There is not any scarcity of hard-hitting, big-budget video games coming over the following 12 months, however for each Armored Core VI and Alan Wake II, there’s additionally a smaller-scale sport you might need missed listening to about. While these video games would possibly lack the sheer advertising and marketing energy larger studios can afford, they are often each bit as formidable, creative, creative, and heartfelt. And, most of the time, these video games are additionally those that are not afraid to be experimental, and may affect future video games and genres.During my time at Summer Game Fest 2023, I bought the possibility to sit down down with fairly just a few video games present exterior the AAA sphere. I walked away from each one in all them impressed and keen not solely to inform the world about them, however so as to add them to my very own Steam wishlist as properly. From the first-person puzzle sport Viewfinder, to the tactical turn-based volleyball sport Beastieball, here is a listing of one of the best hidden gems I performed at Summer Game Fest 2023.A black and white photograph is used to create a ramp to your goal in Viewfinder.ViewfinderViewfinder is a sport that, as I can think about Portal did all these years in the past, feels too intelligent and impressive to ever work. Yet, as I sat down and performed by way of its first 10 minutes, I used to be blown away by simply how easy its gameplay was. The premise is straightforward sufficient: You are tasked with fixing puzzles by lifting up pictures and embedding them right into a stage. As you stamp the {photograph} down, you’re then in a position to stroll by way of it, with this new space taking you both to a brand new picture you should utilize, or granting you entry to a beforehand blocked off space. If you make a mistake, you may rewind to the purpose the place issues went incorrect, permitting gamers to experiment with options with out the sport feeling too disturbing.On high of the puzzles merely feeling good to unravel, I used to be extremely impressed with the sport’s artwork. While you start the sport traversing extra real looking, black-and-white photographs, you’re ultimately tasked with strolling by way of kinetic sketches, lush oil work, and different stunning scenes. In brief, Viewfinder is a singular expertise which may simply rekindle your love for what video games could be all whereas giving your mind a pleasant exercise.Your small insect character retrieves a brand new orb from a sci-fi wanting creature in a small darkish room.CocoonIf I may crown my private winner of Summer Game Fest 2023, I’d don’t have any alternative however at hand that title over to Cocoon. While we have seen quite a lot of isometric journey video games recently (and I’ve beloved those I performed), Cocoon replaces fight with pure puzzle-solving. However, this does not imply creatures and large-scale bosses will not attempt to assault you, which makes for a somewhat sweaty-yet-satisfying expertise.Cocoon is the following endeavor from Inside and Limbo lead designer Jeppe Carlsen, and clearly takes the teachings he discovered from these video games and provides a touch of Hyper Light Drifter to the combination. The sci-fi, bug-infested world Cocoon depicts is as stunning as it’s eerie, and is punctuated by an ambient, bass-heavy soundtrack that completely fits the sport’s environments. Puzzles are primarily solved by inserting colourful orbs into numerous mechanisms to energy them, nonetheless these orbs additionally comprise total worlds that, when inserted into the precise gadget, help you seamlessly enter them. You should then journey backwards and forwards between them, gaining new powers as you achieve this, to progress by way of all of them. Cocoon is a sport that feels tailored for me in addition to anybody else who loves quiet worlds you may actually get misplaced in.The crew of Saltsea Chronicles stands behind the sport’s emblem.Saltsea ChroniclesAs quickly as I began Saltsea Chronicles, I discovered myself wishing I may have transported myself away from the busy showroom ground and straight onto my sofa, with a heat blanket draped over my legs and a cup of tea resting on my espresso desk. This visible novel–with an emphasis on novel, as a result of it actually felt as if I had been studying a story–follows a various crew of sailors on a quest to seek out their misplaced captain. Naturally, this journey takes them throughout seas and to a number of islands, the place numerous tales unfold relying upon who you enable to disembark.In the demo I performed, I discovered myself making port at Los Gatos, an island inhabited by cats and the house to one of many ship’s crewmates, Stew. I selected to ship Molpe (and her new child son) with Stew, and watched as the 2 had distinctive interactions with each other, primarily centered round household and motherhood. In addition to exploration by way of clicking on icons and studying bits of story, the sport additionally has a card sport that sees its guidelines change to mirror the tradition of the island you are taking part in on. Saltsea Chronicles is a sport with a beating heart–one that seeks to inform human tales and join with its gamers. I used to be actually enamored and may’t wait to play extra.A pale girl’s face with a small black ghost centered over it.HauntiiFunnily sufficient, I truly did not have a gathering to see Hauntii at Summer Game Fest, however after passing by the sales space and getting a take a look at the sport’s artwork, I shortly walked as much as the workforce dealing with appointments and finessed my approach right into a spot. You see, I’m a sucker for robust artwork path, and Hauntii’s dark-yet-charming model instantly drew me in. While the workforce markets the sport as a kind of twin-stick shooter, it is under no circumstances the bullet hell you may think if you hear these phrases. Instead, the sport is pretty relaxed, permitting you to absorb its environments and dynamic music as you discover.Though the sport arms your tiny, ghost-like character with the power to shoot glowing orbs to fend off enemies and take down boundaries, your most vital capacity is your energy to hang-out. By possessing objects, you may transfer them or use them in intelligent methods to unravel puzzles and progress by way of this mysterious world. Ultimately, your aim in Hauntii is to recuperate the reminiscences of your previous life, and work out the way you reached this place and who you’re. It’s a journey I’m desirous to take after spending a short while with such a stupendous sport.Jala readies her skateboard to grind a rail as her mother and father look on in disapproval.Thirsty SuitorsOftentimes, tales of breakups, private progress, and proudly owning as much as your previous errors could be emotionally draining. And whereas I genuinely do love an excellent sport that will get me a bit teary-eyed and offers me the area to do some soul-searching, the way in which Thirsty Suitors approaches these matters is a breath of recent air.Thirsty Suitors follows Jala, a twenty-something-year-old younger girl, who returns residence after a very nasty break up. While appeasing her mother and father and older sister is already disturbing sufficient, Jala’s homecoming is made all of the harder when her exes band collectively in an obvious try to make her life as tough as she made theirs, making a situation that feels very Scott Pilgrim-inspired. Jala is then pressured to cook dinner, skate, and partake in wacky turn-based battles as she makes amends with these she’s wronged and discovers extra about herself. It’s a powerful mix of mechanics that by no means feels overwhelming, regardless of how sturdy it’s, and permits for gamers to discover tradition, romance, and household dynamics in a totally unique approach. It’s additionally price mentioning how spectacular and vibrant the sport’s artwork, voice appearing, and total id is. It’s a sport that feels deeply human, and is a pleasure to expertise.A imaginative and prescient of a girl seems out right into a half-painted road.EteÉté, a French-Canadian sport that follows a younger artist who strikes to Montreal for a summer season, is among the many most charming video games I performed at Summer Game Fest 2023. In Été, you journey to 10 totally different areas impressed by the town of Montreal, from energetic alleyways to quiet parks. As you go to these areas, initially depicted solely in black and white, you add shade to the scenes along with your paintbrush. Every object you paint is then saved away in your thoughts as “inspiration,” which you’ll be able to then use to create unique artworks utilizing the easel in your condominium.The attract of Été is how relaxed and low-stress its gameplay is. While you may improve your abilities, your assortment of inspiration, and full commissions on your neighbors–adding a little bit of construction and targets to an in any other case freeform experience–there are not any penalties for taking your time. To me, the expertise felt a bit like Powerwash Simulator-meets-The Unfinished Swan, making for a soothing expertise that has the facility to emotionally resonate with its gamers.A 2v2 match of Beastieball.BeastieballHave you ever puzzled what a Pokémon sport would appear to be if as an alternative of getting your cute lil’ creatures bash the dwelling daylights out of one another, you led them by way of an intense sport of volleyball as an alternative? This is the essential premise of Beastieball, and it is as pleasant because it sounds. You start the sport by creating your character (utilizing a really inclusive creator I had a blast taking part in round in) and choosing between three starter beasties, each specializing in a special talent. I ended up choosing Kichik, a bird-like creature that makes a speciality of serving up highly effective pictures, although every critter definitely had its deserves.You then stroll round wild areas, battling random beasties and difficult different coaches to be able to construct up your abilities and stats. The sport is extremely easy to know and I nearly wished there would have been a bit extra problem to it, however I can see how issues could ramp up in time. There are additionally added parts that can shake up how matches play out, with essentially the most fascinating being its beastie relationships mechanic. As your beasties get to know one another, they’ll turn out to be rivals, companions, besties, or sweethearts, with every relationship providing distinctive benefits. Each space culminates with you going through off towards a ranked coach as you make your approach towards competing within the Crown collection.
The merchandise mentioned right here had been independently chosen by our editors.
GameSpot could get a share of the income if you happen to purchase something featured on our website.