Cryptmaster was the Next Fest game that made me laugh the hardest. You use the arrow keys to walk around, but everything else is done solely by typing different words, and there's a very specific type of comedy that comes when you hear the DM-like Cryptmaster make fun of you for typing something stupid. My favorite part is that when you open a treasure chest, you aren't shown what you've found -- instead you have to ask the Cryptmaster to inspect it in different ways, and then guess what the object is based off of how he describes it -- it's a shockingly engaging puzzle and it gave me some really good a-ha moments
These all look so cool. Thanks for showing them off! Personally, I got a little overwhelmed by all the options during Next Fest. It is very helpful to get some specific recommendations.
I played 80 demos and still missed a couple of those :) My personal favourites, outside of INDIKA and Diceomancer since they're already here: Arco - lowfi RPG with sumultaneous turn-based tactical battles Death of the Reprobate - classic paintings point & click ("sequel" to Procession to Calvary and Four Last Things) Fragmented City - lowfi Immersive Sim, free exploration in a small city Pyrene - great push-your-luck roguelike shapez 2 - ultimate factory building
Awesome breakdown, just enough info to keep me interested, I’m gonna have to check these out! I’m always looking for new stuff to review, and this is by far the best way to find interesting games! Keep up the awesome work! Subbed :)
Ooh, Rusty's Retirement is definitely going on my wishlist now, I love a good idle game. Duck Detective too! I enjoy the 'put-words-in-slots' style puzzle games a lot.
Mullet Mad Jack was great fun. You're the main character of a TV show in a dystopian cyberpunk future and you kill robots. Alruna and the Necro-Industrialists was a fun little game leaning into the metroid of metroidvania.
Rhythm Quest from Next Fest 2023 is a simple but addictive rhythm game. I think the demo is still available. It was challenging in a way that was unique.
I also stumbled upon DICEOMANCER and loved it, though it's almost too complex, very hard to make decisions. Balatro was also there, but now it's really risen to popularity. One you did not mention is MULLET MAD JACK, it has a bonkers introduction and vibe. I'm not sure the game is that deep / fun in the long term, but what an intro.
Here's what I really loved that isn't on this list or the horror list already: - Tiny Terry's Turbo Trip - Normal Fishing - Small Town Emo - Reus 2 - Harold Halibut - Roman Sands RE:build
Magical Delicacy was super cute! I kinda wish I had a steam deck and/or that it was coming out for switch-- seems like a great game to play handheld for the vibes :)
I really liked Trash of the Titans! It's your classic turn-based tactics game with a fantasy party, but the catch is that it's all trash fiends fighting with rats over... well, trash! Your party is composed by a possum ranger, a tank badger, rogue raccoon and mage skunk and I already love all of them dearly, they are my children! And also Crypt Custodian, it's a cute metroidvania in which you play as a cat, tasked with cleaning up the afterlife while looking for a way to earn your spot in the good place! I tried others but these are the only ones I ended up wishlisting (well, them and Pacific Drive, but it's out already, so!).
Lots of good stuff here that wasnt on my radar. Thanks for sharing! Also, were you at Emerald City Comic Con earlier this month? I passed by someone on the show floor who looked a lot like you. I thought about saying hi, but I wasn't sure and didn't want to be awkward if it wasn't you.
Well, you've already mentioned Indika and Kind Words 2, so not much left, but I'll try: Blessed Burden - a first-person platformer with Quake 2 graphics Realm of Ink - what if Hades... but in Asia? Happy! the Hippo - a wonderful 3D platformer tribute to PS2 era demo discs Crow Country - what a survival horror game would've looked like if it used original Final Fantasy VII graphics When I write it all down, it seems I really like these nostalgia-visual games. And Indika. (Please note that I might be confusing these being available during other Steam demo events)
I wish Flock was out now, cuz a game where you wander and chill, and look at little guys as your job??? That's a game that was made for me. Thanks again for the great video!
For my money? Harold Halibut. Somehow I'd never heard of this game even though it's a *stop motion point and click adventure*, which is already a lot. But then it's also set in a sunken ark ship launched from earth where things are... kinda just so-so. Neither utopia or dystopia, but just. Very british and kinda mediocre. You play a handyman who doodles in his notebook, and your goal is... mostly just to get to know the other people there. And try to get the fish fed. And the wall cleaned from revolutionary graffiti made by a 13 year old. And watch tv dramas in a cruddy breakroom with a handsome teacher.
Is there a place for escapism in games anymore that isn't war fantasy or coffee shop poetry as a game? I don't want a video game to be a second job just something fun.
Wish-listing is free? But what about when steam tells me the cool videogame is for sale, what am I going to do? Not buy it?
No. You're supposed to buy all other games that aren't on sale.
I call a well-curated game demos list like this a public service. Thank you, Jenna
You're welcome! Thank you for watching!
"And also Google is bad now." Straight up FACTS.
Cryptmaster was the Next Fest game that made me laugh the hardest. You use the arrow keys to walk around, but everything else is done solely by typing different words, and there's a very specific type of comedy that comes when you hear the DM-like Cryptmaster make fun of you for typing something stupid. My favorite part is that when you open a treasure chest, you aren't shown what you've found -- instead you have to ask the Cryptmaster to inspect it in different ways, and then guess what the object is based off of how he describes it -- it's a shockingly engaging puzzle and it gave me some really good a-ha moments
I LOVE the aesthetic they went with for Duck Detective. Similar vibes to Paper Mario.
These all look so cool. Thanks for showing them off!
Personally, I got a little overwhelmed by all the options during Next Fest. It is very helpful to get some specific recommendations.
I played 80 demos and still missed a couple of those :)
My personal favourites, outside of INDIKA and Diceomancer since they're already here:
Arco - lowfi RPG with sumultaneous turn-based tactical battles
Death of the Reprobate - classic paintings point & click ("sequel" to Procession to Calvary and Four Last Things)
Fragmented City - lowfi Immersive Sim, free exploration in a small city
Pyrene - great push-your-luck roguelike
shapez 2 - ultimate factory building
Awesome breakdown, just enough info to keep me interested, I’m gonna have to check these out! I’m always looking for new stuff to review, and this is by far the best way to find interesting games! Keep up the awesome work! Subbed :)
Ooh, Rusty's Retirement is definitely going on my wishlist now, I love a good idle game. Duck Detective too! I enjoy the 'put-words-in-slots' style puzzle games a lot.
Crypt Custodian, LightYear Frontier, and Spirit City were all great! I'll play the demos of the ones you recommended
Mullet Mad Jack was great fun. You're the main character of a TV show in a dystopian cyberpunk future and you kill robots.
Alruna and the Necro-Industrialists was a fun little game leaning into the metroid of metroidvania.
I remember the sheep! I loved the sheep! *Immediately runs to wishlist*
Rhythm Quest from Next Fest 2023 is a simple but addictive rhythm game. I think the demo is still available. It was challenging in a way that was unique.
Thank you for making this
I also stumbled upon DICEOMANCER and loved it, though it's almost too complex, very hard to make decisions.
Balatro was also there, but now it's really risen to popularity.
One you did not mention is MULLET MAD JACK, it has a bonkers introduction and vibe. I'm not sure the game is that deep / fun in the long term, but what an intro.
Here's what I really loved that isn't on this list or the horror list already:
- Tiny Terry's Turbo Trip
- Normal Fishing
- Small Town Emo
- Reus 2
- Harold Halibut
- Roman Sands RE:build
I really enjoyed The Wandering Village. Should be great once it 1.0s
Thanks for your work! nice video!
Thank you for the recs!!
I really appreciate your insight on games like this. Thank you for all of your hard work.
Magical Delicacy was super cute! I kinda wish I had a steam deck and/or that it was coming out for switch-- seems like a great game to play handheld for the vibes :)
I really liked Trash of the Titans! It's your classic turn-based tactics game with a fantasy party, but the catch is that it's all trash fiends fighting with rats over... well, trash! Your party is composed by a possum ranger, a tank badger, rogue raccoon and mage skunk and I already love all of them dearly, they are my children!
And also Crypt Custodian, it's a cute metroidvania in which you play as a cat, tasked with cleaning up the afterlife while looking for a way to earn your spot in the good place!
I tried others but these are the only ones I ended up wishlisting (well, them and Pacific Drive, but it's out already, so!).
Why is a game about nuns named after a category of cannabis strains?
Because those darn nuns just can't quit the habit
Lots of good stuff here that wasnt on my radar. Thanks for sharing!
Also, were you at Emerald City Comic Con earlier this month? I passed by someone on the show floor who looked a lot like you. I thought about saying hi, but I wasn't sure and didn't want to be awkward if it wasn't you.
Well, you've already mentioned Indika and Kind Words 2, so not much left, but I'll try:
Blessed Burden - a first-person platformer with Quake 2 graphics
Realm of Ink - what if Hades... but in Asia?
Happy! the Hippo - a wonderful 3D platformer tribute to PS2 era demo discs
Crow Country - what a survival horror game would've looked like if it used original Final Fantasy VII graphics
When I write it all down, it seems I really like these nostalgia-visual games. And Indika.
(Please note that I might be confusing these being available during other Steam demo events)
lovely video!! but RIP headphone users at that first ding hahah
I wish Flock was out now, cuz a game where you wander and chill, and look at little guys as your job??? That's a game that was made for me.
Thanks again for the great video!
I've spent too much time playing Star Trucker demo, so I'm not the most qualified person to give you a recommendation lol
THE SHEEP I HAD FORGOTTEN ABOUT THE SHEEP ❤❤❤
Hauntii and indika look cool.
By the by, what's the name of your podcast? I wanna check it out
Engagement for the engagement god!
Fortunately this is not a BGH wishlist on steam CTA and I can actually go for these games =)
Yes good content
For my money? Harold Halibut. Somehow I'd never heard of this game even though it's a *stop motion point and click adventure*, which is already a lot. But then it's also set in a sunken ark ship launched from earth where things are... kinda just so-so. Neither utopia or dystopia, but just. Very british and kinda mediocre. You play a handyman who doodles in his notebook, and your goal is... mostly just to get to know the other people there. And try to get the fish fed. And the wall cleaned from revolutionary graffiti made by a 13 year old. And watch tv dramas in a cruddy breakroom with a handsome teacher.
Is there a place for escapism in games anymore that isn't war fantasy or coffee shop poetry as a game? I don't want a video game to be a second job just something fun.
Please, consider not using ableist language! Thank you!