The 10 standout games at the Steam Game Festival: Summer Edition
This past week, the Steam Game Festival returned for the summer, and it brought a slew of games this time around. While the spring installment delivered 40 game demos to play, the summer installment unveiled over 500 free demos. We search through this massive pile of games and discovered 10 games that are certainly worth your time when they arrive.
Developer: Gilligames
Publisher: Gilligames
Release date: August 2020
13 years after the release of Rising Star, Gilligames returns with the long-awaited sequel. Rising Star 2 allows players to live out their rockstar dreams through an in-depth RPG. Before you can pack arenas, you start as a local musician starting their new band. After finding the perfect bandmates, you'll have to write songs, practice, attend local shows, and make money to keep your dreams alive. Rising Star 2 has the potential to be the best simulation game of 2020.
Developer: Arsi "Hakita" Patala
Publisher: New Blood Interactive
Release date: Summer 2020
Do you like killing multiple enemies at once in a homage to retro FPS games? Well, Ultrakill will serve up some fast-paced goodness upon its official release this summer. While most FPS place health packs across the level, your character regains health by soaking in the blood of their enemies. With a drum and bass soundtrack backing your every move, you'll feel the pressure as hordes of enemies come to take you down.
Watch Me Stream My Mental Breakdown
Developer: Ultaan Games
Publisher: Ultaan Games
Release date: Late 2020
If a game title piqued anyone's curiosity during The Steam Game Festival, Watch Me Stream My Mental Breakdown is surely one of them. The game follows a panda named Pochi, who dreams of becoming the next big streamer. Unfortunately, having thousands of viewers won't come overnight. During streams, the player engage in a card battle to satisfy the viewers' desire for content. During these battles, you'll have to keep an eye on your mental health bar. Outside of streams, the player can make money from working various jobs.
Developer: Glitchers
Publisher: Glitchers
Release date: July 2020
Drive Buy puts a neat spin on the racing game genre. In the game, delivery drivers must attempt to make the most deliveries possible within a time limit. To help ease their stress, power-ups help them take down their enemies. Aside from making deliveries in Delivery Battle, players can choose from two other game modes. In Pay Day, the player with the most credits at the end of the match wins. In Piggy Bank, the player who holds the piggy the longest gets the crown. Mixing Twisted Metal with Crazy Taxi, Drive By will push the pedal to the metal when it arrives in July on Steam and the Nintendo Switch.
Developer: Calappa Games
Publisher: PLAYISM
Release date: July 30, 2020
On paper, Fight Crab looks like complete madness. In the game, crabs decide to throw claws to determine who's boss. Playing the game, however, will change a skeptic's mind very quickly. Whether you're playing on a gamepad or mouse/keyboard, the controls fit perfectly. You don't have to use claws in your battles, either. There's jet engines, guns, and swords to help take down your opponent. It won't be a shocker if this intriguing fighter lands at EVO next year.
Magin: The Rat Project Stories
Developer: The Rat Project
Publisher: The Rat Project
Release date: 2021
Magin: The Rat Project Stories combines deck-building with an alluring storyline. The game follows the story of Tolen and Elester, who are unknowingly bound by fate. Players will gain new cards based on the decisions they've made in the game. A Kickstarter for the game will continue to go live until July 13. Pledges of $15 and more will gain a digital copy of Magin: The Rat Project Stories when it arrives sometime in 2021.
Developer: Peachy Keen Games
Publisher: Whitethorn Digital
Release date: Fall 2020
If you've seen the trailer for Calico or simply love cats, you're probably already hooked on the game. In Calico, your job is to help out the local cat cafe by redecorating it. This means filling it some of the cutest cats in the area. Oh, and you get to ride a BIG cat across town.
Developer: Double Blit Games Inc.
Publisher: Double Blit Games Inc.
Release date: Late 2020
Making a video game is tough, and Game Director Story shows you the hardships that come with creating a new project. To have a successful game, you need to have a perfect balance of money, teamwork, publisher support, and game development. If you slip up with one factor, the game is doomed. Inspired by a slew of real-life stories, Game Director Story isn't a game that many will be able to beat on their first try.
Developer: Scoreboardgames
Publisher: MV Games
Release date: Autumn 2020
Non-linear visual novel Unforgotten takes players on a journey through a mysterious land. Some decisions are decided by where you swipe the card. Certain choices are timed, so you'd have to be quick about it. With a game entirely based on cards, having great artwork is key. Fortunately, Unforgotten engages players with luxurious artwork.
Deathbulge: Battle of the Bands
Developer: Five Houses
Publisher: Five Houses
Release date: 2021
Deathbulge: Battle of the Bands stems around one of the deadliest battle of the bands contest ever. Each musician comes equipped with their own special moves based on their instrument. With nine unique classes, players will be able to mix and match their own fighting rock band and lead them to victory.