A Magical Tarot Farm, a Cat Museum Mystery, and Other New Indie Games Worth Checking Out

Welcome, indie game lovers! This week was buzzing, thanks to Nintendo’s recent Indie World showcase. They dropped a ton of exciting news, revealing titles heading to Switch and the upcoming Switch 2, plus some awesome games that launched on the eShop right then and there.

Among the immediate releases, we saw the highly anticipated *UFO 50*, a retro gaming tribute that was already topping “best of 2024” lists on PC. Also launching was *Is This Seat Taken?*, a delightful puzzle game from Poti Poti Studio and Wholesome Games Presents. It’s all about seating picky guests, bringing a chill vibe reminiscent of last year’s charming platformer, *Schim*. You can grab it on Switch, Steam, iOS, and Android.

Looking ahead, the showcase also dropped some exciting release dates. Get ready for *Ball x Pit*, a *Breakout*-style roguelite, hitting consoles on October 15th. And if you’re a fan of *Shovel Knight*, you’ll be thrilled to know that Yacht Club Games’ next title, *Mina the Hollower*, is confirmed for Switch and Switch 2 this Halloween, alongside its Steam release.

Mark your calendars for 2026: *Neverway*, a creepy life-sim RPG from a studio co-founded by *Celeste*’s pixel artist, Pedro Medeiros, is making its way to Switch and Steam. And for those who love deep, time-sinking experiences, the critically acclaimed sci-fi roguelike *Caves of Qud* is launching on Switch as a console exclusive later this year. Players on Steam rave about it, often dedicating hundreds of hours to its complex world.

Beyond the console news, there’s an exciting new initiative called Port Quest. The International Game Developers Association, its Foundation, and Women in Games International are teaming up to help successful indie developers bring their games to mobile platforms. Selected studios will receive mentorship, workshops, and more. Applications close September 15th, but note: your game needs to have generated at least $10,000 per month for the past six months and can’t have been on mobile before.

New Releases

First up in new arrivals is *Ritual of Raven* from Spellgarden Games and Team17, now available on Steam and Switch. Don’t let the “cozy farming sim” label fool you – this isn’t your typical *Stardew Valley* experience. Instead of tilling fields, you’ll be building decks of tarot cards and using their magical powers to cultivate your farm. It’s a fascinating, magical twist for card game fans!

Happy International Cat Day! To celebrate, Valhalla Cats released *Kimchi: A Stars in the Trash Story* for free on Steam and Itch.io. Step into the tiny paws of Kimchi the kitten as you explore a charming cat museum, solving puzzles and uncovering feline history. This adorable spin-off of the beautifully hand-drawn platformer *Stars in the Trash* is the perfect reason to dive into both!

Switching gears from cozy to chaotic, *Turbo Kid* just launched on Switch! This delightfully gory Metroidvania is a quasi-sequel to a film I personally love. It also received a PC update this week, boosting weapon accessibility and performance for lower-spec systems. If you’re looking for over-the-top action, *Turbo Kid* is your go-to.

Upcoming Games

Originally set for this week, the charming foraging adventure *Out and About* has been slightly delayed to Monday. Yaldi Games, in an endearing display of transparency for their debut title, simply forgot to tick the Early Access box on Steam! When it arrives, you’ll be gathering real-life fungi and wild plants to cook delicious meals and craft herbal remedies, all while helping your community rebuild after a storm. Who knows, you might even learn some real-world foraging tips!

Get ready for *Rogue Labyrinth*, launching on Steam September 1st, with a demo available now! This story-driven action game from Tea Witch Games and indie.io boasts a gorgeous art style, evoking memories of classics like *The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past*. As the nomad Iris, you’ll return home to find it transformed into a reality show labyrinth. Your unique “smacking stick” lets you turn anything, even enemy attacks, into projectiles as you navigate randomized biomes filled with monsters and allies.

Atari just announced that *Adventure of Samsara*, a spiritual successor to the 1980 Atari 2600 classic *Adventure*, arrives on September 4th. This pixel art Metroidvania from Ilex Games tasks you with restoring balance to the multiverse. Expect to explore interconnected biomes, defeat challenging bosses, and power up with new abilities – all the hallmarks of a great Metroidvania.

For visual novel fans, *Autumn with the Shiba Inu* is wagging its tail toward a Steam release on August 14th. This mystery visual novel from Quill Game Studios is actually a sequel to *A Summer with the Shiba Inu* – a battle royale mystery VN! You play as Quei-Li, a freelance hacker, sniffing out corruption. With multiple endings and charming doggo illustrations, it promises plenty of replay value.

If classic LucasArts-style point-and-click adventures are your brew, check out *Dude, Where Is My Beer? A New Hop*. This sequel from Arik Games and Edo Brenes features a protagonist on a quest for a simple pilsner in a world overrun by craft beers (and “gross IPAs,” as the original article author put it!). With pilsners banned by a master brewer, you’ll need to gather ingredients and enter a brewing contest. A demo is available on Steam now, so you can start your hoppy adventure.

Finally, for something truly unique, keep an eye out for *Concierge*, arriving on Steam September 15th. This surrealist, non-linear game from Brazilian duo Kodino Artes promises an experience “inspired by analog horror, outsider art and the liminal landscapes of David Lynch and Andrei Tarkovsky.” You’ll use a camcorder to uncover clues and solve mind-bending puzzles, definitely requiring some outside-the-box thinking. It sounds like a compelling journey into the unknown!