The one-year Game Developers Conference is always an exciting place to fit out new and exciting approaching games . It might not have as many of the AAA heavy batter as a Summer Game Fest , but the events and appointments surrounding this more developer - focalise league has historically put up games that we ’ve rifle on to roll in the hay , such asViewfinder , Venba , andAnimal Well .
This class , I attended my first GDC and played a pile of promising game there . The last dyad of years have been scratchy for the telecasting game industriousness , and things may get worse before they get better . Despite that , everything I played at GDC 2025 renewed my trust that there are still many passionate developer work on awe-inspiring plot that deserve our undivided attention . These nine games stood out enough in particular to make our tilt of the best game we played at GDC 2025 .
Blades of Fire
Blades of Firewas for sure the swelled surprise of GDC 2025 for me , as this new project from the developer ofMetroid Dreadis far from your typical action game . While elements from games likeDark SoulsandFor Honorcan be see here , a small-scale preference ofBlades of Fire’sweapon forging and directing scrap got my attention . I had to be very intentional with how I forged weapons and pick out to fight foe , mesh me in a way I had n’t felt with an action at law biz in quite a while . I always treasure it when games in well - trodden genres are n’t afraid to take bold golf stroke , andBlades of Firedoes just that in an original fantasy world that I ’m already pine to return to .
Blades of Firelaunches for PC , PS5 , and Xbox Series X / S on May 22 .
Clawpunk
While I ’m not a cat person , games likeBubsy in : The Purrfect CollectionandClawpunkensured I got my filling of them at GDC 2025.Clawpunkis an action - platformer roguelike where player take mastery of computed axial tomography with special ability and fight through insect bite - sized , highly destructible levels . It was gentle to pick up and play in the middle of a meddling group discussion , and I was leave wanting to play more after I had to put the controller down . game likeStray , A Little To The Left , and even that odd The Game Awards revealCatlyshow that there ’s quite a demand for games where you control that . Clawpunkcould be poise for achiever if it can entice that crowd to engage with this action - roguelike adventure .
Clawpunkis in evolution for PC .
The Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy-
The Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy - is the first collaboration between Kotaro Uchikoshi , the director of the Zero Escape and AI : The Somnium Files series , and Kazutaka Kodaka , the creator and author of the Danganronpa games . That match made in heaven answer in a maneuver RPG / visual novel cross that will provide the best of both mankind . It find a middle earth between Persona and Fire Emblem as a cast of memorable characters with fantastical abilities fight to protect a schooltime from hordes of constantly invade monsters . It has all the charm of its Maker ’ premature employment and has the potential to become a breakout bang .
The Hundred Line -Last Defense Academy - launch for PC and Nintendo Switch on April 24 .
To a T
To a Tis a new plot from Katamari Damacy creator Keita Takahashi , and it was absolutely delicious when I played it at GDC 2025 . It ’s a cunning little escapade plot about a youthful child who ca n’t break out of a “ t ” shape , and players control them as they go about their casual life and do thing like get quick for shoal . It ’s a offbeat lilliputian experience , but it is also intelligibly being spun to ultimately be a game with a message about body positivity , with the line “ you ’re the stark shape ” constantly being reiterated in the game ’s main theme Sung . Yes , it has a main subject song .
To a Tlaunches on May 28 for PC , Xbox One , and Xbox Series X / S.
Shadow of the Road
Owlcat Games is score a name for itself in the CRPG outer space by not only acquire game likeWarhammer 40,00 : Rogue Traderbut also by publishing other hopeful CRPGs likeRue ValleyandShadow of the Road . I watch outShadow of the Roadat an indie event during GDC , and its pick to embrace feudalistic Japan ’s account and mythology makes it stand out compare to most New RPGs . Its turn - free-base fight also looks like a lot of fun , as there are a pile of scheme to be developed with the positioning of units and modifying turn order in your favour . CRPGs are in mode again followingBaldur ’s Gate3 , and Owlcat Games seems keen to capitalize on that through titles likeShadow of the Road .
An subject alpha forShadow of the Roadis available now on PC .
Hotel Barcelona
Suda 51 and SWERY’sHotel Barcelonafelt like a fairly straightforward action - platforming roguelike when I first set out playing it at GDC , albeit one with a memorable esthetic inspired by horror movies . Then I die , and the existent tie revealed itself . With each fresh run of a level , instrumentalist are fighting alongside their retiring lives . This provides a keen ocular effect and opens up new combo opportunities as their attacks still damage enemies . add together in the queer elan that comes with these storied developers , like haphazardly spawning as grownup than usual during one run , andHotel Barcelonais propose an super creative spin on a well - trodden roguelike normal .
Hotel Barcelonalaunches for PC , PS5 , and Xbox Series X / S this year .
Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree
If you ’re a buff of 2D Soulslikes , Mandragora : Whispers of the Witch Treeneeds to be on your radar . It like an expert translates the unmanageable , methodical combat FromSoftware ’s games are lie with for into a 2D format and looks great while doing it . Mandragora’scel - shaded flavour is quite beautiful , and hatful of flashy and utilitarian wizard attacks take full reward of that . Developer Primal Game Studios foretell that the game will be over 40 hours long and feature New Game+ at release , soMandragorawill offer a whole lot of Soulslike to sink your teeth into .
Mandragora : whisper of the Witch Treelaunches for PC , PS5 , and Xbox Series X / S on April 17 .
Missile Command Delta
Of all of Atari ’s late retro reimaginings , none have caught my center in the wayMissile Command Deltahas . While there ’s no narrative to speak of in classicMissile Command , Deltareinterprets that classic into a story - driven game that blends first - person geographic expedition and mystifier solving with turn - based tactical combat . Its first personal exploration remind me of games likeThe WitnessandAmerican Arcadia , while its problematic tactical battles reminded me of classics likeInto the falling out . consider developers Mighty Yell and 13 AM Games have a solid caterpillar tread record as indie studios , I have high expectations for Missile Command Delta when it finally bring out .
Missile Command Deltawill be expel for PC , PS5 , and Nintendo Switch in 2025 .
Herdling
This game fromFar : Lone Sailsdeveloper Okomotive is the next indie coming forJourney’scrown . Herdlingsees players channelise an ever - increasing number of creature into the countryside mountains border a pretty dreadful city . While the ascendancy of herd animals from behind take a little getting used to , eventually I fell intoHerdling’srhythm and number to savor the calm , beautiful moments that emerged when dashing across the countryside with wild animals that I had distinguish and freed from that drab metropolis . Like thatgamecompany ’s classicJourney , knowing where to go felt visceral , and the journey at once began to feel just as important as the goal .
Herdlinglaunches PC , PS5 , and Xbox Series X / S sometime this summertime .
Pathfinder: Abomination Vaults
Classic tabletop gamePathfinderhas been getting the attention it deserves from the video game space more than ever in late years . scout : Abomination Vaultsis the latest object lesson , offering up an action RPG experience that does n’t prompt me of just Diablo , but classic fighter - establish aRPGs I grew up savor , likeMarvel Ultimate Alliance . Pathfinder : Abomination Vaultswill offer straight , Diablo - like sport based on a popularPathfinderAdventure Path . It ’ll support lounge co - op , too , an increasing rarity today and something that pull out me to the plot even though I ’m not a diehardPathfinderfan .
scout : Abomination Vaultswill be released in 2025 on Steam .
