Indie Highlight
Sep 26, 2024
Wanderstop features a narrative-focused story where you play as fallen fighter Alta. Alta doesn’t want to be here, and if she gets what she wants, the tea shop you run will be nothing more than a short, painful memory. Until that should happen, if it should happen at all, you must run the tea shop to the best of your abilities! Nestled in a magical forest, you’ll serve a variety of customers in a beautifully cozy setting. Make them tea and see what else they can teach you!
Each of your customers is a traveler who holds their own unique story. Listen to their stories and determine which tea is best for them. Even grow and harvest your own tea ingredients for the full management experience. And when you’re not running the shop and serving customers, there’s plenty for you to do in Wanderstop. Decorate the shop to make it more welcoming. Clean up the nearby clearing or even just sit and do nothing. Though, Alta can’t stand doing nothing. She’s not used to sitting still and just being, but perhaps that’s exactly why she’s here!
Release Date
You can find Wanderstop listed on Steam, but there is no release date available. Add it to your Wishlist to be notified, though!
- Sep 26, 2024
If you grew up playing with the Polly Pockets that came in the hard plastic clamshell cases that doubled as houses and scenes, then Tiny Garden is for you! Only instead of playing with tiny little dolls, you’re running a tiny farm. This is a relaxing strategy game that takes place inside one of those fun plastic clamshell toys. Grow some veggies, then trade them to upgrade your little scene.
Plant your seed, turn the crank, and watch your crops grow to maturity. Harvest them and trade them in for new seeds or items like furniture and outdoor decor. Some of the plants in Tiny Garden will even change the soil as they grow. Cacti turn the land into desert, bushes grow grass around them, and fountains flood the ground to make it perfect for growing water lilies. Whatever you choose to grow, discover all possible items to turn this classic piece of nostalgia into the perfectly decorated home you want!
Release Date
Tiny Garden is listed on Steam with no set release date. Add it to your Wishlist and check out the free demo in the meantime!
- Sep 26, 2024
Soup Pot is a cooking game that focuses on freedom and creativity. Developed by Chikon Club and Chryse, you get to experience the open nature of home cooking from the comfort of your computer screen. Experiment with over 100 different dishes in a beautiful 3D environment. Whether you’re a seasoned cook or brand new to making tasty meals, this game is perfect for you with its welcoming and easy to learn gameplay.
Cook over 100 different recipes using hundreds of different ingredients. Put your own twist on things by experimenting and tossing in whatever you feel like. Perhaps even stumble upon something completely different while you play around in Soup Pot! Each item shouts its name when selected so you always know what you’re using. Dough reacts to being punched. Plus, there are many other whimsical touches added to the game to make the cooking experience all the more fun and cozy. As you create your delicious recipes and plate them perfectly, take pictures of your creations to share with your followers. They’ll even leave your comments based on how the dish turned out. So, get to chopping, grilling, boiling, and stirring!
Release Date
Soup Pot is set to release on Steam soon. Add it to your Wishlist to be notified when it does!
If you want a mobile cooking game, check out BTS Cooking On! It’s adorable and quite fun.
- Sep 25, 2024
Take a trip down memory lane and experience the nostalgia where retro gaming meets beloved 90s kid’s cartoon in Rugrats: Adventures in Gameland by The MIX Games and Wallride! When Tommy, Chucky, Phil, and Lil see a commercial for the new Reptar game, they decide to have some fun of their own and pretend to be in a video game. Armed with only their imagination, watch as the babies transform Tommy’s house into their very own action-packed game world.
Select your favorite Rugrat and set out on an exciting 2D action adventure. Toggle between HD art and 8-bit art for the ultimate retro feel. A baby’s gotta do what a baby’s gotta do, and that means getting things down how you can! Dodge enemies as you traverse beautiful ice levels. Rugrats: Adventures in Gameland will have you collecting bottles, cookies, and Reptar coins in wooded levels. And use your trusty screwdriver to enter boss fights with some familiar faces. You can even play solar or 2 player co-op, so grab a friend and return to that 90s nostalgia!
Release Date
Rugrats: Adventures in Gameland is on Steam now. It’s also on Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and even the NES will have physical releases! Plus, there’s a demo available on Steam.
Melon Journey also uses a fun retro style!
- Sep 25, 2024
Remember the days of taking care of your Gigapet or Tamagotchi while chilling at home or on the go? Nanomon Virtual Pet by developers Oscar Brittain and Bob Hawke Surf Team is your chance to relive those relaxing days, but on your computer! Adopt a Nanomon and help them achieve their dreams. Each creature has a Life Goal like becoming a sports star, chef, or even the strongest creature in the world. Care for them to help them reach that goal!
Take care of your Nanomon’s basic needs. Feed them, pet them, and just hang out. The food you feed them can influence how they evolve, so pick wisely. Enjoy a variety of activities in Nanomon Virtual Pet like fishing, stick ball, or even exploring dungeons. Explore a wide world inspired by classics like Adventure Time, Digimon, and Tamagotchi, too. Then, level up your creature’s abilities and engage in battles throughout the world. Everything you do with your pet will help it achieve its Life Goal, so don’t be afraid to try a little bit of everything!
Release Date
Nanomon Virtual Pet is coming to Steam sometime next year. There is a demo you can try out now, though. And don’t forget to Wishlist it so you can keep track of it and get notified when it releases!
If you enjoy cute little virtual pets, check out Werydlets, Catgotchi, and Peridot!
- Sep 19, 2024
Space Boat is a super colorful and quirky sci-fi investigative narrative set on an intergalactic cruise ship. You play as Inspector Domino, a space cat detective, sent to the cruise ship to capture a shapeshifting thief among the carpet-based life forms who live on the ship. Wear your handy mech suit and embark on a fun-filled detective story full of weird characters, enjoyable minigames, exploration, and mystery.
You start your adventure at Jelly Shore, the popular holiday destination on Gelatonix IV. This ship was once a simple little fishing village until it became the ideal holiday cruise ship. On the ship you’ll meet a cast of unique characters that range from the Capetians, a jelly dog you can pet, to the gelatinous Geletonians. Explore the branching narrative as you explore the cruise ship and affect the outcome of the story with your choices. Even play different mini games like the famous and dangerous F.B.C Racing while you search for the thief!
Release Date
Space Boat is coming to Steam, Xbox, and PlayStation sometime soon. You can even find a free demo on each of the platforms so you can try before you buy!
- Sep 19, 2024
Take on the role of principal in Let’s School by Pathea Games, the same developers who created the beloved My Time at Portia and My Time at Sandrock games! You’ve been given the task of revamping and running the school you once attended. Not only will you design and construct different structures for the school, but you’ll manage the day-to-day happenings, too. The school is a blank canvas for you to build and run, but it’s important to keep in mind that you need to improve the school’s reputation and meet the needs of your students while you’re at it!
The ultimate goal is to create a balanced school environment to foster learning and thriving in. To start, plan and build the facilities to achieve a great educational institution. You have access to hundreds of pieces of educational equipment, and aren’t limited to building out horizontally. You can also build vertically, so you can include the facilities you want while also maintaining a beautiful outdoor area!
Recruit teachers with the methodologies you want for your school. Enhance their skills to open even more opportunities for them. You can even customize the appearance of each of your students and include different elective courses to foster enjoyment and shape their futures. Of course, meeting the basic needs of students is just as important as the curriculum. Keep an eye on their morale and distress. Provide restrooms and healthy food at the cafeteria. Failure to meet the needs of your pupils can lead to mischief and mayhem. But you also need a punishment system to take care of those who break the rules by bringing contraband to school, bullying others, or committing truancy!
Release Date
You can find Let’s School on Steam, Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch now!
Or how about building a magical institution in Mind Over Magic?
- Sep 18, 2024
Project Grove, developed by Antler Studios, isn’t your usual cozy game. It doesn’t have the fluffy, cutesy vibe many other casual games possess. Instead, it projects a more mellow, atmospheric vibe. You play as 70 year old alchemist Professor Edric Tayte who is on a mission to find a cure. The Great Rot has ravaged the living and you want to find the way to stop it. Team up with your robot sidekick, L-P1N, as you set out on a journey through a beautiful world in this first-person adventure.
The world of Dacrima is full of weird and wonderful things, but it also holds the secret to curing The Great Rot. Explore the charming wilds in search of resources to collect. You’ll even encounter the weird and absurd animals of Project Grove or even different kinds of minerals. Use your scanner to discover lore, potion details, and even pieces of the mystery that surrounds the forest. Brew powerful potions as you collect ingredients, too. These potions will help in your journey by unlocking new skills or helping you overcome obstacles. Of course, your trusty friend L-P1N can be used as a placeable platform so you can traverse the forest easier. It’s not as easy to get around at your age like it once was, but your determination and knowledge may be the only way to save the world!
Release Date
You can find Project Grove listed on Steam now and you can add it to your Wishlist. There is a demo available that is listed separately as Project Grove: Prologue. It releases in Beta this year!
DREDGE is another great and atmospheric cozy game to try out!
