A magical farming sim, foraging adventures, and other new indie games worth checking out

Welcome to our latest dive into the vibrant world of indie games! This past week was buzzing, especially with Nintendo’s Indie World showcase, which unveiled a fresh batch of titles coming to Switch and even the highly anticipated Switch 2, alongside some fantastic games that launched immediately.

One of the instant releases was *UFO 50*, a game that’s already made waves on PC, landing on many “best of 2024” lists. Another charming immediate drop was *Is This Seat Taken?*, a chill puzzle game from Poti Poti Studio. It’s all about strategically seating picky patrons and has a lovely visual style reminiscent of last year’s beautiful platformer, *Schim*. This one also hit Steam, iOS, and Android.

Looking a bit further into the future, the Indie World presentation gave us an October release date for *Ball x Pit*, a *Breakout*-style roguelite that many are excited about. We also got confirmation that *Mina the Hollower*, the next adventure from *Shovel Knight* creators Yacht Club Games, will arrive on both Switch and Switch 2 on Halloween, alongside its previously announced Steam release.

The showcase also revealed *Neverway*, a creepy life-sim RPG from *Celeste* pixel artist Pedro Medeiros and *Murder Engine* creator Isadora Sophia, slated for Switch and Steam in 2026. If you’re into deep, turn-based sci-fi roguelikes, *Caves of Qud* is coming to Switch as a console exclusive later this year. This gem already boasts overwhelmingly positive reviews on Steam, with players often sinking hundreds of hours into it!

Beyond game announcements, there was also interesting news from the industry itself. The International Game Developers Association, its Foundation, and Women in Games International have partnered for a new initiative called Port Quest. This project aims to help successful developers bring their existing games to mobile platforms. Selected studios will receive mentorship from industry veterans, access to workshops, and more. Applications are open until September 15th, though it’s worth noting that only games consistently earning at least $10,000 per month for the last six months, and not previously available on mobile, are eligible.

New releases

This week saw the arrival of *Ritual of Raven* on Steam and Switch. Billed as a “cozy, story-based farming sim,” it puts a magical twist on the genre. Instead of tilling fields by hand, you’ll be collecting and using tarot cards to harness their magical powers for your farming tasks. It sounds like a refreshing deckbuilder take on the classic *Stardew Valley* formula.

For cat lovers, *Kimchi: A Stars in the Trash Story* launched for free on Steam and Itch.io, perfectly timed for International Cat Day. You play as a kitten named Kimchi, exploring a cat museum, solving puzzles, and delving into feline history. It’s a delightful spinoff from *Stars in the Trash*, a beautifully hand-drawn platform adventure released late last year, which serves as a great reminder to check out the original!

Shifting gears from cozy to chaotic, *Turbo Kid* finally blasted onto Switch this week. This delightfully gory Metroidvania is a quasi-sequel to the beloved film of the same name. PC players also got an update with weapon enhancements and performance improvements, making it even smoother for lower-spec systems.

Upcoming games

Good news for foraging enthusiasts: *Out and About*, a charming adventure, is now set to debut this Monday. The initial delay was due to a small technical hiccup on Steam, but the developer, Yaldi Games, has been incredibly transparent and endearing about it. In *Out and About*, you’ll be gathering real-life fungi and wild plants to cook dishes and create herbal remedies, all while helping to rebuild your community after a storm. You might even learn some real-world foraging skills!

*Rogue Labyrinth* looks absolutely stunning, with a visual style that instantly brings to mind *The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past*. This story-driven action title from Tea Witch Games lets you turn almost anything into a projectile by whacking it with your trusty smacking stick. You play as Iris, a nomad returning home to find it transformed into a randomized, monster-filled labyrinth that’s part of a reality show. A demo is available now on Steam ahead of its September 1st release.

Atari also announced that *Adventure of Samsara*, a spiritual successor to the classic 1980 Atari 2600 game *Adventure*, will arrive on September 4th across PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Steam, and GOG. This pixel art Metroidvania tasks you with restoring balance to the multiverse by exploring connected biomes, defeating tough bosses, and, of course, gaining new abilities and upgrades along your journey.

If you enjoy a good mystery and adorable dogs, *Autumn with the Shiba Inu* is coming to Steam on August 14th. This visual novel sequel to *A Summer with the Shiba Inu* puts you in the paws of Quei-Li, a freelance hacker investigating a corruption case. With multiple endings and lovely doggo illustrations, it promises engaging replayability.

For fans of classic point-and-click adventures, *Dude, Where Is My Beer? A New Hop* is brewing. This sequel from Arik Games and Edo Brenes follows a protagonist on a quest for a good pilsner in a world overrun by craft beers and IPAs. You’ll need to acquire ingredients and enter a brewing contest. There’s no release window yet, but a demo is available on Steam now, complete with a fantastic *Star Wars*-inspired title.

Finally, let’s wrap up with *Concierge*, a game that immediately grabs your attention with its inspiration from analog horror, outsider art, and the liminal landscapes of David Lynch and Andrei Tarkovsky. This surrealist, non-linear title from Brazilian duo Kodino Artes challenges you to use a camcorder to uncover clues and solve puzzles that demand out-of-the-box thinking. *Concierge* looks incredibly compelling and is coming to Steam on September 15th.