Buzz
This week, in honor of the rescheduled Game Developer’s Conference, several developers who intended to present their games at the event have released early versions of their titles as part of the Steam Games Festival: Spring Edition.
Valve introduced the Steam Games Festival initiative last December, coinciding with The Game Awards, featuring 14 demos for upcoming games. This edition is significantly larger, offering over 40 game previews on Steam until next Monday, March 23. As Valve highlighted in their press release, many of these games were originally slated for indie showcases at GDC.
A quick note of caution: Most of these are pre-release builds, meaning they might lack the polish of demos released by major developers closer to launch. Some features may not function correctly, or the game might crash. Such issues are common with pre-release software.
With so many games to explore, I’ll be diving into them throughout the event. If you’re unsure where to begin, here are a few I’ve tried and found enjoyable so far.
Raji: An Ancient Epic
Indian culture and settings are seldom the focus of video games, making Raji, a third-person action-platformer rooted in Ancient India, a refreshing departure. Drawing its visuals and narrative from a less-explored region, it stands out. However, if you’ve experienced games like God of War or Tomb Raider, its movement and combat mechanics will feel instantly familiar.
Retrograde Arena
For those seeking a multiplayer experience, Retrograde Arena offers a straightforward yet engaging competitive twin-stick shooter. Players control a circular character with a protruding gun barrel, where firing not only attacks but also propels you across the arena. Its retro VR aesthetic, reminiscent of Tron, combines vibrant neon grids with grainy black-and-white static for a visually striking effect.
The experience is limited unless you have others to play with, so consider this before diving in.
Haven
Haven is a survival RPG where you guide a couple, Yu and Kay, as they navigate life on an alien planet. Tasks include cooking, resource gathering, and occasionally battling alien creatures to survive. The game’s mechanics, from dialogue to turn-based combat, emphasize the synergy between the couple. Like many RPGs, the narrative takes center stage, offering a dialogue-rich exploration of their relationship that delves deeper than most games, even those with romantic themes.
Superliminal
This is technically a demo, not a preview, as the full game has already been released, and I’ve completed most of it. Superliminal is a first-person puzzle game akin to Portal, where the size of objects shifts based on your perspective. The surreal, dreamlike logic is employed in creative ways. While the puzzles aren’t overly difficult, the concept is engaging and enjoyable to experiment with.
Carrion
Labeled as a “reverse horror” game, you take control of a terrifying, amorphous creature escaping captivity and devouring guards and anyone attempting to stop it. Despite its eerie appearance, the creature is fragile, requiring strategic thinking to close in for attacks. Its pixel-art style enhances its unsettling, grotesque design, making it a thrilling experience for horror enthusiasts. However, due to its intense nature, it’s unsuitable for younger audiences.
A final tip: If you try any games from the festival and find them enjoyable, be sure to add them to your Steam wishlist or follow their product pages to receive updates when the full version is released.
