Scarlet Deer Inn is a side-scrolling adventure platformer developed by Attu Games, featuring a unique "embroidered" art style with hand-painted backgrounds and character animations created using a sewing machine. The game reveals a darker and more complex storyline as players progress. The release date is set for July 17, and a demo is available on Steam for players to experience.
Outright Games, in collaboration with Infinigon, has announced the release of Sesame Street: Friends & Fun, a 3D narrative adventure game for up to two players. The game will launch on October 9 and will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, PlayStation 4, Switch, and PC via Steam. Players will explore the Sesame Street neighborhood, customize characters, and interact with characters like Elmo and Grover. The game is designed for young children, featuring intuitive controls, light challenges, and educational mini-games. Sesame Street has been a trusted brand in children's media since 1969, reaching over 300 million households worldwide.
Steam currently offers eight games for free download, the highest number of complimentary titles released this year. These games are playable on PC and many are verified for the Steam Deck. The free games include:
1. The Red Lantern - A narrative-driven dog sledding adventure from 2021, available until June 18, with an 84% approval rating from 888 user reviews.
2. Happy’s Humble Burger Farm - A horror adventure cooking simulation from 2021, available until June 15, with a 93% approval rating from 1,654 user reviews.
3. Gravity Circuit - A 2D action platformer released in 2023, available until June 14, with a 95% approval rating from 2,127 user reviews.
4. Tell Me Why - A narrative adventure game from Dontnod Entertainment and Xbox Game Studios, available until July 1, with an 80% approval rating from 7,952 user reviews.
Additionally, four other free games are available:
- Wild Terra 2: New Lands - Free until June 15
- Eets - Free until June 15
- Linebound - Free until July 1
- PICO Park: Classic Edition - Free until June 14
Xbox Game Pass has added three new titles for PC and Xbox Series X as part of its day-one game initiative in 2026. The new games are:
1. Starseeker: Astroneer Expeditions - A sci-fi multiplayer adventure developed by System Era Softworks and Devolver Digital, currently in early access. It has a 40% approval rating on Steam but lacks a Metacritic score.
2. Beastro - A cozy adventure game from Timberline Studio where players engage in culinary creativity. It has a 92% approval rating on Steam and no Metacritic score.
3. Frog Sqwad - A multiplayer extraction puzzle platformer developed by Panic Stations, supporting up to eight players. It has a 90% approval rating on Steam and no Metacritic score.
Subscribers can enjoy these games at no additional cost and receive a 20% discount on each title. The duration of these games' availability on Xbox Game Pass has not been disclosed.
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom Remastered have Metacritic scores of 95 and 94 respectively.
- Hades II has a Metacritic score of 95 and has been praised for exceeding expectations with its gameplay loop and captivating storytelling.
- Mina the Hollower, developed by Yacht Club Games, has a Metacritic score of 91 and is a top-down action adventure game inspired by Game Boy Colour classics.
Publisher Three Friends, in collaboration with developer Bloom & Gloom, has announced the cozy adventure game "Into the Wind," inspired by Studio Ghibli, set to launch in Early Access for PC on Steam. Players will assume the role of a delivery driver with a sentient motorcycle-plane named Ermes, exploring the Adriatic islands of Santa Rosa while completing deliveries, upgrading their bike, and uncovering a mystery related to the disappearance of their uncle. The game emphasizes driving and flying mechanics, resource management, character customization, and building relationships with the inhabitants of Santa Rosa.
The seventh annual Summer Game Fest showcased upcoming titles for 2026 and beyond, featuring a two-hour presentation with trailers and gameplay reveals. Key announcements included:
- Resident Evil: Veronica - A remake of Resident Evil: Code Veronica set to launch in 2027 on Xbox and PC.
- Cuphead - Two new games: a sequel and an 8-bit arcade title called Mighty Cuphead Adventure.
- Alien Isolation 2 - Teased with a trailer; release date not announced.
- gen ATLAS - A mech-themed game from GenDesign.
- Blood Message - A single-player action-adventure game expected on PC and consoles.
- Stranger Than Heaven - Set for release on January 15, 2027, featuring Tupac as a character.
- HAEX - An open-world survival shooter for 1-4 players.
- Mortal Shell 2 - Open beta now available on Steam.
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Last Ronin - A game set in a future New York City.
- Gundam: Rogue Orbit - A new entry in the Gundam series.
- Crossfire - A stealth-action single-player adventure.
- Guild Wars 3 - Set to launch with a beta expected in 2027.
- Star Wars: Galactic Racer - Releasing on October 6, 2026.
- Virtua Fighter Crossroads - Announced for 2027.
- RuneScape: Dragonwilds - Launching on Xbox on September 15, 2026.
- 1666 Amsterdam - Entering Early Access in late 2026.
- SAW: Genesis - A multiplayer horror game.
- Star Wars: Zero Company - Releasing on August 27, 2026.
- The Blood of Dawnwalker - Launching on September 3.
- Among Us Story: On Guard - A story-driven spinoff available for wishlisting.
- Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance - Expansion set for 2027.
- Swords of Legends - An action RPG inspired by Soulsborne games.
- Clutch - An open-world racer expected in Spring 2027.
- Chronicles: Medieval - Entering Early Access later this year.
- Palworld - Fully launching on July 10.
- The Wolf Among Us 2 - Set for release in 2027, alongside a remaster of the original.
- Stellar Blade: Blood Rain - Sequel to Stellar Blade.
- Final Fantasy 7: Revelation - Launching in Spring 2027 on Xbox, PC, and PS5.
Steam is offering four full PC games for free, available for permanent ownership until specific dates. The titles include:
- Gravity Circuit: A 2D platformer released in 2023 by Domesticated Ant Games, rated “Overwhelmingly Positive” with 95% approval from over 2,100 reviews. Available for free until June 14.
- Tell Me Why: A narrative adventure game developed by Dontnod Entertainment and Xbox Game Studios, typically an Xbox exclusive, with an 80% approval rating from nearly 8,000 reviews. Available for free until July 1.
- Linebound: An asymmetric local co-op puzzle platformer released on May 31, allowing one player to draw platforms while another controls a character. Available for free until July 1.
- PICO Park: Classic Edition: A co-op action puzzle game for 2 to 10 players, transitioning from a premium title to free, but set to be delisted soon.
Patrice Désilets unveiled the debut trailer for his upcoming adventure game, 1666: Amsterdam, during the Summer Game Fest livestream. The game features a protagonist named Noa and is set to launch in early access later this year, with a 30-minute demo available on Steam and the Epic Games Store. The project faced challenges after Ubisoft acquired THQ Montreal, leading to a legal battle for the game's rights. The game will allow players to navigate multiple timelines from 1666 to 1999 and the present day, with a focus on unraveling a larger truth. An exact release date has not been announced.
