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Hello, Meghann O'Neill here; one of the people who sees all the indies at every PAX. I've never tried to make a list before. But. Gonna try in 2025. I hope you find something to play. Aussie games are amazing.
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These games are in the order I saw them. I believe there are 150, but this is quite an imperfect count, as you will see.
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Massive props to my 15yo, Lyndon, who played a damn lot of these games, as I chatted with developers.
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If you're a dev reading this and I have a detail of your game wrong, get in touch. @firkraags.bsky.social
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This is a player facing list. I believe Renee O'Flynn may be creating more of an industry facing list, which is here ... https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1esqAa6iUTskShUz7kEoY04a01wlk2I_sDO5jQbCFOOc/edit?usp=drivesdk
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If you're looking for something to play - search for genre or 'yes' to highlight things that have free demos now.
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NameSitedemo?genrescomments
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Blood Vow: Survive the Nighthttps://store.steampowered.com/app/3461150/Blood_Vow_Survive_the_Night/nosurvival, action, MPMoody art and animations.
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Lament of the Losthttps://store.steampowered.com/app/3898590/Lament_of_the_Lost/nopuzzle, explorationI love that creating grass is a puzzle solution.
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Huedinihttps://store.steampowered.com/app/2746120/Huedini/yesrhythm, action, roguelikeInteresting system combining colour and beat/pulse.
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Bones: Wandering Soulhttps://store.steampowered.com/app/3718960/Bones_Wandering_Soul/nopuzzle, storyUse your bone arm to row a boat?!
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Ogorahttps://store.steampowered.com/app/3262090/OGORA/yesroguelike, deckbuilderYou are an enchanted piece of furniture?!
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Ecliptichttps://store.steampowered.com/app/3025870/Ecliptic/yespuzzle, adventureThe dev was an absolute font of Greek mythology knowledge.
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Dolvenhttps://store.steampowered.com/app/2369850/Dolven/yesstory, RPG, tacticsLanes, cards and combos. Difficult, but complexity and learning FTW.
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Maralingahttps://store.steampowered.com/app/3813640/Maralinga/?curator_clanid=45514146nofps, survival, horrorEarly in development. Dev mentioned interesting approaches to consultation.
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Loftiahttps://store.steampowered.com/app/2320980/Loftia/nocosy, multiplayer, craftingSustainability, environmental, community focuses.
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Enter the Chronospherehttps://store.steampowered.com/app/1969810/Enter_the_Chronosphere/yesRTS, TBS, bull hell, storyTurn based bullet hell, hell yes. (I'm so bad at bullet hell and I love TBS.)
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Letters to Arrallahttps://store.steampowered.com/app/2189310/Letters_to_Arralla/yespuzzle, exploration, storyExtremely cute. Released. Have loved seeing this over the years at PAX. Reading other peoples' mail?!
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Trashhttps://store.steampowered.com/app/1589700/Trash/yesco-op, adventure, craftingVery colourful, bit of an environmental message, and cool trash creatures.
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Bloodbreaker: Labyrinth of the Witchhttps://store.steampowered.com/app/3530380/Bloodbreaker_Labyrinth_of_the_Witch/yesroguelite, metroidvaniaEngaging colours and mood. Devs from the Philippines.
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The Fractured Shimmerhttps://store.steampowered.com/app/3100420/The_Fractured_Shimmer/yeshorror, adventureLoved this one. Really noir, with elements of Indonesian society/culture.
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Aussie Bogan Herohttps://store.steampowered.com/app/2321520/Aussie_Bogan_Hero/yesmetroidvaniaAn Aussie game culture highlight, really. A must play.
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Skiers Landinghttps://store.steampowered.com/app/2688270/Skiers_Landing/no - but playtestarcade, sportsCompanions in your backpack assist your ski runs?! So fun.
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Cairnshttps://store.steampowered.com/app/3810840/Cairns/noliterally just stacking stonesSoooo good. So many questions about the stones. No demo yet. But - totally will play.
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Throw Rocks? ? With the Kaiju Stomp crew.??Lane based.
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The Hell: City Builder of the Deadhttps://store.steampowered.com/app/2715410/The_HELL__City_Builder_of_the_Dead/nosimulation, strategyNecropolis builder? Totally into that. But, I believe this is also mission/campaign based.
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Teeny Tidy https://store.steampowered.com/app/3839150/Teeny_Tidy/yesidleRobot loves to tidy. So enthusiastic.
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Mirror? Can't find - part of the Game Excellence Award Showcase?horror, myst-like?Played in Chinese (which we do not speak). Cool vibes, but didn't get very far.
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Luminote Mio: Aqualoom at Ocean's End
https://store.steampowered.com/app/4021080/Luminote_Mio_Aqualoom_at_Oceans_End/
noadventure, storyReally nice. Story elements, crafting decorating. I love the word 'aqualoom' …
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Toya!https://the-rnd-department.itch.io/toyayespuzzleThe game formerly known as Cube. My review. https://www.gameshub.com/news/features/pax-indies-2024-2646686/
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Sinthetichttps://store.steampowered.com/app/1910910/Sinthetic/yesaction, RPGThis is a party game where you switch between characters while others are on cool down. I love that idea.
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Silk Soarhttps://store.steampowered.com/app/3277320/Silk_Soar/yesplatformer, flinging physicsStill very difficult, since I played it at SAGE. But, enjoyably maddeningly difficult …
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Zodiac Mountainhttps://store.steampowered.com/app/2996150/Zodiac_Mountain/yes - temporaryroguelike, deckbuilderBalancing yin and yang was a neat twist.
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My Arms are Longer Nowhttps://store.steampowered.com/app/2646170/My_Arms_Are_Longer_Now/noheist, arms, ?Like yeah. Be a long arm who steals stuff. Cannot wait for a demo. I'm there.
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Nuko? Same dev as the Bullcrap dev??card game?Like cheat, or a bluffing game. Dev was busy so didn't chat.
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Vanguard Exileshttps://store.steampowered.com/app/2745490/Vanguard_Exiles/yesautobattler, strategyThis looked very cool, and like a high level MP experience; mind games etc.
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War of Salvationhttps://tgame.dev/wos-game/yesRTSCan't recall this one in detail - someone play it on the link and tell me …
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Rawring Candieshttps://store.steampowered.com/app/3644440/Rawring_Candies/yesparty, co-opProtect and feed your dragon?! I want a candy dragon.
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Black Ravenhttps://store.steampowered.com/app/3309290/Black_Raven/yesaction, adventureReally loved just running through fields of flowers. Cool art.
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Finch and Archiehttps://store.steampowered.com/app/2642500/Finch__Archie/yesco-op, mysterySoo clever. Co-op. I was the detective, Lyndon was the dog. Investigate together.
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Meowtastic Expeditionhttps://www.stemgames.org.au/noactionActually brilliant. Practicing and gaining confidence to face the wolf.
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Journey 2000https://www.stemgames.org.au/noplatformerReally cool level design. Bit of an emergent space facility exploration experience, really.
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Alfred the Fishhttps://www.stemgames.org.au/noexplorationI can't remember this one super well …
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Pigeon Pirateshttps://www.stemgames.org.au/nomultiple genres; minigames etcApparently this is not the team's first pigeon game and their experience shows.
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Buoyant Voyagehttps://www.stemgames.org.au/notop down runner/platformerAn experiment into difficulty, level design and progression.
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Catacombshttps://www.stemgames.org.au/noexplorationSuch beautiful level design.
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Footy Bashhttps://store.steampowered.com/app/2622100/Footy_Bash/yesfooty, MPThird time I've seen this crew. Always a pleasure. They are nearly at release. Totally play it.
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Jupiter Junkworkshttps://store.steampowered.com/app/2913540/Jupiter_Junkworks/yestetris, actionA take on Tetris-ish play with this great 'smash everything below' idea and a neat story.
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Reapreavehttps://10pm-club.itch.io/reaprievenostory, minigamesSo good. They talked at Parallels. An existential crisis about one's digital footprint after death.
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Foodominahttps://store.steampowered.com/app/3116350/Foodomina/yesaction, RPG, storyExtremely food related, quirky and fun. I love the idea there's no perfect ending.
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Libra Apocryphahttps://www.instagram.com/p/DPqW3Dck-Up/no?roguelike, deckbuilderCan't recall this super well.
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MMM MMMCannot find this. Was a UTS game.no?partyDon't have a massive memory of this, but I have written 'panda, frog, toast with various spreads named after people, silly maths puzzles, 3-9x7'.
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Pascal's Requiemhttps://store.steampowered.com/app/3224780/Pascals_Requiem/noRPG, minigameThis is released. Looks great, and the story sounds intriguing.
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Chopsticks WeaponCan't find this. Was UTS. I think I have the name wrong.no?Was a game about stick figures fighting.
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Quantum Loophttps://store.steampowered.com/app/3186440/Quantum_Loop/yesarcade, puzzle?An asteroid dodging game with an interesting twist on experience and replayability.
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Armless Samuraihttps://store.steampowered.com/app/2800020/Armless_Samurai/yesaction, legsRun through the level, take down enemies, and do all the leg things, and the arm things, with your legs.
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Arcane Raidershttps://store.steampowered.com/app/2899410/Arcane_Raiders/yesaction, co-opStylish little game to play together. Spell combos sound fun.
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Potions, Please!https://store.steampowered.com/app/3857810/Potions_Please/nostory, shop, potionsTrying to bring your aunt back to life with her resurrection potion that failed is a pretty hard hitting hook.
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Tingus Goosehttps://store.steampowered.com/app/3629780/Tingus_Goose/yesuncategorisableThe dev told Lyndon that the game isn't suitable for under 18s, and I agree, but I have no idea why … Just go and play the demo (if you're 18+). It's amazing.
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Enfanthttps://store.steampowered.com/app/4025390/Enfant/noaction, metroidvaniaBe an elephant in a post human world (pretty compelling, I'd say) - light environmental focus.
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Nonolithhttps://store.steampowered.com/app/3203340/Nonolith/nometoridbrainia?So good. Basically copy/paste shapes to unlock progression. Very much looking forward to this one.
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Bits & Bopshttps://store.steampowered.com/app/1929290/Bits__Bops/yesrhythmExtremely precise rhythm game vignettes, as discussed at the Noble Steed WIP night.
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Odd Jobs on the Lothttps://store.steampowered.com/app/3826040/Odd_Jobs_On_The_Lot/noparty, co-op, minigamesSet in an Australian carpark …
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Tank Societyhttps://store.steampowered.com/app/3449140/Tank_Society/noarcade, tanksReminiscent of tanklike Flash games.
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Soulfulhttps://store.steampowered.com/app/4065900/SOULFUL/noexploration, combatCannot tell you how much I loved this one, and am sad there is no demo. I mean just look at it. It's SO beautiful.
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Zero Point Survivorhttps://store.steampowered.com/app/3476600/Zero_Point_Survivor/noaction?I don't have a good memory of this one.
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Spellsidedhttps://store.steampowered.com/app/3088510/Spellsided/yesdice, puzzleFormerly Hexaquest. My review. https://www.gameshub.com/news/features/pax-indies-2024-2646686/ Looks even better this year.
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Nullstar Solushttps://store.steampowered.com/app/3094210/Nullstar_Solus/yesplatformer, thruster ideaSpeedrun, precision platformer. Looks fun, and as you learn how thrusters work you can streamline your run.
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Faithhttps://store.steampowered.com/publisher/NewBlood??I didn't try to play/discuss the New Blood games. Basically, they were just super busy and everyone was busy. (Which is great.)
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Gloomwoodhttps://store.steampowered.com/publisher/NewBlood??I didn't try to play/discuss the New Blood games.
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Amid Evilhttps://store.steampowered.com/publisher/NewBlood??I didn't try to play/discuss the New Blood games.
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Tenebris Somniahttps://store.steampowered.com/publisher/NewBlood??I didn't try to play/discuss the New Blood games.
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Fallen Accesshttps://store.steampowered.com/publisher/NewBlood??I didn't try to play/discuss the New Blood games.
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Ultrakillhttps://store.steampowered.com/publisher/NewBlood??I didn't try to play/discuss the New Blood games.
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Far Outbackhttps://toneae.itch.io/far-outbackyesaction, co-opIntroduced species, Gecko and Toad, learn a lesson about being introduced species, which is a super interesting idea.
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Pro Jank Footyhttps://store.steampowered.com/app/3621330/Pro_Jank_Footy/nofooty, absurd, comedy, sportsLyndon had his photo taken with the mascot Mr Footy, and it was the best thing that happened at PAX this year …
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Castle Cabhttps://store.steampowered.com/app/3755770/Castle_Cab/noaction, racing, co-opYou're delivering patrons around the kingdom, and/or running them over …
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End of Emberhttps://store.steampowered.com/app/3217880/End_of_Ember/notwin-stick shooterStill super violent, since SAGE, but in a fun way. Possibly a little more body horror than I remember?
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Ghost Camhttps://store.steampowered.com/app/2121930/GHOST_CAM/nocosy, horrorVR and PC. You're capturing ghosts on film to progress the story, and it actually is (somehow) horror and cosy ...
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L8R SK8Rhttps://store.steampowered.com/app/3046610/L8R_SK8R/yesaction, skatingYou collect 'time' to unlock levels. I think Lyndon played a super hard boss battle. So, a range of gameplay.
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The Indigo Initiativehttps://store.steampowered.com/app/3789050/The_INDIGO_Initiative/nopuzzle explorationCan't remember this super well. There was an elemental gun, and then you combined elements to solve challenges.
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Cow Chesshttps://store.steampowered.com/app/3444110/Cow_Chess/yesparty, tanks, platformingWe won a cow. Did you win a cow?
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Shatter Rushhttps://store.steampowered.com/app/3668330/ShatterRush/yesFPS, parkour, MPDestructible levels, so you can't 'camp' as they say.
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Your Holy and Virtuous Heretichttps://store.steampowered.com/app/2621030/Your_Holy__Virtuous_Heretic/yesRPG?I've seen this for multiple years and seen the dev talk at 2 events and I'm still not sure how to describe this.
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Grove Keeperhttps://store.steampowered.com/app/3255590/Grove_Keeper/noRTSReally like the premise of this one. You ARE the forest.(Although I think you are/have a bunch of people planting and protecting the forest?)
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BraveCarthttps://store.steampowered.com/app/3750760/BraveCart/noturn-based, puzzleVeteran developers, definitely set to be good. Love the trollies. Puzzles seem well designed and clever, from what I saw.
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Bilby Bluehttps://teamcadence.itch.io/bilby-blueno?storyFinding peace with yourself after being excluded from the group (which was surprisingly evocative).
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H? of Heresy? With the RMIT games.no??Can't recall this one so well, but it was a dungeon escape of some kind.
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Rob and Rollhttps://store.steampowered.com/app/2910860/Rob__Roll/nodice, TBS, roguelikeThe right type of complex so that you can be strategic and also at the mercy of randomness.
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Apothecary of City Xhttps://store.steampowered.com/app/3745950/Apothecary_of_City_X/nodeckbuilder, strategyThe dev mentioned 'improvising' your crafting in a dystopian kind of way, like subbing an expired Kit Kat into Chinese medicine recipes? So cool.
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Rails of Rinterland???I remember there were train rails. Not sure why I can't find online.
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Momentohttps://store.steampowered.com/app/2474770/Momento/no - but playtestdecorating, cosy, storyA branching take on this decorating/puzzle genre, where what you choose influences who you become.
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Lone Pinehttps://store.steampowered.com/app/3575850/Lone_Pine/nopoint and click adventureSo into this, love the art. Love that it's point and click. Love that it's Aussie. And so on.
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Tallest Tale? Difficult to Google. ??I have written, 'cards, spells, survival, skeletons' …
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The Last Wearwolfhttps://store.steampowered.com/app/2212520/The_Last_Werewolf/yesstory, visual novelAm super interested to play this. Is now released. Also a story about mental health. Lyndon loved the colour scheme.
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Elasticrittershttps://store.steampowered.com/app/2923650/Elasticritters/noplatformerVery bouncy, and I think the elastic nature of the bouncing would be fun to learn.
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Bearershttps://www.bearersgame.com/noaction, RPGAn ambitious soulslike kind of game, I think. Still early.
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Angelhttps://store.steampowered.com/app/2884840/Angel/yesracing, rhythm, explorationLyndon loved this one. He loves racing games, and he's a musician, and he really enjoyed the flow state created by the rhythm elements.
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Key Fairyhttps://store.steampowered.com/app/2878580/Key_Fairy/yespacifist bullet hellSo nice to look at. Really interesting gameplay/conceptual ideas. I'm hoping to review it soon.