We already covered the main presentation on Day 1 of Summer Games fest in our first article, but in this article we’re covering everything revealed in the Day of the Devs and Devolver presentations, i.e. indie games.
If you missed our explainer on Summer Games Fest and don’t want to go back, you can find it below.
What's the Deal with Summer Games Fest? - click to expand Launched in May 2020 during the pandemic, Summer Game Fest bills itself as an event which brings the industry together for a summer celebration with digital events, demos, announcements, and breaking news for video game fans. It’s not a trade show like E3 but if you’re a layperson or a casual game fan, it’s basically doing the same thing E3 was doing. While the event started digitally, they’ve moved into a physical location – this year’s event is being held at the YouTube Theater in Los Angeles, California. SGF started yesterday – June 8th, and will run through June 12th. You’ll be able to watch events as they go live on the SGF site. Pretty much everyone apart from Nintendo and Sony. Sony already had their State of Play event two weeks ago and the next Nintendo Direct will likely be in July 2023.What is Summer Games Fest?
When Does it Run?
Who’s At This Thing?
Simpler Times
Stoneskip Studio
Release Date:Â January 18, 2024
Platforms: Windows, other platforms TBA
Follow a young woman reliving some of her most heartfelt memories of her past as she prepares to leave home in this puzzle game/walking simulator.
Saltsea Chronicles
Di Gute Fabrik
Release Date:Â TBD
Platforms: Windows, Switch, PS5
Explore a flooded world in this story-driven adventure game where you play as the crew of a ship roaming the seas, negotiating with traders, and determining where to explore as you search for the ship’s missing captain.
Tchia
Awaceb
Release Date:Â TBD
Platforms: Windows
In this open-world adventure you explore and sail around an archipelago in a physics-driven sandbox and jam on a ukelele.
Été
Impossible
Release Date:Â Early 2024
Platforms: Windows
The first game out of Montreal studio Impossible, in this game you step into the shoes of a painter traveling abroad for the summer. Players can explore the open city and paint it with color as they go.
Beastieball
Wishes Unlimited
Release Date:Â J2024
Platforms: Windows
You act as the coach for a team of Pokemon-like creatures in this uh, turn-based volleyball RPG. Looks like Pokemon meets Megaman Battle Network.
Mars First Logistics
Shapeshop
Release Date:Â June 22, 2023
Platforms: Windows
Establish a colony on the surface of mars in this physics-and-building-based sim. If you felt No Man’s Land wasn’t realistic enough and your jam was just building lots of weird robots and bases, this might be the game for you.
Retro Gadgets
Licorice EHF
Release Date:Â Out now
Platforms: Windows
This sim sees players invent, design, build, and code digital gadgets of their own and then use them.
Cart Life
Adhoc Studio
Release Date:Â 2023
Platforms: Windows
In this re-release of the retail simulator from the early 2010s players try their hand making it as one of three different street vendors.
Hyper Light Breaker
Heart Machine
Release Date:Â TBD
Platforms: Windows
In this highly-anticipated sequel to the oustanding Hyper Light Drifter players once again dive into the crumbling World of Light in an open world game with the roguelike elements players love. Players will load unique worlds filled with unique mysteries to explore and secrets to unearth.
Henry Halfhead
Lululu Entertainment
Release Date:Â TBA
Platforms: Windows
Take on the roll of Henry, a character who can transform into any object they can touch in this narrated puzzle game.
COCOON
Geometric Interactive
Release Date:Â TBA
Platforms: Windows
From the designer of LIMBO and INSIDE comes COCOON, another puzzle adventure game where the core conceit is that the worlds you visit are contained within an orb which can itself be carried around and used to solve puzzles.
Summerhill
Land & Sea
Release Date:Â TBA
Platforms: Windows
In this story-driven puzzle adventure game you play as a young shepherd and their dog as you run around and save sheep in a world that’s littered with all kinds of ancient long-forgotten shit. At the very least the game’s art style is great.
Eternights
Studio Sai
Release Date:Â TBA
Platforms: Windows
In this anime dating action game you try and romance the game’s cast while clearing out dungeons and fighting off post-apocalyptic horrors beyond human comprehension.
Viewfinder
Sad Owl Studios
Release Date:Â July 18, 2023
Platforms: Windows
Use a magic camera to change the world around you in this puzzle platformer. There’s some really cool mechanics in this one around repositioning and using photos to solve challenges that leads to some mind-bending results.
Hauntii
Moonloop
Release Date:Â TBA
Platforms: Windows
Play a ghost running around haunting objects to solve puzzles in this odd line art twin stick game. Looks neat.
Helskate
Phantom Coast
Release Date:Â TBA
Platforms: Windows
Tear things up in this skateboarding hack-n-slash game that looks like a mix of Final Fight and Tony Hawk and Jet Set Radio set in what appears to be an afterlife.
Bleak Sword DX
Phantom Coast
Release Date:Â TBA
Platforms: Windows, Switch
This updated version of the Apple Arcade hack-n-slash title adds new game modes, improved controls, and some gameplay and graphics updates.
Bleak Sword DX
DevolverDigital
Platforms: Windows
Tear things up in this skateboarding hack-n-slash game that looks like a mix of Final Fight and Tony Hawk and Jet Set Radio set in what appears to be an afterlife.
SLUDGE LIFE 2
DevolverDigital
Release Date:Â June 27, 2023
Platforms: Windows
Foul up your neighborhood in this first-person vandalism game that goes weirder than the original.
Wizard with a Gun
DevolverDigital
Release Date:Â TBA
Platforms: Windows, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
Outfit your custom wizard with friends in this cooperative sandbox survival adventure game. Also shoot things.
The Talos Principle 2
DevolverDigital
Release Date:Â 2023
Platforms: Windows, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
The sequel to the original first-person puzzle game, expanding on some of the first game’s themes and philosophies.
Baby Steps
DevolverDigital
Release Date:Â TBA
Platforms: Windows, PS5
Take on the role of Nate, a shitty adult failson who gets isekai’d into a fantasy world with mechanics in the same vein as QWOP or Getting Over It, where just walking is going to be a stupid hard (and hilariously painful) challenge. Also I’m pretty sure that’s Jack Black in the trailer as Nate’s disappointed dad.
Human Fall Flat 2
DevolverDigital
Release Date:Â TBA
Platforms: Windows
The bigger, clumsier sequel to the original puzzle platformer.
Next Up: The Tribeca Games Spotlight
That wraps up our look at the indie games shown off in the Day of the Devs and Devolver presentations but check back later today when we talk about today’s reveals from the Tribeca Games Spotlight.
Have any questions or feedback? Drop us a note in the comments below or email us at contact@goonhammer.com.
