#Indie

Graveyard Keeper 2 Takes the Best Part of Stardew Valley and Somehow Makes It Much, Much Worse

Graveyard Keeper 2 launched on September 22 from developer Lazy Bear Games, and after about 20 hours the writer finds it essentially the same game with a new coat of paint, plus quality-of-life improvements like less grinding, better inventory management, and fully voiced dialogue. The problem is that the story's pacing clashes with the management-sim loop: NPCs constantly interrupt with cutscenes and dialogue, and much of the sim progression is tied to enduring those conversations and quests. The writer questions whether the sequel is worth $25 when it feels inferior overall to the first game.

Stone Kite Is a New Studio From Halo, Destiny Creator Jason Jones and Author Margaret Stohl, and Its First Project Is About Rogue AI Robots

Bungie co-founder Jason Jones, who helped create Halo and directed Destiny, has opened a new Los Angeles studio called Stone Kite with Beautiful Creatures author Margaret Stohl. Its first project, One Zero One, is set in a future where humanity faces rogue, AI-driven robotic soldiers, and launches with Part One of a four-part limited comic series. Issue #1 debuts today, with new issues running through early 2027 alongside prose, audio, and screen projects.

Afterburner Studios announces Elta: Defy All Gods, free PS5 demo out today

Afterburner Studios announced its action-platformer Elta: Defy All Gods, launching February 2, 2027, with a free PS5 demo available today. The demo covers the game's opening, letting players retrieve the dragon-god they worship, fight corrupted enemies in melee, and explore the glacial world of Lerna. The studio describes the game as blending brawler combat, search-action exploration and dragon companion abilities, inspired by Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, God of War and Hong Kong martial arts films, and made with Focus Entertainment.

Elta: Defy All Gods launches February 2, 2027, demo now available https://www.gematsu.com/2026/10/elta-defy-all-gods-launches-february-2-...

Isles of Sea and Sky Is Finally Coming to Switch on October 8

The sokoban puzzle game Isles of Sea and Sky is coming to Switch on October 8. It features interconnected island puzzles, wordless storytelling, and pixel art, and received a "Mysterious Update" last year adding new puzzles and block types.

Bungie Co-Founder Jason Jones Announces New Studio Stone Kite

Jason Jones, co-founder of Bungie and co-creator of Halo and Destiny, announced his new Los Angeles studio Stone Kite in partnership with Bungie veteran Margaret Stohl, who serves as CEO. Its first release is One Zero One, a four-part limited comic series about a confrontation between humans and a rogue army of AI-driven robots, with Part 1 available now digitally on the Stone Kite website and physical copies available for preorder. Jones co-founded Bungie in 1991 and his Chief Vision Officer role was reportedly part of Sony's layoffs earlier this year.

Your Debt Is Paid – Official Reveal Trailer

Your Debt Is Paid is a dark fantasy roguelike auto-battler in which you delve into monster-filled dungeons to survive a cruel bargain for your life. Wield powerful synergies and unique hero combinations to gather Blood from your enemies and satisfy a mysterious captor demanding an evergrowing debt. Presented as a forgotten 1990s cartridge, it blends retro visuals, CRT effects, and dark fantasy.

Reigns and Card Shark developer Nerial is shutting down as its leads go independent again

Nerial, the studio behind Reigns and Card Shark, is shutting down after nearly 13 years and 11 games, with creative director and founder François Alliot calling it a mutual decision with publisher Devolver Digital. Devolver keeps the rights to Nerial's existing catalog, Alliot and his wife Tamara will keep making games together, and seven other staff are being let go. Alliot said he still wants to make games, citing industry layoffs, tighter investment and AI copying original concepts within a day as reasons to step back.

Your Debt Is Paid Turns Your Worst Financial Nightmare Into A Roguelike

Your Debt Is Paid is a fantasy-themed roguelike auto-battler from developer Cmski, originally made in two weeks for the Creepy Clicker Horror Game Jam 2026 and now expanded into a full PC release via Steam. Players must pay off a growing blood debt using Blood currency earned from defeating monsters, unlocking heroes, bloodlines, realms, and Ascension Levels. The game is coming to PC in early 2027.

Escape from Playtime Preview: Co-op Extraction in the Poppy Playtime Universe

IGN played several rounds of Escape from Playtime ahead of its October 1 open playtest, a co-op extraction looter set in the Poppy Playtime universe where teams scavenge loot from a factory and return it to a cart named Barry. The author notes a four-slot inventory, items with utility such as glow sticks and an airhorn that reveals your position, no direct combat, and enemies including Boogie Bots, Cat Bees, and Miss Delight. Each shift raises the point quota and difficulty with a larger procedurally generated map, more hazards, and more enemies; the game supports solo play but offers only a contextless ping and proximity voice chat with no matchmaking. It enters Early Access on October 21.

Gaelco Sports Collection launches October 22

QUByte Interactive announced that Gaelco Sports Collection will launch on October 22 for PS5, Xbox Series, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store. The collection includes five arcade games, among them World Rally Championship, World Rally 2, and Snowboard Championship, with added Save States, smoother screen scrolling, and a museum gallery.

Reigns developer Nerial shuts down after 13 years

Nerial, the studio behind the Reigns series and Card Shark, announced it is shutting down after 13 years of operation. Acquired by Devolver Digital in 2021, it most recently released Reigns: The Witcher with CD Projekt RED on February 25. Founders Francois and Tamara Alliot said the decision to end development was made together with Devolver, and that while the studio's 11 published games come to an end, they personally plan to return to game development after a break.

Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles Gets a Colossal Update and Two DLCs on Xbox and PC

Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles has released its biggest update yet alongside two new DLCs, Verne Bannerless and Medieval Houses, now available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PC. The update adds upgradable surveyors including the Behemoth, unrestricted curved walls, the ability to sail any ship, and an overhaul of wars and combat. Medieval Houses adds six timber-clad houses, while Verne Bannerless brings Verne and Piranha air units.

Kena: Scars of Kosmora launches in 2027, Ember Lab shares story overview

Ember Lab announced that Kena: Scars of Kosmora will launch in 2027. The studio also shared a story overview for the game.

Ember Lab delays Kena: Scars of Kosmora to next year

Ember Lab announced in a joint post on the PlayStation Blog that Kena: Scars of Kosmora has been delayed from this year to next year. The sequel was planned for release on PS5 and PC, and the studio said the extra time is needed to polish the game beyond the quality of its 2021 debut Bridge of Spirits. The original Kena: Bridge of Spirits launched in September 2021 for PS5, PS4 and PC, came to Xbox Series X|S in 2024, and a feature complete version arrived on Switch 2 in March.

Kena: Scars of Kosmora delayed to 2027, Ember Lab shares story overview

Ember Lab announced that Kena: Scars of Kosmora will launch in 2027 on PS5 (physical and digital) and PC (digital), pushed back to polish a larger game experience. The character-focused linear adventure has a broader and deeper scope than 2021's Bridge of Spirits, following Kena and her childhood friend Orfio to the island of Kosmora to uncover its four elements and Alchemystic Temples. Kena also gains a crystalline canine companion that serves as a mount and aids in combat and Alchemystic puzzles both mounted and on foot.

No Law Aims for Arkane-Style Reactivity Within a Dangerous Walled City

Krafton and Neon Giant's immersive sim No Law is set in Port Desire, a lawless walled city where ex-military protagonist Grey Harker hunts the city's four mayors in any order, with that order changing their relationships, narrative and game systems. Every named character has a home in the open world, so players can kill them there in advance and take their keys, as the game is built without a fixed sequence.

Alien-Inspired Metroidvania Moadra Launches October 22

Developer Gloomsoft announced that the Alien-inspired science-fiction Metroidvania game Moadra will launch for PS5, Xbox Series, Switch, and PC via Steam on October 22. Players explore the planet Protea VI, using agility moves, a scanner bot, and X-ray vision to survive and uncover secrets. Absorbing Protoplasm from creatures allows metamorphosis in organic chambers to evolve abilities and weapons.

Sound System Early Access delayed to November 4

Echo Foundry Interactive has delayed the Early Access release of Sound System from October 16 to November 4. The rhythm game will launch in Early Access on PC via Steam, with a full release to follow on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, Switch 2, and PC. Early Access is planned to last about six months, adding music uploads, while online multiplayer for up to three players comes with the full release.

What to Play During the National Day Holiday: A New Photography Adventure, Ace Combat Takes Off Again, and Watching the Sea With an Overworked Office Worker

Touch Music editors recommend six games for the National Day holiday. Flotsam has over 80% positive reviews on Steam, TOEM 2 launched on September 29 with a 15% off first-release discount until October 14, Casualties: Unknown has a free demo with a full version expected this year, Goblin Sushi is in Early Access with a $4.99 mobile version, Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve launches on October 2 with Simplified Chinese support, and the visual novel about an overworked office worker is a gentle pick for laborers.

Castlevania: Belmont's Curse Free Demo Is Now Live and Runs Smoothly on Switch 2

Konami's free demo for Castlevania: Belmont's Curse is now available, letting players try the early stages of the game, with save data carrying over to the full release on 15th October. The demo has no dedicated Switch 2 version but appears to run at a smooth 60fps on the new hardware, double the locked 30fps Konami announced for the Switch 1 version earlier this summer. The game is being developed by Dead Cells team Motion Twin and Evil Empire.

Dungeon Crawler RPG LitGirls: Bookbound Dungeons Announced for Consoles, PC

Publisher DANGEN Entertainment and developer NANAIRO ENTERPRISE have announced LitGirls: Bookbound Dungeons, a dungeon crawler RPG that reimagines classic literature through anime girls and turn-based combat. It will launch for PC via Steam in the first half of 2027, with console versions to be dated. An 18-plus version will also be available for PC on a separate storefront, with details to be announced later.

Possibly the Oldest Board Game in Recorded History Is Now a Roguelike: Steam's Oh!Ware Uses Marbles to Play Mancala

Oh!Ware, a deckbuilder that has been on Steam for about a week with 23 reviews so far, is built around mancala, with marbles standing in for cards. Mancala may be the oldest board game in recorded history, though exactly when and where it was invented remains undetermined.

3i Plan October showcase lineup revealed, livestream set for 00:00 October 9 on Bilibili

The 3i Plan October showcase has revealed a lineup of 32 games, including released titles such as Dave the Diver, Chained Together, Brotato and Risk of Rain 2, plus upcoming games like Among Us Story: On Guard, Pony Island 2: Panda Circus, The Talos Principle 3 and Stronghold 4. The showcase will also debut 8 brand-new games from independent studios including Amanita Design (Machinarium) and Strange Scaffold (I Am Your Beast). It will stream globally and simultaneously on Bilibili at 24:00 on October 8, i.e. midnight on October 9.

New 'Pokémon' Release Is Essential for All Eevee Fans

It has been 13 years since Game Freak introduced a new Eevee evolution in Pokémon X and Pokémon Y, leaving Eevee fans among the most neglected parts of the fandom. With eight official Eeveelutions and 18 standard Pokémon types, not even half of the possible Eeveelution concepts have been realized.

GameSpot's September 2026 Staff Picks

GameSpot has published its September 2026 Staff Picks, highlighting hidden gems and titles players may have missed from the past few months. The picks include a 90-minute horror game about brain mold, a heartfelt action-platformer with Kingdom Hearts-like visuals, and a job simulator where you play an advice-dishing modiste. One editor says Dressmaker was the game they opened most this September.

Agony! Two Life Sims I Really Want to Play Launched Back to Back

A PC Gamer writer says two long-awaited life sims launched back to back, making it hard to choose between them. Nivalis Nights is a moody, neon-drenched cyberpunk shop sim with deeper shop finances than expected. Songs of Glimmerwick is a wizard school life sim with gardening, a seasonal schedule, voice acting, and a musical take on magic.

Dressmaker Players Are Having a Blast Secretly Ruining Dresses

Dressmaker is a cozy sewing sim where you pick fabric, cut a pattern, stitch buttons by hand, and deliver a dress for a thank-you and a tip. When a customer is rude enough, players can secretly ignore their fabric specifications and ruin the commission. The developers appear to have intended this cathartic option.

ANTONBLAST Launches for PS5, PS4 in Mid-October

Publisher Joystick Ventures and developer Summitsphere announced that ANTONBLAST will launch for PS5 and PS4 in mid-October. The side-scrolling action platformer first launched for PC via Steam on December 3, 2024, followed by Switch on December 13, 2024. Players take on the role of Dynamite Anton or his coworker Annie to destroy bizarre worlds and reclaim his Spirits from Satan.

Opinion: One Of My Favourite Games Is Being Remade, So Why Do I Feel So Down About It?

Level-5 has announced a remake of Professor Layton and the Curious Village, due next year, alongside Professor Layton and The New World of Steam's 10th December release date. The author feels uneasy about the remake because Level-5's Vision 2026 showcase leaned heavily on AI-generated assets and the remake's trailer showed odd visual details, with no AI-free promise made for the Curious Village remake.

First-person RPG Queen's Domain launches October 30

Developer Freshly Baked Games and publisher Future Friends Games announced that the first-person fantasy RPG Queen's Domain will launch on October 30, with a demo still available on Steam. Players take the role of a son searching for his missing father on an island of skeletal creatures, laser trees and fishpeople, fighting with a blink-jumping holy sword, cooldown-based infinite throwing weapons, a stamina bar and leveling. The developers list over 50 melee weapons, more than 20 throwing weapon types, over 100 enemies and bosses, and dozens of hours of exploration.

Grasshopper Manufacture Parts Ways With NetEase and Goes Independent

Grasshopper Manufacture has announced it has parted ways with parent company NetEase and is once again an independent developer. NetEase acquired the studio in 2021 but has since pulled back from investments, closing studios and withdrawing funding from major projects. CEO Goichi Suda said the decision followed thorough discussions with NetEase Games and with their cooperation, and that the studio continues to value the relationship.

ANTONBLAST for PS5, PS4 Launches October 1 in Australia and New Zealand, Mid-October Worldwide

Publisher Joystick Ventures and developer Summitsphere announced that ANTONBLAST will launch for PS5 and PS4 on October 1 in Australia and New Zealand, with a worldwide release to follow in mid-October. The side-scrolling action platformer first launched for PC via Steam on December 3, 2024, and for Switch on December 13, 2024. Players take on the role of Dynamite Anton or his coworker Annie to destroy bizarre worlds and steal Spirits back from Satan.

Little Blackbird: A Wasteland Game Where You Pick Up Trash and Raise Birds Instead of Guns

Little Blackbird combines 2D platforming, squad ability puzzles and village building into a combat-free micro wasteland adventure. Players control a blackbird scattered by a storm, reuniting lost companions and turning collected junk into village buildings in a world humans have left behind. The hand-drawn picture-book game is officially described as "solarpunk," supports keyboard and mouse, and is better suited to a controller.

Cyberpunk life sim Nivalis Night launches on Steam

505 Games and independent developer ION LANDS announced that the cyberpunk life simulation game Nivalis Night is now available on PC via Steam, priced at 98 yuan with a limited-time extra 10% launch discount. Players start from a small noodle stall and grow a business, sourcing ingredients by buying, growing or fishing, while exploring the sea-bound city on foot, by public transport or by boat. The game has gathered over 1 million wishlists since it was first announced in 2021, and a release on the Epic Games Store is also confirmed for later.

TOEM 2 Launches on PC, PS5 and Nintendo Switch

Developer Something We Made and co-publisher popagenda announced that TOEM 2, the sequel to TOEM: A Photography Adventure, is now available on PC, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, priced at 78 yuan on Steam with a limited 15% launch discount. The game adds new camera accessories for puzzle-solving, stamp collecting and region unlocking, with no time limits. A bundle with the first game offers a 52% discount.

Occult Detective Puzzle Game Blood Ink Case Opens Steam Demo Today

Publisher CRITICAL REFLEX and developer Hey Bird! have opened a public Steam demo for Blood Ink Case at Insider Gaming's 28 Games Later horror showcase, available today and set to join October's Steam Next Fest. The demo includes a tutorial case, the Charred Inn murder case with a new ending, and a brand-new case featuring an unexpected ally. The full game will offer 10 cases inspired by The Case of the Golden Idol, Strange Horticulture, and Return of the Obra Dinn.

《掘地求财：铲友齐上阵》正式公开，支持最多4人跨平台联机挖宝

Section 9's sci-fi action adventure End of Abyss launches October 1 on Xbox Series X|S

Section 9 Interactive, a small studio founded by three former Tarsier Studios members, announced that its sci-fi action adventure End of Abyss launches October 1 on Xbox Series X|S. Players take the role of young combat technician Cel, descending into an abandoned underground facility to upgrade gear, use a Scanner to explore branching paths, and fight monsters. The team said the game began as a top-down shooter prototype and shifted toward a slower action horror metroidvania focused on exploration and tension, with enemies prototyped in Unreal before their designs were finalized.

「3i计划」十月发布会阵容曝光：32款游戏参展，8款新作全球首曝