the indie developer’s work over the 80s, 90s, all the best way to at this time via 4 interactive timelines. The documentary will launch on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC at a later date.
Drag Her!
Drag Her! is a combating sport from the aptly-named studio Fighting Chance Games, the place real-life drag performers struggle each other. It’s stuffed with camp and over-the-top drama, and all of the characters are absolutely licensed, voiced, and authorised by every respective drag performer being portrayed. Fighting Chance guarantees the fights will likely be each “forgiving to play and essentially silly to observe,” however we’ll have to attend a bit for each – Drag Her! isn’t set for launch till Q1 of 2025.
Braid Anniversary Edition
We’ve coated Braid Anniversary Edition’s announcement elsewhere on the positioning, nevertheless it acquired a brand new trailer throughout Day of the Devs, so right here’s a reminder: Braid is getting an anniversary version on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X and S, PC, and Netflix on April 30, 2024, with Mac and Linux releases coming later. This model comes not simply with the sport, however with improved sound and new variants of the soundtrack, hand-repainted graphics, and a developer commentary monitor.
Open Roads
It’s been some time since we heard about Open Roads, the roadtrip sport a few mom and daughter uncovering their household’s secrets and techniques. It was first introduced in 2020 and was initially being developed beneath the Fullbright label, however after allegations got here out in regards to the firm founder, the Open Roads staff cut up off from Fullbright to develop it independently, with Annapurna nonetheless publishing. Now, Open Roads appears to have made vital progress, and is deliberate for launch in February of 2024 for PC and consoles.
Resistor
From developer Long Way Home, Resistor is a narrative-focused “Car-PG” with basic racing sport inspirations. It follows Aster, a teen rising up in a post-apocalyptic world divided into city secure havens and harmful wastelands. Aster’s mom is sick, and desires remedy within the metropolis, however with out citizenship, neither Aster nor their mom can get in. So Aster follows of their father’s footsteps as a racer and enters the Death Games, a harmful sequence of races the place the prize is everlasting citizenship within the metropolis. Resistor is coming to PC, Switch, PS5, and Xbox at a later date.
Home Safety Hotline
As a fan of Hypnospace Outlaw, I used to be actually into the premise of Home Safety Hotline, from Night Signal Entertainment. It’s a text-based horror sport a few 90s name heart the place you play as a cellphone operator who’s an knowledgeable on dwelling security. People name you with family issues, like mice or spiders or leaks, and it’s important to advise them on the way to repair their points. You verify emails, clock in, take calls, and do analysis by way of a 1996-style desktop work pc interface. But given this can be a horror sport, your calls aren’t going to be restricted to easy rat issues for lengthy, and there are bizarre issues listed in your database that callers would possibly ask about. Home Safety Hotline is coming in early 2024 to PC and different platforms.
Janet DeMornay Is a Slumlord (and a Witch)
I really feel just like the title is self-explanatory, however right here’s a bit extra information: you play as a tenant, and your landlord is a witch who likes doing the upkeep herself. This leads to all types of bizarre magic issues, like doorways that go nowhere or hallways you will get trapped in. Janet DeMornay is about puzzle fixing, working to determine the way to get round your own home and function the unusual machines Janet has left mendacity round, all whereas telling a queer story about discovered household. From developer Fuzzy Ghost, it’s popping out in 2024.
The Mermaid’s Tongue
You would possibly know SFB Games because the builders of Snipperclips, otherwise you would possibly know them higher from their Detective Grimoire sequence. Today, they introduced the newest Detective Grimoire journey: The Mermaid’s Tongue. Like the others, it’s a homicide thriller detective journey that includes the titular detective and his assistant, Sally, trying to find clues and speaking to suspects to uncover a thriller.
That’s every little thing from Day of the Devs, however extra video games are coming at The Game Awards tomorrow, and you may keep watch over every little thing popping out of that present proper right here on IGN.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. Got a narrative tip? Send it to [email protected].
