Author: Pickled Sea Cat

Unrailed!

developed by Indoor Astronaut  |  published by Daedalic Entertainment


“A cooperative multiplayer game where you have to work together with your friends to build a railway track across endless procedurally generated worlds.  Master random encounters with its inhabitants, upgrade your train and keep it from derailing!”

I thought this was quite intriguing and it reminded me a bit of Overcooked just with locomotives.  The regular speed gameplay looks a bit peaceful but reading some stuff by people who played it at PAX East it does seem to invoke a similar kind of stress from all the things you have to manage including clearing land, gathering materials, building the rails, and making sure your train doesn’t catch on fire.

[Visit the Website]  |  [Wishlist on Steam]

Platform: Windows
Release: Summer 2019

Heaven’s Vault

developed by inkle


“Sail an open-world of fast flowing space-rivers, discover lost ruins, explore ancient sites, find artefacts and translate their strange hieroglyphics.  Piece together the history of the world and an entire ancient language.

“From the creators of massively-branching interactive adventure 80 Days, Heaven’s Vault is not your usual linear adventure game.  Progress through the game in any order you choose – the game’s fully adaptive narrative remembers every choice you make, every discovery and every action you take, influencing what happens next.  Meet a diverse cast of characters who remember everything you say, and who’s attitude to you will change with how you act.  Some are friendly, some are cautious, and some are out to trick you.

“Who will you trust?  What will you find?  What will you learn?  What will you risk?  What will you lose?”

[Buy on Steam]  |  [Visit the Website]

Platforms: Windows, PS4 (Mac and iOS to come)
Release: April 16, 2019

39 Days to Mars

developed by It’s Anecdotal


“A co-operative (and single-player) steampunk puzzle-adventure game.

“Step into the shoes of Sir Albert Wickes and The Right Honourable Clarence Baxter, two 19th century explorers who have chosen to pilot the HMS Fearful on its maiden voyage to Mars.

“When the steam engine runs out of coal, the ship’s cat shreds the navigation chart, and the tea gets cold, it becomes clear that interstellar transportation isn’t a walk in the park. It will take the talents of two players working together on the problems that arise to get to Mars in one piece.”

[Buy on itch.io] | [Visit the Website]

Platforms: Windows, Xbox One, Switch
Release: Apr 25, 2018

Hell is Other Demons

developed by Cuddle Monster Games  |  published by Kongregate


“A juicy arcade shooter with bold color schemes and a heavy synthwave soundtrack. Jump into the hooves of a demon out to kill a bunch of other demons as you progress through an extensive campaign and dominate wonderfully over-the-top bosses.  Accumulate an arsenal of powerful weapons and upgrades as you take on varied and brutal challenges.”

[Wishlist on Steam]  |  [Visit the Website]

via Hardcore Gamer Platforms: Windows, Mac, Switch
Release: Q2 2019

Lethe

developed by Cuatro Monos Games


“A 2.5D platformer in which Alan Zane, a loving husband and father, remembers for the last time his most treasured memories.  Alan is already at an advanced stage of Alzheimer’s disease and will have to fight against the monster within his brain which tries to erase his memories.  Dive into those shattered moments in this original platformer.  Solve mind trick puzzles.  Understand better the struggle of this disease.  Realize the most important; the result of one’s life.”

I usually like to keep posts short on text but I thought this passage from their website was worth a read:

“Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease and it is incurable.  This sentence is devastating but we are trying to show a complex situation from two different points of view.

“While neurodegenerative process affects the victims, their families are extremely touched by the evolution of the disease. Initially, small changes in the behavior of the victim might not be perceived as a huge threat.  However, the disease can not be cured and the symptoms get worse and at some stage the victims start forgetting even their closest family members.

“Meanwhile, what is happening inside the mind of the sufferer is puzzling.  How can the memories of somebody just disappear?  Why do some memories persist and others are deleted? Is the personality of the sufferer affected?

“The game we are developing has a clear message: the victims have a monster in their minds, but they are still able to love and be loved.  The leitmotif of the game is expressed by this conversation:

“Do you know who I am?”

“I don’t, but I know I love you very much”

[Visit the Website]

via /r/gamedev Platforms: Windows, Mac, PS4
Release: 2020

Taco

developed by PA Games


A super cute SNES platformer where you control an octopus (humoctopus?) and have to collect coins and fish in each level.  The fish are in the possession of what appear to be some innocent kittens until they fly down in their spaceship and start shooting. 😱

The developer loved the Super Famicom growing up and in 2015 decided to learn how to program for one, and so here we are with a brand new SNES game.  There isn’t a release date announced yet but the game is nearing completion with just the box art and ending to finish.

[Visit the Website]

Platform: SNES (what?!)
Release: TBA