10 Early Access Games You Should Keep an Eye On

The early access model has become especially common among independent developers, as it allows them to leverage community feedback and funding to shape their projects.

While it's not a universally appreciated model, mainly because some games take years to reach their final version (sometimes, not even then), it has also become a providential tool for many studios, giving them greater assurance when releasing their games.

I usually avoid early access products because I prefer to enjoy complete and polished experiences, but occasionally I come across such attractive titles that I can't help but contribute to and support their development from the beginning.

Therefore, in order to shed light on these interesting experiences and emphasize upcoming launches to follow closely, I invite you to read this list of ten early access games you should keep an eye on.

10 Better Than Dead

Realism Like Never Before

I haven't been a regular player of realistic video games for years because they've increasingly failed to capture my interest, but I can't say the same for the intriguing Better Than Dead.

With a premise so faithful to our reality that it practically terrifies me, this FPS, from the environments to the animations and shooting, seems to transcend the already blurred boundaries of what's digital.

Every shootout feels extraordinarily natural and demanding, as hitting enemies is complex and the danger of dying is ever-present in every corridor, creating a tension very few games in the genre truly strive for in the pursuit of entertainment.

Better Than Dead is fun, but it goes far beyond that. With its gritty aesthetic, ludonarratively clunky controls, and satisfying bullet-time effects, it's a curious combination I definitely want to see evolve in its 1.0 version.

9 Corebreaker

Explosions Bonanza

Indie games are synonymous with roguelikes, and I'd say few genres benefit as much from the wealth of data and testimonials offered by having early access, which has helped Corebreaker become one of my most anticipated releases of this year (I hope).

With divine controls, more particle effects than your brain can process, and challenging 2D encounters that make you feel the pressure of every room, it's dizzyingly addictive in the way only roguelikes can deliver.

Even in its current version, with fewer weapons, upgrades, and levels than it will eventually have, it's a thrilling experience that makes you want to "play one more game" fifty times in a row, which says a lot for a game still in development.

Certainly, this type of work has started to leave me feeling almost saturated with the sheer number of titles released each month, though not even the greatest weariness in the world will make me shy away from Corebreaker when it's finished.

8 White Knuckle

Mirror's Edge Goes Rogue

I never would have expected the grittiness and horror of Mike Klubnika's games to one day cross paths with Mirror's Edge, but I can't think of a better way to describe White Knuckle's bewitching purpose.

Combining first-person parkour and climbing mechanics with a roguelite structure within a dark, brutalist architecture, it's among the most wonderful concepts I've heard about in recent years, and believe me, I'm the kind of person who's always on the lookout for special projects.

Despite being in early access, the foundations are extremely solid, and the satisfaction of climbing further and further with each new attempt to escape that infernal pit is immeasurable, especially as you learn to master the specific challenges of each section.

Considering its funding is already complete and, therefore, the final release is guaranteed, White Knuckle is a sure bet if you want to add a remarkable game to your wishlist that will definitely reach its goal.

7 Echoes of Mystralia

Becoming a Unique Sorcerer

Ever since I played Mages of Mystralia, a charming action-adventure game where you create your own spells, I knew I'd always keep an eye on Borealys Games' projects, which are currently developing Echoes of Mystralia.

Taking the core concept of their first title but adding procedural generation to the formula, the studio's evolution in combat mechanics, character and level design, and progression systems has been truly impressive.

With a perspective and gameplay similar to Hades, though with the added feature of being able to modify your entire arsenal, from the shape of projectiles to their nature, it's a game that hooks you from the first touch.

Furthermore, Echoes of Mystralia boasts among the most detailed and stunning art styles I've seen this year, and although it's only just entered early access, I assure you it will be well worth the wait.

6 SELINI

A Silent Journey

As a Metroidvania enthusiast, I'm always on the lookout for any game that offers something different from the standard, and the ultimate example of said desire that I can think of right now is SELINI.

The genre has become too accustomed to the colorful palettes and hand-drawn styles popularized by Hollow Knight, but this particular project draws much more from INSIDE than from Team Cherry's creations, setting it apart from its peers.

With no interface, a predominantly dark aesthetic, a great level of scenic depth, and a pervasive sense of being hunted, the game neither guides nor speaks to you; it simply lets you fight to survive in a genre accustomed to being more talkative.

Of all the projects on this list, SELINI is by far the least visible and least established, but I'm willing to vouch for it as a strong contender for one of the best Metroidvanias of the year when it's finally finished.

5 Alabaster Dawn

An Awakening Without Gods

Every self-respecting indie fan is familiar with the name CrossCode (if you're not, play it now), so it's only natural that expectations for Alabaster Dawn are sky-high.

As a seemingly horizontal evolution of everything its spiritual predecessor did, this new ARPG promises to top the best indie game lists of the year when it's released, mainly due to its unreal ambition.

Although it's still a couple of years away from leaving early access, the fact that it's been in development for so long and still has so much more to come is impressive, as in terms of gameplay, aesthetics, and music, it already feels far above average.

I have little to say about Alabaster Dawn because its pedigree and presentation speak for themselves, so I'll simply herald its arrival to remind everyone how important it is to support one of today's most talented studios.

4 Dead as Disco

Music, Neon, and Punches

If you cross Sifu with Hi-Fi Rush and add neon lights to the result, you get Dead as Disco: the most engaging incarnation of the overused phrase "combat is like a dance" that's so prevalent in the video game industry.

Here, the expression takes on a literal meaning by fusing the tempo of countless songs with the rhythm of the fights, creating mesmerizing beat 'em up action sequences reminiscent of Rocksteady's Batman.

With great choreography, exceptional art design, a fabulous taste in the selected tracks, and even the option to bring your own, Dead as Disco is the intersection of a unique idea with the evident ability to materialize it, which is a magnificent anomaly.

It's no surprise at all that it's among the most highly rated early access games currently available, as it overflows with so much identity and quality that the only option you have is to join the throng of dancers and rejoice.

3 Fatekeeper

Welcome Back, Dark Messiah

The injustices of life have resulted in the lack of official sequels to Dark Messiah of Might and Magic, but as misfortune doesn't last a thousand years, nor a body that can withstand it, the circumstances of existence have gifted us with Fatekeeper.

Paraglacial has crafted a visceral and immersive first-person RPG where, once again, kicks, physics, and different play styles take center stage, making you connect with both the combat itself and the environment.

The world is alive and interactive, leading to spectacular fights and an unparalleled desire for exploration with flashes of brilliance that rival the greatest in the genre, all for an absurdly low price considering how outstanding it is.

Its graphics are stunning, as are its technical characteristics, supporting a superb gameplay and audiovisual experience that makes Fatekeeper one of the most promising RPGs overall.

2 Gloomwood

For Immersive Sims Devotees

Immersive sims have the most disparate quality-to-quantity ratio of any genre because, despite their scarcity, most are truly impressive creations like Gloomwood.

If this is the sacrifice fans of this type of game must make to continue enjoying adventures of this caliber, I think no one would object, as its inventiveness and polish more than compensate for the lack of more titles.

The names of Dillon Rogers, David Szymanski, Nate Berens, and Thomas Porta will be etched in the annals of the genre for revitalizing it with a work that elevates it in every aspect, assembling a masterpiece of level design, spontaneous gameplay, and atmosphere.

Gloomwood has been in early access for years, and at this point, I don't know what else they could add, but it already offers such a pleasant experience that I'll give them the benefit of the doubt until the end of time.

1 ULTRAKILL

The FPS Throne Is Still Waiting

However, the title of best early access game of all time belongs to ULTRAKILL, a product that hasn't even needed its full release to establish itself as one of the finest first-person shooters ever conceived.

Many years after its first release, Arsi "Hakita" Patala continues to expand his legend by adding more levels to a campaign that could be finished today and easily surpass almost everything else in the genre.

Bathing in blood while drifting at full speed through the circles of Hell, facing increasingly larger and more grotesque mythological beings, is and will continue to be an absolute delight, especially thanks to its literally perfect gunplay.

From the lore to the endless gameplay possibilities offered by your arsenal of weapons, including the diversity of biomes and challenges in both shooting and movement, ULTRAKILL is a generational masterpiece that stands shoulder to shoulder with the greats.

Even though it's an indie game that's still in early access and was developed by one person, there aren't many who can look ULTRAKILL in the eye without shying away out of respect, because it's that sensational.

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