Krypta FM
This first-person experience aims to capture the mood of a small Polish village in the early 2000s, but I’m more excited about its evocation of early 2000s internet. In Krypta FM, late night radio and ye olde forum discussions are important sources for information regarding an “alleged cryptid” stalking the town. Clues are gleaned from these sources, but you’ll need to leave the comfort of your screen-lit bedroom to explore the eerie quiet of the town by night. I love the look of this, and best of all, it’s free.
Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus
This gorgeous action-platformer with “metroidvania elements” has a gorgeous hand drawn art style informed by Japanese folklore. Like Ori, it’s all about mastering precise platforming gauntlets with an increasingly powerful—and visually striking—range of power-ups. Aside from presumably a double jump, Bō will also accrue a powerful dash and grappling gun as they navigate a surreal world full of shapeshifting yokai and screen-filling boss fights. Between this and Nine Sols, metroidvania enthusiasts are eating well of late.
Gym Simulator 24
After a six month stint in Early Access, Gym Simulator 24 is ready to fulfil your ultra-specific mercantile fantasies. It’s about running a gym, of course, and the format here is pretty similar to many other simulator games: you’ll clean up a trashed vacant shopfront, slowly kit it out, deliberate over interior design choices, and then, of course, deal with customers. In the words of developer Quatech, “the power to deliver an unparalleled fitness journey lies within your hands!” I never thought I’d hear it.
Old School Rally
I’m far from a racing fanatic but I adore rally games, so this nostalgic take on the sub-genre has me very interested. Old School Rally channels the late ’90s greats, so think Colin McRae Rally, which eventually morphed into the Dirt series, and Sega Rally Championship. It’s all about slippin’ and sliding around mysteriously curvy unsealed roads, and if the trailer above is any indication, you can expect the soundtrack to channel the late ’90s as well. This is an Early Access affair: it’ll stay there for 6-10 months while new cars and tracks are added, along with the usual fixes.
