Some more cool demos for games that get me excited about video games! I’m only going to talk about the demos that resonated in some way with me. These are from Steam’s PAX West selection.
Interesting / Worth Playing
Fine Work
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2752240/Fine_Work/
You are a shaper by trade, someone who weaves thoughts and memories into physical objects. You do so by playing a pretty darn fun rhythm game where you need to navigate a needle across turns, and if you do well the needle becomes beautifully ornate arrows. The music is wildly eclectic but always on theme for the kinds of memories you're dealing with.
It is also mostly a visual novel, and there is a good sized cast of super endearing and wildly diverse characters. They all have very different ways of talking and self-identifying. The game also keeps a glossary of the new kinds of words this world has that ours doesn’t. The characterizations also seemed really solid and super well done!
I can’t recommend this one enough! Oh oh oh, and they’ll have a kickstarter launching soon!
Desktop Explorer
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2527160/Desktop_Explorer/
A fake OS puzzle game where you are tasked with unlocking password protected folders by finding the hidden password. The early challenges are pretty simple stuff but by the end it starts getting quite esoteric and more ingenious with the solutions. It is hard to say if the full game will be able to keep upping the intrigue and quality bar but I am very hopeful!
Fowl Damage
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2617090/Fowl_Damage/
A puzzle platformer where you are an egg, a very fragile egg. You must not fall with too much height / speed or you crack. So you have to figure out which platforms to navigate to to be able to jump to taller platforms and survive. This is a unique spin on platformers that I hadn't seen before and the mechanic managed to stay novel until the end of the demo. There are also quite well hidden secrets to find and some very tricky optional collectables!
Kamikaze Lassplanes
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2253930/Kamikaze_Lassplanes/
I know, I know, that is one saucy image. This one is a bit on the spicier side for sure and definitely is trying to appeal on the fanservice side, but hear me out! This is a shmup and VN combo. Yes, the girls ARE the planes. I know, girls have been boats and tanks and countries and all kinds of things. But the worldbuilding and trailer teases are super intriguing. If you like the occasional adult themes mixed with what seems like it's going to be quite the story and choices to be made, this one should be on your radar.
Roman Sands RE:Build
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2231460/Roman_Sands_REBuild/
Umm... hmmm... how to even describe this... frenetic fetch-quest them up with a really mysterious setting and super vapor-wave aesthetic mixed with really in-your-face-UI. The people in this world are terrible, and it's your job to sate them. It is a visual and mental overload but slowly you start to piece together the optimal way to help them, the mystery slowly but surely unravels. It is like Dangaronpa made by Blendo Games. Very wild game, worth a try. Hopefully the full game can wrap up the story nicely.
For Your Consideration
Pinball Spire
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2601940/Pinball_Spire/
This one is just fun. You play pinball but the levels are all connected and sometimes you need to let the ball fall backwards to collect/hit some stuff until you can unlock the next area. It's not gonna blow anyone away but it was just a nice chill and fun time. And there are some pretty cool powers you unlock as you go along that change how the ball works.
If you want more hardcore pinball mechanics but with a twist then maybe give Yoku’s Island Express a go instead, pinball meets 2d platformer metroidvania.
Shrine's Legacy
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1435410/Shrines_Legacy/
A real love letter to SNES era action RPGs like Secret of Mana, Illusion of Gaia, and Terranigma. The story starts with the same kind of "the big bad is here and we need to go find X things to save the world!" type stuff as an excuse to travel the world. The combat is not super interesting but it not terrible, it is.. fine. The move, you attack, you can use magic. The movement is a little tricky, especially when trying to dodge enemy attacks but you get used to it. The demo is also REALLY LONG. Like crazy long. You'll have plenty of time to decide if you like the mechanics or not. The characters are actually pretty well realized, they aren't just dumb caricatures and seem to have some kind of hidden depth to them, whether they actually do or not remains to be seen. I enjoyed my time with the puzzles and the world and you might too.
Wilmot Works It Out
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2060590/Wilmot_Works_It_Out/
A much much more chill experience than Wilmot's Warehouse was. You are still Wilmot but now you're at home and getting puzzle deliveries. You put together the puzzles and then put the art on the wall. Ahhhhh. Very nice. There is the possibility that it gets more involved and intense later, especially given some of the mailperson's dialogue, but it might just be a nice relaxing time without any scores or timers or anything like that.
While Waiting
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2449160/While_Waiting/
It feels like the My Mom Hid My Game and Kyuukiyomi games but expanded. You are tossed into a level where you are waiting for something to happen but you can totally take the wheel and do chaotic things instead. Why not ride the luggage conveyor belt? Why not play Desert Bus? It is a silly little bit of fun but it is indeed fun.
Bonus
Miss Paint
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2755990/Miss_Paint/
Not technically part of the PAX weekend but I had the demo downloaded from before and decided to give it a go as well. This is a pretty cool puzzle game where you're trying to get your character to touch all the fields of green in the level. You do this by moving and jumping around with your character AND by using the special tools available in each level. Some let you copy paste a piece of the level, others let you scale parts of the level, etc. All reminiscent of the tools in MS Paint. With some restrictions here and there about what parts of the level are editable / traversable. It gets pretty complicated and I have high hopes for the full game!
Oh, and you can totally make levels in Paint. It is meant to be eminently extensible with new levels and content made by the community!