Summer Game Fest 2025 was packed with heavy-hitters, but some of the most memorable experiences came from the unexpected and delightfully weird. From pet-delivering pixel bike couriers and time-looping mecha-cooks to neon-lit gun-fu and pixel-perfect party games, this year’s indie and AA lineup turned out to be full of creativity, charm, and ambition. Here’s a breakdown of some standout games from publishers like Annapurna, iam8bit, and more that caught our eye on the show floor.
Petal Runner
Developer: Nano Park Studios | Platforms: Steam | Release Date: TBA
Petal Runner is a GBA-style game with a gorgeous color palette and pixel art. You pay as Cali and Kira, as you explore the city and complete deliveries of Leap Cells, which power high-tech artificial pets. You deliver these cells and assist with the pets by completing small minigames, almost WarioWare in their bite-sized nature. While the demo I got to play was pretty short, I got a tease of an evil scientist who plans on misusing artificial pets. The mini-games were easy to pick up and were over quickly. You also traverse the city on a motorcycle, which makes it feel excellent to steer around. While I wish I could have seen more, my bite-sized taste was enough to put Petal Runner on my Steam wishlist. (James)
LEGO Party!
Developer: SMG Studio | Platforms: Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PS4, PS5, PC | Release Date: 2025
I was skeptical about LEGO Party prior to playing for a few reasons. Most games that come for Mario Party’s crown usually miss, understanding what makes these chaotic and messy party games fun. But after playing a quick 6-round match, taking home the win, and discovering that the developers made the games of Moving Out and Moving Out 2, I saw the vision, even if I wasn’t totally blown away. LEGO Party makes a few key changes from the formula that feel like smart ways to shake it up. Minigames are determined by voting, with a selection of three minigames and a random option presented to players. Turn order is determined by minigame placement, adding a layer of strategy for when you need to go first, or when you really want to go last. The entire game was constructed with digital LEGO, which means you could build anything in it with real pieces. The minigames all feature simple controls, but still feel tight to control. I’m not ready to say it’s better than Mario Party, but it certainly seems like a great time with friends. (James)
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers
Developer: Leenzee | Platforms: Steam, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5 | Release Date: July 23, 2025
Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is a Souls-like action RPG from 505 Games. Unlike other Souls-like games, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers takes a bold step in a different direction. The game doesn’t focus on parrying or blocking at all. Instead, the main thing it leans toward is dodging. Whenever a perfect dodge is made, you can perform a power attack that inflicts more damage than usual. This creates a unique spin on a genre mainly known for its parry/blocking system. If you’re looking for a unique take on the Souls-like genre, Wuchang: Fallen Feathers is worth looking into solely because of that key feature. (Luis)
Directive 8020
Developer: Supermassive Games | Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S | Release Date: October 2, 2025
Directive 8020 is the latest game out of the Dark Pictures franchise. This time, players are taken to the final frontier instead of taking place on Earth, where no one can hear them scream. From what little time I got to play with the game, it’s clear it’s taken a lot of inspiration from body horror to create some genuinely terrifying monsters, as well as John Carpenter’s The Thing, with a monster that takes the form of a human. Like other games in the franchise, it creates an intense situation where you don’t know if you’re making the right choice. However, one thing I did appreciate was that Directive 8020 now has a rewind feature that allows you to take back some key decisions you made if you find yourself having instant regret. (Luis)
Dosa Divas
Developer: Outerloop Games | Platforms: PC and consoles | Release Date: 2026
From the developers of Thirsty Suitors, Outerloop Games reintroduced Project Dosa as Dosa Divas: One Last Meal during the Day of the Devs showcase at Summer Game Fest. I spent about 30 minutes with a demo on the Steam Deck at Play Days and was immediately charmed by its blend of cooking flair and RPG mechanics. The game follows sisters Samara and Amani—plus an ancient mech—as they take on a corrupt fast food empire, all wrapped in a vibrant art style that bursts off the screen. Turn-based battles are accessible and fun, with well-timed button presses boosting attacks and blocks in a way that reminded me of Mario & Luigi. Elemental affinities and a special group attack meter give the combat a satisfying layer of depth. And the cooking minigame? Genuinely mouth-watering. I can’t wait to dig into Dosa Divas when it launches in 2026. (Will)
Snap & Grab
Developer: No Goblin | Platforms: Steam, PS5, Xbox Series X/S | Release Date: 2026
Nifty Nevada leads a double life—as a world-renowned fashion photographer and the elusive mastermind behind a string of unsolved heists. From the creators of Roundabout and 100ft Robot Golf comes Snap & Grab, a part-photography, part-puzzle heist game that sends you jet-setting to glamorous locales to scout valuables, size up security, and orchestrate daring thefts with the help of your loyal henchmen. I played a hands-on demo set in a stylish rooftop penthouse, which walked me through the basics: chatting with NPCs, snapping intel with your camera, acquiring disguises, and carefully planning a heist through exploration and a bit of trial and error. After finishing the tutorial, I was set loose to pull off a stealthy theft—this time, with no hints. I didn’t succeed, but I loved uncovering new ways to approach the challenge. Snap & Grab feels like a clever, stylish spin on the heist genre that rewards curiosity and experimentation. (Will)
Mixtape
Developer: Beethoven and Dinosaur | Platforms: Steam, PS5, Xbox Series X/S | Release Date: 2025
Rockford, Slater, and Cassandra are gearing up for one last night together—and one last adventure—in Mixtape, the latest musical narrative from The Artful Escape developer Beethoven & Dinosaur. The hands-on demo opened with a breezy skateboard ride set to a Devo track, immediately setting the tone for the game’s dreamy, vignette-style storytelling. One sequence dove into the awkwardness of a first kiss—something that made me physically recoil in secondhand teen cringe. True to the studio’s strengths, Mixtape leans hard into music and surreal visuals to capture the raw, messy emotions of growing up millennial. If this short demo is anything to go by, Mixtape promises to be another bold and unforgettable narrative trip when it launches. (Will)
SPINE
Developer: Nekki | Platforms: PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2 | Release Date: TBA
Spine is a John Wick in video game form, offering up gun-fu combat with some heavy Batman Arkham Asylum inspirations. You take on large groups of enemies, punching, shooting, dodging, and parrying them as you try to avoid getting hit while taking them all out. It all comes in a Cyberpunk-looking future, which has a distinct look to it. I got to play about 30 minutes of a pre-alpha build, and while it has a ways to go before primetime, the core of the game makes me confident that it will get there. I was told that improved enemy AI, environmental items you can use in improvisational combat, and a skill tree are all on the way, but the core combat already present makes Spine a must wishlist on Steam. (James)
Blighted
Developer: Drinkbox Studios | Platforms: PC and consoles | Release Date: 2026
Blighted might look like a Hades-style game, but it’s not a roguelike. Instead, it’s a 3D action-RPG search action game, combining the toughness of a soulslike with the exploration and abilities of something like Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. It also has a comic book look that blends perfectly with the desolate and creepy western setting. The combat feels great, the enemies are creepy and unsettling, and it can be played entirely in co-op. My short demo time let me battle against two bosses, along with exploring a couple of areas, and if you love the action of Hades, Blighted is worth keeping an eye on. (James)
