Author: Obsidian

The Dream of the Open Sky There is a specific fantasy that gamers have been chasing since the days of Skies of Arcadia or the ill-fated Worlds Adrift: the dream of building a flying fortress, gathering a crew of friends, and sailing into an endless horizon of clouds and adventure. Echoes of Elysium, the debut title from Loric Games, attempts to capture that lightning in a bottle. Launched into Steam Early Access on January 27, 2026, this co-op survival RPG pitches itself as a procedural clockwork sandbox where the sky is not the limit—it’s the playground. With a price tag…

Your Claim Has Been Denied (With a Rocket Launcher) The “Survivor-like” or “Bullet Heaven” genre has arguably become the most saturated segment of the Steam marketplace over the last few years. Since Vampire Survivors opened the floodgates, we have seen every variation imaginable: fantasy wizards, sci-fi mechs, and cute animals. To stand out in 2026, a game needs more than just thousands of enemies on screen; it needs a hook. Enter R.I.P. – Reincarnation Insurance Program. Developed by WarmCore Studio and published by 2P Games, this title pitches itself as the unholy lovechild of Diablo and Vampire Survivors. It promises…

Welcome to the Mental Hospital Sometimes, you just want to grab a few friends, hop on Discord, and play something stupid. S.E.M.I. – Side Effects May Include… aims to fill that exact niche. Released on January 23, 2026, after an Early Access period, this chaotic platformer tasks players with escaping a bizarre clinic by popping pills that grant random, often detrimental, superpowers. Developed by Two Horn Unicorn, the game embraces a “Fanboy and Chum Chum” aesthetic—derpy, colorful, and slightly unhinged. But is it a prescription for fun or just a bad trip? The answer depends largely on whether you have…

Lost in the Kingdom of the White Beast In the indie gaming landscape, the “metaphor for depression” subgenre has become as crowded as a subway car during rush hour. It takes a lot to stand out when every other platformer wants to explore the depths of the human mind. Yet, The Perfect Pencil, released on January 29, 2026, manages to carve out a distinct identity through sheer artistic charisma and a commitment to weirdness. Developed by Studio Cima, this hand-drawn action platformer throws players into the shoes of John, a protagonist with a camera for a head (figuratively speaking—he analyzes…

Let’s Get Cracked There is a specific, primal joy found in physics-based combat games. From the rubbery slapping of Gang Beasts to the card-stacking strategy of Rounds, the genre thrives on chaos, unpredictability, and the inevitable screaming match between friends on Discord. Enter CRACKED, the latest contender in the arena brawler ring, released on January 7, 2026. Developed by PurrNet and Pebbles Games, CRACKED strips the concept down to its most fragile elements: glass-headed wizards, absurd magical upgrades, and a physics engine that seems to hate you personally. As a free-to-play title, it faces the uphill battle of maintaining a…

The zombie apocalypse is usually depicted through the barrel of a shotgun or the swing of a baseball bat. We are used to being the survivors running through the streets, scavenging for cans of beans, and aiming for the head. But what happens after the initial panic settles? What happens when bureaucracy tries to reassert itself on the edge of oblivion? Quarantine Zone: The Last Check, developed by Brigada Games and published by indie powerhouse Devolver Digital, answers this question. Released on January 12, 2026, this simulation-strategy hybrid asks you to holster your weapon and pick up a clipboard. You…