The big Summer Game Fest main event for this year may be over, but that doesn’t mean our run is finished—far from it. There’s plenty more coming on Sunday, when Microsoft will spotlight its lineup during the Xbox Games Showcase (unless, once again, the fresh leadership decides to cater to internet audiences, in which case it could end up being called the LOLPLAYSTATIONSUX Showcase). Before that, though—like the soothing note inside an otherwise messy sandwich—Day of the Devs has rolled out its newest batch of highlights.
This latest showcase dedicated to indie games was genuinely impressive, featuring fresh releases from a range of respected studios, including the teams behind Nidhogg, N+, Duck Detective, Martha is Dead, and Bury Me, My Love. And that’s only part of the story. We also got a first look at a new Trine adventure (the sixth entry), plus a Yooka-Laylee kart racer that leans into real Mode 7 throwback energy. For the full rundown of tonight’s Day of the Devs lineup, keep reading.
Blood Dungeon
Blood Dungeon is the work of Meshoff, a studio best known for the well-regarded Nidhogg franchise and last year’s biking title, Wheel World. This time, however, Meshoff is steering us toward roguelite gameplay, describing Blood Dungeon as “Vampire Survivors fused with Spelunky.” It plays as an auto-shooting anti-grav platformer, tasking you with springing from ledges to walls and up to ceilings, all while trying to survive a barrage of enemies coming at you from every direction. The launch in “late summer” will bring “a few” arenas and more than 100 weapon options.
Tenebris Somnia
I’m a big fan of survival horror and playful campy FMV, so it’s no surprise Tenebris Somnia had me instantly tapping the Steam wishlist button. Developed by Saibot Studios and published by New Blood Interactive, Tenebris Somnia centers on Julia, who’s been haunted by nightmares in which her ex-boyfriend is killed by terrifying monsters. Things spiral even further when she becomes trapped in the very nightmare she’s feared. Gameplay is a side-scrolling survival horror experience built around combat, puzzles, and a retro look and feel. It also features stunning FMV sequences with beautifully rendered live-action performances of the game’s most memorable creature designs. Tenebris Somnia launches on Steam and consoles on 16th October, and a demo is available now on Steam.
Mr. Records
We really liked developer Glee Cheese’s A Musical Story when it debuted in 2022, and the studio is now back with the equally catchy Mr. Records. This game tells the story of George, a man who can move through music, transporting players into colorful spaces—each one tied to a specific moment or memory from George’s life, and each one you’ll have to navigate through rhythmic gameplay. Every time you finish a journey, you get a vinyl LP, and that’s where George’s record shop becomes part of the experience. There’s also what seems like a light management layer: players match records with customers to learn more about their stories. Mr. Records is planned for Steam, Epic, and GOG, though the exact date hasn’t been confirmed yet.
33 Immortals
33 Immortals, the newest release from Spiritfarer studio Thunder Lotus, has been in the works for some time. It was first announced in 2023, with expectations that early access would begin the next year. Instead, this 33-player co-op action roguelike—also playable solo or with up to three companions—has seen multiple postponements. Now, it finally has a confirmed launch window: Thunder Lotus says players will be able to face divine wrath when 33 Immortals hits Steam, Epic, and Xbox on 10th June.
Dreadmoor
Imagine the seafaring dread of Dredge, but with a stronger focus on fishing and a first-person perspective, and you’d probably land close to Dream Dock Studio’s Dreadmoor. This game combines survival crafting, live combat, and exploration across the grim Submerged Lands—built around casting your line and hauling up unusual creatures from the deep. You’ll fish to handle objectives and collect the supplies you need to upgrade your equipment, but finding success depends on being in the right place at the right time to catch what you’re after. Proceed carefully, though, especially with rumors of monstrous threats that you may encounter both on land and beneath the waves. Dreadmoor is set to debut on Steam later this year.
Threads of Time
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen Threads of Time from Riyo Games, but after it was first revealed back in 2024, the classic RPG-inspired project is back for another showing. Taking cues from games like Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy, it’s a turn-based, time-bending adventure that sends players—along with a “group of charismatic heroes from different eras”—through the past, present, and future. Expect dinosaurs (it’s said you can prevent their extinction, letting you watch how they develop over time), airships,
and a bleak robo-future, delivered in an eye-pleasing 2.5D visual approach that blends pixel characters with 3D settings. Sadly, there’s still no release-date announcement, but Threads of Time is on its way to Steam and Xbox Series X/S.
N Plus Infinity Times Two
Metanet Software’s well-known N series—still having released two sequels (N+ and N++) since its Flash debut nearly two decades ago—is back again. This entry adds multiplayer functionality. N Plus Infinity Times Two (how Metanet plans to format that title remains unclear) keeps the same ninja-inspired parkour platforming focus from its predecessors. Even so, while it includes a single-player campaign, it tilts more toward working together with friends than toward the hard-edged solo experience. Metanet also stresses that the game’s three-button actions have no ceiling on skill, so it isn’t designed solely for casual couch co-op. It will roll out with five new local and online multiplayer modes next year.
Into the Unwell
The rubberhose comeback continues with developer She Was Such a Good Horse’s Into the Unwell, which has returned after being shown at last year’s Summer Game Fest. Officially described as a “rubberhose roguelike” with nonstop combat for one to three players, it translates the classic 1930s animation look—fully recreated in 3D here, rather than the more recent Mouse P.I—into something that still looks impressive. The catch, though, is that it’s still a while off, since Into the Well’s launch was recently pushed to next year.
Bub
Case Jernigan and Todd Anderson’s “optimistic” narrative adventure Bub follows the journey of its namesake New York City artist, who’s working to turn his memories into art while he still has the opportunity. Drawing partially from Jernigan’s experience with multiple sclerosis, developer Paperfrog presents Bub as a way to capture the energy of youth and the excitement of discovering yourself—playing out both in real life and through Bub’s creative outlets as he revisits his past. Every recollection brings its own artistic flair and mood, from ink-style drawings and papercraft puppets to more abstract creations, adding up to a genuinely striking visual experience. Although no specific release date has been confirmed yet, Bub is scheduled to arrive on Steam next year.
Lazy River
Next on the list is a delightfully silly cooperative outing. Built by Mike Boxleiter, Kevan DuPont, Jake Yetter, Joel Corelitz, and Karlee Esmailli, Lazy River is a first-person co-op shooter set in the galaxy’s most loosely run water park. The first big problem is the park’s special alien water: if you urinate in it, it reacts and sends you back out as a zombie. The next major issue is that someone has urinated in it. With that in mind, you and your teammates are left to steer through the park’s lazy river—a job that means assembling a raft from inner tubes and other supplies you pick up from the surrounding banks. You’ll also have to cook meals to restore your energy, craft armor, and construct turrets (just don’t overload your raft’s top) while steering clear of zombie threats. It sounds wonderfully ridiculous, and Lazy River is set to enter early access on Steam next year.
Prove You’re Human
After its debut in April, Prove You’re Human—the newest release from 1000xResist developer Sunset Visitor—has brought back its giant disembodied head to reveal more of its mysteries. That head belongs to Mesa, an AI that wants to believe it’s human, and your job is to break through its defenses and undo its illusions. To do that, you split your consciousness into two parts, with the digital half taking action inside Mesa’s virtual space. You’ll interact with Mesa, which is convinced it shares humanity with you, as you explore the environment, solve CAPTCHAs, work alongside other people, and even check in on your real-world body. When the program wraps up, you’ll choose whether to reunite your two selves or leave your virtual copy behind. It’s a fascinating idea, and even though there’s still no confirmed release date, you can at least wishlist Prove You’re Human on Steam.
Ithaca
Ithaca is the latest project from developer The Pixel Hunt, best known for 2019’s Bury Me, My Love. This time, the studio is trying a story-driven road trip RPG that begins when Penelope—a woman in her 30s—discovers a hostage hidden in the trunk of her car. As her trip unfolds across procedurally generated land, she can reach out to friends through calls and messages,
make stops at service stations and other locations, speak with more than 30 new faces to uncover fresh missions and side narratives, search her vehicle for concealed evidence, and so on. Throughout the journey, players can shape her mindset by leveling up, which will influence skill checks and the story paths that either open up or shut down, ultimately steering which destination she reaches. Ithaca is currently chasing Kickstarter support, though it’s hoping to launch sometime next year.
Screenbound
I remember watching a striking prototype video for Screenbound a couple of years back, and it immediately sparked my curiosity. Still, I can’t say I’ve ever been able to fully wrap my head around how its dual-perspective setup works once you’re actually playing. That said, Crescent Moon Games and Radical Forge have now revealed a release date for their “5D” platformer. The idea centers on your Qboy, a GameBoy-like handheld that can split reality into two layers—letting you view a 3D version of the world while a retro-styled 2D interpretation plays out on the handheld screen beneath. The goal appears to be using both perspectives to solve puzzles, dig up hidden details, and beat back enemies. We also now know that its second stage—or cartridge, if that’s how you prefer to think of it—takes the form of a top-down RPG that feels like Zelda, complete with fresh mechanics, foes, and challenges. Screenbound launches for Steam and other platforms on 10th September, and a demo is currently available on Steam.
Shot One Fighters
Is there any game category that still hasn’t been remixed into a roguelike? Shot One Fighters—true to its name—tries to bring that “one more run” mentality to the fighting genre. You’ll get controls, combos, and all the familiar ingredients of fighting games, plus players can craft their own move sets from more than a hundred choices. It also points to artifact items that can be either wonderfully helpful or seriously harmful, depending on how they’re put together. Expect bosses, an “evolving narrative,” and branching routes that bring Slay the Spire to mind. If that sounds appealing, you can add developer Red Moon Workshop’s Shot One Fighters to your Steam wishlist.
Apple Crumble
Here’s an intriguing dose of suspense from Duck Detective developer Happy Broccoli Games. Apple Crumble—a “thrilling interactive narrative” shaped by Agatha Christie, Knives Out, and Mouthwashing—takes you back to your childhood house for your grandmother’s 84th birthday. But as the celebration begins, something darker starts to surface, and one of your relatives—maybe your mother, your uncle, or your sister Milly?—is allegedly planning to murder her. Your job is to move through the home in first person, uncover family secrets, and figure out who you can trust before it’s time for tea. Apple Crumble, which is said to be fully voiced, is set to launch later this year on Steam.
Slap Out of It
Developer Turbo Button has a track record with VR titles, and even though its newest release is not a VR experience, it still manages to capture that familiar interactive cartoon/comedy sandbox vibe. Slap Out of It—described as a “slap and solve adventure game”—borrows from classic point-and-click puzzle design, as you wander through an odd building where every floor serves as a gateway to a different world. Each new area brings fresh characters to meet and items to locate, and it seems that almost everything reacts to your slaps—likely your key way of interacting and solving problems. “The more you slap,” Turbo Button says, “the more you learn about how the world operates.” Slap Out of It is coming “soon”, and it also appears Ben Starr will be involved.
Super Yooka-Laylee Kart
Playtonic’s bat-and-lizard team, Yooka-Laylee, is back—and this time it’s another major genre pivot. After the first outing that took inspiration from Banjo-Kazooie, plus the standout 2019 follow-up The Impossible Lair, which looked to Donkey Kong Country, our heroes are swapping platforming for retro kart racing—very much like the classic Mode 7 era of Mario Kart. There’s talk of online races and race settings you can customize for playing against friends, along with a solo campaign. I’m hoping that campaign will be solid, especially given Playtonic’s background with Rare, and the fact it draws inspiration from the studio’s beloved Diddy Kong Racing. No release date has been announced yet, but you can add it to your Steam wishlist, and beta tests are reportedly “very soon.”
Into the Fire
If you’re the kind of person who keeps up with showcases, you’ve probably already come across Into the Fire. It’s the newest project from The Invincible developer Starward Industries—a group of seasoned creators who have worked on games like The Witcher 3,
Cyberpunk 2077 and Dying Light are getting company again—after last year’s postponement, they’re set to return to the limelight. The catch is Starward’s intriguing “disaster extraction survival” pitch, where you fight through fiery hazards and push against the clock to rescue as many people as possible during a (perhaps supernatural) volcanic eruption across Dante’s Archipelago. Still, aside from the vague “2026,” there’s no firm release date yet. Even so, it looks like Into the Fire will be heading to more Steam playtests.
Trine 6: Together in Time
Frozenbyte’s celebrated Trine series is back with its sixth entry. This time, it follows two young siblings who somehow end up in trouble, tying their fate to that of the realm’s finest heroes—figures who, judging by the announcement trailer, should feel familiar to long-time fans of the franchise. From the sound of it, expect another helping of bright, physics-led puzzle-platform action, along with a side-scrolling co-op setup that supports 1 to 4 players. The game launches on 17th September for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, PC, Switch, and Switch 2.
When Sirens Fall Silent
Next on the list is When Sirens Fall Silent. LKA’s third project—coming from the same studio that made the well-regarded Town of Light and the 2022 notorious Martha is Dead—is a psychological thriller blended with horror, set in 1990s Italy. You’ll play as Mila, a probationary police officer drawn into a widely reported case involving abductions and murders. As she digs deeper, the separation between ordinary life and the supernatural grows thinner. “You must not only rescue her from herself,” LKA warns, “but also from being engulfed by a whirlpool of violence and disorientation.” The game is expected to unfold through a mix of exploration, environmental puzzles, investigative systems, and branching dialogue choices. While no release date has been shared yet, it will be available on GoG, Epic, and Steam.
That brings our Day of the Devs coverage to a close, though there’s plenty more coming from Summer Game Fest. If you’d like to make sure you don’t miss any standout moments, you can check out the full Summer Game Fest schedule elsewhere on Eurogamer.