Beyond the Grove launched in Early Access in November 2025 with hand-drawn art, live-recorded music, and zero AI involvement. Not a Duck Games is self-funding their charming RTS-autobattler hybrid while pushing weekly updates, and it’s genuinely delightful.

LOW PONY’s Make it so takes the simple yes-no decision formula of Sort the Court and adds faction systems, resource management, and quirky characters. With a public playtest coming early 2026, this cozy indie could be the next cult hit.

Rattleaxe Games transformed their Godot learning project into D.O.T. Defence, a streamlined RTS-tower defense fusion inspired by StarCraft custom maps and Advance Wars. After launching in Early Access in April 2025, this Vancouver indie team proved scrappy devs can still innovate.

Launch Window by gumptiongames combines Factorio’s logistics automation with Kerbal Space Program’s orbital mechanics. Manage 1,000+ autonomous spacecraft using real Newtonian physics while building colonies across entire planets in this upcoming 2026 Early Access release.

Dos Ivanes and Polden Publishing answered a question nobody asked: what if fishing was an FPS? Their upcoming co-op shooter Fish Hunters has you reel in 140 species then shoot them out of the sky with everything from rifles to turrets.

Brickadia just dropped its first major update since July’s Early Access launch, bringing customizable bots and a completely reworked prefab system. Built over eight years by Brickadia LLC, this multiplayer brick-building game handles millions of bricks without breaking a sweat.

Old Atlas spent years turning the classic snake game into a mesmerizing idle experience set in outer space. With colorful visuals, engaging mechanics, and a January 2026 release date, this isn’t your typical hands-off clicker.

Deep Green Games spent three years creating BOT.VINNIK Chess Masters Academy, where a sarcastic Soviet-era AI coach teaches you chess through 3,000 handcrafted puzzles. With a free Steam demo available, this retro-futuristic puzzle game proves learning chess doesn’t have to be boring.

After nearly two years in Early Access, Volker Wertich’s city builder Pioneers of Pagonia launched its full version on December 11 with a massive 30-hour campaign. The original Settlers creator built the game he always wanted to make.

Vicarius throws you into a hostile world where every step away from safety could be your last. Developer Nocten’s debut game combines top-down combat with roguelike stakes, and the free Steam demo is available now.