AI-Run 'Utopias,' Moss in 2D and Other New Indie Games Worth Checking Out

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Indie gaming continues to deliver a steady stream of creative, genre-defying experiences, and this weekend’s lineup is no exception. From AI-managed utopias to a skateboarding train and a beloved VR title finally going flat-screen, here’s a roundup of the most notable indie game releases and upcoming titles worth your attention.

Denshattack! — A Skateboarding Train

One of the week’s standout releases is Denshattack!, developed by Undercoders and published by Fireshine Games. Set in a dystopian, futuristic Japan, this action title puts you in control of a train that handles like a skateboard. Players jump between tracks, dodge obstacles, and pull off stylish tricks while racing against rivals and bosses.

The game draws clear inspiration from classics like Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater and Jet Set Radio, with fluid controls and a vibrant aesthetic. It’s available on Steam (Windows, Steam Deck Verified), PS5, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X/S, and PC Game Pass, priced at $20 (with a 10 percent launch discount on Steam through July 29).

D-topia — An AI-Run Paradise?

D-topia, from developer Marumittu Games and publisher Annapurna Interactive, is a sci-fi adventure set in “The Utopia Project” — a civilization allegedly perfected by artificial intelligence. You play as a maintenance worker solving puzzles, aiding residents, and shaping a branching narrative through your decisions.

The game’s clean, sanitized visual style evokes Mirror’s Edge, and its gentle but pointed tone has drawn praise from early players. Priced at $20 with a 10 percent launch discount, D-topia is available on Steam, Epic Games Store, Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.

Moss: The Forgotten Relic — VR Classic Goes 2D

The critically acclaimed VR franchise Moss is now accessible to flat-screen gamers. Moss: The Forgotten Relic, developed by Polyarc and Blackbird Interactive, combines both original Moss games and the Twilight Garden expansion into a single 2D adventure.

You control Quill, a heroic mouse fighting to save her world from arcane forces. With platforming, environmental puzzles, and optional combat (thanks to new accessibility settings), this $20 package features fresh cutscenes, a revamped camera system, and upgraded visuals. It’s available on Steam, Switch, Switch 2, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

More Notable Indies

Orpheus: To Hell and Back ($3 on Steam) is a charming Game Boy-style title where you play as Orpheus rescuing Eurydice with a magical lyre that controls enemy movements. Teeto ($18, 20 percent launch discount) is a co-op 3D platformer where you absorb object traits — think vine-swinging, flamethrowers, and turning into a chair. Its family-run studio even had two developers get engaged in-game.

Grapple Bear ($5) is a competitive precision platformer starring a mama bear with a grapple hook, featuring 40 handcrafted levels and weekly procedurally generated stages. Capy Castaway (August 6) offers a low-stress narrative adventure with a capybara and crow duo. And Dispatch, a superhero workplace comedy from former Telltale developers, arrives on Xbox July 29.

Looking Ahead

Upcoming titles include Aerial_Knight’s MrFreezy (September 1) — a darkly comic puzzle game about a serial killer — Grandma(88) (2026), a mystery thriller where your relationship with a dying grandmother shapes the narrative, and Worming from Home (September 4), a “job simulator” where you’re a financial analyst earthworm.