On an average day, around a dozen new games are released on Steam. And while we think that’s a good thing, it can understandably be difficult to keep up. Potentially exciting gems will surely be lost in the deluge of new things to play unless you sift through every game released on Steam. So that’s exactly what we did. If nothing catches your eye this week, we’ve rounded up the best PC games. (opens in new tab) you can play now and updated list of 2023 games (opens in new tab) that are launching this year.
bone powder
Steam page (opens in new tab)
Release: February 22
Developer: Platonic Partnership
Launch Price: Free
If the dark psychedelia of Devil Daggers (opens in new tab) is too normie for you, Bone Dust is a new first-person shooter with a truly nauseating art style. Developed by Finnish studio Platonic Partnership (also responsible for fascinating oddities like Lydia (opens in new tab) and High Voltage Society (opens in new tab)), Bone Dust is about throwing rapid burst card packs at “horrendous enemies” reminiscent of the sordid imagination of a DeepDream circus. Don’t worry: this is not a card game. As Devil Daggers, you’re locked in a large, simple arena where you’ll dodge projectiles and shoot invading thugs. It’s a freebie, Early Access case: the current version has an arena and a boss fight, but more will be added during the “1-3 months” development period.
Akka Arrh
Steam page (opens in new tab)
Release: February 21st
Developer: Llamasoft Ltd.
Launch Price: $20 | £16.75 | AU$29.50
This new shooter from arcade legend Jeff Minter is a recreation of an abandoned Atari arcade prototype that was considered too difficult for 80’s audiences. the 1982 game appeared in Atari 50: The Anniversary Celebration. This “modern take” is probably the best way to play Akka Arrh for all but a select few retro fans. Glazed in Minter’s signature CG surrealism, the objective is to shoot and survive waves of enemies, while preventing those enemies from building turrets. There are 50 levels, and by all accounts it’s a tricky game to get your head around at first, but perseverance is key. As always with Minter tours it is a real sight to behold.
the pale beyond
Steam page (opens in new tab)
Release: February 25th
Developer: Bellular Studios
Launch Price: $20 | £15.07 | AU$26.55
The Pale Beyond is about surviving a doomed polar naval expedition. That’s a terrifying prospect, but it gets worse: not only are you suffering these extremely inhospitable conditions, but you must also help the rest of your crew survive. That means bitter resource management, excruciating decision-making, and brokering peace between your out-of-order mates. Jody spoke to the creators (opens in new tab) from The Pale Beyond a few weeks ago and they’ve definitely done their research on a handful of historical polar survival stories, so expect a tense, doomladen survival experience akin to say, Frostpunk. Too much serotonin? Try this.
Pocky & Rocky Recognized
Steam page (opens in new tab)
Release:February 24th
Developer: Natsume Atari
Launch Price: $27 | £22.49 | AU$39.55
It’s the Pocky & Rocky revival you’ve been waiting for! While Reshrened looks a lot like the old SNES top-down shooter from 1992, it’s actually a whole new game. Studio NatsumeAtari has stayed true to the colorful 16-bit pixel art of the original, and the game is functionally the same, with Pocky (a Shinto shrine maiden, according to Wikipedia) and Rocky (a tanuki, of course) moving Experience beautifully illustrated fantasy arenas featuring all manner of whimsical enemies. Two-player co-op play is probably the highlight here, but if you love retro action but don’t like the associated difficulty, there’s an “extra easy” mode too.
Destined File
Steam page (opens in new tab)
Release: February 25th
Developer: Metavision Studio
Launch Price: $7.19 | £6.02 | AU$10.61
It’s been a while since I’ve featured an indie horror in this column, but rest assured, they’re still coming in droves and fast. File Destined was among last week’s list and stands out mainly for its beautiful graphics, powered by UE5. You play as Oliver, an investigator tasked with exploring a spooky old mansion, where he’ll need to solve puzzles, avoid too much darkness, and occasionally witness various terrifying phenomena. Much like the course then, but if you’re a fan of modern Resident Evils or the recent Phobia (opens in new tab)this is a little scare for not many bucks.