BitSummit 2026 Round-Up: Dungeons of Dusk, Wild Blue Skies, The Ashen Oz, Light Odyssey, and More

BitSummit continues to be a fantastic place to connect with passionate and skilled indie game developers. This year’s event showcased an incredible range of creative ideas, as always. However, the experience was significantly overshadowed by a large number of AI booths and displays of AI-generated images. While these were presented as ‘art,’ it felt more like a marketing tactic, similar to calling Cream of Wheat ‘breakfast’ – a convenient label but not quite the real thing.

It’s disappointing that space felt so limited this year at BitSummit. With growing attendance, the exhibit hall was more crowded than usual. Removing the focus on AI-related content could have created a lot more room. I found myself carefully sorting through the promotional materials, throwing away anything mentioning “AI” and really having to evaluate each company before deciding if they were worth talking to – something I’ve never had to do to this extent at BitSummit before.

This year’s BitSummit felt a little less impactful compared to previous events, but it still reaffirmed why I attend every year: to witness the incredible dedication and skill of the developers. They invest so much passion into their projects and bravely share them with the world, and now I’m excited to share some of that with you.

This list isn’t strictly limited to RPGs; I focused on games I genuinely enjoyed playing this year, though I prioritized RPGs when possible. It’s impossible to play every game at the show, so I apologize for any omissions. I also noticed many developers were hesitant to discuss their use of AI, which was a bit strange. If any game on this list turns out to have used AI without me knowing, that’s simply because they didn’t tell me. Now, let’s get to the list!

The Ashen OZ (Ashbone Games)

Hollow Knight is a truly great game and has influenced a lot of other action-platformers. However, The Ashen OZ was the first one I played that really tried something new. It’s heavily inspired by The Wizard of Oz, and the combat centers around a unique ‘Umbrella Parry’ system – timing your blocks to deflect attacks. If you don’t time it right, you’ll take damage.

This game blends familiar roguelite elements – like choosing from three options – into a solid experience. I enjoyed my brief time with it; the combat felt good, and the levels looked great. While it could benefit from some refinement in areas like translation and overall smoothness, it’s definitely one to watch if you’re a fan of action-platformers.

Light Odyssey (GRAVITY)

I really enjoyed exploring the stark, shadowy world of this top-down adventure game, especially the way a small beam of light served as your weapon. The game has a very serious and atmospheric style that I found surprisingly engaging. While some of the boss attacks felt a little imprecise – I occasionally took damage even when I seemed safe – I still had fun discovering the world and figuring out the puzzles (even when I struggled!). This game isn’t ideal for playing in a bright, public space, but I think it would be fantastic experienced in a dark room at home. Light Odyssey really comes alive in the right setting.

AI Limit (SENSE Games)

I’ve already written a review of this game, and I still agree with what I said. However, it’s easy to forget that reviews only capture a reviewer’s thoughts and feelings at a particular moment in time. A game’s score isn’t permanent, and the game itself can change after release. I’ve been wanting to try a ‘Souls-like’ game without playing the main series, and I’ve been using AI Limit to do that.

I sometimes find the Fisher gang section frustrating and have to stop playing, but other times I really enjoy the game from beginning to end. Since my initial review, AI Limit has received many improvements and bug fixes, plus a free update with new content. They’re also working on a second free update, though we don’t have a release date for that yet.

If you enjoy challenging action games similar to the Souls series, I highly recommend checking out AI Limit – you’ll likely be impressed. It’s important to note that the game’s developers haven’t used any AI in its creation; the name ‘AI Limit’ simply refers to a part of the game’s story.

Knights of Fiona (CharacterBank)

If you’re a VR gamer looking for a new RPG experience, CharacterBank’s latest game could be perfect. It lets you quickly switch between weapons and physically mimic actions like sword fighting, blocking, archery, and spellcasting – truly immersing you in the RPG world (though, as with all VR, it involves wearing a headset!).

While a few of the controls felt a little rough around the edges and some menus appeared at inconvenient times during gameplay, overall this game shows a lot of promise. The stunning character and creature designs from CharacterBank really create a captivating and immersive world. There’s no confirmed release date yet, but based on my experience, it shouldn’t be too far off.

Own Time, Own Target (No Average Joe)

This isn’t a role-playing game, but have you ever played something that you just knew would be a blast at a party? Picture this: you’re at a house party, and there’s a competitive fighting game like Melty Blood being streamed on the big TV. But off to the side, you and your friends are all excitedly playing another game, shouting and having a great time.

This game is all about playfully messing with your friends, and it comes in many forms. Think games like Divekick, Duck Game, or Smash Bros. with all items enabled – you get the idea. Own Time, Own Target fits right into that category. It’s a two-player game set in a ruined Singapore where players battle each other while dodging falling blocks and navigating dangerous environments. The demo featured four unique characters, each with a different way to play and a distinct personality. One was a police chief who just sprays bullets everywhere, while another was a sniper who had to carefully time shots and could even deflect bullets while reloading.

I rarely return a game so soon, but this one was special – I wanted to play it more with the developers, who were a blast to chat with and compete against. I’m determined to win a rematch against them someday, No Average Joe!

Spellbrush’s Tactical Game

Even though I only played a little bit of this mobile game for Android and iOS, I was impressed. It combines strategic gameplay with RPG elements, making it great for playing on the go. I tested it on the hardest setting and, while losing some characters along the way, I was able to complete a few levels. Beyond the challenging gameplay, the game’s visuals and overall presentation are really well done.

Okay, so I recently checked out this game, and honestly, the character sprites are super adorable – really charming little ‘blorbos’ with great animations. It felt really good to play too, super responsive and easy to pick up. There’s this cool system where you choose a ‘season’ between battles, which is like a roguelite progression thing, and it seriously changed up how I approached each fight. I wish I knew more about how it was made or had some pics to show you, but right now it’s kinda a ‘you just gotta trust me’ situation. Still, I think it’s definitely one to watch!

Wild Blue Skies (Chuhai Labs)

Wild Blue Skies isn’t a role-playing game, but it’s worth checking out! It’s an indie game that feels a lot like Star Fox, but with a lot of creative ideas of its own. The character designs are fantastic, the gameplay is smooth and fast, and the voice acting is really well done. I’m not very skilled at this type of game, so I didn’t get far in the demo, but I was impressed enough to add it to my wishlist immediately. You can even try the demo yourself – it’s available now!

Dungeons of Dusk (New Blood)

Everyone knows New Blood games are amazing, and the team behind them are genuinely great people. What you might not know is that their new game, Dungeons of Dusk, is a fantastic dungeon crawler that perfectly delivers on what I’ve been wanting in a game for a long time.

I only played the first part of the demo, but it was substantial enough to convince me I’m buying this game as soon as it releases. It’s a turn-based crawler with both close-combat and ranged attacks – instead of a bow and arrow, you use a handgun. You can also set landmines, throw molotov cocktails, and fight hordes of poisonous rats – it’s a really engaging experience! If you haven’t tried the demo yet, I highly recommend it.

Kernal Hearts (Ephermera Games)

I didn’t play Kernal Hearts for very long, but it reminded me of games from Hoyoverse, like Genshin Impact, in terms of how it looks and how you improve your character. However, it avoids the sometimes frustrating random character unlocks and has a better-developed story connecting the characters. It also includes options to play with others online. While I’m not usually into action-focused RPGs, this one seems really polished and might be perfect if you enjoy that genre. You can try a free demo to see if it’s for you.

Project Solaris (Greenhorn)

This game boasts beautiful pixel art and animation, combined with the addictive gameplay of roguelite deck-building. You play as a witch with a difficult past, and you have 100 days to train her and turn her into a powerful Mage. Your decisions will shape her journey. The game is currently known as Project Solaris, but the name may change. You can find a link to it on Steam, and a demo is available to play!

The Remake of The End of the Greatest RPG of All Time (Coin Drop Games)

I didn’t get a chance to play this game at BitSummit, but it was on display there. I hadn’t even heard of it until someone asked if I’d seen it, and after looking it up on Steam, I immediately wished I had! I think I would have loved it. It’s hard to describe exactly what kind of game it is – it’s not just an RPG, though it has RPG elements. It’s more of a puzzle game that’s built around the ideas and philosophy of RPGs, and specifically evokes the feeling of playing a game from the 90s. You should check it out on Steam and see for yourself.

2026-05-26 18:58