Hosted by creator-driven organization Glitch (and its Android VTuber host Melios), Future of Play Direct focuses on upcoming indie games each year. This year’s showcase featured updates and galaxy premieres for nearly 40 titles, from 3D sci-fi-based builders to side-scrolling pixel-horror games and pretty much everything in between. Here are 10 of our favorite games featured in this year’s Future of Play Direct.
hermit and pig
Featuring an adorable pixel art style, ‘Hermit and Pig’ is two unlikely characters: a reclusive hermit and a truffle-hunting pig on a mission to combat social unrest while fighting a sinister corporate conspiracy. draw the hero of The action-packed first trailer showcases traditional turn-based combat, gathering, and exploration, guided by his 100+ mushrooms that can be used for health and bartering. Hermit and Pig was officially announced at the Future of Play Direct today, with no release date yet. vapor In 2024.
cycloma
Psychroma, the narrative-driven side-scrolling game teased in the terrifyingly spooky trailer, is officially released. vapor In Psychroma, players assume the role of a digital medium experiencing non-linear time. Within the game’s cybernetic house (illustrated in stunning stylized pixel art), players will eventually regain the memory of the protagonist and piece together a story of a failed psychological experiment.
ritual night
The dev team behind Ritual Night, a new Among Us-esque social reasoning game, has revealed that its demo is live now. vapor And the full game is set to be revealed in the fall during today’s Future of Play Direct. In Ritual Night, monsters gather for a ritual to summon Cthulhu, but you must find the humans who tried to sabotage the party and disrupted it. No player exclusion, meaning no forced spectating, and quite a few extras like melee chat, stealing, and intercom.
YASUKE Lost Descendants
YASUKE: A Lost Descendant is a 3D hack and slash anime with a diverse cast. A new trailer for the game shows protagonist Yasuke Tanaka as he traverses the neon-filled game world through stylish parkour and fights enemies with a flashy sword. In his anime-style cinematic, the game’s Future of Play direct his trailer also revealed a new character, Yuuki Yoshihara, who will join Yasuke’s side at the game’s launch. vapor.
videoverse
Unveiled in Direct’s rapid finale, Videoverse is a short narrative adventure that brings back the early Internet and the Miiverse billboards. As game-loving Emmett, players can share artwork, make friends, and report trolls, but those choices matter. The posts players make as Emmet affect the state of the story and in-game socials throughout his network Videoverse.Where the videoverse is headed vapor In Q3 2023, we are introducing a number of accessibility options.
Arctic awakening
Arctic Awakening is an episodic narrative adventure game where you and your therapy robot Alfie follow Kai, a pilot stranded in the frozen wilderness after a plane crash. Players will discover the outdoors through Firewatch-like gameplay while searching for a way back home with Kai’s missing companion. The game’s new trailer, which was unveiled at today’s Future of Play Direct, shows off the new facility, hints at some of the mysteries that should unfold during this chilling journey, and ends on a spooky note.Where the Arctic Awakening Heads vapor later this year.
Tectonica
Techtonica, the upcoming first-person factory automation game, is on its way to its next destination. vapor Techtonica witnesses players occupying an area under the surface of the alien planet Calyx, which is filled with bioluminescence. In the game’s exclusive Future of Play Direct trailer, developer Fire Hose Games is working toward a goal of delving deeper into everything from simple resource gathering to managing complex underground factories, making the game more rewarding. I showed off a progress.
Wild Mender
Wildmender is a desert-themed gardening survival game that will finally be demoed at the upcoming Steam Next Fest. The latest trailer showcases unlimited features like garden customization, gliding, surfing on sand, and traversing some seemingly dangerous areas in a procedurally-generated world, but finally The goal seems to be to uncover the mysteries of the desert’s past.Where the Wild Mender Heads vaporXbox Series X|S, and PS5 with 4-player co-op in 2023.
Leka
As the apprentice witch of REKA’s iconic Baba Jaga, players master the art of sorcery by concocting potions and wielding magic.they will again Through open-ended customization, detailed in today’s Future of Play Direct, you can build a witch’s house on top of a chicken-legged (controllable) mobile base. A game focused on exploration and base building vapor In 2024.
in the stars and time
In Stars and Time is a turn-based RPG that traps you in a time loop. Featuring a cast of quirky main characters, rock-paper-scissors-style gameplay, and black-and-white graphics that combine pixels with hand-drawn art, In Stars and Time tries to break the cycle, but uses it as a means. I’m chasing Shiffrin. Gain a new perspective on puzzles and choices. In game terms, vapor Pages (coming in late 2023, alongside Nintendo Switch and PlayStation) will need to “pray to the stars to free themselves from time.” In Stars and Time is… ah… wait.
For more information on these games and everything else announced at today’s Future of Play Direct, please visit: Direct page on the Future of Play Glitch website. The Future of Play Direct is also part of IGN’s Summer of Gaming, with more showcases throughout June, from indie games like this to big AAA titles. Get the latest Summer of Gaming news and find out how to watch here.
Amelia Zellner is a freelance writer at IGN who loves all things indie and Nintendo. Outside of IGN, she contributes to sites like Polygon and Rock Paper Shotgun. Find us on Twitter: @Amelia Solner.
