Hidden Gems: 5 New Steam Games You Missed This Week
▼ Summary
– The article highlights the challenge of discovering new games due to the high volume of daily releases on Steam.
– It spotlights the detective game ‘Confidential Killings,’ set in Hollywood’s seedy heyday, where players investigate systematic murders.
– It features ‘Craftlings,’ a game combining automation, Lemmings-style management, and base-building across sprawling maps.
– It describes ‘Streetdog BMX’ as a Tony Hawk’s-style game focused on performing BMX tricks across six maps.
– It presents two niche games: ‘EmuDevz,’ a programming-focused emulator builder, and ‘Big Hops,’ a cheerful, fluid 3D platformer.
With dozens of new titles launching on Steam every single day, it’s incredibly easy for standout games to slip through the cracks. This weekly roundup cuts through the noise to spotlight five recent releases you might have missed, from a gritty Hollywood detective story to a charming frog-led platformer. Whether you’re seeking a complex puzzle or pure nostalgic fun, there’s likely something here to add to your wishlist.
Confidential Killings invites players into the shadowy underbelly of classic Hollywood. As a detective, you must investigate a series of murders targeting the film industry’s elite. The game employs a point-and-click style, tasking you with meticulously combing through comic book-inspired crime scenes. Your goal is to reconstruct events and uncover the hidden connections between victims and suspects. For fans of narrative-driven mysteries like L.A. Noire or the hardboiled fiction of James Ellroy, this title offers a compelling dive into a seedy, stylized world.
Next, Craftlings blends automation gameplay with the chaotic charm of managing a horde of little creatures. Instead of short levels, the game unfolds across twelve expansive maps. You assign roles like lumberjack, stone mason, or warrior to your craftlings, focusing heavily on gathering resources and constructing a base. An interesting twist is the inclusion of occasional combat, requiring you to defend your growing settlement from enemies. It’s a satisfying mix of strategy and crowd management that offers more depth than typical entries in the genre.
For those craving arcade-style sports action, Streetdog BMX delivers. This game shifts focus from the downhill speed of recent biking hits to the trick-centric world of BMX. Spread across six maps, the gameplay draws clear inspiration from the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series, emphasizing chaining together tricks like wallrides and fakies. The developers have released a free demo, which is the perfect way to get a feel for the controls and see if pulling off a perfect “icepick” is for you.
On the far end of the complexity spectrum sits EmuDevz. This game comes with a stark warning: it requires actual programming knowledge. Set in a distant, post-apocalyptic future, your mission is to build a functional emulator for a fictional vintage console called the NEES. It’s a brilliantly niche and uncompromising concept, squarely aimed at developers and hobbyists who find the idea of coding as gameplay to be an intriguing challenge. If you can’t write code, this one is definitely not for you.
Finally, Big Hops offers a complete contrast with its lighthearted 3D platforming. You control an adorable, highly agile frog who wouldn’t look out of place on a Saturday morning cartoon. The movement is designed to be fluid and modern, featuring abilities like a grappling tongue swing and a free-climbing mechanic complete with a stamina meter. It captures the spirit of classic mascot platformers while incorporating smoother, more dynamic controls. This is an excellent pick for anyone feeling nostalgic for the 3D platforming gems of the past.
(Source: PC Gamer)