Sometimes when we put together a new installment of Wishlister, Polygon’s weekly newsletter that highlights upcoming Steam games, we look to events like Steam Next Fest and the Triple-I Initiative to dig up gems. But the most tried-and-true method we’ve found for finding promising games is simply stumbling into them by accident.
Free sign-up
Get Polygon’s Wishlister newsletter
A weekly cheat sheet to what you’ll eventually love to play. No buying, no
commitment — just saving for later.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime.
All of the games in this week’s Wishlister follow that methodology. These are six games that flew onto our radar without looking for them, whether we bumped into their demos at live events or had them recommended to us by friends. We’re paying that energy forward this week, as you’ll see in this grab bag of upcoming PC games that deserve a spot on your Steam wishlist.
1
Bub
Image: Paperfrog
With Bub, developer Paperfrog looks well on its way to delivering a jaw-dropping debut. The narrative game takes anxiety around a developer’s real-life Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis and channels it into a personal story about preserving your memory in art. That’s reinforced by an analog art style that looks downright incredible.
2
False Echo
Image: Retromagine
False Echo turns wartime cryptography into a life-or-death narrative game. You play as a code cracker aboard a submarine in 1942, and you’re tasked with processing incoming transmissions. There are some clear shades of Papers, Please here, which should make for a brainy political thriller steeped in World War II history.
3
Strikemania
Image: Michaël Jacquet/AlterEyes
If you’re looking for your next high-score chasing game after this month’s great Faraway, Strikemania is one to watch. The retro arcade game is basically a reverse Missile Command; you control the missile attacking enemy defenses. With slick 2D art that evokes Geometry Wars, it should be a direct hit for fans of retro games.
4
Floor Plan: Slap Out Of it!
Image: Turbo Button
Floor Plan: Slap It Out! hinges on a satisfyingly goofy gameplay hook: You can slap the crap out of everything. The latest game from developer Turbo Button is a physical comedy that has you solving puzzles using your noodly arms. It’s also the developer’s first non-VR game, so you’ll be able to enjoy the studio’s quirky brand of humor without a headset.
5
Hodka
Image: Flazm/Skystone Games
A perfect compliment to this year’s excellent Over the Hill, Hodka is an open-world driving game that has you fixing up an old RV. You’ll use a metal detector to dig up scrap that can be used to upgrade your van. It also seems to have a spooky undertone to it, making it look like an on-land alternative to Dredge.
6
World of Anterra
Image: 81Monkeys
For those who love RPGs that give you a lot of freedom, World of Anterra seems poised to become a hidden gem. The retro-inspired game drops you in a pixel art world and sets you loose to discover its non-linear story. It’s all meticulously hand-crafted to give players a retro RPG that’s as rich with secrets as an Elder Scrolls game. (And it will likely be out before Sentinel!)
