Though E3 2020 was canceled a few months ago, major developers and publishers are nonetheless moving forward with a series of online-only events, which have generated just as much buzz and skepticism as their on-stage conferences. Though Valve doesn’t tend to make a big show of things at the annual gaming expo, they’ve seen fit to introduce a digital stopgap in the form of the Steam Game Festival Summer Edition on their digital distribution platform.
Meant to highlight the labors of talented indie studios ordinarily buried by new announcements from larger publishers, it’s definitely worth checking out, particularly for fans of smaller-budget titles. Here are some of our favorites!
Hellbound
Nostalgia, as many gamers know, can be a powerful drug, and we’ve seen a ton of stylized FPS titles hoping to recapture the classic aesthetics of Doom and Quake in recent years. Though the appeal is beginning to wear thin for many, Hellbound looks to be a faithful, blood-soaked romp through Hell itself—you guessed it—which looks and plays like a lower-budget version of Doom 2016… not that that’s a bad thing. Featuring a demonic arsenal of weaponry, this 90s FPS shoot-n-strafe bonanza looks to be something special, and, as with almost every game featured in Valve’s festival, a demo is already available on Steam.
Ghostrunner
Described by the developers as a “hardcore FPS slasher,” Ghostrunner looks like what you’d get if you threw Mark of the Ninja, Mirror’s Edge, and Cyberpunk 2077 in a blender. That’s a pretty chaotic combination of titles, and the result looks to be something utterly unique. Armed with a “monomolecular katana,” players will parkour their way through a far-future dystopia while striking down enemies and overcoming long odds through the use of some yet-to-be-described superhuman abilities.
Looking like something that could compete with the budget and prowess of a AAA production, Ghostrunner is definitely something to keep an eye on. We’d prefer the name “Bladerunner,” but that may have already been taken.
Neurodeck
A deckbuilding rogue-lite with a unique twist, Neurodeck appears to have quite a bit in common with games like Slay The Spire or Pirates Outlaws. Assemble a collection of cards, all of which resemble items or concepts meant to soothe or afflict the mind, and do battle against a host of personified troubling thoughts and phobias. An involved, deeply personal experience, Neurodeck looks to be the sort of experience meant to leave a lasting impact, and fans of rogue-lite and roguelike games may want to keep this in mind.
Genesis Noir
Categorized by Steam as a platformer and described by the developer as a “non-traditional point-and-click adventure,” Genesis Noir nearly defies description. Featuring a narrative centering around a love-triangle between three celestial gods seemingly beyond space and time, Genesis Noir bills itself as a quest to save a lover that takes the player to the beginning and end of the universe and back.
Boasting stylish and subtly grim noir artistry which gives the title its name, this anomalous project seems to be the perfect fit for those into avant-garde adventures.
Snowtopia: Ski Resort Tycoon
With games like Planet Coaster and Planet Zoo repopularizing the tycoon subgenre of simulation games, Snowtopia: Ski Resort Tycoon looks to be a natural extension of the formula gamers have loved since the original RollerCoaster Tycoon released back in the late 90s. Build, maintain, and perfect your ultimate ski resort while balancing your budget and ensuring that your guests are satisfied. With a slick minimalist design and a clear reverence for the genre’s forebears, Snowopia may be the next big fix for those who want to move on from the amusement park racket.
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