Snail, Inc. has launched a new science-fiction survival sandbox game called Honeycomb: The World Beyond, developed by Frozen Way Studio. The game is available on Steam, the Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Key features include exploration of diverse alien biomes, a bioengineering system for creating new life forms, base building, laboratory research, resource discovery, and survival gameplay. The game incorporates advanced technologies from NVIDIA, such as RTXDI and DLSS 4.5, to enhance visual quality and performance. Frozen Way Games, based in Cracow, Poland, consists of over 80 team members dedicated to game development. Players can access the game through its official website and various social media platforms.
Delverium, an indie sandbox survival game from Sagestone Games, is set to enter Early Access on PC via Steam on September 22nd. The game has over 80,000 wishlists and features pixel graphics, open-world survival, and farming simulations. Players can explore a vast pixel-art world, engage in activities like fighting, fishing, farming, and foraging, and play solo or cooperatively with up to eight friends. A free demo was showcased during February’s Steam Next Fest, and the game has been refined based on player feedback from a recent playtest. The Early Access version will include core gameplay, cooperative play, and full controller support, and is expected to perform well on the Steam Deck. The Early Access phase is planned to last approximately two years, during which new content will be added based on player feedback. Pricing details are not yet available, but it is expected to be lower during Early Access.
Line Games has partnered with indie studio TWOMENGAMES to publish the upcoming PC game Amazing Slot Survivor (A.S.S.). This marks the debut title for TWOMENGAMES, co-founded by Hwang Gyu-min and Lee Geon-soo, both with over 20 years of gaming industry experience. Amazing Slot Survivor is a roguelike survival game where players battle waves of monsters called 'Spawners' while upgrading weapons. It features a unique growth path, weapon crafting, support antennas, and a 'strategic reversal system' that allows character enhancements and revivals. The game will be available on Steam, the Epic Games Store, and STOVE, with an Early Access release planned for this year.
The Planet Crafter, developed by Miju Games, is set to debut on Xbox Game Pass on July 21. It is a space survival open-world terraforming crafting game that supports 1 to 10 players, allowing them to transform inhospitable planets into habitable environments. The game has received positive feedback, with a Metacritic score of 81 and an "Overwhelmingly Positive" rating on Steam from over 35,500 reviews. The Planet Crafter will be available on the Ultimate, Premium, and PC Game Pass tiers, with plans to be added to the Essential tier in the future. It will also be released on PlayStation 5 and is available on the GOG platform for PC users.
Prologue: Go Wayback! has exited early access on Steam, but is considered incomplete with no further development plans. Launched in early access in 2025 by PlayerUnknown Productions, the game faced significant challenges, including staff layoffs, leading to a halt in development. The studio, founded by Brendan Greene, aimed to use the game as a testing ground for its Melba game engine, designed for creating large procedural worlds. A free tech demo, Preface: Undiscovered World, is available in early access. The final version of Prologue includes new features such as enhanced paths, mobile weather monitors, and improvements in cooking, lighting, clouds, and fog.
June features several cozy game launches, including:
- Puni the Florist (June 8): A flower shop simulation where players craft bouquets and interact with townsfolk.
- Beastro (June 11): An animal-based cooking simulation set in the village of Palo Pori, featuring cooking minigames and a cast of characters.
- Witchspire (June 10): A co-op crafting game that allows players to explore a magical open world and engage in resource gathering and base building.
- Papa's Mocharia Deluxe (June 2): A strategic barista simulation game.
- Solarpunk (June 8): A crafting game focused on renewable energy on a floating sky island.
Key events in June include:
- Wholesome Direct: A showcase for cozy games on June 6.
- Steam Next Fest: Running from June 15 to June 22, featuring demos of various cozy games.
Fans of The Legend of Zelda can enjoy an open-world sandbox adventure in Everwind, where they build airships and explore the skies. Everwind is currently available on PC, with a future console port anticipated. The game has launched its first major expansion, titled The First Ascent, which is free for existing players. This update includes improved world generation, new treasures, updated locations, additional enemies and bosses, reworked biomes, quality-of-life improvements for crafting, and enhancements to the third-person camera. Bugs have been fixed, and the tutorial has been revamped for new players. Everwind offers a unique RPG and Sandbox Survival experience in first-person perspective, allowing players to build bases on flying islands, gather resources, craft, loot, and battle foes. The game emphasizes exploration, with players ascending into the clouds to discover new islands and face increasingly challenging enemies for valuable treasures.
Subnautica 2 features players as the sole survivor of a failed expedition on an alien planet, awakening disoriented after a disaster. The game incorporates an AI assistant named NoA, which provides constant reminders about survival needs, often causing frustration. The narrative heavily relies on audio logs that interrupt exploration and detract from the immersive atmosphere, as they auto-play at inconvenient times and often spoon-feed information rather than allowing for organic discovery. This reliance on audio logs diminishes the thrill of exploration and the sense of agency for players. Despite its potential, the game's narrative structure undermines the overall experience.
V Rising is currently available for free on Steam until Monday, allowing players to experience the game without initial cost. The full version is offered at a 55% discount, priced at £16, and six downloadable content packs are available at a 20% discount. The game features exploration, resource gathering, and base-building, with players taking on the role of a vampire. It has received a score of 89% from critic Lewis Parker, who praised its progression system and boss fights. A new patch has been released to improve gameplay and balance PvP encounters. The promotional offers will last until May 21. Stunlock Studios is also working on a new title related to the vampire theme.
