The gaming world might be bracing for its annual festive dose of Geoff Keighley, but ahead of the glitz and glamour of this week’s Game Awards, it’s the turn of the indies.
Yup, Day of the Devs is back with another pleasingly curated list of intriguing indie games to keep watch for as 2025 rolls over into a new year, this time ranging from interplanetary co-op survival to wannabe rock gods and lucid dreams. There’s a lot to look forward to, then, and you can see everything announced during this year’s Day of the Devs Game Awards Edition showcase in our conveniently assembled round-up below.
Astromine
Let us begin (as we technically always do) in space. Developer Alientrap’s Astromine is a co-op survival game about interplanetary scavenging that sees players descending upon fully destructible voxel planets in order to amass the resources needed to conquer the solar system. There are aliens and rival robot forces to battle; bases (ranging from makeshift shelters to orbital fortresses) to build, as well as ships to assemble as your conquest continues. Of particular note is Astromine’s focus on realistic physics. “Wood burns and collapses under stress,” Alientrap explains. “Iron supports towering structures, and electricity powers sprawling networks. Fires spread, bases crumble under weak foundations, and survival demands engineering as much as scavenging.” It’s coming to Steam next year.
Awaysis
I’ve stared at that title for a whole minute now, and I’m still not sure if it’s supposed to be a pun. What I can tell you, though, is that Awaysis is a “revolutionary, physics-fueled” dungeon-brawler in which a ragtag band of animal adventurers attempt to defeat the presumably quite naughty Dark Lord of Darkness. Developer 17-Bit says its combat and traversal is built around momentum, with the whole thing playable either solo, alongside three friends in couch and online co-op, or with a PvP mode twist. Expect loot, big swords, magic, and a “dynamic difficulty spawning system” too. As for the physics stuff 17-Bit is touting, they’re described as “reactive and emergent”, although exactly how remains a little unclear. Expect all to be revealed when Awaysis makes it way to Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and Steam.
Beastro
Sorry to keep going on about titles, but the joy of Beastro’s is that you can pretty much guess what you’re in for just by looking at it. Here, Timberline Studio serves up a game about animals running their own restaurant, which means at least a few nods to cosy farming sims. There are crops to grow, animals to rear, ingredients to gather from further afield, and you’ll assemble your meal via the time-honoured tradition of cooking mini-games. Unfortunately for protagonist Panko, though, his dream of running the local eatery is somewhat complicated by the fact ravenous monsters have invaded the land surrounding his village. Which is where Beastro’s more unexpected deckbuilding side comes in. Satisfy the dietary whims of your patrons, and they’ll venture out into dangerous territory on your behalf, ready to engage in turn-based battles using cards you’ve acquired through cooking meals. Beasto is coming to Xbox Series X/S and PC, and you can wishlist it now on Steam.
Big Hops
Sorry to get your hopes up brewing fans; Big Hops is, in fact, a frog-themed action platformer, following the jump-based exploits of the titular Hop as he attempts to assemble an airship and find his way home. Each world he visits on his adventure promises its own self-contained story – involving everything from Shattered Mountain cultists to Red Desert troublemakers – interspersed with plenty of agile platforming. And all that big hopping is complemented by big licking; you can deploy your tongue to grapple across gaps, hoist levers, rotate wheels, even pick locks, and there’s some plant-based stuff too, letting players grow the likes of climbable vines and mushroom-based bounce pads to navigate the world. Big Hops, which is being developed by Luckshot Games, comes to Steam, Switch, and PS5 on January 12th next year.
CorgiSpace
Are there corgis in CorgiSpace? Possibly, but don’t take my word for it. What I can tell you about developer Adam ‘Atomic’ Saltsman’s latest, though, is that it’s stuffed full of games – specifically a bunch of 8-bit games that “have short legs on purpose”. CorgiSpace features “over a dozen” such titles, spanning everything from action and arcade games to adventures and puzzlers – each one doable in under an hour. You can mini-rogue in Cave of Cards, for instance, or do some sokoban with an explosive twist in Mole Mole. Rat Dreams, meanwhile, is top-down Souls-like where walking is forbidden, forcing you to roll, and Dino Sort is a puzzler about, yes, sorting dinosaurs. And if that appeals, you don’t have long to wait – CorgiSpace is now available on Steam for the miniscule price of £4.29.
Demon Tides
Demon Tides, from Slime-San developer Fabraz, has already done the rounds in previous showcases, but if you’re unfamiliar, it’s a 3D platforming adventure set across a vibrant open-world of islands separated by the oceans of Ragnar’s Rock. Here, we join protagonist Beebz and her crew, on a journey of self-discovery that melds secret-hunting, seafaring, and energetic platform challenges built around an “expressive” range of chainable, upgradable, and modifiable traversal abilities. It’s also got a “cinematic” story, multiplayer, ghost challenges, extensive character customisation, and – if that’s not enough personalisation for you – you can even slap stickers all over the world for other players to see. Demon Tides was originally set to launch this year, but it’s now coming to Steam and Switch on 19th February 2026.
Dogpile
Officially a “roguelike deck builder”, Dogpile – the work of developers Studio Folly, Toot Games, and Foot – has more than a whiff of chaotic match-3 puzzler about it. Only, rather than boring gems or tetronimoes, you’re tossing dogs into a pit, with two matches magically morphing into a bigger dog. The idea is you’re trying to manipulate the heaving dog pile in order to create the biggest dog possible, all by clever deployment of the pooches on your cards. “Dogpile gets you to wrangle a cute collection of canines into the perfect deck, customise them, and play them expertly,” its promotional material explains. “Manage the clutter, upgrade and improve your cards as you go, and strive for the biggest dogs.” Throw in trait-granting dog tags and trips to the Dog Wash, and there’s a whole lot of dog action to be had here. This one’s coming to Steam.
Find Your Words
Summer is here (sadly not here, here as my bobble hat can attest) and it’s off to summer camp we go. Find Your Words is short game by Capybara – the studio behind the acclaimed likes of Grindstone – and sees players exploring their scenic surroundings and attempting to befriend their fellow camp kids by building up a “communication binder” of words. “Different combinations of symbols have unique meanings,” the studio explains, “and allow you to discover new interactions and activities.” The more your friendships blossom, the more activities you’ll unlock, ranging from hide and seek to on-stage dancing. Cabyrara says Find Your Words was created by two dads and inspired by their non-speaking kids’ journeys using Augmentative and Alternative Communication – with the hope of shining a light “on the ways we communicate beyond speech.” It looks adorable, and it’s coming to Steam next year.
Frog Sqwad
The tongues are apparently out in force this year, and it’s those pesky frogs’ doing once more. This time we’re in the domain of Frog Sqwad, a “slapstick, physics-based multiplayer game” from developer Panic Stations that sees players storming the sewers in the name of the Swamp King. Your fleshy mouth protuberance can be used to swing from pipes, solve physics puzzles, drag food through tunnels, and more – all as you take on “unpredictable” missions through an ever-changing underground world. But, of course, what would be the point of all this if you couldn’t tongue your friends? And Frog Sqwad is promising chaotic action alongside up to seven of your froggy pals. Its sewers briefly open for a Steam playtest on 11th December, and the full game launches next year.
Into the Fire
Into the Fire has an interesting pedigree, coming as it does from a team of industry veterans who’ve previously worked on the likes of The Witcher 3, Cyberpunk 2077, and Dying Light. Collectively, they’re known as Starward Industries, and the studio’s first game is this “disaster extraction survival” thing. Into the Fire sees players battling against the fiery elements amid a volcanic eruption on Dante’s Archipelago, working against the clock to save as many lives as possible. There’s talk of “fantastic retro inventions and firefighting weapons”, as well as legends to uncover, unexplained phenomena, mysterious relics, and even dark rituals. Into the Fire was originally set to launch into Steam access this year, but it’s now due in 2026.
Lucid Falls
Once again, the clue in the name, and Lucid Falls begins with your descent into a dreamworld. What follows is a surreal survival horror where you’ll brave impossible landscapes and battle grotesque creatures birthed straight from the fires of hell. Luckily, you’re armed with the ability to manipulate reality, meaning you can alter gravity, space, and even time to solve the puzzles impeding your progress and chart a path across the confounding terrain. There’s not a lot more to say about this one just yet, but Lucid Falls, from developer Eldamar Studio, is out in 2026 and you can prepare for its arrival – assuming it takes your fancy – by wishlisting it on Steam.
Mirria
Mirria is a game of dreamlike dioramas from developer and artist Carl Burton, where the goal is to uncover hidden anomalies between mirrored worlds. Here, observation and memory are your most important tools as you explore reflected scenes in what essentially amounts to an atmospheric game of spot-the-difference. Each of Mirria’s biomes is said to serve as a self-contained story, with success unlocking new environments to explore. Better still, each area can be replayed as different solutions are presented each time. On top of that, Mirria features an procedural soundscape of ambient toots, and if that sounds like the sort of cryptic, gently contemplative endeavour you might enjoy, it’s coming to consoles and Steam next year.
Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth
Last year’s Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley was a bit of a treat; a gentle musical adventure – inspired by the stories of Tove Jansson – that saw players slipping on the oversized green hat of the wandering Snufkin. It’s all change in developer Hyper Games’ follow-up Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth, however, with the focus this time on Moomintroll himself – who unexpectedly wakes up early from his winter hibernation in a snowy world he barely recognises. And so begins a “story-driven, cozy puzzle adventure” through wintery landscapes inspired by Nordic nature that’ll see Moomintroll forging new friendships and helping those in need. As for when his slumber is set to be broken, Winter’s Warmth is arriving on Steam next year.
Rockbeasts
40-ish years later, and the Rockstar Ate My Hamster spiritual successor I’ve always dreamed of is on the way. Or at least, that’s what I’m choosing to imagine Rockbeasts to be. Developer Lichthund’s “story-driven, role-playing management game” sees players steering a band of grumpy, grungy animals on a “roller-coaster ride to stardom in the age of MTV, rock anthems, and bad haircuts”. That involves setting up gigs, preparing the perfect setlist, repairing instruments, managing egos, and forging relationships in order to navigate the “moral minefield” of the music industry. You can also take to the stage to participate in rhythm-based performances if you choose. All this plays out across an alternative 90s America (the anthropomorphic animals probably gave that away), and it even stars Iggy Pop. Rockbeasts doesn’t have a release date yet, but it’s coming to Xbox Series X/S and Steam.
Scramble Knights Royale
If you’ve ever wondered what might happen if you combined a top-down Zelda with a battle royale game (it’s possible – people have all sorts of weird thoughts), here’s your answer. Funktronic Labs’ Scramble Knights Royale casts you off across an archipelago tantalisingly stuffed with towns, treasure, puzzles, and dungeons. Here, you’ll find quests to complete and monsters to battle using your expanding arsenal of upgradeable weapons, armour, and accessories. There’s a wrinkle though; you’re sharing the world with 31 other players and as the circle closes in, forcing you together, you’re going to need to get dirty to ensure you’re the last adventurer standing. It’s got local co-op if you fancy bringing a friend along to battle other players, and if you’re not in the mood for a free-for-all, a duos mode is coming later on. Oh, and customisation fans get a homestead to decorate between games. Scramble Knights Royale is launching via Steam and Xbox, and you can sign up for its playtest now.
Soundgrass
Here’s an intriguing looking thing. Soundgrass is a first-person, story-driven adventure set on an abstract planet whose flora reacts to light and emits sound. It’s officially described as a semi-open world puzzle exploration game with survival elements, and on the latter front, you’ll need to keep an eye on your suit’s breathing filters, its battery, and the methane used for your jetpack fuel if you’re to safely explore the planet’s biomes, scan your surroundings, solve puzzles, and learn more about the world. At the heart of all this are your sound and light spheres, used to interact with, activate, and control dozens of plants. Each species promises its own sound-based mechanics to uncover, but it’s worth remembering that not all plant life is benign. Soundgrass – developed by the appropriately named Soundgrass Studio – certainly looks striking, and it’s coming to Steam at some undisclosed future time.
Stretchmancer
Well here’s something a bit nifty! Stretchmancer is a “comedic first-person puzzle adventure”, inspired by 90s cartoons, in which you must defeat the Claustro Empire and save the galaxy. And the nifty bit? That comes in the form of The Stretch; a brilliant bit of wizardry enabling you to stretch and squish the world around you as if it were made of rubber – which you’ll need to do frequently in order to solve Stretchmancer’s puzzles. Along the way, you’ll encounter friends and foes, plus a variety of obstacles you’ll need to overcome, from bounce-fueled goo to exploding headbands. Stretchmancer is the work of developer Triangle Wave, and it’s coming to Steam at some still-unannounced future time.
The Dungeon Experience
If it’s a new start you’re after, then The Dungeon Experience might be the place for you. This first-person comedy from developer Bone Assembly starts with the promise of true Financial Freedom, assuming you can successfully make it through. And to guide you in your endeavours – for reasons that may or may not become clear – you’ve assistance from a low-level RPG mudcrab, who appears to have become the owner of the dungeon along the way. It perhaps won’t entirely surprise you to hear this one’s being published by Devolver Digital, and it’s coming to Steam. Additionally, if your interest is piqued, you can try its demo right now.
Un: Me
Somehow, the word “horror” barely makes an appearance in Un: Me’s Steam description, but that doesn’t stop it – and its smiling, swivel-necked nurses, in particular – from being pure nightmare fuel. Developed by Historia, Un: Me is simply described as an “adventure game”, and it sees you guiding a girl through an “unsettling mental labyrinth”. The important additional detail is that your charge is harbouring multiple souls within her body, and you’ll need to engage each one in dialogue as you face the “harrowing choice” of keeping some and erasing others in order to escape. “Each soul carries unique traumas carved from their past,” Historia explains. “During exploration, the active soul’s wounds react, destabilizing vision, senses, and movement… Can you accept the consequences of the souls your choices condemn?” Un: Me certainly sounds intriguing, and it’s coming to Steam next year.
Unshine Arcade
Something is afoot in the Sunshine Arcade, and it’s your job to peel back its layers of secrets in order to uncover its dark history. And also to rescue a sentient virtual pet that’s got itself stuck inside the prize cabinet. As to the how, that involves the time-honoured arcade tradition of collecting tickets – which, in turn, requires you to play a specific arcade game. Unshine Arcade is a thing of two halves, then; part psychological horror mystery, part stealth shooter roguelite. Inside the arcade game, you’ll sneak past enemies and fight back across increasingly difficult levels, using gacha-ball-style power-ups to gradually gain the upperhand. Unshine Arcade is the work of developer Mardt and you’ll be able to play it next year on Steam.
Virtue and a Sledgehammer
And finally, it’s Selkie Harbour and Deconstructeam’s Virtue and a Sledgehammer, in which you journey to the remains of your mountain hometown, now haunted by the android ghosts of your digitised neighbors. Here, you’ll wield your sledgehammer “like an instrument of reckoning”, in a “devastating story about feeling like you no longer belong in the place you grew up”. But the memories you unearth as you destroy the remnants of your childhood won’t always be easy ones, Deconstructeam warns. “Will violent catharsis salve your soul,”, it asks, “or make the pain burn brighter?” Virtue and a Sledgehammer is launching on Steam next year.