Day of the Devs: Summer Game Fest 2026 Roundup

It's that time of year when every gamer sits by their screens and prays for the announcement they want to see appear during a show. From brand-new things to the most anticipated announcements of the year, June has become that moment.

While Day of the Devs might be focused on Indie games, there are still a ton of World Premieres and a lot of interesting updates from other indie titles. If you're looking for the best Indie titles available, then look no further.

I got to see these fairly early, and the showcase was not only interesting for almost every minute, but it had some pretty great humor, too. We'll have to wait and see what the world lands on for a new word for World Premieres, but I'm personally a fan of "Never Been Seen Video Game Screen."

Here are several indies to look forward to from Day of the Devs 2026.

33 Immortals

You've probably heard or seen something about 33 Immortals already, since it was available as a game preview as a co-op game on Game Pass. It's changed a lot since it first became available, and now with the launch of 1.0 looming, Thunder Lotus is looking to up the ante.

This is the same team that brought you Spiritfarer, so at minimum it'll be a pretty solid experience. The main focus here is that you'll fight alongside 32 other players in this action-Roguelike as you attempt to challenge God and save your soul.

As an idea, this seems really interesting, putting players straight into a raid-like scenario with a ton of other players, but that doesn't mean success will be guaranteed. Just like every other Roguelike, you're going to die and get stronger before you manage to take down God.

Apple Crumble - World Premiere

From the creators of Duck Detective, a brand-new murder mystery thriller game is coming called Apple Crumble. It's all about your grandma and her 84th birthday, and what may or may not be a planned murder as you go around the house, uncovering hints and clues as to what's really going on.

It comes across as humorous, but with that overarching sense of fear that makes all good murder mysteries work so well. You might suspect your family members or even the man in your bedroom, but who can say for certain what's going on?

No release date for this one, but a well-made Apple Crumble takes time, right? You can't rush your grandma before she's murdered, so now all you can do is wait for this mystery thriller like everyone else.

Blood Dungeon — World Premiere

This insane 2D platformer that works similarly to Vampire Survivors comes from the developer behind the age-old game Nidhogg. It's a fairly simple game with a focus on fun, and from the looks of it, it'll offer some great chaotic adventures.

Based on some of the information provided, it won't be a Roguelike and instead will have some arenas for you to explore as you master the combat. Survival will be key in this crazy game, but mastering the art of kiting enemies will be what determines your success.

You'll be able to upgrade your abilities to make some insane combinations. There are over 100 weapons available and a handful of characters to learn and enjoy. Finding every combination and mastering everything on offer might take some time, but it seems it'll be well worth it.

Bub — World Premiere

If you watched this trailer, you might be asking yourself what exactly you're looking at. It doesn't really look like a traditional game, although it certainly produces the feelings that a heavily emotional game might produce.

That seems to just be what Bub is: a game that has a lot of parts being used to tell the story of Bub. Bub, a struggling artist, isn't just a story; it's a retelling of something seemingly very personal to its creators.

No matter what the game turns out to be, it will absolutely be something heartfelt that tells a unique and lovely story about hardship and perseverance. The incredible artwork, combined with the great sound design, makes this game seem like one that will absolutely resonate with players all over the world when it releases in 2027.

DREADMOOR

This is a game I was already very familiar with from my time with the Dreadmoor Preview at PAX East; that said, it was still great to see the game getting eyes on it. This spooky fishing game has a lot on offer and makes for a humorous but eerie fishing game.

While there still isn't much information on the game as a whole, what is there seems really solid. From some different fishing mini-games to crafting various add-ons for your rod, the game seems to be deeper than it might be at a glance.

Dreadmoor will definitely be a game to keep on your radar, as the game should be coming out sometime soon. This one has a lot going for it, from gameplay to art style and atmosphere, and all that's left is to see it in action.

Into the Fire

With a fairly funny opening paired with a much higher-stakes trailer, Into the Fire is looking to really bring the heat. This extraction survival game revolves around running into fires and rescuing survivors while trying to find a way through the ash and lava on the island.

You'll have to manage the resources you have if you hope to get back alive. The hardest part will be deciding if you can save everyone from the flames, but you'll need to think about how much you can survive first.

The gameplay looks interesting, but you'll strictly be playing this one by yourself. You can see if you have what it takes to survive a world on fire soon, as the game is slated for sometime this year.

Into the Unwell

A wild and wacky rubber hose animated game that operates more like a fever dream is coming at some point in the future, and that's Into the Unwell. This insane game takes the rubber hose style of games like Mouse: P.I. for Hire and cranks it up to 11.

You and up to three friends can hack and slash your way through this third-person Roguelite set in this undeniably crazy world. With some great animation and a very metal soundtrack, it seems that at least this one caught everyone's attention.

It's a little tough to gather what exactly is going on during the trailer, but one thing is for certain: it's going to be a very good time. While information is limited right now, the game is slated for release in 2027.

Ithaca — World Premiere

When a bunch of mean existentialist French people get together, something is always going to go down, and this time that something is Ithaca. The team over at Pixel Hunt is out to remind people why the French invented existentialism with this story-based driving game.

This narrative game will focus heavily on presenting interesting questions for players to mull over as they navigate a complex and intertwining story filled with mystery. Will it end with you questioning your own life choices? Probably, but that's part of the fun.

The game seems to be in early development still, with an active Kickstarter, but what's shown already looks pretty good. Whatever it turns out to be, it'll surely be something that poses thoughtful and provoking questions.

Lazy River - World Premiere

While you could certainly file this game under the "friendslop" tag, it seems like there's a lot of charm here. It comes across as something with a lot of heart and humor, leaning into the funny moments with friends, similar to something like PEAK, which had a massive concurrent player count.

It's an endless co-op FPS where you'll build a raft and attempt to survive a zombie outbreak at the waterpark because someone peed in the pool. That raft acts as your base while you try to survive and navigate the dangers of this space station, Water Station One.

It's ridiculous, and asinine, but honestly? It just seems like some great fun with a group of friends. This one is still a good bit away and won't be coming until 2027, but when it does, you can be sure you'll be ready to enjoy some pool time while you whack zombies with a pool noodle.

Mr. Records — World Premiere

A game all about music and taking care of a record store with a bit of a twist is Mr. Records. This game comes from the minds behind Headbangers Rhythm Royale and seems to be a fantastic musical journey.

It features some very obvious nods to popular artists like The Beatles, Pink Floyd, and even some classic arcade cabinet tunes. That's not all this game can boast about, though, as it seems it'll also possess an overarching story that connects the world more than you might think.

The simple art style lends itself well to creating some vibrant and intriguing worlds as you navigate this rhythm game. Whether it'll be a record-scratch moment or some nice smooth tunes has yet to be seen.

N PLUS INFINITY TIMES TWO - World Premiere

Remember those old-school games you played on a website where you could play using half the keyboard while your friend used the other half? Well, N PLUS INFINITY TIMES TWO is trying to recapture that same magic with a more competitive twist.

Metanet Software Inc. is responsible for all the N Plus titles thus far, so it's clear they know what they're doing. It's a strange type of game that seems to be a simple platformer on the surface with some much deeper gameplay, like turning into a rocket to destroy your opponents.

The developers are hoping to make this one more competitive than the last entry in the series, so that'll be something interesting depending on how it all plays out. Overall, the simplicity of the game seems to lend itself nicely to a more complex game underneath, but we'll have to wait and see.

Prove You're Human

Of all the things at the showcase, this might take the cake for being the weirdest. Prove You're Human is a game all about reminding a disembodied AI face that she is, in fact, AI and not a human with a body, or at least she shouldn't be.

This comes to us from Sunset Visitor 斜陽過客, the makers behind 1000xResist. It's clear that these developers know story and games, but interestingly enough, what draws the most attention during this trailer is just how emotive the massive face of our AI seems to be.

While it doesn't have a release date or even a release window, I think everyone will happily wait for this one to be good and ready. From just what was shown, this one has a lot of potential, and with the humorous cutoff ending to the trailer, there's clearly a lot going on behind the scenes.

Screenbound

Screenbound is one of my favorite games from the showcase, mostly because of how innovative it seems to be. When you get sucked into a strange new world, the only way out is to play in both 3D and 2D space at the same time.

It's a really intriguing concept, and with what was teased, it seems like each game cartridge will provide a new set of rules to operate by, similar to something like Split Fiction. That kind of innovation is rare, and seeing something take on that kind of idea is really amazing.

With no release date in sight, it seems like we'll be waiting quite a while for this one. That being said, it'll be worth the wait as whatever they have cooking is going to be something not only memorable, but incredibly fun.

Shot One Fighters

I was pleasantly surprised to see Shot One Fighters at the showcase, as I'd seen it around on some dev subreddits before then. The game seems to have improved immensely and really wants to shake up the traditional fighting game ideology.

In this game, every run will see you using different attacks that grow more powerful as you make your way through its Roguelike levels and attempt to take out Paradox, the massive world-eating baddie. Like most Roguelikes, no two runs will be the same, and in a fighting game, that means a lot to learn and a whole lot more to play with.

This is one of those games that seems like it might make a meaningful impact on the genre if it's done well. With what's been shown so far, it might end up being a bit more meaningful than anyone imagined.

Slap Out of It! - World Premiere

This ridiculous game might come across as just a silly little adventure (and it is), but it's also a huge sandbox filled with secret combinations. A simple rule brings about every interaction: slap everything.

You're setting out to help people with their problems in whatever way you can, seemingly by making it worse first. Once you get the hang of things, you'll be slapping everything to solve stupidly silly puzzles.

The team knows the kind of humor they're going for and hints at something a little deeper. Whether or not the game will go beyond what's on offer has yet to be seen, but hopefully, there's more information soon.

Super Yooka-Laylee Kart - World Premiere

Play a kart racing game in an unexpected world with Super Yooka-Laylee Kart. This game comes from the creators of the original Yooka-Laylee game, Playtonic, so it'll have that same sort of charm.

This game is looking to make skill the most important part, and mastery over its mechanics will be king. It's an interesting idea, and with a solo campaign to complete and custom race settings, it seems like you'll have plenty of ways to practice.

Kart racers are still pretty popular, and it seems like a new one comes out pretty regularly. If this one can make full use of the new mechanics it brings with it, then fans of the genre will have a very good time whenever it manages to release.

Tenebris Somnia

From the creators of Faith: The Unholy Trinity and Ultrakill comes Tenebris Somnia, a new kind of horror game seeking to reinvent the genre as a whole. This game will incorporate an entire live-action movie into its 2D pixel art horror game.

To say what was shown wasn't creepy in the best way would just be dishonest. While the premise might feel a bit out there, it is backed by an award-winning film crew, so hopefully, they can live up to the task set before them.

An interesting premise isn't all that this game is about; it'll provide plenty of puzzles and mysteries to solve. All wrapped up in a disturbing package that will surely leave players afraid to sleep with the lights off.

Threads of Time

Time travel games aren't exactly common, and a game like Threads of Time is even less common. This one looks like it'll present some interesting choices as you move through time periods and collect various heroes to help with your journey.

There are some clear inspirations from popular 2D games like Octopath Traveler, for example, but if the devs are to be believed, this will be something entirely new, too. Time travel won't just be a premise for the story; it'll also play a part in combat.

It sounds great and looks even better. From some really incredible art to some more than enticing animations, make this a game to keep an eye on. Only time will tell where this one ends up, but for now, it looks pretty good.

Trine 6: Together in Time - World Premiere

Trine is back yet again and looking to upgrade the iconic game series with a new entry. Trine 6: Together in Time will see you and a group of adventurers tackling this co-op puzzle game.

With some serious upgrades to the formula, the puzzles seem like they'll include a lot of physics-based things. This means timing and teamwork will be important, so you can be sure that playing with your friends will lead to some screaming.

There's no doubt in anyone's mind that what's on offer here will be something incredible. Lucky for everyone that you won't have to wait very long, as it has a release date of September 17, 2026.

When Sirens Fall Silent

While less on the horror side of things, this dark psychological thriller will see players take on the role of Mila, a police officer on the case of high-profile kidnappings. You'll interact with the world and solve puzzles as you attempt to piece together what exactly is going on.

The most dangerous part is that you'll have to save Mila from both herself and the incredible violence she finds herself in. Set in the early 1990s in Italy, there are all kinds of interesting turns this game can take, and each one is darker than the last.

Without a release date in sight, you'll just have to wait until the team is done perfecting that psychological horror that we all love so much. It's freaky and deaky, but underneath all that, there's a real story to experience through the lens of Mila.

That's all there was for the Day of the Devs, but with this many World Premieres and a whole lot of awesome showings, there's not much to complain about. Now comes the hardest part: waiting for everything to come out.