Highlights from the 2023 Future of Play Direct

The third annual Future of Play Direct just premiered during this year’s Summer Games Fest. The Direct — put on by Glitch — is meant to show off unique indie games from marginalized developers that are pushing the envelope on what “play” can mean in video game spaces. After watching the showcase, I picked out my favorites to highlight.

Yasuke: A Lost Descendant | Dallience Studios

Yasuke: A Lost Descendant is a “diverse high speed hack ‘n’ slash action anime game, featuring immersive parkour movement that allows the player to enjoyably traverse the environment and defeat enemies with the playstyle of their choice.”

It follows the titular Tanaka Yasuke, who is on a mission to overthrow the tyrannical ODA clan who currently control N1ON-KOKU. With its cyberpunk setting and Black samurai-adjacent protagonist, Yasuke: A Lost Descendant definitely has my attention.

Ritual Night | Outfox Games

Ritual Night is a social deduction game (think Among Us or Gnosia), but without an elimination element. Players take on little demon avatars and meet up in a scary old mansion to gather ingredients for a ritual to summon Cthulu. They have to be wary of humans in their midst, though, as they will try to sabotage the ritual.

With an intercom system, and the ability for humans to prank and steal from demon players, Ritual Night looks like it has a lot of potential for silly game nights with friends.

REKA | Emberstorm Entertainment

REKA follows the young apprentice of the legendary witch, Baba Jaga. Players are able to fully customize their apprentice avatar, and also get to build and customize their own mobile witch hut. As you study to become a witch, you’ll travel through procedurally generated environments where you can discover villages and settlements. It’s up to you whether you want to help or hind the people you encounter here.

Getting to build and run around in my own Baba Jaga-style house sounds incredibly cool, so I’m excited to see how REKA ultimately turns out.

PYSCHROMA | Rocket Adrift

PSYCHROMA is a side-scrolling narrative game where you play as a “digital medium.” You have the ability to experience nonlinear time, and are thus tasked with investigating a haunted cybernetic house. As you discover more about the house and tis past, you also unlock some of your own fragmented memories about why you’re even here.

As a huge horror fan, and a chronic Rocket Adrift game-enjoyer, PSYCHROMA is definitely sitting near the top of my most highly anticipated games list.

In Stars and Time | insertdisc5

In Stars and Time is a turn-based RPG about being stuck in a time loop. What’s worse, your character — Siffrin — is the only one who can even know that the time loop exists. Siffrin and their adventurer friends has almost succeeded in freeing their home from its tyrannical king when their clock ran out and time reset, forcing them to do it all again. Now the party must try to create a better future and break out of the cycle so they can actually live it.

The art style of this game is so unique, and as someone with a taste for non-traditional fantasy, I can say I’m definitely excited to check out the full release of In Stars and Time.

Let’s! Revolution! | BUCK, Antfood

Let’s! Revolution! is a mash-up of roguelite and puzzle game where you and your fantasy faction are trying to overthrow your tyrannical king (there seems to be a bit of a theme this direct). To get to the king, you have to flip tiles over to uncover the path. Along the way you’ll be attacked by his forces, and will have to decide whether to use your knowledge to try to avoid them, or take them on in tactical combat.

As a fantasy and roguelite sicko, Let’s! Revolution! has definitely caught my eye, and I can’t wait to check it out myself.

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