The best games are the ones that aren't even out yet — but you can get a sneak peek at these titles! They're available in "Early Access," which means that they aren't quite finished yet but are substantial enough that players can enjoy. If you can handle a few extra bugs, you'll get the game at a discount.
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The difference between an Early Access game and a game in its Beta phase is that people are paying to get an Early Access game, whereas Beta games are usually free to a select number of people. If you have a few extra bucks left over in your budget this month, consider picking up these spectacular titles!
Dorfromantik
Available on…
If you've ever played the popular European board game "Carcassone," Dorfromantik will feel very familiar. In it, players work to build their kingdom from the ground up — literally. You'll place hexagonal puzzle pieces in the digital space to create farms, towns, forests, trains, rivers, and more! The more sides of the hexagon that match the pieces around it, the more points you'll earn.
It's strangely addictive, once you get a feel for the rules, and so satisfying to build up your adorable little world. While it hasn't been released yet, a "creative mode" has been promised in which you won't need to worry about points! Keep an eye out for this adorable title.
Craftopia
Available on…
Craftopia is an open-world survival indie game that's available in English, Japanese, and Simplified or Traditional Chinese. It's had some bad reviews due to misunderstandings. Fans thought the game was being dumped by the company, but they just announced another game that will be worked on by a totally separate team.
Gameplay will involve all your favorite hobbies from other cozy games like Stardew Valley or Minecraft, including hunting, farming, spell-casting, and exploring! Though reviewers have noted that it's a bit clunky and/or buggy in places, they usually insist that it's to be expected of an early access title and that the time they spent enjoying it was still worth the price.
ToGather: Island
Available on…
ToGather is a lesser-known early access title. This survival game asks you to journey across a series of islands covered with puzzles. The developers describe it as a "science fantasy" world since you'll travel alongside a "golem" (a little robot) while also encountering mystical and wonderous things on your adventure.
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As the player, you collect blueprints for crafting items, search for valuable materials to advance, and upgrade your golem buddy. While ToGather is exclusively single-player for the moment, multiplayer is expected to arrive shortly, and the game looks like even more fun in co-op!
Valheim
Available on…
If there's one game on this list that you've already heard of, it's probably Valheim. This title soared to be among Steam's best sellers recently! It asks you to play as a Viking in a procedurally generated open world. Everything from hunting and base building all the way up to the end goal of the game: defeating 5 bosses inspired by Norse mythology.
No need to be intimidated; the survival in Valheim isn't as hard as in other titles (like Rust or Ark: Survival Evolved). Resource gathering and the other survival elements don't overshadow the other gameplay aspects that players love, namely, the mystery and discovery of players having their own unique experiences in each playthrough.
Becastled
Available on…
Are you, like so many of us, entranced by medieval castles? Then you'll be thrilled to hear that Becastled is a game that allows you to build and defend your very own fantasy castle! Build your base and the surrounding village from the ground up with the help of your workers and defend the "Kingdom of the Sun" from the opposing "Moon Warriors."
You'll need to train an army and learn to survive against sieges from your enemies. Reviews warn to be careful of optimization problems (using way too much of your CPU) and a few bugs, especially during the night phases. But they usually still enjoyed the game, regardless.
Everspace 2
Available on…
Its developers describe it as a "spaceship shooter with deep exploration" and fans seem to agree, especially praising the game's intuitive and uncomplicated controls. More than one person likened it to Freelancer, a space trading game from 2003.
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Everspace 2 asks players to solve puzzles from the comfort of their own spaceship, build their own collection of ships, hunt for gear to maximize their stats, and trade with NPC vendors for deals on high-value items. There's even a story mission with characters who can join your missions and determine the fate of your endgame.
Among Trees
Available on…
- (Coming Soon) Steam
- Epic Games
- Itch.io
Among Trees is a stunning and atmospheric survival sandbox game. You play as a young person who is living in a remote cabin in the woods. Spend your time exploring the nearby forest for materials or blueprints (which often allow you to venture even further away from home), expanding your cabin with new rooms (which come with all-new game mechanics), or fighting the nearby vicious bears (if you're brave enough).
The survival aspect of this game is taken quite seriously; you'll need to learn to manage your health, hunger, tiredness, and warmth. You won't be able to fly too far from the nest in one day until you've found a creative solution to these problems, and new items often require you to delve into the forests' ominous caves and special groves for unique resources.
30XX
Available on…
30XX is a follow-up to the popular game 20XX that's only available in early access right now. It's a platformer with fluid movement controls that developers say are inspired by Mega Man X and other titles like it, while providing the replayability of Roguelikes, citing the Binding of Isaac and Dead Cells in particular. Games often overexaggerate their controls, but the reviews confirm these claims. Players adore how smooth it feels and the ability to pull off maneuvers that could only be described as godly.
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This title comes with a level editor for players to use as well as multiplayer (local and online) for those nights when your friends are all looking for something new to try! Besides that, fans will adore the adorable graphics and incredible music built into the gameplay.
Dyson Sphere Program
Available on…
A "Dyson Sphere" may sound familiar to you. It's the name of a hypothetical way for humanity to never run out of energy by building a giant sphere around a star, letting people live on the surface of this sphere, and gaining energy through solar electricity. This early access title allows you to take control of building your own Dyson Sphere!
Each universe you spawn into is procedurally generated, providing you with a unique experience unlike any other player's. You'll need to use the resources at your disposal to build your Dyson Sphere up — your goal is to harness enough energy to power the latest in AI technology. There are planets to explore, a sphere to customize, and an empire to manage in this brand new title.