Day of the Devs 2024 - Rundown

I love that I get two Christmases, and not due to divorce. Well, that’s certainly darker than some of what Day of the Devs is all about, so let’s talk about the lovely Tim Schafer, his lovely beard, and all the lovely folks during 2024’s Day of the Devs.

We started off with Capybara Games, known for such titles as Might & Magic: Clash of Heroes, Critter Crunch, and the 2022 title, Grindstone. This time showing off Battle Vision Network, a similar title to the team’s Might & Magic, Critter Crunch, and Grindstone releases though this time described as “cozy puzzle gameplay with fast-paced battles in a new online PVP title.” The press release that came with the reveal notes, “As a live game, each season [of] Battle Vision Network will result in a victorious team and reveal new content and surprises.” It’s at that point I think I and others fell off with Battle Vision Network.

Releasing on “mobile, PC, and console” in 2025, Battle Vision Network certainly looks interesting but lost me with its online PVP focus.

Up next was a better showcase of The Game Bakers’ next title, Cairn, which was shown off at Summer Game Fest just before Day of the Devs. A Jusant-like, this 2025 release is more of what I wanted from the wonderful DONTNOD title. Developed by the team behind Haven and Furi, Cairn lets players take control of pro-climber Aava, “as she embarks on the ascent of a lifetime to conquer a summit never reached before.”

Creative Director at The Game Bakers, Emeric Thoa, said, “With Cairn, we are exploring a new genre that we named ‘Survival-Climber.’ We have created a new type of climbing simulation. It feels extremely natural and intuitive, yet the challenges of the mountain will test players’ determination.” There is no release date as of yet, just the 2025 window with a Steam confirmation and statement of “consoles.”

GBA pink-Pokémon look-a-like now as Petal Runner is the first game from developer Nano Park Studios. Described in the showcase as a “slice-of-life” story game about delivering animals, you’ll take control of new Petal Runner (job title rather than game title) Cali, who is nervous about their new job. With the help of Tamagotchi pal Kira, Cali will explore the world of Vermillion City— Sorry, Sapphire Valley. With mini-games and friends to meet, there is a whole wholesome world to explore and friends to meet.

The next game wasn’t so wholesome and was quite dull if I had to be honest. Wired Productions and Pollard Studio’s Karma: The Dark World, a horror game that is very cliched and played out, so much so I’m sure lots of people will watch YouTubers play it and never actually buy the game. Described by a recent press release as “A multi-dimensional narrative inspired by the works of George Orwell, David Lynch[,] and Kojima-San,” I couldn’t be more bored by a horror idea in my life. Set to release for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, there is no release date.

The next game from Mossmouth, the developers of Spelunky and Spelunky 2, Jon Perry and Derek Yu’s UFO 50 is an interesting concept. It is an emulation library (tisk tisk) for a fictional console that never existed by a fictional in-world company, UFOsoft, which was in business between 1982-1990. Mossmouth made UFO 50 as true as possible while also using modern design philosophy, so despite everything looking like those crap 80s-90s games nostalgia tells you were great, the team has updated the ideas while maintaining the feel.

50 games in one, you’ll have everything from Arcade Shooters to sprawling Dungeon-Crawlers, some of which are multiplayer too. It seems to be a great idea with lots of beautiful homages to the nostalgic world of the 80s and 90s. However, it certainly is not my thing. That said, for those who enjoy the idea of that and the exploration of UFO 50’s story, the release is set for September 18th, 2024 on Steam.

Following that is the mobile port (sequel?) of Cozy Grove, Cozy Grove: Camp Spirit. I’ve described this as a wholesome Don’t Starve-like, possibly because of the isometric camera, but it is also described a bit more like Animal Crossing. At this point, I’m sure someone is wide-eyed and twitching, ready to get Cozy Grove: Camp Spirit right now. Coming to the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store, Cozy Grove: Camp Spirit is also coming to Netflix Games at some point. There is no release date currently for this colorful and delightful little title.

A bit less charming though still in that wholesome vein, Koira is a narrative puzzle adventure with a dog. Developed by a Belgian studio, Studio Tolima, you and a little puppy friend will solve problems and try to avoid being captured by some men in long black coats. It is difficult to talk about a game that is said to have no dialog, either voiced or subtitled. Focused around musical sound you’ll interact with the world using musical tones. Set to release sometime in 2025, I’d need to see something more to be sold on Koira.

Arranger: A Role-puzzling Adventure up next from Californian and Argentinian developer Furniture & Mattress LLC, this is a sliding block puzzle game. Beyond the colorful and delightful comic book art style, studio co-founder David Hellman said: “Arranger could have been purely a stage-based puzzle game, or a dialog-driven visual novel, or even a comic book. But it’s all those things in a unique and unprecedented format. Hence why it was necessary to coin a new genre designation, ‘role-puzzling’.” Coming to the Switch, PS5, and PC and Mac (Epic and Steam), you can pick up Arranger on the 25th of July for $19.99, or free for Netflix Subscribers on iOS and Android.

Shown off a little during Geoff’s thing, Cozy Game Pals (Tokyo Snap dev) and Blumhouse Games’ Fear The Spotlight is a PS1-like horror that seems interesting conceptually, but odd given that it had already been released and was then pulled. Originally released on September 15th, 2023, Fear the Spotlight was pulled off of Steam back on November 2nd, 2023, and this was the announcement of the Blumhouse partnership. Set to release again (for how long?) “fall 2024” for PS4/5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S, Switch, and PC via Steam.

I may have had a small accident in my pants when it was revealed Screenbound has a level editor. Though there is no release date, this is the classic 2D platformer/3D platformer where you are running around like an FPS but holding a GBA blocking your vision. A fantastically weird and wonderful idea that I’m sure someone will be confused by (I know I am to how this is done so well) the way that level editor is described is basically video game wizardry. I’m going to need a wizard to get a release date out of developers Crescent Moon Games and Those Dang Games at this point, however.

To quote my notes: “NO!!!!! Nope…. You can [expletive] and off!!” It is a horror game up next, and one that is genuinely a bit creepy just by its premise. Zoochosis, or as it should be called Night at the Zoo: We Couldn’t Afford Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, and Robin Williams. You are tasked with staying overnight at a zoo, but this isn’t any zoo. At night the animals become malformed monsters. You’ll have seen the gifs of spider-giraffes, or if you’re weird like me you’ll have gotten press releases featuring those gifs. A press release from April suggests a Q2 release on Steam, no date was given this time out.

Shenmue Simulator next but with extra ADHD in While Waiting. I don’t really need much more to explain Optillusion Games’ latest odd little puzzle game, and in fact, Dong Zhou who presented this odd little fidgety title, kept repeating himself. It is more a criticism of the trailer than Zhou, though While Waiting is about waiting for a bus (Shenmue!), waiting for bags at the airport, waiting in a queue, waiting for a lift (elevator if you’re American), and so on. A simple puzzle adventure with a demo out now, though there is no mention of a release date.

Non-binary, bi-racial, and cyberpunk horror, what are you trying to do Rocket Adrift with Psychroma, make Twitter have an aneurysm from shouting “WOKE!” and twitching? An absolutely stunning narrative-driven side-scrolling adventure, you play as Haze, who is non-binary (called it) and bi-racial. First revealed back in 2022 during the Future of Play Direct, the three-person Toronto-based team sought to release at the end of 2023. That didn’t happen. A press release in 2022 notes: “Psychroma is a story-driven psychological horror game where you play as a digital Medium who awakens mysteriously in a haunted cyberpunk commune.”

Building Relationships? I think I fell in love with Tanat Boozayaangool from Tan Ant Games when he showed off his “Think of it as A Short Hike but stupid.” You see in Building Relationships you play a new arrival to the island, and you just so happen to be a house from David OReilly’s Everything – so you roll around, jump, and even dash in mid-air, you can even fish for Jeeps. Though there are dating elements, according to Tanat, the focus is on adventure and exploration rather than being stepped on by Millie. She’s the windmill.

The third year in a row now I’m having to talk about A Little to the Left, I think, and I don’t want there to be a fourth. New DLC is coming to the somewhat puzzler without actual answers, by finally adding correct answers and things to get as a result of being correct. A Little to the Left: Seeing Stars is set to release on June 25th, for Xbox via Xbox Game Pass, PC, PS4/5, and the Nintendo Switch. I’m happy for Max Inferno, though I’d like to see something with a bit more structure. Maybe my OCD is showing.

Following that is a delightful, colorful, and charming-styled time-traveling adventure title, Hello Again. Coming in 2025, Soup Island’s colorful little title works off of a 12-hour clock that keeps resetting, meaning you need to keep running around as doors and mechanisms will open and close on you depending on what time it is. Developer Dwight Davis notes: “In short, what happens when you mix the gameplay and mechanics of The Outer Wilds, with the vibes of Animal Crossing and the small-town feel of Groundhog Day?” A great little idea, though personally, I think I need a better showing of it somehow.

Something about the Belgians are putting me off during this show, as Oppsie Daisies’ (great name) Tom the Postgirl is a Postman Pat Simulator with extra perversion. You play as Tom, a postgirl who looks like Little Red Riding Hood and enjoys looking in people’s windows, seeing all the horrible things people are doing. Maybe it is the art style or maybe it is the fact you are a peeping Tom (literally), but this just felt unsettling. There is no release date, though there is a demo available on Steam.

We’ve seen Afterlove EP a couple of times, I believe, though this was the first time its showcase almost made me cry. An anime Coffee Talk-like in its art and direction thus far, lead narrative designer Sasha Ariana from Pikselnesia spoke about how Afterlove EP is about her best friend who passed in 2022. The game itself is about a musician who’s hearing their dead partner’s voice. Set in Jakarta, you’ll explore the narrative of this slice-of-life title with a beautiful art style. No release was directly given though it is noted the release is supposed to be October 2024.

I don’t know what I think of Phoenix Springs, our next game to look over. Developed by Calligram Studio, there is a beautiful 1950s comic book art style that looks good in stills, but is somewhat questionable in motion. A point-and-click game, though described with something of a difference; a neo-noir where instead of items to rub together or against everything, you use thoughts. Similar to Duck Detective in that idea, I guess. It is releasing September 16th on Steam.

The final game of the showcase, Tides of Tomorrow is a first-person time-bending, asymmetrical title from the people behind Road 96. Set on an Ocean planet, Elynd, you’ll explore various towns and villages floating in the ocean during this stylized dystopian adventure, making decisions on events that may have already happened. With three factions to align with, “every decision has the potential to create new adversaries.”

Developer DigixArt’s Studio Director, Yoan Fanise, said, “We wanted to explore a different world – in this case[,] an oceanic one – and inject a little fantasy element too.” Speaking on the narrative changes between Road 96 and Tides of Tomorrow, Fanise goes on to say, “With Tides of Tomorrow your choices impact not just your world but other players too. I think we’ve come up with something very innovative.”

As always with Day of the Devs, this was a great showcase of curated stuff you wouldn’t otherwise see in some other showcases. If you’d like to see the full thing, I’ve linked that below with the correct start at the time of writing. Prior to it was Summer Game Fest and following was Devolver Digital. Also, if you’d like to support Day of the Devs, there are ways to help produce these fantastic shows as noted in the show itself.