10 – Deep Rock Galactic Survivor
Deep Rock Galactic Survivor takes a spin on the massively successful Deep Rock Galactic, making it an auto-shooter horde game. Naturally, slaughtering waves upon waves of aliens isn’t all you’ll be doing. It’s Deep Rock Galactic after all, and you’re a Dwarf. There is plenty of rock and stone to mine, as well as precious resources and gems.
If you’re a fan of Deep Rock Galactic, you may not be necessarily a fan of Survivor, but those who love bullet hells may enjoy this change of theme and pace. It certainly has its uniquities and angles that other bullet hells don’t have, like Enter the Gungeon or Vampire Survivors.
According to the roadmap, Funday Games seems to plan lots more of literally everything, and there’s already a healthy amount of content and weapons already to have fun with.
For fans of reverse bullet hells set deep underground on alien planets, Deep Rock Galactic may be worth a try.
9 – Kerbal Space Program 2
Kerbal Space Program 2 is a sequel to the highly-acclaimed original game that took the internet by storm. It’s been a very long time since then, but those Kerbal fans finally have more to look forward to. There is already so much in this game, but there is still so much more to come – including a whole new star system to explore.
Alongside exploring planets and space and building colonies, half the fun in Kerbal Space Program 2, like in the original, is in failing. Trial and error – and exploding things in spectacular ways – is what makes this game hard to put down. There is joy to be had in the destruction and jubilation to be had in the successes.
The roadmap for Kerbal Space Program 2 is a pretty technical one. Intercept Games plans to add another Star System to the game as well as improving the Colony system. The Science side and Tech Tree also plans to get expanded, with an “Exploration Mode” in the works. It looks like the game is expanding on multiple dimensions.
For fans of problem solving and explosions, Kerbal Space Program 2 is for you.
8 – Ark Survival Ascended
Ark Survival Ascended is the troubled remaster of Ark Survival Evolved. Although there have been many bugs, Ark Survival Ascended does look to be an amazing game when all of the DLCs from AS Evolved make their way over. The game has a very long roadmap (that branches into 2025), but when it’s done, it’ll be a great survival game with dinosaurs and other beasts.
AS Ascended offers many improvements and upgrades from the original, like improved graphics, the map, and more dinosaurs. The developers themselves may be controversial but the game itself is fun to play and has a lot to offer. Aside from lacking the other maps, currently, AS Ascended plays like a fully released game (if you ignore the bugs, and not the giant ones that want to kill you).
Although the roadmap is a long one and only really consists of adding remastered DLC maps from the original, there are also more dinosaurs and creatures that will be added throughout development. This is a remaster, don’t forget, so pretty much all of the game’s systems are already in place.
For Ark Survival fans, and fans of survival adventure games in general, Ark Survival Ascended will be worth a try.
7 – Lethal Company
Lethal Company needs zero introduction. The co-op horror about salvaging distant moons to sell to the ambiguous Company that had the internet in a chokehold is only in Early Access. This means that there is so much more for Lethal Company to offer as it progresses, and it already does so much.
Commingling fear of the unknown with fear of the very much known, your heckles will always be raised as you and your team try to grab whatever they can on those threatening moons. Deadlines have never appeared so literal, so you better not fall behind or stay out at night.
There isn’t a rigid roadmap for Lethal Company, although Zeekerss has been adding smaller update packages every fortnight or so. It is apparent that more is to come, although the game is incredible as-is.
For fans of a fun time, Lethal Company is right there waiting for you.
6 – Nightingale
Nightingale has only recently released, so there isn’t that much content for players to dive into – although there is more than plenty for your first many hours of gaming. With Victorian dressings, this allows you to use Realm Cards that you must create to open portals into new Realms – each with new characters, creatures, and Apex Monsters.
In your down time, build up your Estate and make it somewhere worth living. When you’re ready to adventure, you’ll be delving into increasingly dangerous Realms in the search for Nightingale – the last bastion for humanity. Many quests, creatures, and discoveries await you, Realmwalker.
Nightingale is a recent release, and doesn’t have an official roadmap yet. Although it’s clear – from trailers and dev announcements, that more Realm Cards are going to be added. We can also expect more of pretty much everything as the game gains more traction.
For fans of the strange and the delightful, Nightingale will surely pique your interest.