Fall for Indies: Steam Next Fest and Early October Releases


October began with a fall festival for fans of indie games, as Steam’s Next Fest is currently running with dozens of short game demos to play for free. Formerly known as the Steam Game Festival, this PC-friendly event boasts hundreds of titles, which is more than enough to keep you busy throughout the 7-day race, even almost overwhelming. But don’t worry about the cold reality of indecision; you can feel comfortable in our set of suggestions. While Steam Next Fest only lasts until October 7, there are plenty of full indie game releases to look forward to in the first half of the month.


Jump On The Hayride; Let’s go to the festival

Plentiful treats await players this week at Steam’s packed carnival. One of the indie industry’s most anticipated titles, Tunic, has a demo for anyone who missed it this summer. But newcomers to the scene are also on hand and ready to give players a free trial of the gameplay, like Lil Gator Game. New or old, familiar or little known, here is a list of demos not to be missed.

Sayo

Zelda-like action-adventure game Tunic offers a free hands-on experience on Steam this week for anyone interested in fighting monsters and navigating dungeons as a brave sword-wielding fox. The team calls it the “2021 demo,” so if you caught it during the Xbox Summer Game Fest or Indie Arena Online event, there won’t be any new content. However, in a game so packed with secrets to discover, this demo may still hold some surprises for anyone who has played it before and is a must-have game for anyone who hasn’t tried it yet.

Lil Gator game

Revealed just two weeks ago, MegaWobble’s Lil Gator game is at the top of our list of demos to try. According to its creators, the game will allow you to “hit the cardboard baddies, climb mountain peaks, slide, jump and spin while discovering new ways to get closer to your environment. Gather arts and crafts supplies to create all kinds of goodies and watch the park blossom. “If a game that mixes elements of A Short Hike and Zelda sounds good to you, don’t miss out on checking out Lil Gator Game this week.

The last campfire

Although Steam Next Fest tends to highlight games that have yet to be released, it seems the organizers made an exception with Hello Games’ The Last Campfire. The team behind No Man’s Sky released this puzzle-centric title on consoles last year, with an update coming out just a few months ago. But on October 7, at the end of the demo-packed event, The Last Campfire will make its full debut on Steam. If you take a look at the demo, you will find yourself in an atmospheric world where you play as Ember, a little soul who can spark hope in those around her. You will travel from one level to another, discovering those in need and helping them by overcoming various puzzle-based challenges.

See also  The Witcher Season 2: Geralt should grunt less and speak more

Forgotten gods aztech

While Greek and Norse pantheons may be all the rage right now, Aztech Forgotten Gods is delving into equally cool but less-stomped mythological material. The Mesoamerican-inspired story was first shown at Nintendo’s April Indie World presentation, and this week is your first chance to feel the action. Playing as Achtli, you explore a world that the developers describe as cyberstone. That’s where Aztec legacy meets futuristic technology. Your goal is to take on the gods, using your own divinely powerful artifacts.

Encryption

According to developer Daniel Mullins Games, Inscryption combines these three elements: “deck-building roguelike, escape-room-style puzzles, and psychological horror.” That description and endorsement by well-known freelance publisher Devolver Digital, known for its unusual titles, make this demo worth watching. The free play sample currently on Steam can help players understand Inscryption’s moment-to-moment action, but be careful. The road to discovery promises to be unsettling.

The good life

It’s only been a couple of weeks since White Owls Inc., headed by Deadly Premonition director Swery65, revealed the release date for this long-awaited indie. You can now play the demo of the photography-centric RPG and debt settlement on Steam Next Fest ahead of its release on PlayStation 4, Xbox One (via Game Pass), and PC on October 15. Rainy Woods hoping to earn some money and discover the great secret of the city. And that secret could have something to do with everyone being able to transform into cats and dogs. Just a guess. In addition to jumping into the body of a cat, the team says The Good Life will allow players to “cook, eat, sleep, shop, farm and explore the city, do photography work and other less conventional missions.”

Endling

Who would only play one fox-centric demo when you can play two? Endling has a new teaser for her game in which you’ll take on the role of a mother fox protecting her furry little vulpine calf. Unfortunately, defending your pups won’t be easy in this 3D side-scrolling world where dangers like humans and environmental devastation lurk around every corner. Because you and your family represent the last known foxes on Earth, failing in your task will have consequences that go far beyond personal tragedy.


Snuggle up by the fire with these upcoming releases

Take some time in early October to catch up on all the cool indies before the creepiest half of the month begins.

See also  'Aero GPX' is a man's vision of 'F-Zero' Reborn, and it could change

Exophobia

PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X / S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC

Retro-inspired first-person shooter Exophobia gives off some early Doom vibes, so if that’s your problem, you might want to take a look at this early October gem. The protagonist of the game is having a bad day, as he has woken up in a hostile spaceship, similar to a maze, full of alien soldiers looking to kill any intruder. Fortunately, you have shooting skills, rushing skills, and impressive skills of your own to escape annihilation. You can even find a room in the chaos where you can upgrade your weapon, so that’s convenient. Exophobia will be released on October 5.

Rally art

PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X / S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC

PlayStation owners, start your engines as Art of Rally will hit Sony platforms for the first time on October 6. After other console gamers have been behind their vintage-inspired wheels for months and PC fans for nearly a year, indie driving success is finally coming to PlayStation. Art of Rally takes you through a wide range of countries in its 60 levels, all for the thrill of racing in its Career mode. You can also capture the game’s exceptional art style and your best high-speed maneuvers with Photo and Replay mode.

Moonglow bay

Xbox Series X / S, Xbox One, PC

Moonglow Bay tells the story of a fisherman on Canada’s east coast during the 1980s. While the game promises to be a “relaxing, everyday fishing RPG,” its story can bring a tear to your eyes. Before his partner passed away, he promised to keep the business going, but despite his best efforts, bankruptcy seems to be just around the corner. To avoid this fate and keep your word, you embark on the seas to fish. Your aquatic trophies inspire salable recipes that will help you improve your shop and the tools of the trade. If you think you need help, the game offers local co-op, so you can have a friend join you once it hits Xbox consoles via Game Pass and PC in October.

Travel book

personal computer

After a delay in August, Book of Travels is set to enter Steam Early Access on October 11. Skipping during this initial period gives you access to Chapter Zero, something that developer Might and Delight describes as the first season of the game in progress. This will run for the two years that it will be in Early Access. If you haven’t seen this unique “TMORPG” yet, the “T” stands for tiny, this is the basic premise. You immerse yourself in an online world with beautiful rural areas and lively towns where meeting others is rare. The game aims to provide a relaxed and player driven experience.

See also  Rush Rally Origins Review (Switch eShop)

Monster crown

PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC

We’ve had our eyes on this one since before it entered Early Access last summer, but now is the time to see what the full game has to offer. Monster Crown, similar to Pokémon, will be released on October 12. Pokémon fans have a lot to look forward to this fall season, with Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl coming in November. However, if you need to fill up on battles, catch and train lovable creatures before then, Monster Crown may be what you need. You can watch the Early Access trailer for the RPG here to get a better idea of ​​what to expect.

Disco Elysium: The Final Cut

PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X / S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, Stadia, PC

Disco Elysium won more trophies than any other nominee, indie or AAA, at The Game Awards in 2019. It earned a 9 in our review. It appears on our list of the best RPGs to play right now. Now, the game’s Final Cut is coming to Xbox and Switch consoles on October 12, giving everyone a chance to play. ZA / UM’s intricate tabletop-inspired adventure tasks you with solving a murder. But, as you will immediately discover, it may not be the best your agency has to offer. That discovery is aided by the game’s tremendous writing, which is fully voiced in The Final Cut.

Ori: the collection

Xbox Series X / S, Xbox One, Switch, PC

What constitutes indie is an ongoing discussion, and Ori’s games fall into a gray area because its developer, Moon Studios, made both entries in the series with the support of what is now known as Xbox Game Studios. But it’s hard to remove this little hairball spirit from our independent lives, especially when Ori: The Collection hits Switch on October 12. This bundle includes both Ori and the Blind Forest: Definitive Edition and Ori and the Will of the Wisps. The second entry in this beautiful franchise earned a spot on our list of the best current action games, and you’ll soon be able to take it with you wherever you go.

The Big Breaker

PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X / S, PC

Coming to Xbox Game Pass when it launches on October 14, The Riftbreaker is an action RPG with base-building elements of real-time strategy, survival, and tower defense. In addition to all the delicious genre-mixing action, you can jump into the cockpit of a good-looking mech suit like Captain Ashley Nowak. Ultimately, your mission is to live long enough in a hostile alien environment by gathering resources, improving your defenses, and protecting your home, so that you can learn how to build a transporter that will take you back to Earth.


There are a few big and small titles in the second half of the month, and we’re excited to cover them all in the next Fall For Indies. Waiting for something? Shout it out in the comments! If you need more indies in your life, be sure to check out our roundup of games that arrived right at the beginning of the fall season and click the goose below for more of the list.


www.gameinformer.com