Murky Divers
Steam page
Release: June 20
Developer: EmbersSteam page
Release: June 21
Developer: Byterunners
This first-person crime sim is set in the early 2000s on the tropical island of Isla Sombra. As the name of the game implies, this sleepy isle is where you’ll be doling out contraband to all and sundry, while either avoiding (or perhaps colluding) with cops. The open world is apparently “six times” bigger than the open world in the first Drug Dealer Simulator, and there are even more ways to acquire and produce drugs. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be a drug dealer but, for whatever reason, have felt disinclined to enter that world IRL, why not simulate it?
Republic of Pirates
Steam page
Release: June 20
Developers: Crazy Goat Games
It’s been a good year for videogames about pirates, and this latest entry in the canon takes a different tack to most, with a focus on building a pirate utopia. Yes, it’s a city builder essentially, but one with a big focus on developing and maintaining infrastructure that can facilitate waterborne robbery. Keeping pirates happy is also a pretty important component—I’m guessing you’ll be building loads of distilleries—and never fear: naval combat is here, albeit from a top down perspective. If you’re looking for something more complex and strategic than Skull & Bones’ “go here and shoot this boat” format, this could be the ticket.
Dystopika
Steam page
Release: June 22
Developer: Voids Within
Dystopika belongs to the burgeoning genre of stress-free city builder—think Townscaper—except instead of peaceful ‘n’ pastoral idylls, you’re building a sprawling cyberpunk metropolis. Everything implied by cyberpunk is here: ginormous billboards, towering skyscrapers, flying vehicles, and endless rain. As someone who spent a lot of my time in Cyberpunk 2077 just slowly walking around at night, this definitely has its appeal. I guess it also rubs shoulders with Cloudpunk, in the sense that it’s a mood-first, conflict-free cyberpunk experience.
It’s Just a Prank
Steam page
Release: June 22
Developer: Bober Bros
A fascinatingly creepy first-person horror game about kids playing pranks on each other. I don’t really know much else about It’s Just A Prank; I’m mostly including it because the face models here are among the most exquisitely disturbing I’ve seen for a while. Which is a good thing! This is a 40 minute narrative-driven affair, and I’m guessing that the less you know about it going in, the better.
