I’m so tired. Tired of broken launches, half-finished battle passes, and hundred-hour open worlds with the creative soul of a spreadsheet. So when a game from a brand-new studio slides across my desk, my expectations are usually somewhere below the floorboards. But every once in a while, a game comes along that doesn’t just raise the bar; it reminds you why you fell in love with this medium in the first place. Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream is that game. It’s a stunning, polished, and fiercely intelligent work of art that has absolutely no business being this good.

Some games give you a gun and tell you to shoot the monster. s.p.l.i.t. gives you a command line, a blinking cursor, and a palpable sense of impending doom that’s more terrifying than any creature. This is a game that gets its hooks in you deep and fast, a retrofuturist nightmare that perfectly captures the paranoid fantasy of being a hacker in some grimy, rain-slicked dystopia. It’s a potent, brain-melting experience that hurts in the best possible way. And then, just as you’re fully mainlining its particular brand of dread, it ends.

Ever wondered what would happen if the most mundane part of an Amazon warehouse job was turned into a surprisingly addictive, cozy, and aesthetically pleasing video game, but it also came with a free, invisible wrist brace because you're gonna fucking need it? Welcome to Ship, Inc., the game that has perfected the art of the zen-like grind.

Ever wondered what would happen if the legendary creator of Counter-Strike emerged from a time capsule, decided to build a spiritual successor to SWAT 4 and Payday, but constructed it using spare parts from 2005 and a whole lot of raw, unfiltered ambition? Say hello to Alpha Response, a game that is simultaneously a glimpse of tactical brilliance and a janky, glorious, hot mess.

Ever wondered what would happen if you lost your job to an AI, got gifted a pair of magical horny sunglasses, and then immediately tried to fuck your liquor cabinet? Date Everything answers that question with a resounding "Yes," but what's truly insane is that after the initial wave of laughter, you might actually catch feelings.

Ever wondered what would happen if you poured your heart and soul into opening your dream restaurant, only to discover you have a crippling gambling addiction and your freeloading uncle, who has taken up permanent residence in the bathroom, keeps "borrowing" money for the bus? Well, Wrap House Simulator is here to serve you that exact, soul-crushing experience on a sizzling hot platter.

Ever wondered what would happen if someone made a skiing game that's both as chill as a mountain breeze and as intense as an avalanche? Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders answers that question with a perfect blend of tranquil exploration and white-knuckle descents that'll have you saying "just one more run" until sunrise.

Ever wondered what would happen if someone turned Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes into a single-player game and added a healthy dose of crushing space capitalism? Well, Uncle Chop's Rocket Shop answers that question with a uniquely addictive blend of manual reading, frantic repairs, and just enough existential dread to keep you coming back for more.