26 (or so) Very Brief Previews of Video Games You Might Want to Know About

The article surveys a broad spectrum of upcoming and newly announced video games, emphasizing the creative diversity emerging from both indie studios and larger publishers. It begins by cataloguing more than two dozen titles presented at Los Angeles’ Indie Mix and Summer Game Fest, ranging from the bento‑box puzzle “Don’t Let It Starve” to the hybrid action‑strategy of “Deckcrawler.” The coverage highlights how indie developers are experimenting with unconventional themes—such as a basketball‑zombie shooter “Ball & Gun”—and notes the increasing polish of non‑Western studios, citing Chinese titles like Blood Message and Sea of Remnants for their high production values.

The second section expands the focus to include both indie and AAA demos, spotlighting games such as Valor Mortis, which blends Souls‑like combat with first‑person parkour, and Ithaca, a narrative‑driven road‑trip experience. It also discusses innovative mechanics in titles like Erosion, where time jumps alter gameplay across decades, and quirky concepts such as the pool‑float base of Lazy River or the single‑winged puzzle platformer Bad Magpie. Industry trends are noted, including Amazon’s investment in the studio Clutch and the continued use of licensed movie settings exemplified by Stuntman: Hollywood.

The final section turns to Nintendo‑third‑party releases, previewing titles such as Turok: Origins (Saber Interactive, Fall 2026), the single‑player spin‑off Among Us Story: On Guard (Innersloth, TBD), and the Zelda‑inspired adventure Demi and the Fractured Dream (Yarn Owl, Feb 2027). Each game is described in terms of core mechanics—first‑person hunting, dialogue‑driven mystery, and puzzle‑platforming—and the developers’ intent to blend classic elements with fresh experiences. The piece concludes by indicating that further coverage of upcoming games will follow in subsequent posts.