zissou
partially-obscured meteorite
Okay, allow me to SCREAM because I have 
so many games I'm excited for, but I'll narrow it down to a few.
Venba.
🌶 
Narrative cooking adventure where you play as an Tamil (Indian) mother who immigrates to Canada with her husband and son in the 1980s. She's lost her recipe book, so you have to restore the lost recipes through cooking various South Indian dishes! It explores themes of loss, love, belonging, and all of that good stuff. I’m South Indian and my parents immigrated to the US in the 90s, so the existence of this game means a lot to me. (Also, I was a big Cooking Mama fan back in the day.) The art style is incredible and the soundtrack is inspired by music from the developers’ childhoods. Also, you get to make dosas. Say no more. It comes out in July!!!
Moonstone Island.
Creature-collecting life-sim set in an open world where you explore hundreds of islands, brew potions, collect spirits, and uncover the dark secret of Moonstone Island. Procedurally generated islands. BROOM TRAVEL. Dungeon exploration requiring careful crafting of items and vehicles to traverse dangerous wilderness. FARMING. Friendship and romance options. Cute spirits to collect. And a traveling shop that runs around on CHICKEN LEGS!!! The detail-oriented pixel art style alone was enough to grab my attention, but I’m really hyped for this one. Also, there’s a free demo!
Grave Seasons.
Stardew Valley, except one of the townsfolk is a serial killer. It's randomized each time. And alongside growing crops, fishing, and romancing local cuties, you need to figure out who's viciously slaughtering your fellow villagers. (Hopefully you're not romancing the serial killer.) It's so unhinged and I am here for it.
Haunted Chocolatier.
ConcernedApe’s (aka Eric Barone, aka the developer of Stardew Valley) latest in-development game. An upcoming confectionery store simulation game with a spooky twist. He describes the core gameplay loop as "gathering ingredients, making chocolate, and running a chocolate shop" with a greater focus on combat. There is so very little we know about this game, but if there’s anything we’ve learned from the incredible depth and love poured into Stardew Valley, it’s that this man puts his entire SOUL into his games. Also, I like spooky things and I like games based around baking and business, so, like… this is everything. It probably won’t come out for years but I’ll be frothing at the mouth when it does.
Honorable mentions:
so many games I'm excited for, but I'll narrow it down to a few.Venba.
🌶 Narrative cooking adventure where you play as an Tamil (Indian) mother who immigrates to Canada with her husband and son in the 1980s. She's lost her recipe book, so you have to restore the lost recipes through cooking various South Indian dishes! It explores themes of loss, love, belonging, and all of that good stuff. I’m South Indian and my parents immigrated to the US in the 90s, so the existence of this game means a lot to me. (Also, I was a big Cooking Mama fan back in the day.) The art style is incredible and the soundtrack is inspired by music from the developers’ childhoods. Also, you get to make dosas. Say no more. It comes out in July!!!Moonstone Island.
Creature-collecting life-sim set in an open world where you explore hundreds of islands, brew potions, collect spirits, and uncover the dark secret of Moonstone Island. Procedurally generated islands. BROOM TRAVEL. Dungeon exploration requiring careful crafting of items and vehicles to traverse dangerous wilderness. FARMING. Friendship and romance options. Cute spirits to collect. And a traveling shop that runs around on CHICKEN LEGS!!! The detail-oriented pixel art style alone was enough to grab my attention, but I’m really hyped for this one. Also, there’s a free demo!Grave Seasons.
Stardew Valley, except one of the townsfolk is a serial killer. It's randomized each time. And alongside growing crops, fishing, and romancing local cuties, you need to figure out who's viciously slaughtering your fellow villagers. (Hopefully you're not romancing the serial killer.) It's so unhinged and I am here for it.Haunted Chocolatier.
ConcernedApe’s (aka Eric Barone, aka the developer of Stardew Valley) latest in-development game. An upcoming confectionery store simulation game with a spooky twist. He describes the core gameplay loop as "gathering ingredients, making chocolate, and running a chocolate shop" with a greater focus on combat. There is so very little we know about this game, but if there’s anything we’ve learned from the incredible depth and love poured into Stardew Valley, it’s that this man puts his entire SOUL into his games. Also, I like spooky things and I like games based around baking and business, so, like… this is everything. It probably won’t come out for years but I’ll be frothing at the mouth when it does.Honorable mentions:
- Mineko’s Night Market
(celebrates Japanese culture while introducing a heartwarming story about friendship, tradition, and many, many cats) - Traveller’s Rest
(tavern management game where you can brew your own beer, run a farm, and build relationships) - Lakeburg Legacies
(social village management sim focused on pairing up your townsfolk to make the most effective couples) - Fashion Dreamer
(Style Savvy-esque fashion game with gorgeous graphics; I need more evidence of solid gameplay to be truly hyped though) - Paralives
(Sims-like with an absolutely gorgeous artstyle; nooooo idea when it'll actually come out through) - FANTASY LIFE i: The Girl Who Steals Time
(sequel to the incredible 3DS adventure/cooking/crafting RPG Fantasy Life; would be its own entry, but has introduced a dubious 3D artstyle and questionable terraforming ability that makes me... sus)
