While the world is waiting for Grand Theft Auto 6 with bated breath, indie developers are using October as a good excuse to highlight their upcoming games while there’s still air in the room. We highlighted games from the Triple-i Initiative showcase in last week’s Wishlister, but this week, we’re backing up to bring you some gems from LudoNarraCon.
An annual festival run by Penguin Colony publisher Fellow Traveller, LudoNarraCon celebrates story-driven games. This year’s edition gave us fresh looks at a wide array of upcoming games, as well as some free demos. Just about everything showcased is worth checking out, but these are six of the games that should especially be on your Steam wishlist.
Nirvana Noir
Developer Feral Cat Den is following up its visually striking debut, the black-and-white Genesis Noir, with something more colorful. Nirvana Noir is a far-out detective sequel awash in a sea of vibrant colors and lively jazz. You’ll solve the mysteries of the universe, or die trying.
At Fate’s End
With a recent delay pushing it out of this year, At Fate’s End is now the most exciting indie of 2027. The latest game from Spiritfarer developer Thunder Lotus is a genre-rebending Metroidvania that will drop you into a fierce struggle between a warring family. Tense combat and narrative puzzle-solving come together for what’s shaping up to be a unique experience.
The Marvelous Raincaster of Yell Holler
Described as a “time-looping puzzle ballad,” The Marvelous Raincaster of Yell Holler turns folklore into a visual delight. You play as a folklorist who is trying to piece together a town’s local lore surrounding a weather-altering rooster. It’s a little hard to describe, but thankfully you can try it for yourself in a free demo.
Apple Crumble
The creators of Duck Detective are back with another deduction delight. Apple Crumble, launching on Dec. 3, is a classic whodunnit where you have to figure out who is trying to kill your grandmother on her 84th birthday.
I Shall Name the Dead
This week’s theme is narrative-driven indies, but you could also say that it’s visual stunners. I Shall Name the Dead is a poetic bit of interactive fiction that’s all about communing with the dead. But it’s the game’s gorgeous hand-drawn art, painted in a striking blue-orange combination, that really has us wishlisting this one.
Work Work Work
Work Work Work is a psychological horror game about working at a tech company. Maybe that sounds a little too close to home for comfort, but it should be on your radar for one big reason: it’s the latest game from the minds behind the excellent A Space for the Unbound. Developer Mojiken are masters of the adventure game craft, and this looks like its most alluring work yet.
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