Another Stellar Day of the Devs
One of the most anticipated events of the annual Summer Games Fest is the Day of the Devs. I’m always excited to attend the preview because I know that at least one of the indie games being showcased is guaranteed to be a breakout hit. As always, there’s an astounding amount of passion and creativity on display. These qualities are sometimes lacking in behemoth AAA titles. No concept is too odd, as long as the resulting game is fun.
The 90-minute showcase I attended highlighted 20 upcoming games, most of which have no firm release date. Some were more ambitious than others, but they were uniformly interesting. In no particular order, here are a few of my favorites.
Sword of the Sea (developer: Giant Squid)
From the creators behind games like Journey, Abzu, and The Pathless comes Sword of the Sea. It’s an atmospheric adventure featuring fast, fluid movement as the player surfs the levels. The developers note that the movement in Tony Hawk games was an influence, and they hope that playing the game can be akin to a spiritual experience. With lyrically beautiful music by Austin Wintory, this is one to watch. A demo will be available in August.
Mixtape (developer: Beethoven and Dinosaur)
Described as a “coming of age action adventure,” Mixtape is a third person game that includes an amazing array of licensed tracks. It’s often been said that our favorite songs are like the soundtrack of our lives. Mixtape takes this idea and makes it into a game. It’s the greatest hits of the teenage experience, from the first kiss to the last dance.
Marvel Cosmic Invasion (developer: Tribute Games)
Marvel Cosmic Invasion is a 1v1 fighting game/beat ’em up featuring — you guessed it — a deep roster of 15 Marvel superheroes. With its pixel-art graphics, it looks like it traveled in a time machine from the arcade to modern consoles.
Dossa Divas (developer: Outerloop)
Food is more than calories. In our modern world, our relationship to food is complex. From growing to manufacturing to consuming, food impacts the health of both people and the planet. Dossa Divas is a turn-based action RPG focused on food, and fighting against the personal and global effects of highly processed food. If it sounds heavy-handed, don’t worry. Dossa Divas looks amazing, colorful, and unique.
Ratatan (developers: TVT Co. Ltd, Ratata Arts)
Gamers of a certain age will certainly remember Patapan, one of the OG music and rhythm games. Ratatan is a music-action RPG-rhythm-roguelike that’s colorful, fast-paced, and looks to be an all-ages delight for single players and 4-player online co-op. Hits Early Access on July 25, 2025, one of the few games on the near horizon.
Tire Boy (developer: Game Team 6)
What if you were a boy wedged inside a tire, rolling around the world? That quirky premise is the foundation for Tire Boy, an action adventure platformer. The developers say that the “small scale-large world” hook drives this very interesting looking game.
Thick as Thieves (developer: Otherside Entertainment)
The legendary Warren Spector is behind Thick as Thieves, described as a PvPvE multiplayer action-stealth game. Set in the early 20th century and played in first person, the player’s task is to complete a heist while sneakily impeding other players from doing the same. Playing against others means every game is unpredictable and engaging.
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