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Many people are excited for that turkey dinner or the gifts under the tree, but the gaming community just wants to see which new games they will add to their libraries next. While 2025 was an excellent year for gaming, 2026 is already looking great, and some of the most exciting titles come from smaller yet equally dedicated studios. If you don’t know what we’re talking about, Day of the Devs just hosted its The Game Awards 2025 edition, and we’ve made a list of every game announcement, so you can start wishlisting these titles.
Awaysis
From the minds behind Skulls of the Shogun comes Awaysis, a new and exciting Dungeon Brawler, focusing on physics and co-op action. What makes Awaysis stand out, besides its hectic co-op action and even some frenetic PvP content, is the care the team put into its physics-based combat, which adds a layer of reactivity we rarely see in a game like this. Plus, it has Hip Tanaka doing the soundtrack, which fans of Metroid and Super Smash Bros. Brawl might remember.
Lucid Falls
What do you get when you combine psychological horror with shifting gravity? You get Lucid Falls, a new and terrifying title from Eldemar Studios. In it, you’re trapped inside a lucid dream where your only goal is to survive. However, it is easier said than done. There are a lot of puzzles to solve, eerie creatures, and reality-bending shenanigans that will test all types of players. It may look like another first-person survival game, but that’s not the case. The gravity-shifting mechanics offer a unique take on the genre, which will allure more than one player looking for their next horror adventure.
ROCKBEASTS
One of the most unique trailers of the recent Day of the Devs has to be the one for ROCKBEASTS. It has that MTV vibe, full of ’90s rock, weird haircuts on anthropomorphic animals, and an excellent gameplay loop that blends rhythm, management, and role-playing. As the band’s manager, your job is to get gigs, sell tickets, book venues, and more. Oh yeah, and you also need to watch out for every member’s feelings. After all, they are the ones playing, and a happy pink rabbit equals a better show, or something along those lines. In all seriousness, the game looks fantastic. Those of us who grew up with ’90s rock music and enjoy a good mix of different gameplay systems will have a blast with this one.
Stretchmancer
One thing we love about Day of the Devs is how it always features games we never thought would exist, yet end up blowing us away. One of those is, hands down, Stretchmancer. In this unique first-person adventure, you play as the titular Stretchmancer. Your powers? Stretch and squash. But it isn’t you who’ll be doing all the stretching, as you can literally stretch and squash the whole world to solve puzzles and save the galaxy. Each hand provides a different stretching power, which you’ll need to use to solve the game’s intricate levels. So, if you’re craving a puzzle-solving adventure but with a fresh and flexible (no pun intended) take, Stretchmancer should be on your wishlist as soon as possible.
Beastro
One of the most unique and coziest trailers of the whole Day of the Devs showcase belongs to Beastro. In this fantasy world, you take care of the heroes of the town by cooking meals for them. Yet it is a long process, as this adventure will have you fishing, farming, and doing more to feed those safeguarding these lands. But it isn’t all cozy, as there are also some deck-building battles you’ll participate in. If you ever wanted to play a truly supportive role instead of the sword-wielding hero, Beastro is for you.
UN:Me
So far, we’ve seen a few colorful and cozy titles, but UN:Me is the complete opposite. Here, you take the role of a girl who has to escape a mind labyrinth full of human souls. UN:Me really digs into many of the fears we humans have, and puts them into this title to create a horrifying yet intriguing adventure. You can take a quick look at the trailer just to see how atmospheric this game is. The interesting gimmick is how the souls inside the protagonist will manifest during gameplay, with each soul’s anxiety attacking the girl. It is truly one of the most unique psychological horror games we’ve seen lately, and one we can’t wait to play.
Soundgrass
We’ve seen a lot of games where we play to the beat of music or follow the rhythm of a song. However, none of them have attempted to make what Soundgrass is doing. In Soundgrass, you need to follow the sound that many things make, such as plants, rivers, and even rocky surfaces. You’ll also use a floating sphere to solve puzzles alongside the audio queues you listen to. It is one of the most unique sound-based titles we have seen, and one that truly immerses you in this sci-fi symphony created by a solo developer.
Scramble Knights Royale
The battle royale genre still has a lot of competition, and one that is going for a Legend of Zelda-like take is Scramble Knights Royale. Here, 32 players sail on a boat to a mysterious island full of dungeons and treasures, with a couple of puzzles, too. Of course, there’s PvP, but this one rewards skill more than just the build you’ve been crafting throughout the match. Outside of the fight, you have a homestead that you can decorate and show off to your friends. There’s also a duo mode coming, so you can bring your best friend along for the ride.
Mirria
On the surface, Mirria looks like a spot-the-difference game, but it is much more than that. Players will have to spot anomalies in these mirrored worlds and use their powers of observation to solve puzzles. The alluring part of this game is the art, which is beyond anything we’ve seen in a game like this one. Every scenario is hand-crafted and will challenge you to spot every single thing that’s out of place.
Big Hops
We were not expecting to see a platformer of this high quality during Day of the Devs, but we’re glad we did. Big Hops takes inspiration from many platformers and action-adventure games and gives it an original twist by making a frog’s tongue the main form of exploration and platforming. You can use the tongue to solve puzzles, swing around, grab items, and reach new places. However, you can also unlock veggies that will let you open new paths or reach uncharted areas. It has everything you love about platformers, but with a new take on exploration and traversal mechanics.
CorgiSpace
What’s better than a game? A collection of games, which is precisely what CorgiSpace is. This title, made by Adam Atomic, brings several 8-bit games for players to enjoy. You’ll be able to find experiences such as Kuiper Cargo, a puzzle game of delivering cargo while solving puzzles. Mole Mole, a Sokoban game with bombs. Or Rat Dreams, which is a top-down soulslike where you can only roll to dodge attacks. There are many more for you to try, so if you like that old-school 8-bit style, you should keep an eye out for this one.
Dogpile
Dogpile mixes rogue-like deck-building with Tetris-like mechanics, all with the goal of making even bigger dogs. We know it sounds like a mouthful, but the truth is that the game looks fantastic, addictive, and weirdly enthralling. However, it isn’t just about waiting for dogs to be combined. Several modifiers make each match more difficult or easier, depending on how lucky you are. So, your dog-combinig journey might get chaotic depending on what things the game throws at you.
Unshine Arcade
And here we have games within a game, in a way. Unsunshine Arcade combines an eerie horror experience with rogue-like elements. The main arcade game is a space shooter where you play as a little frog. You strengthen this character by getting upgrades from a gacha machine. But that’s not all, as you’ll be getting tickets by playing, which you can use to uncover the mysteries behind this abandoned arcade. It truly sounds like a terrifying yet addictive experience, and one that blends two beloved genres into an intriguing game.
Moomintroll: Winter’s Warmth
Good old Moomintroll wakes up early during his hibernation, only to discover he is alone in a land unfamiliar to him. While the land is cold and bleak, that doesn’t stop him, as this adventure takes him on a long journey where he must fight the elements while helping others. On top of that, the stories you’ll find mix a lot of different themes that just add more emotion to this already heartwarming and thoughtful journey.
Demon Tides
Many of you might remember Demon Tides from previous showcases, and it now returns with a brand-new trailer and a release date. First, it is launching on February 19, 2026, and for the unaware, it is a wild platformer with several traversal mechanics, a unique art style, and hectic action for those who love old-school platforming games. This recent trailer showed even more abilities and combat segments that show the wait will be worth it when we finally get our hands on this title next year.
Frog Sqwad
More co-op chaos is coming, and the protagonists are also frogs. Yes, that’s the second time we see frogs in this Day of the Devs edition, and we love it. Frog Sqwad will task you and other players to dive into the sewers to get food for the Swamp King. However, what makes things more fun is the fact that this game is entirely physics-based, meaning that every match will be as chaotic as you can imagine. It is great to see more co-op games in the market, and Frog Sqwad seems like the next big thing that co-op enjoyers should try.
Astromine
If you are tired of fighting Creepers or the Chicken Jockey mob that sent the world into overdrive, then prepare to take it to the stars with Astromine. This voxel space adventure will let you explore fully destructible planets as you fight off aliens and gather resources. And since it is a survival game, you will also be able to build your base, construct vehicles, and more. It is the voxel space adventure we’ve been waiting for, and it is thankfully coming to early access sometime in 2026.
Find Your Words
Last, but certainly not least, we have Find Your Words. This game was developed by two fathers of non-speaking children to celebrate their kids’ journey to find their words through Augmentative and Alternative Communication. In this short adventure that takes place in a summer camp, you’ll explore the place at your own pace, build relationships, collect symbols to communicate with others, try different activities, and more. It is a beautiful game with a strong message, and one that we encourage everyone to experience.
This Day of the Devs edition is yet another fantastic showcase that keeps proving there are many developers out there willing to think outside of the box to create unique and unforgettable experiences. Furthermore, it is always great to see titles of such varied genres, meaning that, regardless of the type of player you are, you’ll likely find your next adventure here. So, make sure to wishlist your favorites, and if there’s a demo, don’t hesitate to jump into it.
