Sam Ito
Sam writes about small studios and the games they ship against the odds, and turns the hardest parts of them into guides that get to the point.
Launch Day
ALYSSA, Broken Arrow Games' Masked-Captor Horror Adventure, Launches on Steam Today
Solo Polish developer Marcin Krwawnik's psychological horror adventure ALYSSA leaves its demo behind and launches on Steam today, trapping a girl with three captors.
Early Access
How to Get Started in Cutout Village, Steam's New Papercraft Village Builder
Cutout Village launched into Steam Early Access today. Here's how its cut, fold, and glue building system works, and how to unlock your first structures.
Free DLC
The Game Bakers Locks In October 29 for Cairn's Free Deep Water DLC
The Game Bakers' free On the Trail: Deep Water DLC adds three climbing areas, a playable Marco, and a Free Roam mode to Cairn on October 29.
Launch Guide
How to Get Ready for Mycopunk's 1.0 Launch on PC, Steam Deck and PS5
Mycopunk leaves Early Access today with a new character, weapon and grenade on PC and PS5 — here's what changed, what it needs to run, and where Steam Deck stands.
Engine Switch
RimWorld Trades Unity for Ludeon's Own Waylith Engine in Update 1.7
Ludeon Studios has rebuilt RimWorld on its own Waylith engine, replacing Unity in update 1.7 with faster loading and a tease of a second game.
Settings Guide
How to Get Forever Ago Running Its Best on PC, Steam Deck and Handhelds
Third Shift's road trip adventure is Steam Deck Verified out of the box. Here's how to dial in graphics, saves, accessibility and camera prompts before you drive.
Full Release
Two-Person Studio Clumsy Bear Takes Hungry Horrors to 1.0 on Steam
Clumsy Bear Studio's folklore cooking deckbuilder left Steam Early Access on October 13, adding a new Megaliths biome, four Horrors and the campaign's ending.
Launch
Balancing Monkey Games Launches Beyond These Stars, a Space-Whale City Builder
New Zealand studio Balancing Monkey Games ships Beyond These Stars, a city-building strategy game set on the back of a living, traveling space whale.
Mount Guide
How to Get Core Keeper's New Mounts, Hookshot and Moss Biome Before the Sale Ends
Core Keeper's Riders of the Underground update added saddled mounts, a Hookshot and a hidden Moss biome. Here's how to get into it all before the sale ends October 22.
Out Now
Tenebris Somnia Launches, Splicing Retro Pixel Horror With Live-Action Cutscenes
Saibot Studios and New Blood Interactive splice retro survival horror with live-action cutscenes from an award-winning Argentine crew, out now on PC and consoles.
Survival Guide
How to Survive No Such Place: Gunsmith Builds, Safe House Tips Explained
ChillyRoom's new top-down extraction shooter left Early Access October 13. Here is how its Gunsmith crafting, Safe House upgrades and squad runs work.
Early Access
Crit Team and ChillyRoom Bring Extraction Shooter No Such Place to Steam Early Access
ChillyRoom and Crit Team's top-down extraction shooter No Such Place left its demo behind for Steam Early Access on October 14, with a risky weapon-crafting system.
Launch Prep
How to Get Stupid Never Dies Ready on PC and PS5 Before Its October 21 Launch
GPTRACK50's zombie action RPG launches October 21 on PC and PS5. Here's how to check your specs, try the free demo and pick the right edition.
Early Access
4Divinity's Realm of Taiwu Enters Early Access as a Scroll of Taiwu Spin-Off
Leap Studio's officially licensed spin-off sends wuxia survivors after ten divine swords in a fractured timeline where the original Scroll of Taiwu hero never arrived.
Get Ready
How to Get Enshrouded Ready for Its 1.0 Launch on PC, Steam Deck and PS5
Enshrouded leaves Early Access today with a finished map and a level-50 cap. Here's how to check your specs, protect your save and dial in settings first.
Playtest
Solo Studio TIDERAFT Opens NARON's Public Steam Playtest Through October 18
Hamburg one-person studio TIDERAFT, maker of Rift Miner, opens a public Steam Playtest for its co-op mining roguelite NARON through October 18.
Get Ready
How to Get No Man's Sky Ready on iPhone and iPad Before October 28
No Man's Sky lands on iPhone and iPad October 28 with a free trial and a $19.99 unlock. Here's how to check compatibility, pre-order and set up controls.
Beta Branch
How to Join Gargadusa's Tower's Beta Branch and Master Its New Factions System
Gargadusa's Tower just rebuilt its faction letters into a message-hub Wire on Beta. Here's how to opt in and avoid auto-declining valuable offers.
Early Access
Nowhere Studios' Good Heavens! Enters Early Access October 14 After a Rating Delay
After a Steam rating dispute pushed its launch back nearly a month, Nowhere Studios' co-op crafting RPG Good Heavens! finally enters Early Access on October 14.
New Players
How to Pick Your First Class in Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor on PS5 and Switch
Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor has landed on PS5 and Nintendo Switch. Here is how new miners should pick a class and survive their first few dives into Hoxxes.
Countdown
Funselektor's Over the Hill Drives Onto Steam October 14 With Four-Player Co-Op
Funselektor's cosy off-roader Over the Hill launches on Steam October 14, bringing four-player co-op exploration and golden-age 4x4s to PC first.
Launch Day
Team17's Silver Pines Launches as a Rotoscoped Survival Horror From Sweden's Wych Elm
Private investigator Red Walker hunts a missing musician through a half-abandoned town in Wych Elm and Team17's new survival horror Metroidvania, out now.
Guide
How to Cash In on Schedule I's New Traveling Customer Groups in 0.4.7
Schedule I's 0.4.7 update adds four traveling customer groups, a purchasable Hyland Medical business, dozens of cosmetics and big performance fixes.
Early Access
SpaceRocket Games' Permafrost Thaws Into Steam Early Access on October 9
SpaceRocket Games and Toplitz Productions bring Permafrost's frozen, co-op survival sandbox to Steam, GOG and the Epic Games Store this week in Early Access.
Update Guide
How to Jump Into Risk of Rain 2's New Hallowed Concepts Update
Risk of Rain 2's Hallowed Concepts DLC and a free companion update went live October 8, adding two survivors, Hexes, Trials and a tougher moon fight.
Early Access
Sphere Studios' Gridlords Enters Steam Early Access With Asynchronous Castle PvP
Goblinz Publishing's async-PvP autobattler Gridlords launches into Steam Early Access today, letting players build castles and battle rivals without real-time matches.
Public Test
How to Join Grounded 2's Rot and Ruin Public Test and Beat Its New Centipede Boss
Obsidian's Rot and Ruin Public Test Build adds termites, a Centipede boss and a combat buggy to Grounded 2. Here's how to opt in and what to expect.
Launch Date
Moonlight Kids' Echo Weaver Sets an October 8 Release Across Four Platforms
Four-person studio Moonlight Kids and Akupara Games set Echo Weaver, a knowledge-based time-loop metroidvania, for an October 8 launch on PS5, Xbox, Switch 2 and PC.
Getting Started
How to Win Your First Run in Dicevaders: Dice, Budges and Chrono Explained
Pengonauts' three-person Dicevaders is out now on Steam and Switch 2. Here's how its dice, Budges and Chrono tokens combine into winning combos.
Full Launch
Neon Abyss 2 Leaves Early Access October 8 With a New Final Boss, Theia
Veewo Games will move its cybermyth roguelike out of Early Access on October 8, bringing four-player co-op and a new final boss, Theia, to PC and consoles.
Stealth Guide
How to Beat Both Missions in Intravenous 3: Borderline's Free Prologue
Intravenous 3: Borderline just went free on Steam with two full missions. Here's how to ghost Boldi's Hideout and survive the Abandoned Prison assault.
Game Update
Afterlove EP Adds Chinese and Korean Subtitles Following Its Physical Asia Release
Pikselnesia and Fellow Traveller add Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese and Korean subtitles to Afterlove EP across every platform this week.
1.0 Prep
How to Prepare for Enshrouded's Skill Tree Reset and Level 50 Cap Before 1.0
Enshrouded wipes every skill tree the moment 1.0 lands October 15. Here's what Keen Games confirmed and how to get your build and base ready first.
Launch Day
Songs of Glimmerwick Launches as Eastshade Studios Caps an Eight-Year Build
Three-person studio Eastshade Studios shipped Songs of Glimmerwick on Steam September 30, closing an eight-year arc since its January 2022 reveal.
Strategy
How to Beat Against the Storm's Rebel Hideout Modifier After Update 1.11.2
Eremite Games' Rebel Hideout modifier limits your settlement to two species. Here's how to win it, unlock its Deed, and what hotfix 1.11.2 just fixed.
Launch Date
Arcane Ermine's Obstacle Overdrive Locks In an October 2 Steam Launch Date
Reno startup Arcane Ermine has confirmed October 2 for Obstacle Overdrive's Steam launch, a toy-car off-roading game staged inside a 1990s bedroom.
Patch Guide
How to Use Core Keeper's New Saddle and Hookshot After the 1.3 Update
Core Keeper's Riders of the Underground update added rideable cattle and a Hookshot. Here's how to craft, mount and use both after three rounds of hotfixes.
Evidence Guide
How to Read Phasmophobia's New Duplicate-Evidence Clues and Restricted Maps
Phasmophobia's Quality of Life Part 2 update changed how cameras, recorders and the Journal work. Here is how to use every new tool to find evidence faster.
1.0 Launch
Invisible Walls Takes Neighbors: Suburban Warfare Free-to-Play in Its 1.0 Launch
Copenhagen studio Invisible Walls has taken Neighbors: Suburban Warfare free-to-play at 1.0, adding a new Hero, a new map and full crossplay.
Sequel Launch
TOEM 2 Launches Today as Small Swedish Studio Adds Jumping to Photo Adventure
Something We Made's cosy photography sequel is out on Steam, PS5 and Switch, adding jumping, climbing and a two-camera 3D world to the 2021 original.
Biome Guide
How to Beat PEAK's Reworked Caldera and Kiln After Patch 2.5.a
PEAK's Caldera and Kiln are back in rotation with new condors, petrifying rocks and hot rock bridges. Here's how to survive them after Patch 2.5.a.
1.0 Launch
Mars Attracts Leaves Early Access as a Five-Person Team Ships Its Alien Zoo Sim
Outlier's licensed Mars Attacks tycoon sim exits a year of Early Access with Sandbox Mode, a finished campaign, and a Very Positive Steam rating.
Beta Guide
How to Access Manor Lords' New Farming Beta and Its Six Rural Perks
Manor Lords' 0.8.110 beta overhauls farming with Fertilizer, mandatory Crop Rotation and six new perks. Here's how to opt in and use every change.
Vampire RPG
Wadjet Eye's Nighthawks Launches After Steam Wrongly Flagged It as Adult Content
Wadjet Eye Games' eight-year vampire RPG Nighthawks launched after Steam briefly slapped it with an adults-only rating days before its release week.
Deep North
How to Fix Valheim's Deep North Terrain Bugs and Beat Kall Fimbulbringer in 1.0.16
Valheim's Patch 1.0.16 fixes Deep North terrain and boss-arena bugs. Here's how to repair old seams, unlock Mörkhalla and reach Kall Fimbulbringer.
Indie Reboot
Double Fine Goes Independent, Debuts Action Labs With Thank You Bus Driver
Freed from Xbox, Double Fine launches its Action Labs label with the slapstick sim Thank You Bus Driver, out October 14, while a Kickstarter picks its next release.
Guide
How to Solve Puzzledorf's New Ruins Match-3 Jewel Puzzles
Puzzledorf's free Ruins update mixes match-3 jewels into its Sokoban formula. Here's how the new sliding-jewel mechanic works and how to solve it.
Milestone
ReStory: Chill Electronics Repairs Tops 500,000 Sales With Free Update
Mandragora's Y2K repair sim ReStory has sold more than 500,000 copies since its August debut, and its delayed free content update finally landed on September 21.
Strategy Guide
How to Play Kingdom Rush 6: Genesis's Classic Mode, Tower by Tower
Kingdom Rush 6: Genesis shipped with a built-in Classic Mode. Here is how to select it per stage, which towers and heroes you get, and how it changes the run.
Launch Day
Kingdom Rush 6: Genesis Launches Today With a Classic Mode Built for Its 15th Year
Ironhide's tower defense prequel launches today on Steam and mobile with 18 new stages, plus a 15th-anniversary Classic Mode that revives the original four towers.
Event Guide
How to Unlock the Legendary Irisalis in Aniimo's Windchaser's Departure Event
Aniimo's new Windchaser's Departure event runs through December 10, and farming weekly Iris Petals is the only path to the legendary Irisalis. The full breakdown.
Launch Day
Well Dweller Launches Day One on Xbox Game Pass as Kyle Thompson's Next Metroidvania
Kyle Thompson's dark fairy-tale metroidvania Well Dweller launched September 22 on Steam, GOG, Switch, PS5 and Xbox Game Pass, following Crypt Custodian and Islets.
Update Guide
How to Tame a Mount and Use the Hookshot in Core Keeper's 1.3 Update
Core Keeper's free Riders of the Underground update adds rideable mounts, a grappling Hookshot and a Moss sub-biome. Here's how to unlock all three.
Launch Guide
Graveyard Keeper 2 Launches Today: A Beginner's Guide to Your First Hours
Graveyard Keeper 2 launched today on PC and consoles. Here's how to pick the right settings, carry over your demo save, and prioritize your first hours as Inquisitor.
Launch Day
Packed Lair Turns Tetris-Style Building Placement Into Villain Warfare on Steam
Solo Belgian developer Patrick Pilmeyer's Fables of Wits launches Packed Lair today, a roguelike where packing buildings into a cramped lair is the real fight.
Early Access
Stormforge Dates Its Steam Early Access Launch for November 10
Roboto Games set Stormforge's Early Access launch for November 10, promising three biomes, class-based builds and a co-op world built on magical storms.
Solo Guide
How to Survive Brandrgarde's New Solo Mode in Mistfall Hunter
Bellring Games opened Brandrgarde's Normal and Cataclysm difficulties to solo play in September, then rebalanced six classes days later. Here's how to survive it alone.
Demo Live
Graveyard Keeper 2's Free Demo Lands With a Save-Carry Into the September 22 Launch
Lazy Bear Games' zombie-apocalypse management sequel is playable now in a free Steam demo, and your save carries straight into the September 22 launch.
Getting Started
BloomKeeper Beginner's Guide: Taming the Scorched Zones With Your Pouics
BloomKeeper launched September 16 with a co-op colony-management loop where corruption spreads back in behind you; here is how new Guardians keep their Pouics alive.
Launch Day
Woodo Launches on Five Platforms as a Two-Person Studio's Diorama Puzzler Debuts
Tiny Monks Tales, a two-person indie studio, launched Woodo on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch and Switch 2 this week, turning wooden dioramas into a cozy puzzle game.