If you’ve followed the story of independent media outlet Second Wind even a little, then the prospect of this organization reaching a point of security and confidence enough to even host a games showcase likely comes as an impressive feat, if not necessarily a surprise. After all, we’re talking about a talented assortment of folks known for their thoughtful, even-handed coverage and love of games as an artistic and entertainment medium, called upon to help restore the reputation of once-esteemed games media site The Escapist. Had the corporate owners holding The Escapist’s purse strings not overstepped by firing editor-in-chief Nick Calandra, driving much of the staff to resign in protest, who knows what the future of The Escapist might have been? That the ex-Escapist crew are now in a place, a few years down the line, where they can comfortably offer the stage to other creatives within the industry is a magnificent sight to behold. It doesn't hurt that the resulting showcase, publ...
That the ex-Escapist crew are now in a place, a few years down the line, where they can comfortably offer the stage to other creatives within the industry is a magnificent sight to behold. It doesn't hurt that the resulting showcase, published this past spring, was a fine production balancing irreverent humour with genuine appreciation for the work of various game developers.
(Just so we're clear: I'm not being paid to say this, I have never met the Second Wind crew, and I'm pretty sure they don't even know I exist. I just like their work and I'm glad they get to keep doing it.)
Of course, I am now obliged - by format if nothing else - to sift through this truly delightful assortment of titles highlighted at the Second Wind Games Showcase in search of those games that draw my eye in particular. Obviously this does not mean that games NOT listed here are somehow less worthwhile - indeed, the Showcase’s greatest strength was in its curation, in how intriguing and varied the selection managed to be without burying the audience in an overabundance of games. It is just also true that some stood out among the crowd as appealing to my specific tastes or hitting upon ideas that I find especially interesting.
Of course, I am now obliged - by format if nothing else - to sift through this truly delightful assortment of titles highlighted at the Second Wind Games Showcase in search of those games that draw my eye in particular. Obviously this does not mean that games NOT listed here are somehow less worthwhile - indeed, the Showcase’s greatest strength was in its curation, in how intriguing and varied the selection managed to be without burying the audience in an overabundance of games. It is just also true that some stood out among the crowd as appealing to my specific tastes or hitting upon ideas that I find especially interesting.
Littlelands
Developed by Kyle Creamer and Rafael MartinPublished by Apogee Entertainment
I’m immediately reminded of the Link’s Awakening remake in how diorama-like the world and characters are, and the aesthetic seems as charming here as it was in that case. Beyond that, it has the makings of a solid dungeon crawler, with the presence of an overworld map suggesting there’s quite a lot of exploring to be done.
Truckful
Developed by MythicOwlPublished by Mythic Owl and Pocketpair Publishing
The premise appears simple enough: you’re the driver of a pickup truck, delivering various goods across a range of terrain to numerous clients. What interests me is in the details - in the choice to present the driving itself from an isometric viewpoint, in the visual density of some of the environments you’re driving through, even in the light exaggeration of the character portraits contrasted against the relatively grounded look of the world.
Please, Watch the Artwork
Developed & published by Thomas WaterzooiIt’s a hidden object game where you’re picking through a given scene, looking for anything and everything wrong about it… except that the scenes are based on artwork by Edward Hopper that has been painstakingly recreated, and then modified, by hand. Hell yeah, that’s a novel twist on a familiar genre AND I can’t help but respect the sheer effort and care that goes into a project like this.
Pizzapocalpyse 2
Developed & published by Monkey Strike GamesThe original game was the result of a twelve-week production cycle, a single-level creation by a bunch of university students wanting to try their hand at making a 3D platformer. Seems like it panned out well for them, because now they’re putting together a sequel promising a more involved and varied experience.
I’m really rooting for this team – I love the concept of using pizza as a multi-purpose traversal tool, the game looks bright and goofy in the best way, and I’m intrigued by the villain maybe being a riff on tech CEOs, which are, y’know, probably going to be a reliable punching bag for a while yet.
Forbidden Solitaire
Developed & published by Grey Alien Games and Night Signal EntertainmentRelease Date: April 30, 2026
I don’t much care for digital card games, but this looks fascinating enough to prove the exception. The pitch here appears to be that you’re playing solitaire, but a twisted version with body horror involving jabbing gems into your hands to gain power-ups. It also seems as though there’s an overarching murder mystery rooted in 90s fearmongering about video games, which fits with the overall aesthetic drawing from old point-and-click adventure games and FMV (full motion video) production. Whatever it all amounts to, I’m sufficiently intrigued.
Into the Fire
Developed & published by Starward IndustriesIf battling flames and rescuing villagers in a desert region weren't enough for a game, the trailer mentions demons – possibly referring to the jellyfish-shaped creatures seen floating throughout – that the player is meant to suppress along with all the fire. My attention’s also drawn to the almost cel-shaded look of the action and the unusual firearms at play, like what seemed to be a water-shooting weapon with a spread not unlike a shotgun.
Dark Scrolls
Developed by doinksoftPublished by Devolver Digital
Release Date: June 22, 2026
A pixel art side scroller evocative of the chaotic shooting action in bullet hell games would have already been appealing to folks. However, the choice to offer more than just a trio of familiar fantasy archetypes as player characters – like a Chef, a Dog and other oddball individuals – makes me particularly inclined to keep an eye on this one.
Forge of the Fae
Developed by Datadyne LLCPublished by Deck13
It looks straight up like the sort of 2D animated RPG that would be on store shelves next to Chrono Trigger or the SaGa titles. Beyond that, I like how coherent and layered the combat looks, with just the right touch of flashy special moves and what looked like stat-boosting abilities. Also, that was a quite nice bit of orchestration on display, which bodes well for the final game’s soundtrack.
I Am Ripper
Developed & published by White Paper GamesAin’t gonna say no to a detective game, and this one looks fittingly tense and unsettling. The promotional material indicates the action’s set in 1980s Britain, in a small town rocked by a string of killings. I Am Ripper doesn’t seem to be shying away from discomfort, given that at least part of the game seems to revolve around first-person examination and poking at clues, environmental details and corpses.
Let’s Build a Dungeon
Developed & published by SpringloadedFrom the team behind Let’s Build A Zoo, here’s a simulation game about making games, specifically online role-playing games. I appreciate the notion of pulling from real-life experiences behind the scenes in writing the game’s story, and the apparent scope of this game’s dev toolset leads me to suspect that this could have a whole separate following apart from regular play.
Starfinder: Afterlight
Developed & published by Epictellers EntertainmentI’m not caught up on the latest CRPGs – certainly not the Pathfinder adaptations that this is apparently drawing inspiration from – but my sense is that this is in line with the design and role-playing possibilities of those titles. What I will say is that the weathered sci-fi aesthetic over what appears to be a pulp-adventure romp is working for me, and the inclusion of a tabletop-style stat system and on-screen dice rolls for skill checks seems fun.
The Transylvania Adventure of Simon Quest
Developed by Programancer and RetrowarePublished by Retroware
I’ve seen innumerable things draw inspiration from NES games, but it’s rare to find something that looks and feels 100% ripped straight from the era. The town exploration segments looked ripped straight from Castlevania II, while the actual siege on the obligatory haunted castle seems to be original Castlevania through and through. If it’s delivering on the charm and personality of that type of platformer with a LITTLE bit fairer of a difficulty curve, I think Programancer could have something special on their hands.
Also, a giant enemy crab. Because memes, you see.
Athanasia
Developed by Momentum Games LLCPublished by Black Lantern Collective
From the trailer, it looks like what’s being sold is System Shock but with dinosaurs. There’s a derelict ship (or possibly a research facility) overrun by dinos, the voice over suggests things have gone horribly awry as befitting a horror setup, and the user interface, inventory system and overall low-poly aesthestic look straight up pulled from the heyday of immersive sims. Mark me down as more than curious.
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