I’m not terribly familiar with the Steamworld games, including SteamWorld Dig and SteamWorld Heist. I tried a bit of Dig, and it didn’t click with me. However, I am very familiar with city builders, so the latest game, SteamWorld Build, still got me excited.

This entry is done by a different developer The Station, whose previous work was also called The Station. So, SteamWorld Build is a bit of a departure for both the developer and for the s??eries as a ?whole. 

SteamWorld Build (PC [Review], Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S)
Developer: The Station
Publisher: Thunderful Publishing
Released: December 1, 2023
MSRP: $29.99

The world is ending, so ?some of the surviving robots are following the instruction of a disembodied robot eye and digging into the ground to try and find rocket parts so they can leave. Rather than do it themselves, however, they’re building a settlement directly over the abandoned mine so they can attract other robots that they can send to their deaths in the cold, unfeeling earth.

SteamWorld Build feels closest to the survival city-builder genre to me, but only in terms of controls and the management of resources. There really is no survival here. There’s no real fail state, and even if you suck really badly at things, you will probably always be making progress. Really, SteamWorld Build has its own flavor, whic??h works both in its favor and against it.

Beneath that, there’s also a mining and exploration game where you direct your robots to dig through blocks of earth to try and find resources and other objectives. Dungeon Keeper kept coming to mind as I played it, and there’s maybe a splash of that in here in the sense that you hollow out areas and can build rooms. So??me of the blocks you order your robots to destroy also contain ore, so there are at least aesthetic similarities if little else.

Really, the goal here is to build up your town, so you can get better mining gear, so you can dig deeper and get more resources for your town, so you can get even better mining gear and get to t??he bottom. It’s an effective way to entangle the two modes of play. You’re con?stantly switching between the town and your mine, which is helped by a control scheme that makes it easy to get around. It feels nice.

The main flow of town building has you first plop down worker houses and have them extract resources to make products that will attract more workers. After all their needs are met, you can upgrade them to the n??ext class of citizens and repeat the process with more and more complicated production lines. You’re constantly building and reinforcing supply lines so you can fit more and more robots into your society and meet milestones to unlock the next level of gear and production.

Meanwhile, underground, you’ll be putting your new gear to use. You need to ensure the mine is stable, that you have enough workers, and you must create infrastructure for resource extraction. Eventually, you’ll run into monsters and other hazards underground and need to deal with them, but I’m fairly certain your robots can’t permanently di?e. They can get eaten or destroyed in battle, but I think they either get fixed by mechanics or replaced. As I said earlier, it’s a hard game to fail at. You can certainly play it worse, but I don’t think it’s possible to be so bad at it that you get stuck.?????????????????????????? Prove me wrong, I guess.

Alongside this is a storyline that plays out in cutscenes. It?’s�fine. I didn’t find it annoying, but I didn’t find it compelling either. On my second playthrough of the game, however, I was happy to be able to turn it off entirely. That’s a? great option to have.

This is going to sound strange and ironic, but the major issue with SteamWorld Build is that it’s too mechanical and robotic. Progress is entirely lin??ear, which is extremely strange for a city builder. With how difficult it is to fail, if a fail state exists at all, there’s very little dynamism to the whole experience.

What this means is that one playthrough plays pretty much the same as another. It’s a city builder that absolutely needs to have a narrative overlaying everything because you aren’t making one of your own. The robots under your care might as well not exi??st. They don’t have lives or schedules. They’re merely tools; a number that lets you know how close you are to reaching the next milestone.

After your first playthrough, any subsequent approach to the game might as well be a speedrun. You have the skills i?n place, you’ve solved all the problems, and you’ve seen the story. There is no other playstyle to experiment with, and you’re just doing everything again, but maybe more efficiently.

As someone who loves city-builders and management games as a whole, SteamWorld Build feels alienating. It’s a city-builder for people who don’t like city-builders??.

While that’s a big problem for a genre entry, it’s not as damning as it might be. SteamWorld Build is an incredibly polished game. And while the lack of friction adds to the inhuman feel of the game, it is laudable. The graphics and music are so well executed that I honestly ca??n’t imagine them bein??g improved in any way. While the game itself feels so robotic, the aesthetic shows a lot of personality. It's like human flesh over a metal endoskeleton.

What I mean to say is that if an extremely rigid city-builder doesn’t sound like a problem to you, or even if it sounds appealing, then SteamWorld Build is worth trying. I can honestly say that I didn’t hate the time I spent with it, even on the second ?playthrough. It just feels empty when I think back on it. I don’t think it’s going to stick with me. But there are far worse problems for a game to have than being too robotic.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

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Flipping blocks and birds

Team Meat has lifted the lid on a brand new title set within the Super Meat Boy universe �Dr. Fetus' Mean Meat Machine?? is a brand new Match-4 puzzler currently in the?? works for PC and console platforms, with an expected launch window of 2023.

The new title, a clear pun on the 1993 Puyo Puyo reskin Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine, will similarly task players with clearing out a playfield of familiar Super Meat Boy iconography against a strict time limit. As new sets of characters drop onto the playing area, the player will have to use efficient forward-playing to match up the icons with the brethren, clearing out space while setting up the remaining characters? for smart, chain-reaction results down the line. In addition, the playfield will feature its own set of hazards, including rockets, pendulums, and those oh-so-pesky buzzsaws.

?//www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAWZ14r93EU?&ab_channel=PlayStation

Developed in cooperation with Team Meat and the original SMB artists, Dr. Fetus' Mean Meat Machine will feature over 100 levels of "one-of-a-kind" gameplay, packed out with elements of the seminal 2010 release Super Meat Boy and the... not-so-seminal 2020 sequel Super Meat Boy Forever. A soundtrack by the returning RIDICULON will feature both new a new score as well as remixes of the popular and memorable soundtracks from the original gam??es. Of course, everything will be splattered with the grotesque humor and strange, twisted aesthetic that helped make the original game such an incredible success story.

Dr. Fetus' Mean Meat Machine is coming to PlayStation, PC, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch platforms in 2023.

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An indie that stuns you

Every once in a while, there's an indie that takes your breath away. Journey has a bright art style that resembles the path of life while Limbo creeps its players out with its monochrome look. This year's Planet of Lana so far is transporting players into a stunning watercolor-like setting with an intriguing sci-fi twist, and it will surely be talked about when Planet of Lana is eventually released this spring.

Planet of Lana has solid gameplay

[caption id="attachment_362850" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Planet of Lana is a puzzle platformer that has your character tagging along with a cute cat-like creature. They both talk to each other in an indistinguishable language, as the protagonist calls upon her furry friend to come run with her or stop in place. The puzzles ??from the first 30 minutes of the game are stellar. You place the creature at certain spots like a switch to activate a bridge or tell it to cut a rope by directing it with your hand. The controls are intuitive and work as expected.

There are some mil??d platforming elements that feel death-defying as your character makes huge leaps, trusting her pet through thick and thin. You'll also need to push blocks and other objects to get to a higher platform, and there are some puzzles that revolve around that. So far, the level design has been relatively simple but will likely get harder when the full game releases; this is only an impression of the demo from Steam Next Fest.

Planet of Lana does a great job of setting in tension. Whenever a robot appears, its eyes will be beaming blue; but if it sees you, it turns to different colors, until the red symbolizes it's about to end your life. There are smart puzzles revolving around the hiding mechanic, as at one point in the demo, you have to distract the?? robot by having the cat-like creature burrow through the ground, emerge out of the hole, and then go ba??ck under. It was satisfying to pull this off after thinking about it for a few minutes.

A mild inconvenience

Despite some excellent game design within Planet of Lana already, there is a bug that should be addressed. There is one puzzle, in which you have to convince an environmental creature to move along the landscape. Its big rocky back is the key, as it gives your characters more height to reach the next pl??atform. However, the back ??is also blocking the path, not letting you push a box inside the area. You need both the back and the box together to reach the next platform.

The pr?oblem is that the creature moved to an awkward spot and still blocked the box from being put in the right spot. After this unfortunate circumstance, it wouldn't move. Thankfully, I restarted from the last checkpoint and then it fixed itself, but it's a bug that should be addressed with the full release.

A gorgeous world and pleasant music that matches it

[caption id="attachment_362859" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Planet of Lana has our interest just from how beautiful it is. The leaves of the trees have the stroke patterns of the paintbrush, creating a unique look. There is also a beautiful blue sky with the slight outline of a moon beneath it. The characters are animated well as they stumble after jumping a big gap. What also helps is the layering of the assets in Planet of Lana. The black outline of a tree within a d??ark forested area in the forefront covers the character's way through, making for a dra??matic atmosphere.

The audio design of Planet of Lana is also impeccable. You can hear the wind brushing across the grass as you hear the strange noises of machinery from far away. It just pulls ??????????????????????????you in, and the music only gets introduced periodically, letting the game's environment breathe. The soundtrack so far is delightful as it increases the tension of an encounter with a robot or elevates the beauty of the visuals as your characters experience the great outdoors.

An engrossing demo

It feels like a calm breeze within the intensity of the triple-A marketplace's gunfire, spells, and open-world gameplay mechanics. The visuals are outstanding with a glorious watercolor style, the game design is spot on so far, and the audio design just sucks you into the game's environments. If you have the time, you should check out the Planet of Lana demo in some fashion.

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Nominative determinism in action

Publisher Thunderful Games has announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire British independent studio Jumpshi??p. The acquisition makes Jumpship the 10th studio to join the Thunderful portfolio, and the first purchase since the establishment of new CEO Anders Maiqvist.

“The level of intrigue that Jumpship has managed to generate for its debut title shows you that this is a ?team with a deep artistic vision," writes Thunderful Games' Agostino Simonetta in a press release. "Adding to our already diverse and accomplished roster of talent under the Thunderful Studios�umbrella is an important part of our strategy to build strong internal IPs. We look forward to supporting the team at Jumpship to harness their skill for building impactful? narrative-driven experiences as they continue to create fantastic titles within the Thunderful family."

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_lPMatv07o

Founded in 2017 by Chris Olson and PlayDead co-founder Dino Patti, Jumpship's first release, Somerville, launches today on November 15 and concerns a young family's encounter with an intergalactic invasion. Much like previous PlayDead hits Limbo and Inside, Somerville sports a heavy atmospheric slant, evocative and? stylist?ic visuals, and light platform and puzzle-based challenges.

Dino Patti also spo??ke of their excite?ment and confidence in the Thunderful acquisition.

"I feel really good about the partnership with Thunderful a??nd what it will do for Jumpship,"?? said Patti. "I have known Agostino for a very long time and we have built a strong relationship of trust. We’ve been talking about this possibility for around a year and, over that time, I have only become more convinced that this is a great opportunity for Jumpship and Thunderful alike."

Somerville launches today on Xbox, PC, and Xbox Game Pass.

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On top of the (already known about) Headhunter

As much as our eyes can glaze over when skimming through game publishers' financial reports, sometimes, there are head-turning tidbits about upcoming games we'd actually like to play. In this case, it sure seems like Thunderful has big plans for the wider SteamWorld series �four new games are in the works, including SteamWorld Headhunter?, a body-swapping robot cowboy adventure we learned abou?t last year.

According to the Thunderful Group's report for January through March 2022 (via IGN), SteamWorld Headhunter is on deck for 2023, and there are three? other titles on the way:

• A SteamWorld puzzle game codenamed "Strawberry" (2023) (Mobile)
• A SteamWorld city-builder codenamed "Coffee" (2023) (PC and Console)
• A SteamWorld turn-based tactical shooter / strategy game codenamed "Caramel" (2024) (PC, Console, and Mobile)

A mobile puzzle game isn't much to go on, but my mind is whirling up thinking about the possibilities for a city-builder in this charming robot universe. Likewise, as much as SteamWorld Dig and its sequel are my favorites, I know plenty of people who prefer SteamWorld Heist �and a?? "tactical shooter" sounds like i?t could be in that wheelhouse.

Thunderful's upcoming games through 2024

[caption id="attachment_322585" align="alignnone" width="909"] _{SteamWorld games and other upcoming projects at Thunderful.}[/caption]

Looking through this list of upcoming games, I also couldn't help but notice Coatsink's "Jurassic World IP game," codenamed "Jaffa," which is categorized as survival horror and listed for release during the second half of 2022 across consoles and VR. Sick, right? It took me a minute to connect the dots, but that sure sounds like Jurassic World Aftermath, a "suspenseful VR survival ??adventure" that's already playable now on Meta Qu??est.

Interestingly, earlier in the report, Thunderful specifically mentions that "Coatsink has been chosen to develop a launch title for Sony’s next-generation VR console, PSVR2."

Thunderful said this "cements Coatsink's top role in the VR indu?stry, and through them we are now in a great position to influence the future of VR business and ?technology."

While we don't have concrete dates yet, I'm eager to see what other studios Sony has courted for the PlayStation VR2 launch. And as someone who's been with SteamWorld since the beginning, it's cool to see it continue to grow in new ways. I'm not expecting to lo?ve all four upcoming games (not without more info), but I'??d be happy with just a couple.

Whoever's coming up wit??h these codenames, you're killing?? it.

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Turns out beautiful builds are not always structurally sound

One special thing about Lego bricks is the build itself. You get a bunch of neatly packed pieces, a set of instructions, and get to put it all together. What took me back about Lego Bricktales in my demo at PAX East is how it?? captured that feeling. Seeing dozens of bricks spread ou??t, and then having to put them together into something cohesive and, possibly, wonderful.

That's one half of Lego Bricktales. For the other half, imagine the same scenario of a fresh Lego kit in front of you, but without the instructions. Maybe you just have a finished product for reference. Or maybe you just have two sides of a chasm, and have to figure out how to build a Lego bridge from one?? s?ide to the other.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJQjQ-nfJRY

It shouldn't surprise me, given the history of developer ClockStone. This team has put together many a Bridge Constructor game, and y?es, you do make bridges. You also make paths, supports, stairs, statues, and even a helicopter.

Brick by brick

The tutorial area starts of?f just teaching the controls, which do require a bit of finesse. It's easy enough to plop bricks down, but wiggling a brick into the right place took a li??ttle learning. Thankfully, nothing's timed and the goal is not always 1:1 recreation.

As we moved into the first area, where my character was tasked with searching for lost Lego people in a jungle area, most of my problems were practical. The aforementioned bridge was a great introduction to the core challenge of Lego Bricktales: building something stable.

I grew up with a massive bin of Legos. This giant clear tub was loaded up, holiday after holiday, as my brother and I got more and more sets. Th?e plastic cadence of friction as I dug for one?? brick in a hundred is a sound I can still hear today.

When I would build bridges then, I'd just make something that looked neat. They didn't have any clearances or requirements. But in Lego Bricktales, that bridge has to support a Lego person. So when I snapped together a couple long pieces and ?called it a day, lo and behold, the simulation ro??bot plunged to their doom.

So I had to scrap and rebuild. Here's where I needed to pay attention: red bricks signify stable foundation, something I can use as a base. And the more I extended from that, the more it might lean, buckle, and break under pressure. I couldn't just slap together some long slats of plastic and call it a day. I needed structure, I needed supports. So I built?? myself?? a Lego suspension bridge, and let me tell you, it held.

Engineering with Legos

It might sound weird to say that my favorite part of the Lego game was building. But not every Lego game is about building.? In fairness, those games aren't try?ing to be builders; their focus is on the action and the comedy, told through Legos.

What has kept me thinking about Lego Bricktales since my demo has been the creativity it let me have. At one point, I needed to build a support for an unstable platfor?m. The pieces I was given weren't simple beams and pillars, though. Several of them curved and jutted out, moving in different directions.

I ended up creating a beam that wasn't jus??t effective, but honestly, looked really darn good. Like a proper Lego build out of the box. And just to make sure, I scrapped it down and pared it back to a minimal, no-nonsense version. Both worked.

In my last build of the demo, had to build a route around a cliffside face using just straightforward blocks. It was deceptively difficult, and had me puzzled for quite a while as I figured out where I could wind around and build up. In another, I recreated a statue, in a segment eerily reminiscent of the Shrine of the Silver Monkey from Legends of the Hidden Temple.

Lego Bricktales reminds me what it's like to craft and manage my own builds, in between all those pristine instruction-driven works. What ??appealed to me back then, and still appeals to me now, is the potential. It's seeing a lineup of bricks and an open space, and given freedom to create. Seeing a problem, and being asked for a solution that you would make. As long as the little simulation robot can make it acros?s, it works. And then you'll see it reflected back in the dioramic game world.

I'm certainly interested to see how this physics-driven, problem-solving approach to Lego games pans out. Lego Bricktales is currently in deve?lopment, aiming for ?a 2022 launch.

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The fun of building without the mess

The LEGO video games will always hold a special place in my heart �some of my fondest gaming memories are of my siblings and I playing through the LEGO Star Wars games at our neighbor's house. Looking back, though, those licensed LEGO games kind of make me scratch my head, because although the branding was on point, only a small portion of the gameplay was allotted to actual building, which is kind of the whole appeal of the brand. Thanks to the newly announced LEGO Bricktales, though, building is about to reenter the c??ompany's construction-centric gaming canon in a whole new way.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJQjQ-nfJRY

LEGO Bricktales is a physics-based building puzzle game, and by the looks of its announcement trailer from the Future Games Show's Spring Showcase, it looks like a ton of fun. The game is being developed by Clockstone Studio, which is best known for creating the hit indie Bridge Constructor series. The trailer shows a series of scenarios where the player is asked to build an object (out of LEGO, obviou??sly) to help complete a task. The player is then given a set number of pieces to build their object, and when the building is complete, the player can run a simulation? to see if the object works as intended.

It's a simple premise, at least from what we can tell so far, but sometimes the simplest of concepts make for the games that players will sink hundreds of hours into. After watching the trailer, some have likened the game's mechanics to that of Kerbel Space Program, and that feels like a pretty apt comparison? to me.

LEGO Bricktales will be releasing some??time in 2022, and I personally can't wait to give this colorful, adorable,?? and likely challenging little puzzle game a try.

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The SteamWorld studio dives right into The Gunk

2021 is coming to a close, but The Gunk is sliding right under the wire. Today, Thunderful Games announced that The Gunk is coming to Xbox and PC ??on Dec. 16, and it wil??l be on Game Pass at launch.

Announced during today's Thunderful World event, The Gunk is a new game from the SteamWorld developers Image & Form, all about dealing with all the gunk. It has frequently given me Super Mario Sunshine vibes, which is a hefty comparison. But given the studio's past work on SteamWorld games, it seems like one to at least keep?? an eye on.

//??twitter.com/Thunderfulgames/status/1458515216103264260

The Gunk will hit both ?Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, as well as PC via the Windows Store, on Dec. 16. It's coming to Game Pass on day one too, s?o if sucking up the gunk seems interesting, there's something to do over the holidays.

A few other Thunderful games were confirmed for Xbox today too. Moody monochromatic puzzle platformer White Shadows was locked in for Xbox Series X|S on Dec. 7, the Half-Life inspired Industria will come to the next-gen Xbox in 2022, and the gorgeous-looking Planet of Lana is still set as an Xbox console exclusi??ve in 2023.

As for the SteamWorld folks, they had a few announcements aside from The Gunk. They showed off SteamWorld Headhunter, the next game in the SteamWorld universe, and SteamWorld Dig 2 is free-to-keep for a short time on PC.

The post The Gunk goes live on December 16 for Xbox and PC appeared first on Destructoid.

The next SteamWorld game will be 3D

Announced this morning at the Thunderful World showcase, we're getting another SteamWorld game �and it won't be 2D. The next title, SteamWorld Headhunter, already seems to be riding the line betw??een "cozily familiar" and "more ambitious."

The teaser trailer doesn't have ga??meplay footage, but the premise is clear.

As shown at the end of the video (and in the logo itself), it seems players will be able to la?tch onto different robo-cowboy bodies using a little head with appendages.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlVCv3F1xGE

"Taking the series in a fresh direction, SteamWorld Headhunter is a stylised and colourful, third-person co-op action adventure with a head-popping twist," said Thunderful. "While maintaining the style and charm that's helped make SteamWorld such a beloved franchise, this move into 3D represents a brand new approach to the series. Thunderful?? are excited to share more about their vision for this internally developed title soon."

Based on the artwork, which shows a tiny robot head perched on a roaring train, I'm hoping for some Super Mario Odyssey-style madness. This series does such a great job of presenting engaging gameplay hooks in cool settings that have more depth (and lore) than they first let on, and that's where the bar is set for SteamWorld Headhunter as well.

The team says the new game "directly follows the (literally) earth-shattering events of SteamWorld Dig 2." Platforms and a release window haven't been announced. The fact that we're only getting a teaser trailer and concept ??art makes me think this is quite a ways out.

In November 2020, Image & Form said it would create new SteamWorld games and that it was "not ruling out sequels." If you're wanting another 2D game (SteamWorld Dig and SteamWorld Heist tend to get the most vocal adoration), then t??here's hope yet.

If you'd like to scratch the surface of the multi-genre SteamWorld series, one of the best titles �SteamWorld Dig 2 �is currently free to claim and keep on GOG and Steam.

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Metroid and roguelikes meet on the golf course

Golf games have been exploring just what virtual golf can be, exactly. And Cursed to Golf, a new golfing game from Chuhai Labs and Thunderful Publishing, asks: what if golf was a roguelike? And what if you were also in Golf Purga?tory?

Announced today, Cursed to Golf is headed for PC in January 2022 as a full-fled??ged game. The setup is that you're on the winning shot of an international tournament when tragedy strikes, and now you—the Cursed Golfer, trapped in Golf Purgatory—need to tee off across t??he devious courses of the underworld to get home.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWwv7HRifug

I mentioned "full game" because there's a precursor of sorts available free on Itch, if you'd like to get an idea of what Cursed to Golf is going for. I had actually played it a while ago, after seeing it pop up on social media, and it's ??pre??tty interesting.

As you golf through co??urses, you can pick up new boons to help you make Par on each new hole. Different upgrades can add new abilities to your golfer, to make navigating the treacherous hazards a bit easier, and it l??ooks like the full game is adding some wild stuff. I love the portals, in particular.

The final game will also include online leaderboards, as well as over 80 holes to play and a Daily Challenge Mode. Basically, a lot of golf to play. I've been enjoying the way that developers have been re-interpreting the act of virtual golfing, with neat indies like Golf Story coming up with inventive uses for a classic style of gameplay. Seems like Cursed to Golf is one to keep an eye on if you're also into fresh takes on the digit??al green.

You can wishlist Cursed to Golf on Steam over here.

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The smaller games with the biggest impacts

The summer of gaming news may still be going on for a while, but E3 2021 comes to a close today, with the last few showc??ases ai??ring today. From Xbox and Nintendo to the showcases and panels, it's been four days of non-stop games.

And while there are always the big blockbusters and one-more-thing announcements that seize our attention, I always walk away from these showcases with a shortlist of indie and smaller studio gems to?? keep track of through to next summer. They're the surprises; the games you don't expect, but you can't stop thinking about.

Throughout the last week, we've all seen some ourselves, and so we wanted to take some page space to share some of our hidden gems ??that we think are worth keeping an eye on through this?? year, into next, and maybe even beyond. Here are our hidden gems of E3 2021.

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

Citizen Sleeper (Jump Over The Age, Fellow Traveller)

In the futuristic, mega-capitalist interstellar space station of Erlin's Eye, your actions every cycle are metered by a roll of the dice. Citizen Sleeper gives you a roll and asks what you'll do with the results, constructing the narrative around you as each die is assigned to various tasks and endeavors. It looks like a really fascinating mix of tabletop pillars and narrative, with some incredible character art for good measure. Citizen Sleeper is currently aiming for a 2022 launch. —�em>Eric Van Allen

//youtu.be/MPMZ66tihnI

Firegirl (Dejima Games, Thunderful Publishing)

I'll mostly remember E3 2021 as a blur of indie games, and I mean that as a compliment to solo and small-team creators everywhere. I feel like I have hundreds of games floating around my head; I can't think straight! Even though Firegirl was one of many glossed-up pixel-art-in-a-3D-world games at E3, it stands out with a cool, rarely seen firefighting premise. I would very much like to fight evil fires, use my hose as a jetpack, rescue stranded folks, and spend cash on upgrades back home at a cozy base. It seems to have an urgent action-platforming pace, and I really dig the style. Firegirl is out Fall 2021 across PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch. In Thunderful I trust. �Jordan Devore

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1aISY6oPyA

Arcade Paradise (Nosebleed Interactive, Wired Productions)

I priori?tized my E3 streams?? incorrectly. For some reason, I was sure the Future Games Show would be the one to watch. An hour after the show ended, I had trouble remembering any games that appeared in it.

Turns out, I should have tuned in for the Guerrilla Collective E3 showcase. That’s where all the hidden gems of E3 were hiding. A lot of great games debuted during the stream, including Arcade Paradise. From developer Nosebleed Interactive, the game puts you in control of Ashley as she turns the family laundry mat into one hell of a �0s arcade. ?Not only will you be able to run your own arcade, but you’ll actually be able to play each of the 35 retro-inspired games you can install.

Arcade Paradise is currently planned for a 2021 release on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch. �CJ Andriessen

Lakeburg Legacies (Ishtar Games)

Look, I love a bombastic blockbuster as much as the next guy, but sometimes I just want to relax �which is why games like Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing are at the top of my list. After watching the PC Gamer showcase, I thought Ishtar Games' upcoming Lakeburg Legacy might scratch that same itch.

On top of the more chill pace of the game, I was really drawn in by its visual style �I've always been partial to hyper stylized games, and the menu UI reminds me of some really cute, custom Dungeons & Dragons character sheets I've used. The Jane Austen fan in me was also so p??umped when I saw the matchmaking mechanic. Overall, this game seems like it was tailor-made to fit my interests, and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since I saw the trailer.

Lakeburg Legacies will be out on Steam, and is shooting for a 2022 release date. —�em>Noelle Warner

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwcsoR4rjwY

Trek to Yomi (Flying Wild Hog, Devolver Digital)

Quite honestly, you could throw a dart into Devolver Digital's E3 stream and you'd hit a game I want to play. But perhaps the bullseye would be the dramatic and intense-looking samurai adventure, Trek to Yomi.

Quite the opposite of the studio's bombastic and rambunctious Shadow Warrior 3, Flying Wild Hog's Trek to Yomi is the stoic tale of a young swordsman undertaking a do-or-die quest laced with honor, treachery, and sacrifice. What draws me into this title is its haunting feudal Japan setting and simplistic but detailed visual style, sporting more than a touch of Akira Kurosawa and classic Toei cinema. With gorgeous use of light, shadow, and silhouette �even at this early development stage �Trek to Yomi appears as achingly beautiful as it is brutally violent, an aesthetic that ticks my boxes. Just add Meiko Kaji as Lady Snowblood and you've got my GOTY sticker.

Trek to Yomi is headed to PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC in 2022 �Chris Moyse

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TPJc1LrR5I

Mother: Beyond Bounds (Team Cosmic Coffee)

This year, indies won E3. Limited Run Games came packing River City Girls 2 and a bunch of other shocking announcements, New Blood stole the PC Gaming Show, and The Wholesome Direct was overflowing with more originality and positivity than any other presentation at the e?vent?.

Except maybe one.

For two years running, the staff at MotherForever.net have put on their own E3 video presentations, showing off all the best and brightest projects from the EarthBound/Mother community. This year, they kicked things off with a big bang, literally. Starting off from space before moving down to some familiar faces (is that a grown-up Lucas wearing his Dad's hat?!), Mother: Beyond Bounds looks to pick up right where Mother 3 left off, with the recreation of life, the universe, and everything. I don't want to spoil too much for people who haven't played Mother 3, but I think it's fair to say that it ends with a firm seal on the fate of the people in the game world, and the future of the franchise in real life to boot. The good thing about seals though is they keep things fresh, and despite the clear references to prior games in the series, Mother: Beyond Bounds is simply bursting with the uniqu??e freshness that de??fines the franchise.

While Nintendo may not know what to do with the Mother/EarthBound series, it's clear that their lack of involvement with the series is only working to drive fans to do more with it themselves. To create for the sake of creating, making work that's infused with love and honesty, avoiding the pull of profit motives or other factors that might confound your intentions; that's the best of what indie games can do, and it looks like Mother Beyond Bounds intends to do just that. —�em>Jonathan Holmes

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