15 Must-See Indie Games from the Recent Showcase

The Triple-i Initiative showcase serves as the indie gaming equivalent of a Nintendo Direct or PlayStation State of Play. Today marked its third annual event, organized by Evil Empire, the French studio collaborating with Konami to revive Castlevania in 2D after a lengthy break. While Belmont’s Curse received a new gameplay trailer during the showcase, it was just one of many exciting titles featured.

The showcase also unveiled new games, provided updates on existing ones, and shared details about upcoming demos and release dates. Here are 14 games that deserve your attention following the event.

Crema, the developer and publisher behind the newly announced project, is creating a creature collector reminiscent of Palworld, but with real-time action and survival mechanics replacing turn-based battles.

Klei Entertainment is back with a sequel to its beloved survival franchise, allowing friends to team up and navigate a charming, Victorian wilderness once again.

11 Bit Studios, known for Frostpunk, is publishing a gritty twist on Stardew Valley from Carbonara Games. In this game, you play as someone who has been kidnapped and must farm to uncover the identity of your captors.

One of the standout Stardew Valley-inspired games is getting a sequel that promises more graves and a larger town. While there’s no release date yet, the original game is currently available for free.

The creators of 1000xResist, a strong contender for 2024’s Game of the Year and praised for its storytelling, are back with a sci-fi horror title focused on convincing an AI of its humanity.

This co-op adventure game combines elements of Peak and Legends of the Hidden Temple, where you can dodge Indiana Jones-style boulders while hunting for treasure and creating viral content.

An action-RPG from the developers of CrossCode has returned with an Early Access release date, looking better than ever. The new trailer showcases additional bosses and story elements, with players able to dive in starting May 7 on PC. A demo was also released last fall.

Long Gone won’t be out until 2027, but if you haven’t added it to your Wishlist yet, now’s the time. You’ll solve puzzles while exploring a suburban neighborhood long after a zombie outbreak has ravaged it, featuring a unique 3D design with a pixel art aesthetic.

Is there room for another Vampire Survivors-style game? Absolutely. A Warhammer-themed roguelite bullet heaven is set to launch on console and PC later this year, with a new trailer highlighting elements from Games Workshop’s sci-fi fantasy universe.

I’ve been eagerly anticipating Neverway, which now has a release window of October 2026 for PC and Switch. It features pixel art from the artist behind Celeste and music by Disasterpeace (known for Fez and Hyper Light Drifter), blending into an action-RPG reminiscent of Zelda.

Last year’s surprise hit, a slot machine horror survival game, is receiving new DLC. Out today alongside the free 1.4 update, Unholy Fusion introduces 30 unique charm fusions and a variety of memory cards, synergies, modifiers, and trinkets for players to explore new builds.

Cairn is already shaping up to be one of the best games of 2026 and is getting a free expansion this summer, adding three new climbing areas, including water soloing.

Brotato’s latest paid content drop will introduce mecha and mutant dinosaurs, along with new weapons to take them down. This top-down shooter, reminiscent of The Binding of Isaac and styled like Vampire Survivors, remains a favorite in the genre.

Risk of Rain 2 continues to impress, with its newly announced DLC featuring macabre-themed levels and additional gear. However, a release date has yet to be revealed.

Windrose has been steadily climbing the Steam charts since its breakout during Next Fest earlier this year. Currently the eighth-most Wishlisted game on the platform, this pirate survival sim received a surprise release date announcement, launching into Steam Early Access next week on April 14.