Creepy Life-Sims, Gory Metroidvanias, and Other New Indie Games Worth Checking Out

A magical farming sim, cat museum exploration and other new indie games worth checking out

The indie gaming world has been bustling this week, with Nintendo’s latest Indie World showcase highlighting a fantastic lineup of titles heading to Switch and the upcoming Switch 2. Many of these gems landed on the eShop right away, while others have exciting release dates in the near future.

Among the immediate releases was UFO 50, a game that made waves on PC last year and appeared on many “best of 2024” lists. Another instant classic was Is This Seat Taken?, a charming, chill puzzle game where you arrange picky patrons in just the right seats. This delightful title from Poti Poti Studio and Wholesome Games Presents also launched on Steam, iOS, and Android. Its visual style might even remind you of last year’s beautiful platformer, Schim.

Looking ahead, the Indie World showcase confirmed an October release date for Ball x Pit, a Breakout-style roguelite that many are eagerly anticipating. Mina the Hollower, the next game from Shovel Knight creators Yacht Club Games, which we already knew was coming to Steam on Halloween, has also been confirmed for a simultaneous release on Switch and Switch 2.

The showcase also revealed Neverway, a creepy life-sim RPG from a studio co-founded by Pedro Medeiros (the pixel artist behind Celeste) and Murder Engine creator Isadora Sophia. This intriguing title is set to arrive on Switch and Steam in 2026. Later this year, sci-fi RPG Caves of Qud, known for its overwhelmingly positive reviews and hundreds of hours of gameplay on Steam, will make its debut as a console exclusive on Switch.

In other industry news this week, a cool initiative called Port Quest was announced. The International Game Developers Association, its Foundation, and Women in Games International have teamed up to help successful developers bring their games to mobile platforms. Participating studios can get assistance from industry veterans and access to workshops. Applications are open until September 15th, but there’s a catch: only games earning at least $10,000 per month for the last six months, and not previously available on mobile, are eligible.

New releases

If you’re looking for a cozy farming sim with a twist, Ritual of Raven just launched on Steam and Switch. Don’t expect to be tilling fields by hand; this game puts a magical spin on things as a deckbuilder where you use tarot cards and their powers to manage your farm. It’s a unique take on the Stardew Valley formula, perfect if you enjoy card-based games.

For International Cat Day, Valhalla Cats released Kimchi: A Stars in the Trash Story, a free, short game available on Steam and Itch.io. You play as a kitten named Kimchi, exploring a cat museum and solving puzzles while learning about feline history. It’s a delightful spin-off of the beautifully hand-drawn platform adventure, Stars in the Trash, which came out last year.

Speaking of games worth checking out, Turbo Kid, a wonderfully gory Metroidvania, finally landed on Switch this week. This game acts as a quasi-sequel to the film of the same name and offers a thrilling, action-packed experience. A recent PC update also improved weapon acquisition and performance on lower-spec systems.

Upcoming

The foraging adventure Out and About, unfortunately, had its debut pushed back a few days due to a publishing hiccup on Steam. But don’t worry, it’s now set to arrive next Monday! In this game, you’ll gather fungi and wild plants to create delicious dishes and herbal remedies, all while helping to rebuild your community after a powerful storm. The game features real-life plants, so you might even pick up some foraging tips for your own outdoor adventures!

Rogue Labyrinth looks absolutely stunning, with visuals that evoke classics like The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. This story-driven action title promises unique combat where you can turn almost anything into a projectile with your trusty “smacking stick.” Play as Iris, a nomad returning home to find it transformed into a labyrinthine reality show filled with randomized biomes, monsters, and allies. A demo for Rogue Labyrinth, coming to Steam on September 1st, is available now.

Atari also announced this week that Adventure of Samsara, a spiritual successor to the 1980 Atari 2600 classic Adventure, is set for a September 4th release. This pixel art Metroidvania will challenge you to restore balance to the multiverse by exploring interconnected biomes, battling tough bosses, and, of course, gaining new abilities and upgrades along the way. It’s coming to PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Steam, and GOG.

I love that Autumn with the Shiba Inu is a sequel to a battle royale mystery visual novel! This new mystery visual novel from Quill Game Studios puts you in the paws of Quei-Li, a freelance hacker on a mission to uncover information in a corruption case. With multiple endings, it promises great replayability, and the lovely doggo illustrations by Alicia García Ochoa are just adorable. Autumn with the Shiba Inu arrives on Steam on August 14th.

If you’re a fan of classic LucasArts point-and-click adventures, then Dude, Where Is My Beer? A New Hop might be for you. In this hilarious sequel, you play as a guy who just wants a pilsner in a world overrun by craft beers. Since master brewers have banned pilsners, you’ll need to acquire ingredients and gear to brew your own and enter a contest. There’s no release window yet, but a demo is up on Steam now.

Finally, let’s wrap up with Concierge, a truly unique game “inspired by analog horror, outsider art and the liminal landscapes of David Lynch and Andrei Tarkovsky.” This surrealist, non-linear title tasks you with uncovering clues and solving puzzles using a camcorder, often requiring some serious outside-the-box thinking. Developed by two-person Brazilian duo Kodino Artes, Concierge looks incredibly compelling and is coming to Steam on September 15th.