When it comes to upcoming indie games, there's no shortage of exciting new experiences to look forward to. We've already seen some fantastic releases this year, with the likes of Dungeons of Hinterberg and Flock - to name a few - but there's still more to come.
From narrative adventures to cozy life sims and platformers and much more set to land across all platforms, there's sure to be something here to add to your Wishlist. And as we celebrate the new Steam Next Fest, you may already be itching to see what new games will have fresh demos, as we itch closer to all those 2024 release dates and highly anticipated launches scheduled for next year and beyond.
While you wait, we've also been busy tucking into the most recent releases, so be sure to see what we've been enjoying with our Indie Spotlight series for more recommendations. Read on below as we take you through some of the most exciting upcoming indie games.
2024
Neva
Release date: October 15, 2024
Plaform(s): PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch
Neva from Gris developer Nomada Studio is a new action adventure that looks utterly beautiful. Following the emotional story of Alba, a young woman who forms a connection with a wolf cub after something traumatic happens to them. Now setting out together to journey through a world that is said to slowly be decaying, we'll see how they grow and learn to work together to get through dangerous situations and try to make a new home for themselves.
Cabernet
Release date: October 24, 2024
Platform(s): PC
If you are a fan of Anne Rice and the Undead, then this upcoming indie Vampire RPG will be a dream come true. Cabernet lets you take on the role of the newly awakened vampire Liza. Set in a world inspired by 19th-century Eastern Europe, you’ll have to keep Liza alive, drinking blood every night and navigating the dangerous political world of vampires.
The game will give players a certain number of action points, and it’s up to you to raise relationships and stats and uncover the truth of your immortal awakening. Cabernet is a gothic winner, and with the ability to fly around as a cute bat, what more could you ask for this spooky season?
Fruitbus
Release date: October 28, 2024
Platform(s): PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One
Fruitbus is one of those upcoming cozy games that actually break away from farming. Instead, you’ll be running your own cute food truck where you’ll drive around to new locations, forage for fresh ingredients and make a ton of adorable animal friends on the way.
The upcoming indie is a first-person title, and its art style is very distinctive. It may not be every cozy gamer’s cup of tea visually. Luckily, Steam has a demo up on offer, so we recommend checking that out before purchasing the game on October 28 if you’re hesitant.
Mirthwood
Release date: November 6, 2024
Platform(s): PC
If you love playing games like Skyrim and Stardew Valley, Mirthwood looks like it will be a combination of both. The new indie game is set to release in November and will throw you into a medieval world where you can decide your own path.
Depending on what profession and kind of gameplay you are after, Mirthwood lets you fight creatures in the woods, settle down and build a homestead, and become a hero as you adventure around with a sword in hand. The possibilities are endless, and this has all the makings of being one of the best RPGs of 2024 if its trailers are anything to go by.
Trash Goblin
Release date: November 6, 2024
Platform(s): PC
Trash Goblin is an upcoming crafting indie game with a fantastical twist. Here, you’ll take on the role of a young goblin shopkeeper who must uncover and fix up trinkets in order to turn a profit. Grow your shop and develop relationships with loyal customers who may just give you some special commissions tied to their backstories as well.
Like most management games, the real fun from Trash Goblin will be seeing your tools and workshop progress and get better as you continue to play. We can’t wait for those sweet crafting endorphins to hit once we get our hands on this one.
Critter Café
Release date: November 26, 2024
Platform(s): PC, Switch
Critter Cafe is an upcoming indie game that has been on many cozy gamers' wish lists for quite some time now. If you were a fan of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, then this game will scratch that same itch as you’ll be building a new home, renovating your new cafe, and befriending animals on your journey.
The catch with this game is that you’ll be discovering magical portals as you progress and develop bonds with your critters, adding an extra level of exploration and a reward system for levelling up those relationship points. Critter Cafe looks like an adorable fantasy-driven management game, and personally, we can’t wait to play it for ourselves come November 26.
TBC 2024
The Gecko Gods
Release date: TBC 2024
Platform(s): PC, Switch
If you're looking for a relaxing puzzle-based experience, The Gecko Gods might just be one to add to your wishlist. Playing as a little gecko, you can explore a mysterious island and make the most of the lizard's agile movements to climb cliffs and yes, even eat bugs. Setting out on a quest to save their friend, The Gecko Gods sees you solve puzzles across crumbling ruins and discover the lore of the land as you explore. There's no way we can pass up the chance to play as a little gecko protagonist.
The Mermaid's Mask
Release date: TBC 2024
Platform(s): PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5
The Mermaid's Mask is a follow-up to the excellent 2019 murder-mystery detective game, Tangle Tower from developer SFB Games. Bringing back main sleuths Detective Grimoire and Sally, you'll set out with the pair set to investigate the murder of Magnus Mortuga, who was the captain of the "world's strangest submarine".
Strange things are evidently going on, with the mention of a possible curse. How intriguing. As you hunt for clues, you'll be able to once again interact with a variety of objects, which are all now in 3D, and try to complete puzzles as you try to get to the bottom of the case. With a free demo currently on Steam, the new detective adventure looks set to scratch our gumshoe itch.
Ghost Bike
Release date: TBC 2024
Platform(s): PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5
Ghost Bike is a new adventure from Nidhogg developer, Messhof. Playing as a streetwise kid from Freehub City, you set out to bring back Ghost Bikes, who are said to be magical couriers that rode between the world of the living and the world of the dead. With races along with a variety of different challenges to take on, you can explore what is described as a "semi open-world" and discover bike parts to customize your pair of wheels. It looks like one very stylized, intriguing action-adventure with a unique concept at its heart.
Loco Motive
Release date: TBC 2024
Platform(s): PC, Switch
Loco Motive is a pixelated murder mystery from developer Robust Games that takes place onboard an express train in the 1930s. Described as a slapstick comedy adventure with plenty of surprises in store, it sounds as though Loco Motive will take us on quite a ride with point-and-click puzzles, lots of characters to meet, and a crime to investigate as three different protagonists in an interlinking story.
2025
Date Everything
Release date: February 14, 2025
Platform(s): PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch
Date Everything from developer Sassy Chap Games looks like a riot. Described as a sandbox dating simulator, it features 100 full-voiced dateable characters. And as the name implies, you really will be dating everything, with magic glasses known as "dateviators" bringing all manner of objects in your home to life and making them dateable. What's more, they all have their own stories to tell, and it'll be up to you decide whether they become your lover, friend, or even enemy.
Tales of the Shire
Release date: March 25, 2025
Platform(s): PC, Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Switch
If you've ever wondered caught yourself wishing you could live out the cozy life of a hobbit in The Lord of the Rings, then Tales of the Shire is to make that a reality. Developed by Weta Workshop, the upcoming life sim will see you make and play as your very own hobbit in the Shire, where you can decorate your own hobbit hole, garden, fish, cook, and get to know the community.
TBC 2025
Afterlove EP
Release date: TBC 2025
Platform(s): PC, PS4, PS5, Switch
Afterlove EP is described as a mixture of narrative adventure, dating sim, and rhythm game that will explore an emotional story. Taking place in Jakarta, the capital city of Indonesia, After Love EP follows Rama, a young musician dealing with the loss of their girlfriend, Cinta, who recently passed away. With beautiful art that's brought to life by artist Soyatu and original music from Indonesian band L'alpahalpha, the upcoming adventure is said to feature multiple possible endings and story paths based on the choices you make.
Slay the Spire 2
Release date: TBC 2025
Platform(s): PC
As a follow-up to the stellar roguelike deckbuilder released in 2019, Slay the Spire 2 from developer Mega Crit will see you return to the Spire in the sequel, with new slayers, enemies, events, treasures, and bosses to face. With various strategies to try out and decks to build, the sequel has been built on a new engine and is set to release in Early Access. The devs are even teasing new ways to play, but we'll have to wait and see just what those are.
Wanderstop
Release date: TBC 2025
Platform(s): PC
Wanderstop is new narrative game from the creator of The Stanley Parable that looks as cozy as it sounds. You take on the role of Alta, a former fighter who opens up her own tea shop in a magical forest... but rather curiously, it's not something she wants to do. As a management experience, you'll grow your own ingredients for tea and brew them together as you serve and meet travelling customers who pass through. It sounds a little bit like Coffee talk in the sense that you'll learn the stories of those you meet and try to make the right cup of tea for them.
TBC
Map Map
Release date: TBC
Platform(s): PC
Map Map, is as the title says, is a game about maps from developer Pipapo Games. With some Breath of the Wild vibes to its world, you take on the role of a cartographer who sets out to explore islands and map them out by setting down markers in relevant locations. It's up to you to fill up the empty map with landmarks and ruins you come across by putting your sense of direction and adventurer skills to the test. Plus, you can also try and hunt for hidden treasure.
Loose Leaf
Release date: TBC
Platform(s): PC
Loose Leaf is an upcoming tea witch simulator from Boyfriend Dungeon developer Kitfox Games. As you manage a tea room, you'll get to grips with what promises to be the most "in-depth" tea simulator, which puts you in control of elements such as the temperature and timing of your brews. As you pick ingredients and place them in your chosen cup, you'll work to unlock more recipes as you go about trying to make just the right cup of tea for your guests. But all of your visitors have troubles of their own to share, and as a witch, you'll also be able to do tarot card readings as you try to help them with their worries.
I Am A Caterpillar
Release date: TBC
Platform(s): PC
During the Wholesome Direct 2023 we got to see I Am A Caterpillar, which is a new indie adventure coming to us from DevFatigued. You play (as you might have guessed) as a caterpillar, only this wriggly friend is quite content as they are, and doesn't want to become a butterfly. On the day your transformation is supposed to happen, you set out to do everything you can to stop it. Yes, you're going to be a bug who wants to shape their own destiny. It looks adorable, with the chance to climb across colorful environments and meet and befriend a whole host of forest inhabitants.
Way to the Woods
Release date: TBC
Platform(s): PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S (Xbox Game Pass)
Way to the Woods is an upcoming adventure that follows the journey of two deer in an abandoned world that head out to find their way home. A trailer for the game back in 2019 quickly captured attention thanks to its beautiful, intriguing backdrop and the companionship of the deer and fawn protagonists at the heart of the experience. Said to draw inspiration from Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, and The Last of Us, Way to the Woods happily made an appearance towards the end of 2022 during the Wholesome Snack showcase to enchant us all over again.
Henry Halfhead
Release date: TBC
Platform(s): PC
Henry Halfhead is an upcoming sandbox adventure from Lululu Entertainment that sees you become a character with a rather peculiar ability. As Henry, you can possess and control any object from an apple to a toaster. In fact, you can even become the bread in the toaster or the plug that powers it. Essentially, you can become anything within your reach and experiment to find creative solutions to complete challenges. With over 150 objects to play around with and a variety of mini-games to try out, it looks like a lot of fun - and also supports local co-op as an added bonus.
Keep track of all of the releases on the horizon with our roundups of upcoming Switch games, upcoming PS5 games, upcoming Xbox Series X games, and upcoming PC games.
