Steam, Epic and GOG: 11 unusual games have just been released and deserve more attention

By Stephan

March 1, 2024

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Our insider tips from February 2024

Table of Contents

Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden

Genre: Action role-playing game
Developer: Don”t Nod
Platforms: PC
PC-Stores: Steam, Epic
Release: February 12, 2024
Steam ratings: 87 percent positive (1,143 user reviews)

Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden is just the right game for story fans. It comes from Don”t Nod, who have already proven their storytelling skills with the first Life is Strange. This time, however, things are even darker

You take turns playing two ghost hunters who are also lovers. But Antea herself is killed and becomes a ghost – now Red is faced with a terrible decision: Does he follow his oath, even if it means losing his lover forever? Or will he sacrifice innocents to bring her back from the dead?

Ultros

Genre: Metroidvania
Developer: Hadoque
Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5
PC-Stores: Steam, Epic
Release: February 13, 2024
Steam ratings: 81 percent positive (147 user reviews)

Ultros looks like Hollow Knight on psychedelic drugs. The Metroidvania is set in a brightly colored, cosmic uterus. No joke. You”re stuck in a time loop, fighting monsters and relaxing while tending your garden.

Islands of Insight

Genre: Adventure
Developer: Lunarch Studios
Platforms: PC
PC-Stores: Steam
Release: February 13, 2024
Steam ratings: 83 percent positive (585 user reviews)

Islands of Insight wants to relax you and stimulate your gray matter at the same time. The puzzle adventure takes you through a stylish fantasy world made up of floating islands. There you will solve over 10,000 puzzles – so of course you don”t have to complete all of them, that would probably be the opposite of relaxation.

For fans of logic problems and perspective puzzles, however, there”s plenty of cool content here, regardless of your previous experience. If you want, you can interact indirectly with other players and give them hints on how to solve the puzzles. You can even customize your character by improving puzzle skills. A rather unique concept, this mix of exploration and puzzles.

Bandle Tale: A League of Legends Story

Genre: Role-playing game
Developer: Lazy Bear Games
Platforms: PC
PC-Stores: Steam, Epic, GOG
Release: February 21, 2024
Steam ratings: 81 percent positive (401 user reviews)

Bandle Tale is probably the last game from Riot Forge – the publisher that expanded the League of Legends universe with exciting single-player spin-offs such as Ruined King

However, the project has now been completely discontinued. Fortunately, Bandle Tale at least looks like a nice send-off.

In this role-playing game, you roam the eponymous world of the cute Yordles. The adventure begins in Yarn Town, where everything revolves around sewing. But of course you end up in a much bigger story, have to repair portals between five islands, organize parties and make friends with LoL champions like Veigar.

Solium Infernum

Genre: Strategy
Developer: League of Geeks
Platforms: PC
PC-Stores: Steam
Release: February 22, 2024
Steam ratings: 88 percent positive (446 user reviews)

Would you like to play a villain again? Then Solium Infernum could be perfect, because in it you embody a prince of hell who wants to conquer the throne. With up to five other players, you fight for supremacy by commanding your legions and spinning political intrigues.

You choose between eight arch-enemies, each with their own special skills, fortresses, troops and demon powers. The developer studio League of Geeks previously released the digital board game Armello, which received a lot of praise – so there are strategy experts at the start here!

The Tribe Must Survive

Genre: Strategy / Horror
Developer: Walking Tree Games GmbH
Platforms: PC
PC-Stores: Steam
Release: February 22, 2024 (Early Access)
Steam ratings: 81 percent positive (55 user reviews)

The Tribe Must Survive tells you exactly what it”s about right from the title: Your tribe must stay alive, whatever the cost! However, mysterious creatures are hunting down your tribe members. And then there are the internal conflicts, some of which are even more dangerous! If you collect too few resources, hunger will spread or your followers will lose heart

The Stone Age meets Lovecraftian horror is a game concept that hasn”t been seen very often before. Worth at least a look for fans of Frostpunk! Early Access is only scheduled to last around three months

Pacific Drive

Genre: Survival
Developer: Ironwood Studios
Platforms: PC, PS5
PC-Stores: Steam, Epic
Release: February 22, 2024
Steam ratings: 81 percent positive (3,779 user reviews)

Survival games are as plentiful as iron ore in the supply crate, but Pacific Drive is a completely different approach. You are on the road in your trusty car in a highly dangerous restricted area in the Pacific Northwest of the USA. Whoever presses the accelerator usually lives longer here!

You need to be resistant to frustration and shouldn”t expect an extensive story. In return, Pacific Drive rewards you with a unique concept, lots of excitement and a great creepy atmosphere, which is repeatedly broken up by cozy workshop visits. Read more in our test!

Rail Route

Genre: Construction simulation
Developer: Bitrich.info
Platforms: PC
PC-Stores: Steam, GOG
Release: February 22, 2024 (final release)
Steam ratings: 90 percent positive (1,371 user reviews)

What for the inventors among you: In Rail Route, you design your own rail network and then manage the trains that run on it. The game looks very similar to what dispatchers see on their monitors in real life

Dicefolk

Genre: Turn-based strategy
Developer: LEAP Game Studios, Tiny Ghoul
Platforms: PC
PC-Stores: Steam
Release: February 27, 2024
Steam ratings: 95 percent positive (93 user reviews)

Dicefolk is included in this insider tip list as a personal recommendation from our freelance author Dani Zirkler. He has already thrown himself into the round battles as a chimera master. You collect various chimeras and use them to build a team – a bit like in Pokémon

The special feature here is that you not only control your own moves by rolling dice, but also those of your opponent. This opens up countless tactical possibilities – the high replay value is praised in many reviews. If you”re still unsure, there”s a free demo for the game on Steam!

Star Wars: Dark Forces Remaster

Genre: Shooter
Developer: Nightdive Studio, LucasArts
Platforms: PC
PC-Stores: Steam, GOG
Release: February 28, 2024
Steam ratings: 85 percent positive (139 user reviews)

Star Wars: Dark Forces was released in 1995 and was the first Star Wars shooter ever. 30 years later, it has now been given a 4K remaster – but remains absolutely oldschool. So don”t expect many modern conveniences! The level of difficulty is high, there are few orientation aids and Star Wars knowledge is a prerequisite

Spiritfall

Genre: Action
Developer: Gentle Giant
Platforms: PC
PC-Stores: Steam
Release: February 28, 2024 (final release)
Steam ratings: 92 percent positive (683 user reviews)

Spiritfall is a mix of fighting game and platformer in which you fight with the powers of the gods (i.e. magic). After each death, you rise again stronger – clear roguelike elements. You unlock new skills and upgrades with the resources you collect before you set off again

This fast-paced game has already found a small but loyal fan community in Early Access, who praise the very satisfying combat system in particular and draw comparisons with Hades

Do you particularly like any of the games presented here? Have you discovered any recently released games that are more in the second or third tier, but that you”re really excited about right now? If so, please write it in the comments below and share your insider tips with us and the GlobalESportnews community!