Somewhere in all the hubbub of gaming’s busiest week of events isDay of the Devs, which celebrates some of the year’s most creative and anticipated independent games. Founded byDouble Fineand iam8bit in 2012, Day of the Devs is a non-profit platform for games that might otherwise go unnoticed. Put simply, it’s just developers sharing their passion projects directly with players.
The 2025 showcase featured 20 wildly different titles from rhythm roguelikes and photography sims to action-packed stealth games and culinary RPGs with heels dug deep into cultural identity. Each title is a great example of the spirit that Day of the Devs is known for.
Big Walk
From House House, developer ofUntitled Goose Game,Big Walkis a multiplayer co-op experience built around two ordinary things: talking and walking. One of its best features is its naturalisticproximity chat systemthat changes how voices sound based on location, but it also has optional voice and text chat systems for increased accessibility.
The open world is filled with playful challenges and teamwork-oriented puzzles, some that even require players to sing or mime to solve them. The game’s design revolves around spontaneous fun and absurdity, allowing players to split up, get lost, reunite, and explore mini-games and scenic hangouts. More than anything else, it’s just a fun and creative way to hang out with friends in a video game, and it’s slated to arrive sometime in 2026.
Blighted
Blightedis Drinkbox Studios' first3D action Metroidvania, set in a psychedelic Western nightmare where reality is constantly shifting. Players set out to hunt Zorsis, a tyrant who has defiled sacred burial rituals by consuming raw brains, thereby triggering a plague called the Blight.
The world, enemies, and even the player’s perception will change based on how much Blight they absorb. Combat is fast and brutal, with finishers, co-op play, and unnatural powers that gradually unlock different areas of the environment. With stylized visuals,grotesque monsters, and a haunting soundtrack from Jim Guthrie,Blightedis primed and ready to be a fascinating experience. Fans can expect a playable demo later this year.
Consume Me
Winner of IGF 2025’s Seumas McNally Grand Prize for Best Independent Game,Consume Meis a brutally honestautobiographical RPGabout eating disorders, body image, and identity. Co-directed by Jenny Jiao Hsia and AP Thomson, the game turns high school pressure into a mini-game gauntlet of meal planning, yoga-induced stress, dating, cleaning, and food anxiety.
Each chapter features resource-juggling andtime managementthrough hilarious and yet painfully real gameplay. Whether placing lunch items on a tray or counting money while dog-walking, players do their best to balance Jenny’s seemingly impossible goals.Consume Meis coming to Steam on July 24, 2025.
Dosa Divas
Thirsty Suitorsdeveloper Outerloop Games returns withDosa Divas, astory-driven RPGthat finds its roots in South Asian culture, food, and family. In the game, players will platform through colorful villages, battle corporate cronies, and reunite with loved ones, all before saying goodbye over one final meal.
Combat uses timed inputs and flavor-based mechanics, with enemies weak to dishes that match their cravings. Players also cook real dishes to awaken villagers trapped in processed food-induced trances through itsunique turn-based system. Customization, expressive animations, and a heartwarming story all giveDosa Divasemotional weight that is likely to stick with players once it launches in early 2026.
Escape Academy 2
Escape Academy 2is a massive expansion of Coin Crew’s originalescape room game, as it transforms the franchise’s static level design into an open-world campus filled with secrets, side quests, and characters. Inspired byThe Legend ofZeldaandAnimal Well, the Academy is now an elaborate puzzle of interconnected spaces, with plenty of mysteries hiding in dusty archives and secret stairwells.
The story leans hard into the fantasy of being a student at a peculiar school, complete with pun-heavy dialogue andcharacter-based quests. The biggest addition is how the world itself functions like one enormous escape room, with layers of puzzles that build a deeper sense of place. A playable test forEscape Academy 2is already underway, and the team wants players' help in refining the game for a full release.
Marvel Cosmic Invasion
Tribute Games, known forTMNT: Shredder’s Revenge, returns withMarvel Cosmic Invasion, anarcade-style beat-em-upthat spans the galaxy. Featuring 15 playable Marvel heroes like Spider-Man, Venom, Storm, and Rocket Raccoon, each character’s playstyle revolves around their unique strengths, from the ability to dominate the battlefield from the air to grounded brute force.
Marvel Cosmic Invasionfeatures the Cosmic Swap system, which allows players to tag between heroes mid-combo for increased strategy. Levels include Genosha’s musical underworld and SHIELD’s Helicarrier, with background Easter eggs for eagle-eyed fans. Designed as a nostalgic love letter to90s arcade gamesand Marvel Comics,Marvel Cosmic Invasionlaunches this holiday season on PC and consoles.
Mixtape
From Beethoven and Dinosaur, the developer ofThe Artful Escape, comesMixtape, a story-driven collage ofcoming-of-age momentstold through a curated soundtrack of 80s and 90s hits. On the final night before three friends part ways, their journey becomes a mixtape in both form and function. Each level changes the style of gameplay, whether it’s skateboarding, slushie-pulling, or brawling, and it’s all wrapped up in surreal visuals that effectively communicate the angst, wonder, and rebellion of the teenage years.
The soundtrack is naturally a highlight ofMixtape, with legends like Devo, The Cure, Joy Division, and Iggy Pop, and each song bringing soul to its gameplay. It’s less aboutrhythm mechanicsand more about capturing how effortlessly music brings context to life. Equal parts psychedelic and moving,Mixtapeis set to arrive later this year on PC and consoles.
Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault
Digital Sun returns with the highly anticipatedMoonlighter 2: The Endless Vault, a sequel to the belovedshopkeeping roguelite. Players once again battle through randomized dungeons, collect relics, and sell them back at their shop, but this time, there’s a twist. New backpack mechanics influence loot behavior, and players can find cursed or enhanced items based on placement.
Moonlighter 2’s combat has also been upgraded with varied enemy types,boss fightslike the Herald, and perk systems that change with each expedition. Outside the dungeons, upgraded shop features let players unlock effects that boost sales and create chain reactions. With massive biomes, diverse exploration, and deeper economics than its predecessor,Moonlighter 2is an ambitious sequel set to arrive sometime this year.
Neverway
Developed by Coldblood Inc.,Neverwayis aslow-burning horror RPGthat blends life-sim mechanics with dark fantasy themes. As Fiona, players leave their job and relocate to a remote island to start over. There, players farm, fish, craft, and manage their daily routine in the morning, afternoon, and evening. However, players eventually discover that their new life is tied to a mysterious debt and a sword that binds them to a cursed, dying god.
Combat inNeverwayis fast-paced and customizable, with gear and relationships influencing how players fight. Romantic and platonic bonds with over ten NPCs can eventually unlock compatibility perks, and deeper interactions can take those even further. With haunting pixel art from the artist behindCelesteand a moody soundtrack from Disasterpeace,Neverwaytakes the peaceful routine of a cozylife-sim game likeStardew Valleyand mixes it with existential horror for a unique experience. A release date forNeverwayhas yet to be announced.
OFF
OFF, a cult classic RPG from 2008 that inspiredgames likeUndertale, returns with a remastered version for the Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam. Players take on the role of the Batter in a bizarre, cube-shaped world full of baseball bats, ghostly enemies, and all-around weirdness.
The new edition includes six original boss fights from creator Mortis Ghost, a remastered soundtrack, and enhanced visuals.OFFremains a strange, fourth-wall-breaking journey that takes players through themes of purification, corruption, and identity. Whether revisiting it or discovering it for the first time, players, especially fans ofUndertale, shouldn’t pass up this modernized port that honors a foundational piece ofindie RPGhistory when it becomes available on August 15.
Please, Watch the Artwork
An uncannypsychological horrorfrom Thomas Waterzooi, developer ofPlease Touch the Artwork,Please Watch the Artworkputs players in the shoes of a night guard at a museum where the paintings come to life, and something dark lurks among them. Inspired by Edward Hopper’s “moody Americana,“Please Watch the Artworkis essentially a “spot the difference” game steeped in paranoia, nostalgia, and ASMR horror.
The twist is the presence of a sad clown who infects the artwork with melancholy, demanding that players stay on their toes at all times.Please Watch the Artworkdoesn’t have anyjump scaresor monsters, but rather invites players to slow down, observe, and question what’s real.Please Watch the Artworkdoesn’t yet have a definitive release date, but it is currently eyeing Halloween 2025.
Pocket Boss
Pocket Bossby Playables, developer ofPlug & Play, is a quirky data-drivengame about workingremotely, manipulating charts, and satisfying a pixelated boss' increasingly strange demands. Players respond to Slack-style messages and perform microtasks like market simulations and data cleansing, only to watch the spreadsheets take on a life of their own.
The minimalist art style serves as a contradiction to the game’s story about anxiety, capitalism, and the search for meaning in routine. As their tasks eventually spiral out of control, players are left to either gain back that control or get lost in the chaos.Pocket Bossis slated for release later this year on PC via Steam.
Possessor(s)
FromHyper Light Drifterdeveloper Heart Machine and publisher Devolver Digital,Possessorsis a high-speed2D action-platformerset in a demon-infested corporate city. Players control Luca, a teen possessed by a demon named Rehm, and together they must survive Sanzu’s twisted vertical towers.
Possessors' art direction is anime-inspired, supported by animated shorts from Powerhouse Animation, and its tight, responsive combat and dual-character narrative channelsCelesteandKatana Zero. As Luca and Rehm scale skyscrapers and uncover corporate secrets, they’ll take onhorrific creaturesand discover fractured memories. A demo forPossessorsis available now, but a full release is expected later this year.
Ratatan
Developed by TVT Co. Ltd., Ratata Arts, and Game Source Entertainment,Ratatanis a rhythmroguelike action gamefrom the creators ofPatapon. With a mixture of rhythm inputs and side-scrolling action,Ratatansupports up to four-player online co-op as players command armies of quirky characters through chaotic, music-driven battles.
Over 100 playable units can join the fray at once, potentially making encounters utter chaos to manage, but that’s meant to be a large part of the fun. With its signature soundtrack andplayful art style,Ratatanis both a love letter to its spiritual predecessor and a welcome return to the rhythm-action genre. Early access forRatatanbegins on July 25 on PC via Steam.
Relooted
Developed by Johannesburg-based studio Namako,Relootedis a politically-chargedstealth-action heist gamewhere players recover stolen African artifacts from Western institutions. Set in a speculative near-future, the game centers on a treaty that mandates the return of looted cultural treasures, despite museums that use legal loopholes to hold onto them. Players will form a crew made up of everyday people to retrieve these items through carefully planned raids.
Each mission inRelootedhas three phases: scouting, preparing the escape, and executing under time pressure.Drawing from real-world history, the game highlights over 70 actual artifacts, like the In’ganga drum, with plenty of context and cultural insight offered ahead of each mission.Relooted’s core gameplay loop involves puzzle-solving and action while simultaneously addressing themes of justice, identity, and historical preservation. Currently, there is no release window forRelooted, but it will be launching on Steam, the Epic Games Store, and Xbox Series X|S, and fans can wishlist it now.
Snap and Grab
No Goblin’sSnap and Grabis another heist adventure where players step into the shoes of the world’s greatest photographer turned thief. Set in a glamorous 1980s world, the camera is the only tool players have at their disposal. They’ll snap photos of valuables, guards, and obstacles, and then use those photos to map out the perfect plan for their crew to pull off a robbery.
Unfortunately, the player’s schemes are threatened by a persistent detective who is closing in fast. However, new crew members who are recruited along the way will bring fresh abilities and strategies that can help players retain the upper hand. With plenty ofcreative puzzle-solvingand a quirky narrative,Snap and Grablooks like one of the most stylish heist games yet, and it’s launching in early 2026 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Sword of the Sea
FromJourneyandAbzuart director Matt Nava comesSword of the Sea, a meditative adventure about movement, momentum, and flow. In the game, players will surf across sand-covered ruins and abandoned desert temples on a Hoversword, asSword of the Sea’s simple mechanics effectively channel the rhythm of snowboarding and skateboarding.
With music byAustin Wintoryand visuals that are reminiscent ofPathless,Sword of the Seaaims to recreate the spirit of extreme sports through its graceful traversal mechanics and environmental solitude. As players awaken in a drowned world, they’ll encounter magical creatures, evolving landscapes, and giant ruins filled with mystery. More than anything else,Sword of the Seasimply wants to invoke wonder more than challenge, and it launches on August 19 on PC and PS5.
Thick As Thieves
Led by legendary designer Warren Spector,Thick As Thievesis a multiplayer stealth-action game where player unpredictability is the biggest threat. Set in an atmospheric, turn-of-the-century world, each match sees players taking advantage of the game’simmersive stealth systemslike hiding in shadows, tracking NPC vision cones, and exploiting real-time soundscapes. This is, of course, alongside the chaos of human players all pursuing their own objectives.
Audio plays a pivotal role inThick As Thieves, with rain, passing trains, and changes in the environment can mask player movements and also give away their position. Players can lay traps, sabotage others, or blend into the crowd while waiting for the perfect moment to strike. With adynamic weather system, randomized objectives, and constantly evolving layouts,Thick As Thievesis designed to be different with every session. The release window forThick As Thieveshas yet to be announced.
Tire Boy
Developed by Game Team 6,Tire Boyis an interestingaction-adventure platformerstarring a sentient tire on a journey of self-discovery. After washing ashore in an unfamiliar land, Tire Boy, who was raised by a wise owl named Neswick, sets out to explore a vast, oversized world, help its inhabitants, and restore a giant radio transmitter to reconnect isolated communities.
Designed to evoke the feeling of being small in a big world,Tire Boyemphasizes speed, agility, and momentum-based traversal. Players solve puzzles, complete odd jobs for locals, and uncover the mysteries of Tire Boy’s past. Though it’s playful and a bit silly,Tire Boynonetheless aims for an emotional tone that inspires quiet reflection, subtle humor, and childlike wonder.Tire Boycan be wishlisted on Steam now.
TOEM 2
Developed by Something We Made,TOEM 2is a whimsical, black-and-white photography adventure that builds on the charm of the original with expanded storytelling and a more interactive world. Set a few years after the first game, players embark on their biggest journey yet to uncover a new phenomenon that they will have to wait and discover for themselves.
Along the way, players will meet “Friends,” unique NPCs with distinct personalities and questlines who aid players by granting them fun Camera Tools like scissors for cutting and hammers for smashing. The core gameplay still revolves around exploration and snapping photos, but a newmovement systemnow allows jumping and climbing, making the world feel more open and free. The visuals have also been refined, the camera controls are snappier, and the spirit of playful discovery remains completely intact.TOEM 2can be wishlisted now, but its release window is still unannounced.
