This edition features the newest developments in independent gaming. Several fresh and anticipated titles stand out this week, building on the recent Nintendo Indie World presentation. That 18-minute broadcast delivered numerous announcements, such as the immediate launches of Blue Prince, Minishoot' Adventures, and Öoo for Switch or Switch 2.
Nintendo announced specific launch dates for various anticipated projects, including InKonbini: One Store. Many Stories on April 30, Mixtape on May 7, Denshattack! on June 17, and Ratatan on July 16. It also set summer release periods for Toem 2 and Grave Seasons.
For Playdate owners or those considering one, the third anniversary promotion is active on the Playdate Catalog this weekend, offering various reductions along with recommended picks.
Speedrunning enthusiasts can observe participants tackling major titles, independent projects, and more at the Frost Fatales event organized by Games Done Quick. Scheduled from March 8 to 14, the showcase features female and non-binary runners navigating games like Undertale, Strange Antiquities, An Airport for Aliens Currently Run by Dogs, Tunic, Hollow Knight, and Windswept. Proceeds support the National Women's Law Center.
Additionally, Steam's Women's Day promotion continues through March 15, featuring reductions on titles from studios led by women or gender-diverse creators, plus demos of forthcoming releases. Discounted games include Dredge at 60 percent off, Overcooked 2 at 75 percent off, The Wandering Village at 50 percent off, Dogpile at 35 percent off, and Consume Me at 35 percent off.
Since entering early access in 2017, Slay the Spire has boosted the roguelite deckbuilder category. Developer Mega Crit returns with Slay the Spire 2, now available on Steam in early access for $25, with plans to raise the cost upon full release.
Mega Crit anticipates one to two years in early access, delaying the complete version until it meets high standards. The phase will involve testing novel mechanics and unconventional elements, addressing specific problems, and incorporating player input to guide development effectively.
A major update in the follow-up is a cooperative option supporting up to four participants. It introduces fresh cards, some tailored for multiplayer, alongside new playable characters and adversaries.
In this installment, demonic forces invade Toronto, capturing Scott Pilgrim's bandmates, prompting him and his companions to intervene. Scott Pilgrim EX serves as the series' newest side-scrolling brawler, succeeding Scott Pilgrim vs the World: The Game.
Tribute Games handles development, drawing on its strong history in cooperative action games like Marvel's Midnight Suns and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder's Revenge. The team collaborated with series originator Bryan Lee O'Malley to craft an original narrative.
Scott Pilgrim EX launches on Steam, Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, and PS5 at $29.
Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf tops the weekend play queue for many fans. The original from Wishfully Studios and Thunderful Publishing earned praise, and reports suggest the continuation surpasses it.
This sequel offers a story-focused platforming experience reminiscent of Limbo and Inside. Players dodge hostile machines as a villain deploys advanced tech to plunder the planet's resources, echoing certain real-world concerns.
The visuals in Planet of Lana II match the original's beauty. The protagonist Lana gains enhanced mobility, including wall jumps, while her ally Mui assists in puzzle-solving and navigating threats.
Planet of Lana II is available on Steam, Switch, Switch 2, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S for $20. A 10 percent introductory discount applies to Steam, Switch, and Switch 2 editions, with the same reduction for PlayStation Plus subscribers. It also joins Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
The Legend of Khiimori entered early access on Steam and Epic Games Store this week at $30. Players embody a messenger on horseback in 13th-century Mongolia, traversing open areas and completing transports while breeding and training horses with unique traits.
During travels, establishing camps and fabricating essentials is necessary, alongside defending against wildlife threats. Players must also combat malevolent entities to restore tainted regions.
The title offers substantial content with further expansions planned. Aesir Interactive intends to incorporate elements like horse racing, bird hunting, a non-violent option, and personalization for characters and mounts over the roughly one-year early access duration.
Lost and Found Co., a captivating search-based puzzle game from Bit Egg and Gamirror Games, is available on Steam for PC and Mac at $18, with a 10 percent reduction through March 19.
The promotional video for Lost and Found Co. showcases engaging animations and thoughtful touches, such as comic-strip sequences advancing the plot. Players control Ducky, a transformed duck working as an intern at a firm specializing in recovering misplaced belongings.
Following Blippo+'s expansion, Ratcheteer DX from the Playdate platform now appears on PC via Steam and Itch.io, Mac through Steam and the Mac App Store, and Nintendo Switch. Priced at $13 normally, it features a 25 percent debut discount on most platforms except the App Store.
Ratcheteer originally appeared in Playdate's first season, accessible to all device owners. It follows a novice engineer in an underground society shielding from perpetual frost, tasked with repairing energy and purification facilities after failures. This sparks a overhead pixel-art quest similar to classic Zelda titles, lasting around four to five hours.
This enhanced edition by Shaun Inman, with music by Matt Grimm and art by Charlie Davis, supports color display including a monochrome filter mimicking Playdate's style, plus high-fidelity audio. As Panic's inaugural internal project for Steam and consoles, Ratcheteer DX retains the charm of its predecessor based on initial impressions.
Shifting to a darker theme, Birds Watching by Studio Ortica presents a brief psychological horror exploration focused on avian observation. Its one-minute debut video, far shorter than the full experience, includes eerie elements like oversized birds on human-like limbs, creating a disturbing atmosphere that draws interest.
Birds Watching is available on Steam for $5, with a 10 percent discount until March 13.
The reveal trailer for My Little Puppy, shown in the Indie World event, evokes strong emotions. Dreamotion, a Korean developer, drew from the real-life tale of adopting and caring for a dog named Bong-gu, infusing it with imaginative elements. In the story, Bong-gu's spirit detects his owner's trail post-passing and embarks on a quest to reunite.
My Little Puppy launches on Switch on May 29 and is currently on Steam for $25.
Lunacy Studios assembles talent from projects including Star Wars: Battlefront, Mass Effect, Assassin's Creed Brotherhood, and Life is Strange. Their debut, The House of Hikmah, arrives on Steam April 8.
Set in an era drawing from the Islamic Golden Age, this narrative 3D adventure follows 14-year-old Maya investigating her father's death. She wields an inherited elemental artifact for puzzles and navigates via air currents.
While authenticity of the historical depiction remains unassessed, the premise and visual style intrigue, enhanced by composer Austin Wintory's score from works like Journey, Sword of the Sea, and The Pathless.
Building on enjoyment of games like Ball x Pit and anticipation for MLB The Show 26, Ballgame emerges from debut studio Human Computer as a promising addition to spherical mechanics.
In this physics-driven platformer, players guide a conscious ball toward targets using minimal bounces, akin to golf but complicated by varied challenges. Stages incorporate influences from pachinko, pinball, skee-ball, and diverse ball sports, involving water gliding, bumper rebounds, and bubble suspension.
Arcade challenges yield currency for acquiring enhancements, aesthetic options, and numerous ball variants. The gameplay appears dynamically intense at first view.
Ballgame is scheduled for Steam release later this year.
Concluding this overview, Echobreaker offers a teaser for its isometric precision platformer. Players aim to swiftly navigate to objectives, employing boosts and confronting foes.
The brief footage remains clear throughout, with the overhead view enhancing clarity over recent intense first-person counterparts. The sleek, sci-fi aesthetic contributes to its appeal.
Developed by Upstream Arcade and published by Weekend Games, Echobreaker targets Steam for a later 2024 release.