Everything announced during today’s Day of the Devs presentation. Over 20 indie games you need to see

Just before tomorrow’s Game Awards, Day of the Devs held a digital event showcasing 21 promising indie games – all perfect to add to your Steam wishlist. In fact, this showcase might be the one with the most frog-themed games ever! Day of the Devs is a nonprofit organization that supports indie game developers by hosting both online and in-person events to highlight their work. They’ve previously featured popular games like Sword of the Sea and Thank Goodness You’re Here. Today’s selection was chosen from over 1,100 submissions.

Everything announced during today’s Day of the Devs showcase

Today’s games offer a lot of variety: you can manage an animal band, solve puzzles by stretching things, keep a powerful frog from eating you, and even explore a solar system you can completely destroy. It’s tough to say which game will become the next big hit like Blue Prince or UFO 50, but there are roguelikes, puzzle games, and retro arcade collections available. If you enjoy unique and creative independent games, this is the place to be. You can watch the full presentation below.

We showed off a lot of games today, so the descriptions will be short and sweet. But every game deserves a spot on your wishlist! Adding games to your wishlist really helps small, independent developers – the teams making these exciting new titles. We’ll list each game’s name, the developer, and a time from the presentation so you can easily find the part you’re interested in.

Awaysis – 17 Bit – 1:30

17 Bit kicked off their presentation with Awaysis, a fun dungeon brawler for 1-4 players. It’s a unique game that blends teamwork and competition – players cooperate to fight off waves of enemies, but then compete to grab the best loot. The game features colorful, floating islands and characters that are animals with human characteristics. Awaysis offers a traditional dungeon crawl experience, as well as competitive modes like free-for-all brawls, king-of-the-hill, and a game called “brawly-ball”. And for the first time, players can choose to play as a frog!

Lucid Falls – Eldamar Studio – 5:00

I just started playing Lucid Falls, and it’s seriously messing with my head! It looks like a fantasy RPG at first, but don’t let that fool you – it’s a really unsettling psychological horror game. Eldamar Studio has done an amazing job making it feel totally immersive. The atmosphere is incredible, and it’s packed with weird creatures, crazy puzzles, and even some gravity-shifting mechanics to help you get through. It’s definitely a cinematic experience, and I’m already hooked trying to figure out what’s going on.

Rockbeasts – Lichtund – 8:14

Rockbeasts isn’t another sad story like Bojack Horseman – it’s a fun, story-focused game where you manage a rising rock band made up of quirky animals. Set in the exciting, over-the-top world of 1980s MTV, you’ll guide the band to fame while dealing with their difficult personalities and unpredictable antics. Surprisingly, the game is being created by a writer who also worked on huge titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and The Witcher 3, making it a unique management game you definitely won’t want to skip.

Stretchmancer – Triangle Wave – 10:15

Stretchmancer is a funny, first-person puzzle game where you play as a rebellious wizard with a unique power: you can stretch anything in the world around you! Developed by Triangle Wave, you’ll use this ability to battle the Claustro Empire by stretching, squishing, and reshaping objects. If you enjoy creative puzzle games like Viewfinder and Portal, you’ll find this game surprisingly inventive with its core stretching mechanic.

Virtue and a Sledgehammer – Deconstructeam and Selkie Harbour – 14:11

Deconstructeam, the creators of The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood, are back with a new and unusual game. They’ve teamed up with Selkie Harbour to create something even more imaginative. The game centers around the feeling of outgrowing your roots – realizing you no longer fit in where you came from. And in Virtue and a Sledgehammer, you express that feeling by battling robots and literally tearing down your hometown to unlock forgotten memories.

Beastro – Timerbline Studio – 17: 24

The creators of The Red Lantern are back with a completely new game called Beastro. Instead of being the hero, you play a support role – you’re a chef! Your job is to cook delicious meals for a quirky group of fantasy heroes. Beastro blends relaxing restaurant management – gathering ingredients and making food through fun mini-games – with more intense deckbuilding battles. The meals you create directly impact how well your heroes perform in these battles, giving them special bonuses. Visually, Beastro is striking, switching between detailed 3D animation and a charming 2D paper puppet show style during the card battles.

Un:Me – Historia – 21:08

One of the most interesting games shown was Un:Me by Historia. It features a girl who contains multiple souls, and players experience the game by switching between them. As you explore a strange, hospital-like setting, your view of the world changes depending on which soul is currently in control – sometimes you choose when this happens, and other times it happens automatically, altering the environment around you. This means you constantly need to adjust to the new perspective. Throughout the game, you can talk to each soul and ultimately decide which one doesn’t belong, eliminating the ones you believe are false. This choice leaves you questioning whether you’ve made the right decision.

Soundgrass – Soundgrass Studio – 25:53

Soundgrass is a truly original puzzle game where sound is the key to solving challenges. It’s the first game created by a musician who taught themself game development specifically to bring this vision to life, and it has a strikingly unique look. On this unusual planet, plants create sounds, and you use a floating sphere to listen to them – and use it as a light source, among other things. The plants respond to both light and sound, and the puzzles become increasingly intricate and rhythm-based as you play.

The Dungeon Experience – Bone Assembly – 29:25

Bone Assembly’s new adventure game, The Dungeon Experience, is incredibly strange and funny. It’s best described as a bizarre, comical scam run by a simple crab, and you’re the one being tricked! Seriously, watch the trailer – it’s likely one of the most ridiculous and hilarious games you’ll ever come across.

Scramble Knights Royale – Funktronic Labs – 32:59

Scramble Knights Royale is a unique game that combines the adventure of a classic Zelda-style game with the fast-paced action of a battle royale. Up to 32 players parachute onto an island filled with dungeons, monsters, and towns, where they complete quests. The game takes a fresh approach to RPGs by letting you start with nothing and rapidly gather weapons, items, and defeat bosses to become the ultimate survivor.

Mirria – Carl Burton and Mografi Games – 36:34

Mirria, developed by Mografi Games and featuring art by Carl Burton, is a relaxing puzzle game that creates a dreamlike experience. The game focuses on observation and remembering details. Players will explore beautiful, atmospheric scenes and compare slightly different versions of them, much like a ‘spot the difference’ puzzle, using changes in color and light to uncover the clues.

Big Hops – Luckshot Games – 40:05

Chris Wade, the director of Big Hops, started developing this 3D platformer about a frog because he felt the video game industry had stopped making games in the style he loved. His team has been working on Big Hops for six years, and it’s one of the few games with a confirmed release date. The main way you’ll play the game involves using the frog, Hop’s, tongue to swing around, move objects, and even pick locks! You can also find vegetables that let you create your own pathways, like vines to climb or bubbles to float on. Big Hops is scheduled to come out on January 12th, 2026, for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and PC through Steam.

CorgiSpace – Adam Atomic – 42:26

Introducing CorgiSpace, a new set of 8-bit games created by Adam Saltsman. The name comes from the fact that all the games are intentionally designed to be quick and compact – like a corgi’s short legs! This collection features over a dozen action, adventure, and puzzle games, each designed to be completed in under an hour. Think of it as similar to UFO 50, but more manageable. You can download this delightful collection of games right now on Steam and itch.io.

Into the Fire – Starward Industries – 46:02

The creators of The Invincible, Starward Industries, are developing Into the Fire, an exciting game where you rescue people from a live volcano. You’ll face the raw power of nature, using tools and equipment to put out fires and withstand intense heat. The game also features magical fire spirits, adding a fantastical twist to its otherwise retro-punk setting. Into the Fire is expected to enter Early Access in the first six months of 2026.

Dogpile – Foot – 50:00

Dogpile is a new game created through a partnership between Studio Folly and Toot Games. The core idea is to combine dogs to create larger and more powerful versions, earn money, and continue growing your canine companions – all while managing space. It’s a roguelike deckbuilder where merging two identical dogs creates a stronger one. Players can also enhance and customize their dogs with unique abilities. If you’re interested, Dogpile is currently available on Steam.

Unshine Arcade – Mardt – 52:55

Unshine Arcade, a game similar to CloverPit, traps you inside a creepy arcade. You’ll need to switch between experiencing psychological horror and playing a fast-paced, top-down stealth shooter to win tickets. These tickets let you improve your abilities, try the claw machine, and ultimately uncover the secret behind a strange virtual pet kept in a glass case. As you investigate, you’ll realize something sinister is going on—and you might even find a frog! Can you escape? A demo is available on Steam right now, so give it a try!

Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth – Hyper Games – 54:50

So, the team that made Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley is back with a new game, and this time it’s a Moomin adventure! Last time I played, I got to hang out with Snufkin, but this time I actually get to be Moomintroll! Apparently, he wakes up from his winter sleep a little early and has to venture out on his own for the first time. Even though it’s set in a snowy winter, it looks like it’s going to be a really cozy and feel-good experience, which I’m totally here for.

Demon Tides – Fabraz – 58:04

I’m so excited! Fabraz just announced the release date for Demon Tides, the sequel to Demon Turf! It’s a brand new character platformer, and we’ll finally be able to play it on February 19th, 2026, on PC. I’ve been waiting for this!

Frog Sqwad – Panic Stations – 59:50

If you’ve watched the trailer for Panic Stations’ Frog Squad, it’s probably no surprise the developers also created Fall Guys. This new hilarious, physics-based multiplayer game features plenty of frogs! Players need to collect enough food for the Swamp King, a giant frog who won’t hesitate to eat you if he gets hungry. You’ll work with others to explore the randomly generated sewers, using a tongue as a grappling hook and changing size based on how much food you’ve eaten.

Astromine – Alientrap – 1:02:56

Astromine is a cooperative survival game where you explore and build in a solar system made of blocks – think of a blend between No Man’s Sky and Minecraft, but more focused. Players will need to collect resources, construct bases, and battle rival robot groups. Enemies are designed with a core weakness – you’ll need to break through their outer layers to defeat them. Each planet features a huge boss battle that dramatically alters the environment. Overall, Astromine looks like a fun and engaging co-op experience for you and your friends.

Find Your Words – Capybara Games – 1:05:32

Inspired by a developer’s personal experience raising children who don’t speak, Find Your Words features a main character who can’t speak and makes friends at summer camp. It’s a relaxing, low-stress game where you explore the outdoors and complete tasks for other campers. You’ll communicate using a binder filled with symbols to build simple phrases, and as you explore, you’ll unlock more symbols and expand your ability to communicate. Find Your Words will be released for free on PC in 2026, with an optional way to support the developers. The creators hope the game will help players understand the many ways people connect with each other, even without speaking.

2025-12-10 22:05