It's su?mmertime, and the game showcases are out in full force. Geoff Keighley's SGF kick-off show aired earlier, but following it, we also got another look at some exciting indies thanks to the 2024 Day of? the Devs SGF Edition.

Put on by several companies in games to spotlight up-and-coming independent developers, Day of the Devs has traditionally been a showcase full of fresh and vibrant ideas in the space??. This year's SGF Day of the Devs was no different; in fact, I'd venture to say this is one of the better ones in recent memory.

From competitive match-3 puzzling to horror, mountains, and more, there is a lot here. Here??'s al??l you need to know from today's showcase.

First up is Battle Vision Network from Capybara Games a1v1 puzzle battler that might look familiar to Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes fans. Capybara made that game, and now they're doing their own original take on the formula, with an evolving narrative to spur on the scrapping. It's aiming f?or PC and console in 2025, and is ma??de in partnership with Netflix.

The Game Bakers, makers of Furi and Haven, are here with another entry in their "freedom trilogy." Revealed during Keighley's showcase, Cairn is a game about climbing a mountain no one's summited. It's got some Jusant vibes, but given their past work, I expect Game Bakers' Cairn to be emotional, beautiful, and one to watch.

Petal Runner from Nano Park Studios and iam8bitpresents is a retro-flavored slice-of-life RPG where you play a motorbike courier delivering flower-powered digital pets. Complete minigames, venture around, and uncover the mystery behind these cute lil' pets. It's got Pokémon vibes for sure.

Karma: The Dark World from Pollard Studio, based in Shanghai, China, looks super scary. Dive into people’s minds to uncover the truth behind events, whi??le keeping “the company is above all else.�Or at least, until you learn a little more about what the company has in store for you.

Ever feel nostalgia for something that doesn't exist? UFO 50 from Mossmouth is that: 50 games in a collection, from a non-existent retro system spanning the '80s and into the '90s. A loose framework connects them all, but Mossmouth and its coll??aborators are advertising quite the variety of expe?riences, including some local multiplayer in both co-op and versus. Look for it September 18 on Steam.

The grove gets a little ghost-y with Cozy Grove: Camp Spirit from ?Spry Fox. It's a chill camping life game, where you craft, gather, build hearts, upgrade, etc., for phones through Netflix. And that does mean no extra fees, no ads or in-app purchases. Just chill vibes and spirits.

Koira from Studio Tolima, published by Dontnod, is a stylistic isometric adventure game. You have a dog pal who helps you out, and you can p??lay music as well. I love the hand-drawn art and frame-by-frame animation, plus a sweet soundtrack. Seems neat! A demo is on the way.

Ever move things around in your mind? Move a little different? Arranger from Furniture and Mattress has a hero who does just that, navigating the world by shifting rows and columns. The team has the Braid artist and Carto writer on board, so the presentation is bound to be top-notch too. Arranger arrives on July 25 for PS5, Switch, Netf??lix, and PC.

Following the big Blumhouse Games lineup reveal at the Summer Game Fest stream, Cozy Game Pals is showing off Fear the Spotlight, which gives me some Life is Strange meets lo-fi horror vibes. Solve puzzles, avoid scary monsters, and maybe figure out why your friend is acti?ng so strange.

You might recognize Crescent Moon Games and Those Dang Games' Screenbound: A Game by its main concept alone: you walk around in 3D while holding a Game Boy game, which also displa??ys enemies and objects in 2D. This looks so cool! The way the 2D and 3D environments link up is fascinating. I'm very excited to?? see more of this.

Zoochosis from Clapperheads gives me new scares I didn't know I could have. A giraffe just turns into a spider monster. Kanga?roos with giant mouth-bellies. And you're their zookeeper, learning the ropes from a strange senior. Se?ems frightening!

While Waiting from Optillusion Games is about what happens while you're waiting. That's it. Everything in life has som??e waiting, and you're about ?to experience all the ways in which waiting happens. It's a really unique concept that seems simple but expands fast.

Tom the Postgirl from Oopsie Daisies Studio is a different kind of creepy. Play as a postgirl delivering mail who canâ€??????????????????????????™t resist peeking on people during her route. Then, discover things about the locals who all seem creepy as heck. There are some wild sights, but also a cowboy worm!

Rocket Adrift's Psychorama is a cyberpunk horror point-and-click adventure. You've got amnesia and have to deal with a loose sense of self, while also handling the tech around you. The devs plan on exploring ideas of identity through a character that is both biracial and non-binary, a really? interesting viewpoint for this tale.

Not to hand out awards, but Building Relationships from Tan Ant Games is a fantastic trailer. You play as a house, meeting other houses. You can dash, fish, and hang out with other buildings. You can even fish for cars. And there are some light dating elements. It's like A Short Hike, but for houses.

A Little to the Left is getting some DLC in Seeing Stars. 33 new levels and five additional bonus levels, with 100 stars to discover. There are interactive items that can unfold or unravel. Also, more cats! It arrives?? June 25.

Soup Island is making the world’s coziest time loop in Hello Again. A postal worker, you, is designated to deliver a package to a remote island. Only, you get caught in a time loop. What do?? you do next? Explore, discover, and try to figure out what's going on.

After Love EP from Pikselnesia is a really neat game with a sad story behind it. The game's story follows a musician who hears the voice of his girlfriend after she's passed. And the studio, Pikselnesia, is developing the game after the death of its creator, Coffe Talk's Mohammad Fahmi. It seems like heavy stuff, but it's really something beautiful to see this vision realized, and coming together so well too. After Love EP is aiming for a Q3 window, and there's a demo ou??t now.

For another game that won me over in a single trailer, here's Phoenix Springs from Calligram Studio. You're a reporter searching for her brother, eventually leading to Phoenix Springs. It's a "modern�point-and-click game with a striking art style, and no o?bjects in your inventory. Instead, you have thoughts, concepts, and ideas, and you use them to progress. It's been in development for seven years, and now it's aiming for Septe?mber 16 on Steam.

Road 96 studio Digix Art is here with Tides of Tomorrow??. The super trippy art style and direction leads into what?? looks like a time loop, where you can set things up for others. Potentially you, or maybe for others? Is this a strand game? I'm not sure, but I'm definitely curious.

That's all for today's showcase, but as always, follow and wishlist the games you dig from this stream! Even just a little sup?port can go a long way, and this showcase was stuffed with neat indie projects that deserve your att??ention.

The post Everything shown at? Day of the Devs SGF Edition 2024 appeared first on Destructoid.

Day of the Devs has announced that they??’ll be highlighting indie games in Day of the Devs: Game Awards Edition. This will put smaller developers in the spotlight on December 6th in a livestream as part of the weeklong Game Awards c?elebration.

Ugh, I hate to be reminded of the Game Awards. Part of my distaste for them is because they make such a token effort to recognize smaller developers who make cont??ributions to the industry. The difference between a AAA game and everything else isn’t quality; it’s budget. The Game Awards feels like an extension of the corporate side of gaming, where indies are seen more as a crucible for ideas that might be profitable on a larger level.

Day of the Devs, on the other hand, is a bit easier to appreciate. It’s helmed by Double Fine and iam8bit, who at least have an appreciation for the artistry in gaming. The Day of the Devs: Game Awards Edition also allows anyone to submit their games for consideration (befor??e September 20th) without a financial barrier for entry.

The form doesn’t really define what they consider “indie,�which is a bit concerning since people apply the label pretty widely these days. Dave the Diver, for example, is often described as indie production. But the developer, Mintrocket, is a division of Nexon Korea Corporation, which has a net income in the billions.

So, here’s hoping that Day of the Devs: Game Awards Edition recognizes some hot ??indie games that actually need it. As a note, the usual Day of the Devs show that normally takes place in San Francisco in November is being pushed back a few months to early 2024.

Da?y of the Devs: Game Awards Edition will livestream on December 6th, 2023. ?The Game Awards proper follows after on December 7, 2023.

The post Day of the Devs: Game Awards Edition will highlight indies alongside the big a??wards show appeared first on Destructoid.

A whole slew of indies to watch

Today, Double Fine and iam8bit aired another installment of? Day of the Devs. It's a regular celebration of indie games, shining a spotl??ight on upcoming games and their creators.

The Day of the Devs selections usually don't disappoint, and this year's Day of the Devs held after the Summer Game Fest 2023 kick-off stream was solid. Alongside some games we knew of beforehand, there were some exciting new announcements, both from known creators and newe???r teams in the scene.

From the Chicory team's latest endeavor to a mind-bending world-moving puzzle game, there's a l??ittle something of everything. If you missed the stream, or ar??e just looking to find that one game you have a foggy recollection of, here's a recap of everything shown.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDXcGEo1TfU

Everything shown at today's Day of the Devs SGF 2023 showcase

• We start the show off with Beastieball, a new turn-based sports RPG from Wishes Unlimited, the team behind Wandersong and Destructoid's 2021 GOTY Chicory: A Colorful Tale. Rather than music or art, this time Wishes is tackling sports, with a monster trainer twist. Coach a team of Beasties and enhance their teamwork, helping them bond over the course of volleyball-style battles. It looks directly up my alley, and I can't wait to learn more.

[caption id="attachment_384464" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Wishes Unlimited[/caption]

• Heart Machine keeps things going with another look at Hyper Light Breaker, the 3D third-person roguish adventure set in the Hyper Light universe. It's set "decades" prior to Drifter, and will see the Breaker (you) tackling an open world and tough bosses. The co-op and roguelite elements do seem like they'll add quite a bit to do for Breakers around the world.
• Life's tough? Well, let's head to Simpler Times, a world-premiere reveal from Stoneskip. This story follows Taina, who's preparing to move out of her childhood home and start a new chapter. Much like Unpacking, it seems to be about the vibes and sentimentality of a home left behind and the changing of seasons in life.
• Viewfinder is one that's been on my radar for a while now, and Sad Owl Studios is showing some more footage of it here. For those unfamiliar, it's a puzzle game where pictures can become objects in the world by simply placing and changing your view. It's a little magical to watch it in motion. For fans of Portal or Superliminal, this one should be on your radar too.

[caption id="attachment_384466" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Sad Owl Studios[/caption]

• For a bit of a surprise, here's Hauntii, a gorgeous top-down action-adventure from Moon Loop Games where players haunt objects and people to solve puzzles. It's a novel concept, made all the better by a wonderful art style.
• You might remember Cart Life from years ago. It was an indie darling and made quite a splash before disappearing from storefronts. Well, it's coming back. AdHoc is partnering with original creator Richard Hofmeier to make a new version of Cart Life for modern systems. It's nice to see a piece of history preserved like this.
• Helskate is a mixture of Tony Hawk skateboarding and action-RPG brawling. Toss in a dash of demonic influence, and that's pretty much what Phantom Coast is building. It looks like a lot to take in, but for those who want to fight and shred at the same time, it could be a potent combination.
• Ever wondered what you'd do if you were only half a head? Well, that's Henry Halfhead every day. This puzzle game from Lululu Entertainment sees you hopping into and moving things, like a self-driven Cappy from Super Mario Odyssey. It's got a fun look and some inventive puzzles, just from what we've seen today.

[caption id="attachment_384480" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Lululu Entertainment[/caption]

• I'll fully admit, it took me a second to vibe with COCOON. At first blush, it seems like a top-down action-adventure game. And while its base mechanics facilitate that particular style, it was the world manipulation that really drew me in. Each area is a world, contained within an orb, that can be manipulated and moved between other areas. It's a Matryoshka doll of worlds. It's really clever. And Geometric Interactive's COCOON is now something I'm really looking forward to later this year.
• Été, which is French for summer, is a relaxing game from Impossible about a painter traveling abroad for a summer. Paint the world around you, do commissions, and befriend the locals as you master your painterly ways. This seems like a really good way to chill out with some artsy vibes, and the way you can remember and recreate things around you is a really clever touch.
• We take a brief pause in the games news for some event news: Indie Megabooth is back! I'm very happy to see this after the COVID-19 pandemic took its toll on the events scene.
• Now we return to the showcase with Summerhill, from Land & Sea, which looks like a serene story-driven puzzle game about a shepherd, a dog, and a flock. This is from the team behind the Alto's Adventure series, and it's got a great look and neat idea driving it.

[caption id="attachment_384465" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Land & Sea[/caption]

• I am up-front about my personal biases, and yes, one of them is social links in games. So Eternights, an action-RPG with heavy dating sim elements from Sutdio Sai, is laser-targeted at my interests. It feels like between this and Loop8, we're getting a new wave of games exploring relationship mechanics in RPGs. And I just think that's swell.
• Retro Gadgets is an inventive-looking gadget creation station from Licorice EHF that's already in Steam Early Access. You can build, solder, and customize little trinkets to do all kinds of things, from the look of it. This seems ideal for people enamored with the idea of retro engineering, but don't feel ready to start soldering just yet.
• Have you played a ton of Tears of the Kingdom, but still need more physics-driven building in your life? Well, Mars First Logistics looks like it could deliver just that. Build rovers and transports to deal with all the issues of getting things across the planet Mars, and even engage in some co-op action. Shape Shop's Mars builder will hit Steam Early Access on June 22.

[caption id="attachment_384463" align="alignnone" width="640"] Image via Shape Shop[/caption]

• Die Gute Fabrik, the makers of games like Mutazione and Sportsfriends, bring a big end-of-show reveal for their new game, Saltsea Chronicles. You play as the crew of a ship in search of their captain, managing their needs and expeditions as they search the world over. The art's great, and I love the card game that has different regional rules. It looks like a story with a big focus on the world and its denizens and should be one to keep an eye on.
• Finally, we close out with a reminder that Double Fine and 2 Player Productions' PsychOdyssey, a docu-series following the making of Psychonauts 2, is out now. I'm still watching my way through it, but I'll say right now that it's an incredible, very real look at the development process of video games. Highly recommended.

That's all for this Day of t??he Devs SGF showcase. Let us know what you dug in the comments b?elow!

The post Everything shown at the Day of? the Devs SGF 2023 showcase appeared first on Destructoid.

What time do you need to tune in?

In just a matter of hours, Summer Games Fest 2023 will be kicking off. Hosted by Geoff Keighley, the event will span a number of days, giving you the chance to check out what some big names in the world of gaming have in store. But ??what specifically is happening today?

If you are interested in checking out the opening moments of this year's SGF, the show kickstarts today - June 8 - at the following times: 12:00 PT / 15??:00 ET / 20:00 BST / 21:00 CEST. Obviously, depending on where you live in the world, you'll need to keep an eye on which time is relevant to you. If you're not in any of these time zones, you can do a quick search to convert to your own.

//youtu.be/1z3YwB8xnWk

But what's to be expected from today's event? Well, Keighely will officially introduce Summer Game Fest 2023, likely giving a brief overview of what to expect. That will commence at noon PT and will probably go on for a couple of hours. Immediately following this - at 15:00 PT - will be the Day of Devs event, a show by Double Fine, of Psychonauts and Psychonauts 2 fame, and iam8bit. The purpose of Day of the D??ev is to give the spotlight to indie games and studi??os, showcasing their insights and upcoming titles.

Then at 18:00, you can check out The Return of the Volvy, an "annual gaming extravaganza" for developers starring the titular mascot from Devolver Digital. Volvy has been the star of a number of games in the past, including Hotline Miami and Cult of the Lamb.

We'll return later with even more details a?bout what to expect from Summer Game Fest 2023, you can join us for all of the action right here on Destructoid.

The post Summer Game Fest 2023: What’s happening today? appeared first on Destructoid.

A host of new indie titles to keep an eye on

A new Day?? of the Devs showcase airs today, celebrating the event's 10th anniversary. There were also a ton of indie titles shown off, creating an interesting spread of genres, styles, and creators.

Indie spotlights are always useful tools for discovering the next hidden gem to add to your Steam wishlist. And Day of the Devs has traditionally been pretty good at finding some really exciting new titles.

Impressive art styles, ret??ro throwbacks, and yes, something about playing poker on a boat w??ith animals. It was a great spotlight of some projects in development. Here's the full rundown from today's show.

Mina the Hollower

Yacht Club Games' new project, Mina the Hollower, is a Game Boy throwback in the best ways. It brings up vibes of Link's Awakening with a Castlevania twist, and the blend works really well.

After years and years of Shovel Knight, this is definitely one to keep an eye on. No release date yet, but find it for wishlisting on Steam here.

Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley

This gorgeous adventure game has a wonderful art style. And to accompa??ny that look is some music from Icelandic band Sigur Rós.

This musical adventure looks like one to watch for if you like chill fantasy adventures. Snufkin's aiming for 2023, and you can find it on Steam here.

Escape Academy: Escape from Anti-Escape Island DLC

Escape Academy was already a good time, especially for co-op escape artists. So the prospect of new DLC to ??puzzle my way through is an exciting prospect.

The Escape from Anti-Escape Island DLC looks like it's got some clever tricks up its sleeve. It's out on November 10, and you can find it on Steam here.

Frog Detective 3: Corruption at Cowboy County

The Frog Detective games have always seemed absolutely wonderful, and Frog Detective 3 made a great impression?? in today's Day of the Devs showcase.

Solve a whodunnit while exploring Cowboy County, and maybe even bust out some sick scooter tricks along the way. That's available now, over on Steam here, or in a bundle of all three Frog Detective games.

Dead Pets Unleashed

This fem??i?nist punk music adventure seems hardcore. It's about dealing with real-life woes while also trying to "make it" with your band.

The art style is unique, as is the direction the team is taking. If you want a fantasy feminist punk adventure, this is one to keep your eye on. Find Dead Pets Unleashed on Steam here.

Terra Nil

The natural anti-city builder of Terra Nil has been on my radar for ages, and I'm keen to see its final version. You're tasked with reviving a dead, b??arren landscape, using controlled burns and waterways to diversify and revive the earth before leaving.

Terra Nil's demo made a big impact, and I'm excited to see the full game in early 2023. Find it on Steam here.

Thirsty Suitors

Outerloop Games' Thirsty Suitors has a set-up reminiscent of Scott Pilgrim: Jala is back in town, and her thirsty exes are back in her life. Deal with them in turn-based battles, while also skateboarding, cooki??ng, ??and figuring life out.

It's a mix that works really well, especially the gorgeous, bigger-than-life RPG battles with the exes. Keep an eye on Thirsty Suitors by following it on Steam here. There's also a demo available on Steam now.

Colossal Cave

Industry pioneers Ken and Roberta Williams are reimagining a video game classic, Colossal Cave Adventure. That alone is reason enough to keep a??n eye on this.

But the actual reimagining looks incredible, especially if you're familiar with the original game. It's exciting to see a classic get a full 3D treatment like this. Follow it on the eShop or the Epic Games Store.

Surmount

This climbing sim from Jasper & Jonas seems like a wonderful physics adventure in the vein of Getting Over It or Heave Ho. Ascend the mountain with your arms and incredible spinning potential, alone o??r with a pal.

A particular favorite part, for me, is using rope to extend re??ach and swing around. That goes doubly for potential co-op mayhem. This seems like a potential b??last for couch co-op sessions.

Gunbrella

Doinksoft's action adventure game Gunbrella takes the simple concept, "umbrella with a gun", and runs wild with it. Its demo was featured in a recent Steam fest, and it was a highlight of the event for me.

The motion and movement of the demo was top-notch, and I loved the look and style of the world too. Follow development and wishlist Gunbrella on Steam here.

Evolutis: Duality

If you wanted something that looks a little different from your average indie project, look no further than Evolutis: Duality.

This futuristic, cyberpunk action-adventure has some absolutely incredible animation work. Add in some brawling and absolutely brutal sequences, and Poke Life Studio is certainly making something that's unlike most others out there. Follow it on Steam here.

Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration

Digital Eclipse is putting together a retro collection, celebrating the history of Atari. The 90+ game collection was shown off today, as part of the Da?y of the Devs show?case.

But it's not just a collection of classic games, but the history and world around them. Today's spotlight makes Atari 50 look like an exploration of the era through the lens of Atari, and it seems like a cool way to experience a piece of gaming history. That's out on November 11, and you can find it on Steam here.

Slime Heroes

A special Black Voices in Gaming segment of the Day of the Devs showcase kicked off with Slime Heroes, an adorable-looking game ab?out some heroic slimes from Pancake Games.

Fight evil monsters as a blue slime with a sword, finding new weapons and magical potential along the way. Who doesn't love a heroic blue slime? Find that on Steam here.

Samurai Zero

If you want a little more PvP action, Samurai Zero might be your speed.? This third-person hack-and-slash brawler is all abou??????????????????????????t movement and blades.

It's reminding me a bit of GunZ: The Duel, and Neo Interactive looks like it's making sure the duels are flashy and expressive. Keep an eye on Samurai Zero over on Steam here.

Sunshine Shuffle

The Strange Scaffold team is no stranger to odd game concepts. And Sunshine Shuffle is certainly out there. This Poker Night at the Inventory-inspired project is about playing cards with some animals, wh??o may have robbed a bank at some point.

Whether you like cute animals, storytelling, customizing a boat, or good ol' fashioned pok??er, there's a?? lot here.

What the Bat?

Triband already hit it off with What the Golf?, its bizarre take on golf-game mechanics. For i??ts next project, the team is tackling a deeper question: what if your hands were bats?

What the Bat? is a virtual reality project that gives the player baseball bats for hands, and then has them attempt to complete basic tasks. If it's anything like What the Golf?, expect some bizarre hilarity to ensue. Follow it on Steam here.

Sea of Stars

RPG fans have been eagerly waiting for Sea of Stars. This new RPG from Sabotage Studios, the team behind The Messenger, loo?ke?d fantastic as it closed out today's Day of the Devs showcase.

And even in today's showcase, the RPG continues to surprise. We got a firmer look at the party, combat, world, and more. Sabotage is aiming for a 2023 launch, and I'm hopeful the wait will result in a really great RPG. Keep up with the project on Steam here.

The post Everything shown at today’s Day of the Devs 10th Anniversary showcase appeared first on Destructoid.

Tons of indies with some killer vibes

Today marks the Summer Game Fest kick-off, and both the Live showcase and ensuing Day of the Devs have?? come to a close. In the latter, there were a bunch of really rad ga?mes, from both well-known developers and exciting newcomers.

While the Summer Game Fest Live showcas?e tends to focus on bigger games, the Day of the Devs: Summer Game Fest Edition showcase centered on smaller projects and teams. It's a tradition that Double Fine has organized for a decade at this point, and it's always nice to see what neat projects make their way into the showcase.

This year had some absolute winners, too. Bear and Breakfast continues to look like a chill, fun management sim and it's arriving very soon. So is Escape Academy, a school life-meets-puzzle room adventure. And then there's Choo-Choo Charles. Good lord, Choo-Choo Charles.

But if evil hell-trains aren't your thing, there's the whimsy of Time Flies, an open-world game about the life of a fly. Or the intricate puzzles of Animal Well, which had a puzzle baked into its trailer. Here's the f??ull rundown from today's showcase.

Every game shown at Day of the Devs: Summer Game Fest Edition 2022

Time Flies by Michael Frei & Raphaël Munoz

Explore the life of a fly in this open-world adventure. Well, run-based open-world adventure. Flies don't live very long, so you'll have to tackle life goals and complete as much as you can before it comes to a close. Time Flies is coming to PlayStation, Switch, and PC sometime in 2023. You can wishlist it on Steam here.

Planet of Lana by Wishfully Studios

This side-scrolling adventure looks similar to Inside or Unravel. Team up with a little companion to evade baddies and save your sister sometime this year on PC and Xbox. Find it on Steam here.

Choo-Choo Charles by Two Star Games

Build a train to kill the demon train. That's the crux of Choo-Choo Charles, an open-world exploration game with a giant spider train that's like Thomas the Tank Engine on a very, very bad day. It's set to launch on PC, with PS5 and Xbox Series X to follow later. Find it on Steam here.

Escape Academy by Coin Crew Games

This escape room game, made by real-life puzzle creators, has a narrative aspect and some wildly clever setups. You, the player, attend a school to become an escape artist, presumably after signing a staggering number of releases. Escape Academy launches for Xbox, PlayStation and PC on July 14, and it's a day-one Game Pass launch.

A Little to the Left by Max Inferno

A cozy puzzle game that's likely to appeal to anyone missing some Unpacking in their life. A Little to the Left is all about tidying and organizing household objects to solve puzzles, while also having them disrupted by a cat. And I thought video games were about escaping reality. A Little to the Left arrives later this year on PC and Switch. There's also a demo live on Steam right now.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmA6s_fVUHw

Bear & Breakfast by Gummy Cat

This seemingly delightful management sim about a bear opening its own bed-and-breakfast franchise finally has a release date. Open the woods up to travelers on July 28, for both PC and Switch.

Animal Well by Shared Memory

Heavy in pixel art and detail, this curious new exploration game is apparently littered with layers of puzzles. Animal Well seems like something that can scratch both a Metroid and Fez itch simultaneously, with some seriously great vibes. It's in development for PS5 and Steam.

Naiad by HiWarp

Become the guardian of the river, and hang out with your super-cool aquatic friends. That's the pitch on Naiad, and it's a good one. Add in some gorgeous art and some theming around pollution and the climate, and Naiad could be one to watch for when it launches for PC and consoles by the end of the year. Find it on Steam here.

Roots of Pacha by Soda Den

This village builder goes all the way back to the Stone Age. Roots of Pacha has you learn to domesticate animals, irrigate and raise crops, and possibly fall in love somewhere in-between. There's a demo going live today if you're eager to make? some caveman connections.

Desta: The Memories Between by ustwo games

This dreamy, surreal turn-based strategy game explores the past and relationships. It's form the folks behind Monument Valley and Alba: A Wildlife Adventure, so it's bound to be both gorgeous and inventive. Find it on Steam here.

SCHiM by Ewoud van der Werf

This gorgeous-looking game has the player jump from shadow to shadow to move around. It's like one giant floor-is-lava game, and you help other shadow denizens find their home shadow as you search for yours. Find it on Steam here.

Fox and Frog Travelers: The Demon of Adashino Island by Rias (Rias Coast)

The first of two games from asobu, an indie community in Japan, is about a fox and a frog. These two travelers get caught up?? in a bad time on a mysterious island, brought to life beautifully by illustrator Rias. It's planned for release in a few years.

Goodbye World by Yo Fujii

One of the show highlights for me was Goodbye World, a solo project from Yo Fujii about the struggles of game development. The story follows two indie game creators, Kanii and Kumad, as they work to create their project while dealing with real-life. It's a great idea with some really cool ways of tying in the actual game the pair are making. Goodbye World arrives on Steam later this year.

Birth by Maidson Karrh

This point-and-click adventure is about moving to a new town by yourself, and trying to make friends. And I mean quite literally make a friend. It's a mix of introspection and gorgeous art, arriving this August. Find it on Steam here.

How to Say Goodbye by Florian Veltman, Ba?ptiste Portefaix, ARTE Fra??nce

Get through the afterlife by shifting the world around you in How to Say Goodbye. This is another game whose visuals I really enjoyed, and it has some cool ideas in its trailer about moving t??he world around. It's coming to PC sometime in 2022.

Little Nemo and the Guardians of Slumberland by Peter Berkman (Anamanaguchi)

Platform around as a lil' guy, using toys and stuffed animals to fend off baddies. The adventures of Little Nemo are hitting Kickstarter today, and ??the showcase highlighted th??e musical work specifically, with a performance from Peter Berkman of Anamanaguchi.

The post Everything shown at today’s Day of the Devs: Summer Game Fest Edition showcase appeared first on Destructoid.

The big reveals showcase is airing in IMAX

This year's Summer Games Fest kickoff date has been lock??ed in??. Summer Game Fest Live and Day of the Devs will air on Thursday, June 9 at 2 p.m. ET, 11 a.m. PT.

The full show, titled Summer Game Fest! featuring Day of the Devs: Summer Game Fest Edition, will combine the usual world premiere fest with Double Fine and iam8bit's indie showcase Day of the Devs. The Summer Game Fest stream will air first, followed by Da??y of the Devs.

Both shows will air on most major streaming platforms, including YouTube, Twitch, Twitter, Facebook, and others. Streamers will also be allowed to co-stream the even??t, for those who want a bit more talk-ov?er for their showcases.

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Showrunner Geoff Keighley also confirms on Twitter that this year's festivities will be airing in IMAX theaters. On June 9, those interested will be able to watch the showcase i?n select IMAX theater locations, for those who really want to see the world premieres on the biggest screen possible.

Are you ready for the summer?

With the confirmation of a date for the kickoff, it looks like the summer of gaming news and announcements is upon us. The Summer Game Fest site is tracking events, as we??'ve already?? had a few announced.

Alongside the Summer Game Fest Live and Day of the Devs streams, Xbox and Bethesda have locked in a date for their stream. The joint games showcase will take place on June 12, a few days after the SGF show. The Tribeca Games Spotli??ght, meanwhi??le, will highlight some interesting projects on June 10.

It'll be an interesting year, seeing as there is no E3 taking place this summer, even in digital form. No other plans have been formally announced yet, though with June rapidly? approaching, I imagine we'll start to see more publishers and companies lock in their stream?ing plans.

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Annapurna has more to show this summer

Last Stop, the supernatural thr?iller from Virginia developer Variable State and Annapurna Interactive, has set a day for its July launch window. And no?t long after that, the indie publisher will talk a little bit more about the road ahead.

Announced during today's Day of the Devs showcase at Summer Game Fest, Last Stop will launch on July 22 for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Soon after, Annapurna Interactive confirmed it will be hosting ?a showcase of its own a week after that launch on July 29, at 12 p.m. PT.

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Last Stop is a new adventure game that's popped up at a few showcases before, featuring three pla??yable main characters who each have a supernatural crisis to deal with. Between high-schooler Donna, overworked single dad John, and the ambitious Meena, each will have to work through their own issues,? while also figuring out why their wild events have happened.

The post Annapurna’s Last Stop arrives July 22, with a publisher showcase soon to follow appeared first on Destructoid.