ID: Banner for the post. "Unique Games to Look Forward to in 2026. sliceofstars.com" Three still images sit behind the text from the games Dinoblade, Sword of Symphony, and Out of Words. For Dinoblade, a spinosaurus, a dinosaur with a high boney blade along its spine, long tail, and narrow snout, holding a large sword in its teeth. For Sword of Symphony, a young man with a curly bun and green plaid shorts holding a feather quill and meter bar for weapons. For Out of Words, two children without mouths reach for each other as they're pulled away by giant stone hands.
I didn't grow up much of a gamer, but 2025 especially instilled in me a hunger for unique games that share compelling stories, extraordinary feats, and impeccable vibes. I am a huge fan of when creators know how to match their story with the right medium, and these are some compelling stories that could not be told in any better way. They are art interactive!
Most of these are videogames, but I've also thrown in a couple table-top role playing games too. Each entry is in varying phases of development; Some still need funding, some won't be released until later this year, and others are just hidden gems. I've tried to compile a list of games that vary by genre, type, and vibe, but are alike in being underrated, indie, or niche. As always, I've included any relevant links to websites, store profiles, and crowd-funding sites, along with personal insights.
Happy New Year and happy gaming!
The Witch's Bakery | Sunny Labs | Steam
The Witch's Bakery is a cozy Adventure RPG about a joyful witch who opens her bakery in modern Paris. She has one special power: she can see into people's heart and heal emotions through magic!
You play as Lunne, who has just arrived in the city! Each day is split into three phases:
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Daytime, where Lunne manages her bakery and serves clients with her team of friends.
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Evening, where Lunne explores Paris, builds relationships, discovers the city's secrets and goes inside her friends' troubled heart.
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Night, where Lunne rests, improves her magic, decorates her bakery and spends time in her cosy atelier.
The story progresses through the days as you earn experience, money, and fame, meet new friends and heal their heart.
The Venn diagram of fans of Kiki's Delivery Service and cozy gaming is a complete circle. If you like one, you're sure to like the other, and you're sure to love The Witch's Bakery too.
The Venn diagram of fans of Kiki's Delivery Service and cozy gaming is a complete circle, and this game hits the center like a bullseye!
Dinoblade | Team Spino LLC | Steam
ID: Still image from Dinoblade. A Smaller dinosaur wielding a wide sword in its mouth stands against a T-rex, holding a massive, feather-shaped sword in its own mouth.
Dinoblade is an action RPG game that takes place right after a major event that changes what we know about Dinosaurs. Set out on a journey as a young Spinosaurus that uses a Great Sword fighting against other Dinosaurs that uses weapons to prevent an extinction.
I mean. COME ON.
This in-the-works game is the definition of sickness! The demo is now available and it's set to release later this year. Better start practicing!
I mean, COME ON! This game is the definition of sickness! I suck at combat-based games, but I may have to toughen up for this one.
Follow the journey of a young hero who must learn your target language to lift a magical curse from their brother. Embark on an adventure where each dialogue, puzzle, and challenge seamlessly blends language learning into your gaming experience. Explore exotic locations, each introducing specific vocabulary and grammar rules. Experience practical vocabulary and grammar in real-world contexts to enhance your language proficiency.
I feel like educational games tend to lack in the adventure department, but in this game, you play as a wanderer searching for a way to help his brother who has been turned into a hat! There are versions for many languages to choose from, and even a polyglot version if you're trying to practice multiple languages at once. The colorful 64-bit style is reminiscent of old-school games, but has the creative modern flair similar to Sea of Stars. I've been looking for a fun way to keep my Spanish sharp after college, and this looks right up my alley!
Games that make learning fun tend to be aimed mostly at children, so it's been hard to find programs to help me keep sharp with my Spanish. But WonderLang's cozy vintage aesthetic, combined with science-backed practices, is right up my alley. The demo is free to play and I look forward to trying it out!
ID: On the left, character art by Yaela Grimes for the Ruler of the Nkutu Enclave: Makalakini Itoto Lualaba, a dark-skinned man wearing a purple cape, embroidered sashes, and an eyepatch. In the middle, an unfinalized map of the game world, featuring mountains, plains, canyons, and islands. On the right, concept art by Joshua Clarke of the Gun God Kunga Mwindi, a maroon skeleton in a black suit with a glowing ribcage, white sunglasses, and a cross-shaped runestone on his back.
Step into a world where the rich tapestry of Pan-African cultures—from the vast Sahara of the North to the bustling cities of the West, the ancient traditions of the East, the vibrant landscapes of the South, and the diverse voices of the global Black diaspora—comes alive in a high fantasy setting.
Our game invites you to explore lands inspired by the powerful histories, myths, and folklore of African nations and the diaspora. Navigate enchanted savannas, magical rainforests, and legendary kingdoms that honor the resilience, creativity, and brilliance of our people. Here, every adventure is an opportunity to connect with the depth of our collective heritage and bring untold stories to light.
Whether you’re a warrior from the plains, a scholar of ancient wisdom, or a sorcerer tapping into ancestral magic, our world is yours to shape. Together, we’ll forge new legends, celebrate our shared histories, and build a future of infinite possibilities.
Do you like Dungeons and Dragons? Do you wish there were more campaigns based on African mythologies and aesthetics instead of the same ole, same ole Greek or European types? Then Zairoo is the answer to your prayers. The project is still needing funding and is nearing its completion, so send your support if you want hop on the bandwagon.
Out and About | Yaldi Games | Website | Steam
ID: Character art for the NPCs. A large chef with an orange beard. A short old man with a crazy white hair and a staff holding a little crab. A young dark-skinned man with glasses. A girl with blonde braids and a camera around her neck. A middle aged lady in a purple floral dress and apron with scissors and combs. A small old lady with gardening tools and a bandana on her head. A lady with a daisy in her short pale hair, holding a bouquet. A sailor with a pipe in his smile and a seagull standing on his head. A young man in a wheelchair with green hair and a fluffy cat in his lap. A lumberjack-looking man with suspenders and a laughing smile. A young black lady with purple overalls holding a paintbrush. A man with fancy black hair, a waistcoat, and a measuring tape across his shoulders.
Discover and identify over 100 real plants and mushrooms native to the Temperate Zone, spanning Europe and North America. Immerse yourself in a vibrant open world with diverse biomes to explore. Personalize your character and master over 150 real-world recipes to cook and share! Learn foraging in a safe & interactive way! Learn Real Recipes & Herbal remedies! Recreate Activities at Home with step-by-step instructions!
This one especially excites me because I'm one of those people who takes pictures of random flowers and bugs to research them later. Only problem is, I struggle to retain the information later on. This cozy explore game is just the thing I need to broaden my nature vocabulary.
Sword of Symphony | Stephen Ddungu | Patreon
My name is Stephen. I am a long-time self taught composer/musician, animator and game developer and I consider myself an entrepreneur currently working on, and solo-developing 3 large-scale ambitious projects that I've put my life into (while balancing university), ever since Summer 2017! Sword Of Symphony's premise is simple, yet at the same time is probably my most ambitious and creative idea yet, since it explores the concept of using character-action gameplay to compose music. The story of Sword Of Symphony is centred around music wielders called ’Composers’ who dwell in a musical kingdom called ’Sonata’. Composers dedicate their lives to composing music (music is the energy source of the soundscape). They also fight to preserve the tonality of the soundscape, innovate new Melodies, and experiment with them in collaboration with other Composers to inspire and help each other develop their abilities to wield music and fend off against The Taçet (manifestation of 'writer’s block'), a race of being that feeds off the creativity in Composers, and rogue Composers who wishes to steal other Composers’ Melodies, and overthrow the Royal Council Of Sonata.
Sword of Symphony falls into my trifecta of must-try edu-tainment games, right alongside WonderLang and Out and About! Like most people, I discovered it on socials and was immediately entranced by the beautiful combat mechanics that combine music theory with sword fighting and parkour! I'm nowhere near the best when it comes to written music or combat-based games, but this one makes me want to give it my all! I can't wait for its completion! Until then, we can check out Stephen's other game Purpose, which is mysteriously tied to the events of Sword of Symphony.
Dordogne | Umanination | Steam
Immerse yourself in a unique narrative experience and explore the thousand summer colors of Dordogne as you revisit your childhood to uncover lost family secrets in this touching formative journey.
Suckers for games with unique art styles and down-to-earth premises will fall in love with Dordogne. In it, you play as a young woman visiting her childhood home in the French countryside, flashing back and forth between now and then as she pieces together memories of her past. The watercolor visuals fit perfectly in this story of nostalgia and healing.
The Final Seance : A Tabletop Horror Adventure | David Sant | Kickstarter
ID: Kickstarter banner. Eight pairs of hands circle a heptagram on a wooden table.
IDs: On the left, concept art for the haunted manor, a vertical, Victorian inspired building shrouded in nighttime. On the right, a page from the campaign manual containing information on the Nursery area and The Twins characters.
The Final Seance is an exciting, chaotic TTRPG mini-campaign designed for players of all levels of experience, but it really shines in its ability to easily draw novice or even totally inexperienced players into the world of role play. This horror-ridden haunted house campaign does away with almost all of the complicated and often confusing rules of traditional TTRPG's, and creates a world in which the players play as themselves! Gameplay is super-streamlined to maximize intensity and fun, and players need only worry about three things: their Health Points, their Items, and staying alive! Survive one horrible night at Beauregard Manor in this wildly chaotic puzzle-adventure campaign, for brand-new or experienced players!
I learned about The Final Seance through David Sant's D&D podcast Murder She Rolled, a hilarious yet spooky murder mystery adventure. However, the audition that started it all was a short campaign in which the cast members tried to survive a haunted house only as themselves and with whatever they carried on their person at the time. It is my belief that this was either David's inspiration for his new game, or the most fun way of trouble-shooting it. Either way, this brand-new TTRPG is bound to give a good time!
Love and Fool's Gold | Games With DNA | Steam
A choice-driven romance-mystery visual novel set in the Wild West. Choose your partner and investigate the town's secrets to uncover the Eldritchian horror that plagues Cortez Creek. You play as a nomadic bounty hunter, arriving in the town of Cortez Creek to chase a bounty, only to quickly discover that not everything is as it seems. After meeting a cast of enigmatic characters, you're given a choice of who to partner up with to uncover the dark Eldritchian mystery that plagues this ill-fated town. But who do you choose? The Cowboy, the Bounty Hunter, or the Mysterious Outlaw? What does this mean for the desperate citizens of Cortez Creek? And is romance - or death - in the cards?
I will confess it right here for the world and God to see: Romance games are a guilty pleasure of mine. BUT, that doesn't mean that I'll spend my time, money, and emotional investment into just any game. It has to be unique, surprising, and promising. Love and Fool's Gold has caught my eye and I may just have to try the demo.
Well, shoot.
Verdant | Tiny Roar | Steam
Embark on a bittersweet coming of age journey as Sprout, a young adventurer emerging into a post-apocalyptic world stuck in time. Explore a vibrant yet dangerous landscape, craft essential items to aid your journey, and survive in a world reclaimed by nature.
After a devastating war, the world has fundamentally changed. Flora and fauna have mutated and reclaimed cities while human technology and culture have not moved on from the 1980s. Piece together the story of how the world changed and determine your role in building its future.
Accompany Sprout on his journey through the green post-apocalyptic world of Verdant. Survive the beautiful yet harsh environment by building camps and upgrading your gear. Balance life and death literally in your hand with your powers and uncover their connection to the downfall of humanity.
The blend of cozy and apocalyptic aesthetics is a rare one with limitless potential. Verdant combines the peacefulness of cozy games and the intrigue of apocalypse games into one heart-tugging, creative problem-solving story. And the animation style is one of the prettiest I've seen in a good while.
Never Alone 2 | E-Line Media | Website | Steam
Discover a world of fierce, frozen beauty in Never Alone 2, the upcoming 3D sequel to the BAFTA award-winning adventure drawn from the Iñupiaq storytelling tradition. Journey through the breathtaking Alaska wilderness as Nuna and Fox, her spirit companion, along the way unearthing an epic mystery that threatens your entire community.
Never Alone 2 is being developed using an Inclusive Development process with the Alaska Native community. It tells an original story from an award-winning Iñupiaq writer and draws from tradition and stories that have been shared across generations. Designed to be played co-op (online and couch), Never Alone 2 invites you to explore environments ranging from the harsh frozen tundra to forest valleys filled with ancient willows as you traverse beautifully realized landscapes that are filled with wonder. Together you will work to navigate these wilds, forge connections with the spirits, and experience how the Alaska Native people have survived and thrived for over 10,000 years in one of the harshest and most breathtaking parts of the world.
Coming soon—wishlist today to follow along with Nuna and Fox’s journey.
A videogame made to pass on Inuit language, culture, and folklore? Sign me up! I'm so happy this game exists and even more so that it's getting a sequel. Until it drops, check out the first installation!
The world is at stake – and so is your relationship. Kurt and Karla become entangled in a battle for the future of Vokabulantis and their friendship itself. Traverse the wonders and dangers of the world of Vokabulantis and falling in love. Kurt and Karla may save this wonderland — but at what cost? Solve physics-defying puzzles in ancient catacombs and perform daring stunts among the clay skyscrapers of Nounberg, Out of Words is a journey for two, and this adventure will require cooperation, communication and perfect timing between you and your co-player.
This honest-to-God stop motion videogame may very well be the first of its kind. Others have boasted similar visuals thanks to cgi, but Out of Words is truly another world. This two-player adventure will challenge friendships while providing a feast for the senses. I may lose a friend or two playing this, but that's a sacrifice I'm willing to make; it's just so cool!
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