Respawn Point

There are so many awesome-looking games coming out November 10 through 16, and I want to play them all. I haven’t personally played these (yet!), but I’ve hand-picked some of the most interesting upcoming releases—most of them indie!

From birds and mice to retro aesthetics, some deductive reasoning, and a bit of quirkiness, here’s what’s coming up this week.

Steam Games Releasing Nov 10:

• A Case of Fraud by Hesperus Games: The CEO of Zoolingo has vanished, and all you have to go on are some documents that escaped the shredder. This looks like a cool deduction game where you have to rely on nothing but the information in the documents to figure out what happened.

• VORON: Raven’s Story by Merk Games: I’m a sucker for bird games, and Voron looks like a great time. Navigate a crow through a Norse-mythology-inspired world, with no health bar but plenty to explore.

• Drill Bird by Sebastian Larsson and friends: A self-described “cozy-yet-tense” platforming digger where you play a cute little bird with a drill for a beak. Dig down to find powerups, but be careful not to get trapped! From the trailer, the gameplay loop for this looks incredibly satisfying.

• It’s OK to Fail by Monky: This game looks absolutely unhinged, from the swole half-naked man you control to the absolutely nonsensical stages. From the Steam description: “Are you a loser in life? Do you fail at everything you do like I do? If so, I’ve got a game for you.”

Steam Games Releasing Nov 11:

• Lumines Arise by Enhance and Monstars Inc.: Lumines is Tetris, if it were a rhythm game. When I tell you I’m excited about this sequel, that’s an understatement. I got the platinum trophy for Lumines Supernova on the PS3. I was playing it in my dreams for days. I can’t wait to dive back in!

• Possessor(s) by Heart Machine: This is an absolutely stunning side-scrolling platformer with a style that makes me think of Hades. The combat looks super smooth and I’m intrigued by the setting: a quarantined, destroyed city in the aftermath of a catastrophe.

• Rue Valley by Emotion Spark Studio: Rue Valley is a narrative RPG about a guy stuck in a time loop. The style looks like it’s been ripped right out of a comic book and it seems like there are tons of different dialogue options and actions you can take to take each time loop down a different path.

Steam Games Releasing Nov 12:

• Winter Burrow by Pine Creek Games: This one is published by Noodlecake, and their games are always a hit. Winter Burrow is about a mouse surviving in the wild and restoring their childhood burrow. Plus, you can knit tiny sweaters. Yes, please!

• Million Depth by Cyber Space Biotope: This action game does some really interesting things—your enemies don’t move unless you do, and you can craft elaborate weapons using blocks. It looks creative and strategic, and I’m definitely intrigued.

• Neon Highways by Flowbit Studio: Synthwave beats and a Vaporwave aesthetic in a chill-looking cruising title that’s a throwback to the 80s.

• The Hatchling by Ricardo Pratas: Weird horror is one of my favorite genres, and this title fits the bill. Self-described as a “short experimental horror,” you find yourself in some kind of lab, where a strange egg is preparing to hatch.

Steam Games Releasing Nov 13:

Inazuma Eleven and the DX versions of the Atelier Ryza games come out today. Here are some lesser-known, indie titles also coming out on this day:

• Little Corners by Meteor Pixel: I love these in real life, so I think it’s great someone made a game version. You put stickers on a little page and create small isometric worlds. Zen and adorable, perfect for a relaxing afternoon!

• GIGASWORD by Studio Hybrid: A Metroidvania with a big sword and brain-teasing puzzles. Enough said!

• The Sushi House by Noirbit: Things seem normal and you settle into a routine of sushi-making… but in the rooms beyond where the guests can see, strange things are afoot. I played a Roblox game with my daughter called Scary Sushi, and this game is giving me flashbacks to it (in a good way).

Steam Games Releasing Nov 14:

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is out today, as well as these cool indies:

• Tea for Sana by Pillow Soup: I love it when games showcase under-represented cultures in gaming, and Tea for Sana is all about Slavic lore. Created by a solo dev from Croatia, this game is all about using the power of cooking to heal.

• Disco Samurai by Pixel Fiber Games: It’s a good week for Synthwave fans, apparently. In this stylish little title, you fight your way through a retro world in a “cyberpunk rhythm combat game.”

• Sisyphus is a Bug by moraguma: What if Sisyphus, the figure from Greek mythology destined to roll a boulder up a mountain forever… was a dung beetle? I love the neat flat art style and the idea behind this little gem.

Steam Games Releasing Nov 15 & 16:

• Escape from Tarkov by Battlestate Games: I feel like I have to mention this extraction FPS, which is officially launching on this day after almost a decade in alpha. Get in, get loot, and get out—but don’t get killed, or you lose it all! The game has built up a massive community over the years (over half a million wishlisted, according to their Steam page), so you’re in good company if you decide to dive in.

• MONUMENTUM by Jakob Scott: A unique-looking minimalistic platformer if that’s your jam.

Steam Games Releasing Nov 16:

• Shelldiver by Gagonfe: This is described as an “incremental” game, which I think means “idle,” and it looks like a good one. Play as a turtle and expand your business of selling jellyfish. It looks like there’s a ton of customization and the bright pixel style really pops!

• Chill with You: Lo-Fi Story by Nestopi Inc.: Ever wanted to develop a closer relationship with the Lo-Fi girl? With this game, you can. Plus, you still get all the calm work vibes and options, so it’s win-win.