PAX West showcased a ton of awesome games this year. And while most were revealed ahead of the convention, with several major publishers making their presence known, the main draw for me was the indie scene. Whether it featured charming visuals, an engaging story, or some unique spin on old mechanics, nearly every indie game I played earned a slot on my ever-growing Steam wishlist.
There were six games in particular that proved to be more exciting than the rest. Below, I go into detail about those six and why they’re all worth adding to your Steam wishlist. These are upcoming games that are not in an alpha or beta state–it would be unfair to judge games that could still fundamentally change against games that are already rapidly approaching a launch date.
Wolfhound
- Developer: Bit Kid
- Release Date: 2027
- Genre: Action
- Players: 1
I couldn’t wait to get my hands on Wolfhound. Its retro, pixel-based art and explosive action were an easy sell. Bit Kid’s lore-based spin on 2D metroidvania styled gameplay, however, was an added bonus. Because I was a controlling Chuck “Wolfhound” Rossetti, a soldier living during an alternate version of World War II, all of my abilities were practical extensions of real-world items. Instead of being able to roll into a ball like Samus, for instance, Chuck unlocks the use of knee pads to move through tight spaces.
Some of Wolfhound, like the need to reload your guns or landmines damaging everyone and not just enemies, are based in reality. Others, like mutant bugs and a zombie-infested Nazi base, obviously are not. The former keeps the game’s story somewhat grounded and provides stakes to combat, while the latter largely contributes to the game’s campy, action movie vibe.
I enjoyed platforming around the map, and feeling a sense of reward for carefully timing my jumps to avoid traps and monsters. The shooting reminded me of Contra but with a reload mechanic adding another layer of complexity; it can lead to exhilarating moments, like when your ammo runs out during a fight or you manage to kill an enemy with one bullet left in the chamber. . A few key areas were more frustrating than I expected, partially due to a high enemy spawn rate near ladders and pits–lead developer James Petruzzi discussed toning down this aspect during my playthrough, so that may change with the full release. That said, most of my time was spent trying to lay waste to whatever crossed my path before comically dying during a tricky boss fight.
In this early state, Wolfhound feels great to play. I look forward to exploring its maze-like environments, battling tough bosses, and ultimately taking the fight to the Nazi army come next year.
Blocks for Babies
- Developer: BunkSoft Interactive
- Release Date: TBA
- Genre: Rogelike, Puzzle, Shooter
- Players: 1
When I got the invite to play a “Tetris meets Doom” roguelike called Blocks for Babies, I didn’t know what to expect. Was it going to be a puzzle game? How would the line-clearing mechanics work in a shooter? And who were these babies that the game’s title speaks of? Most of my questions were answered within a few hilarious moments of play.
The goal of Blocks for Babies is to help Flapper, a baby, clean up his blocks. This is done in two ways, with one method following the other. Initially, you start with the traditional Tetris-inspired gameplay–you maneuver falling tetrominos to stack them in a manner that creates patterns and lets you clear lines. Upgrades that help make things easier are unlocked along the way, such as “Live in the Moment”, an ability that slows time whenever you clear three lines.
