The indie powerhouse behind ‘Buckshot Roulette’ and ‘Mouthwashing’ just unveiled a massive slate of weird and wild titles. Even better? You can play the demos right now.
If there is one publisher that consistently delivers the kind of genre-defying, expectation-breaking games we love, it’s CRITICAL REFLEX. Today, during the Convergence Games Showcase, the eclectic indie label brought the heat, dropping not one, but four brand-new trailers for their upcoming slate.
CRITICAL REFLEX hasn’t just provided cinematic teasers, either—they have unleashed a wave of updated demos and playtests on Steam ahead of Next Fest.
Here is a breakdown of every mind-bending title CRITICAL REFLEX showed off today, along with where you can play them.
Altered Alma: Cyberpunk Meets Dating Sim
If you have ever wanted to slice through a futuristic metropolis while simultaneously worrying about your romantic prospects, Altered Alma is calling your name.
Described as a stunning cyberpunk metroidvania with heavy RPG and dating sim elements, the game puts players in the cybernetically enhanced shoes of Jack, a young ex-mercenary. The trailer showcases incredibly fast-paced, fluid combat as Jack carves her way through ruthless gangsters across the neon-lit streets of Neo-Barcelona.
The demo is playable on Steam right now, offering a surprisingly robust vertical slice. Players can fight their way through two mini-bosses in the Spaceport zone, explore the romance mechanics, and—most importantly—adopt their very own pet.
Watch the Altered Alma Trailer: YouTube Link
Burden Street Station: A ‘90s Mystery Where God is Gone
Pivoting from high-octane action to melancholic mystery, Burden Street Station is a story-driven adventure that oozes 1990s visual nostalgia.
The premise is as bleak as it is intriguing: “God is gone, and it’s up to a lowly librarian and his reluctant sidekick to investigate.” The game tackles heavy themes of memory, grief, and community, wrapped in a classic point-and-click aesthetic.
For those who want to soak in the atmosphere, an updated Steam demo is currently available, allowing players to explore the damp, detailed environments of LoTown and interact with its bizarre cast of personalities.
Watch the Burden Street Station Trailer: YouTube Link
Drowned Lake: Found-Footage Folk Horror
CRITICAL REFLEX has a dedicated publishing label, “CR Channel,” that focuses exclusively on indie horror, and Drowned Lake looks to be their next terrifying flagship.
Deep in the dark, suffocating coastal forests of Brazil, Drowned Lake is an area steeped in sinister folk tales and legends, where trespassers rarely return. The narrative kicks off when a young student goes missing, dragging the player into a twisted, found-footage nightmare to uncover the truth. The trailer is genuinely unsettling, proving the publisher’s warning: “Remember: you’re not safe here.”
Horror junkies brave enough to face the waters can jump into the game’s official Steam playtest, which is going on right now.
Watch the Drowned Lake Trailer: YouTube Link
GIMMIKO!: Dicebuilding Twin-Stick Chaos
Finally, to inject some pure, unadulterated chaos into the lineup, CRITICAL REFLEX showed off GIMMIKO!.
This title is a wacky, twin-stick action roguelite that revolves around “dicebuilding.” The collective subconscious is leaking demons into reality, and as the guardian of the Gimmick Temple, you are tasked with saving the world from the curse of the Jabberwock.
The new trailer highlights the sheer visual overload and zany action of the battlefield, while also teasing the “games within a game” that players will uncover as they assemble their magical dice. It looks ridiculous, fast, and highly addictive.
Watch the GIMMIKO! Trailer: YouTube Link
Play Them Now
With Steam Next Fest just around the corner, CRITICAL REFLEX has positioned itself perfectly. Demos and playtests for Altered Alma, Burden Street Station, and Drowned Lake are all live on Steam right now.
“Genre is a prison, and we ate the warden,” the publisher proudly declares. Based on today’s showing, they aren’t kidding.
To dive deeper into all things CRITICAL REFLEX, visit www.criticalreflex.com.
About the Publisher
CRITICAL REFLEX An indie game publisher obsessed with genre-blending, rule-breaking, brain-melting games. Known for massive underground hits like Buckshot Roulette, Lunacid, Mouthwashing, and No, I’m not a Human, they champion unforgettable experiences and help developers launch their projects with a loud voice.
CR Channel: The CRITICAL REFLEX publishing label focusing exclusively on indie horror. You can join their dedicated community Discord here: discord.gg/FrzN8srBfy