As 2025 involves a detailed, we’re already taking a look at what’s coming subsequent 12 months. Right here we’ll be amassing the upcoming indie video games in 2026 we predict curious gamers ought to hold tabs on.
For sure, there are numerous indie releases concentrating on a 2026 launch we predict look neat, so slicing this record right down to extra cheap numbers shall be robust. We’re beginning small, but it surely’s our plan to develop it into one thing meatier as we begin getting extra specifics on launch plans and the video games themselves. It’s additionally our intention to spotlight missed titles as usually as we will. In any other case, what’s the purpose?
Down with the Ship
After flying underneath the radar for some time, the current advertising push for Proxy Studios’ Down with the Ship has caught our and plenty of different gamers’ consideration. It’s a method sport… sort of, but additionally a novel tackle the auto battler subgenre. The essential pitch is you construct your personal ships from scratch and let all of them battle in opposition to different vessels in 2D encounters that use all kinds of variables and stats.
The builders are teasing a “roll, consider, and exploit” loop which entails studying from defeat and understanding new synergies as wanted “when the plan shifts.” Gamers may even tinker with the hull of every ship, and stock administration has been described because the “metagame.” On the time of writing, each very conventional single-player and versus on-line modes have been confirmed, however the focus appears to be on the multiplayer facet of issues.
Launch window: 2026
Neath
The following sport from Cellar Door Video games, the studio behind Rogue Legacy 1 & 2, is an entire reinvention for the workforce. This time round, we’re taking a look at a “roguelike tactical RPG” with Eldritch theming wherein gamers a lot “climb” to the highest of a mysterious inverted tower. Horrors await, and it’s our responsibility to outsmart them.
The principle gimmick is gamers should take management of the heroes and foes alike, shifting all of the “items” of every battleground and encounter round in an effort to protect the celebration in new and ingenious methods. In relation to new turn-based techniques video games, this one has immediately jumped to the highest of our most-anticipated record. Let’s hope it performs in addition to it appears!
Launch window: 2026
Sublustrum
Sublustrum is, by far, some of the fascinating new video games set to launch subsequent 12 months. It being a deeply reimagined, shock return to an obscure point-and-click journey is a big purpose, however Phantomery Interactive’s intention to transform the entire thing into a completely 3D exploration and puzzle sport is one thing we don’t see yearly.
Sublustrum follows a author who’s attempting to determine the disappearance of his brother, however what he finds quickly after throws him right into a mind-bending journey the place nothing is what it appears. Those that take pleasure in psychological and surreal tales that aren’t spooky might discover quite a bit to like on this one.
Launch window: 2026
Ghost Keeper
Ghost Keeper is a kind of video games which have been floating round for some time, and at this level, we’re simply guessing Quest Craft and writer Gaming Manufacturing facility actually wish to get this large off-beat darkish comedy RTS & administration sim proper. It’s all about scaring the dwelling with phantoms and whatnot, however with the promise of varied intertwined methods, it may very well be greater than meets the attention.
The Nineteenth-century English surroundings ought to give it fairly the particular taste when combined with its cartoony artwork course, and contemplating gamers should face in opposition to the Brotherhood, a gaggle hellbent on eradicating the ghosts, a moody setting is clearly a should for the premise.
Launch window: 2026
Atre: Dominance Wars
Atre: Dominance Wars is attempting to deal with quite a bit with its large mixture of hardcore 4X technique and RTS components. The fantasy world it’s presenting appears gigantic; the lore is attractive; and past paying homage to the previous classics, the Ironward builders are clearly making an effort to set it aside from the remainder of the subgenre.
Furthermore, ‘god sport’ components have been thrown in, making for much more explosive battles and tales of magical conquest and empire-expansion. On prime of a meaty single-player story marketing campaign, gamers will have the ability to take pleasure in it in co-op and versus on-line play. There’s even a map/marketing campaign editor deliberate. It’s uncommon to see an indie studio go this large and straight into 1.0, however up to now, what we’ve seen (and performed) suggests Ironward is on the precise path.
Launch window: 2026
Nova Roma
Hooded Horse continues to be certainly one of our favourite publishers within the enterprise, and all of it comes right down to the constant output of notable-to-excellent technique video games and administration sims of every kind. Subsequently, it comes as no shock Nova Roma is wanting wonderful up to now. We love a great metropolis builder, particularly when it’s received a stylized aesthetic and refreshing tackle an previous historic setting as widespread as Rome.
With Kingdoms and Castles’ Lion Defend because the builders, we couldn’t be extra excited for this one, because the workforce has confirmed itself repeatedly through the years. An enormous a part of what goals to make Nova Roma particular versus different metropolis builders is a spotlight in your environment (not simply the cities) and legal guidelines, from each the gods and males. Moreover, these water simulations might reshape complete maps in methods different metropolis sims haven’t explored but.
Launch window: 2026
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