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"Blatant plagiarism": Viral wolf girl colony sim Family Time enters Steam's top 50 most-wishlisted games, immediately gets ripped off by copycat with the same name
The indie game Family Time, about raising wolf children, has rapidly climbed Steam's most-wishlisted charts. However, its success has been overshadowed by a near-identical copycat game also named Family Time, developed by Hilly Games, which the original developer sgthale has accused of blatant plagiarism and filed a DMCA notice against. This incident highlights growing concerns among indie developers about game copying and the potential misuse of AI.
Thank You Bus Driver Brings Double Fine Chaos on October 14
Double Fine's chaotic black-and-white bus driving game, Thank You Bus Driver, is set to launch on October 14 for PC platforms including Steam, GOG, and itch.io. This marks Double Fine's first release since its split from Xbox, and it will be published under their new Double Fine Action Labs label for "weird, little games."
Double Fine's first game since being dumped by Xbox will be out in just 2 weeks
Double Fine Productions is releasing its new game, Thank You Bus Driver, in two weeks, marking its first title since being dropped by Xbox. This experimental driving simulator, described as 'Crazy Taxi meets Papers, Please!', will be available on PC via Steam, GOG, and Itch.io on October 14.
In Saraab: Beyond The Veil, Your Inner Demons Are Coming For You This November
Saraab: Beyond the Veil, a horror visual-novel inspired by Arabian folklore, will be released on PC via Steam and Itch.io on November 3. Developed by Lubna Ahmed, the game features hand-drawn art and a story about confronting inner demons. A demo will be available during the October Steam Next Fest.
"You can never see outside of yourself": The House Before is a body horror game in which you are a house tunnelling through its own soul
The House Before is an upcoming body horror game from Gabriel Helfenstein and Fantasia Malware, described as a journey through architectural guts. It combines visual novel and text adventure elements with various minigames, including first-person maze and virtual pet mechanics. The game features a vaporwave-inspired aesthetic and is set to release in November on Steam and Itch.io.
Checkpoint’s Queer Game of the Month: August 2026 – Calamity Cait
Calamity Cait, developed by Xavier Bell, is a short visual novel exploring themes of sapphic yearning and workplace crushes. The game features strong writing, player choices that influence dialogue, and a striking black-and-white art style with colorful skies. It is available for free on Steam and Itch.io.
This week in PC games: GoldenEye returns (sort of), plus janky arcade football, ballpoint cities, and a game about keeping the monsters inside Area 51
This week's PC game releases feature a variety of genres, including horror titles like T.W.I.R.L. and Homeostasis, alongside city builders such as Verde and factory games like Sandustry. Notable new entries include Agent 64: Spies Never Die, a spiritual successor to GoldenEye 007, and the quirky football sim Pro Jank Footy. The article also touches on the upcoming release of a highly anticipated game that has generated significant buzz among guides writers.
The follow-up to one of last year's best detective games is off to an 'overwhelmingly positive' start on…
The Incident at Galley House, a new detective puzzle game from developer Evil Trout, has achieved an 'overwhelmingly positive' reception on Steam with 97% of over 600 reviews giving it a thumbs up. This title, along with The Roottrees are Dead, originated as browser games on Itch.io and showcases a trend of detective games inspired by Return of the Obra Dinn.
Jeff Rosenstock guitarist Mike Huguenor to unveil video game in August — MP3s & NPCs
Mike Huguenor, guitarist for Jeff Rosenstock, is releasing a video game titled 'Surfing the Web With the Alien: The Game' on August 20 for PC via Steam and itch.io, and also on limited edition Game Boy cartridges. The game is based on Huguenor's 2025 guitar pop album of the same name and allows players to experience a day on the road as a touring musician.
How Evil Trout aims to turn a cult free game into a Steam hit - again
Indie studio Evil Trout Inc is releasing its second game, The Incident At Galley House, a remake of the free detective game Type Help. This follows their previous success with The Roottrees Are Dead, also a remake of a free Itch.io title. Studio founder Robin Ward aims to turn cult free games into successful Steam releases, with the latest project featuring voice acting and a new interface designed for Steam Deck and consoles.
Fantasy curse-casting adventure TRUE LOVE’S CURSE out now on Steam!
The fantasy visual novel TRUE LOVE’S CURSE, developed by npckc, has been released on Steam, Google Play, and itch.io. The game features a story about a witch who sells curse charms and includes a launch discount on Steam. It is also part of an LGBTQ+ showcase featuring games by nonbinary developers.
'Valve isn't interested in a nuanced conversation' says indie dev suffering from Steam censorship
Indie developer Robert Yang has detailed his struggles with Steam's content moderation policies, which have led to his games being hidden from most users due to their 'gay' nature and sexual content. Yang criticizes Valve for not engaging in nuanced conversations about content, contrasting it with the more permissive approach to sexual content in mainstream titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Baldur's Gate 3. This situation highlights the ongoing impact of censorship on indie creators, even after broader crackdowns on adult content have subsided.
Banned horror title Horses begins recouping development costs after selling 30,000 copies
The horror game Horses, previously banned from Steam and the Epic Games Store, has begun to recoup its development costs after selling 30,000 copies and generating $100,000 in revenue. Santa Ragione co-founder Pietro Righi Riva stated that while the revenue is not enough for a new project, it covers investor returns and development costs. The game, which won multiple awards, was eventually released on Itch.io, GOG, and the Humble Store.
1997 RELOADED: Or, Whatever Happened to Andy Quinn? Drops on Steam and itch.io
The visual novel 1997 RELOADED: Or, Whatever Happened to Andy Quinn?, developed by Gaigo Studio, has been released on Steam and itch.io. The game features an alternate-history narrative set in the 1990s music scene, with over 2,000 original illustrations and a soundtrack of original Pop and Alt-Rock tracks.
Ten games from the Wholesome Direct 2026 to check out
The 2026 Wholesome Direct showcased over fifty indie games, with this article highlighting ten anticipated titles. Among them are Dressmaker, Book Nook, Capy Castaway, Milki Delivery, Hidden Folks 2, Lou's Lagoon, Beastfolk Barber, Patience is a Virtue, Momento, and Pelican Post, spanning various platforms including PC, Steam Deck, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. The event also included a charity drive for the Transgender Law Center.
Everything Announced At The Wholesome Direct 2026!
The Wholesome Direct 2026 showcased over 50 indie titles, highlighting games like Dressmaker, In The Drift, Usagi Shima, Hidden Folks 2, Beastfolk Barber, PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE, Momento, and Tales of Seikyu. Many titles are slated for release on PC, with some also heading to Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. Merchandise sales from the event will benefit the Transgender Law Center.
3D Underwater Fantasy Adventure with Merfolk Tideheart Drops a Demo
Indie studio Broken Tail Interactive has released a free demo for their 3D underwater fantasy adventure game, Tideheart, previously known as The Azure Project. The demo offers a 20-30 minute preview of the game's exploration, puzzles, and fluid underwater movement system, focusing on a merfolk duo exploring a flooded world.
The Paradox of Too Many Games: Why Finding Your Next Favorite Is Harder Than Ever - Walkthrough, Tips, Review
The abundance of games available on PC, particularly on platforms like Steam, has created a 'discovery problem' where players struggle to find new titles due to decision paralysis. Current storefront algorithms and discovery tools are insufficient for navigating massive catalogs, leading to a reliance on manual curation and community recommendations. Furthermore, the issue of game preservation is highlighted, with a significant percentage of older games becoming inaccessible through legitimate channels, further complicating discovery for players seeking unique experiences.
‘Nippets’ Unveils Small Stories Alongside its Hidden Objects
Nippets: A Hidden Object Game is a cozy, timer-free experience focused on people-watching and micro-stories. Players find hidden objects within interactive scenes across different seasons, uncovering narrative clues and completing tasks. The game is available on itch.io and Steam.
Forbidden Solitaire Turns Classic Cards Into Horror Nightmare | HappyGamer
Night Signal Entertainment has developed Forbidden Solitaire, a horror game that weaponizes the classic card game mechanics. Set in 1995, the game uses card play as an investigation tool to uncover a disturbing mystery from a cryptic CD-ROM. The developers are focusing on atmosphere and psychological horror, initially releasing the experimental concept on itch.io.
