10 Coolest Upcoming Games Nobody Is Talking About

From Grand Theft Auto 6 to 007 First Light, there are a lot of juggernaut video game releases on the horizon. Per usual, there are even more that aren't getting the same amount of discussion. It's tough to keep up with everything that's on its way, but plenty of upcoming indie games deserve more attention than they're getting.

While it stands to reason that indie games make up the lion's share of future releases that no one is talking about, some standouts could still use a spotlight. A few bigger releases are also failing to attract much attention so far, although things could always change closer to release.

10 Dead Horizon

One glance at Dead Horizon makes its status as an adventure game clear, but this cartoony Western is a little different from the '90s LucasArts games that likely inspired it. Here, the adventure is more about making decisions than about pixel-hunting to solve puzzles, giving it the chance to appeal to fans of RPGs or visual novels.

The real surprise, however, is the incorporation of rail shooter gameplay. The trailer offers a glimpse at the creative nature of fights, with footage of a player shooting out a lamppost to get the drop on an opponent. Red Dead Redemption fans seem to be constantly starved for more Westerns, and although this one is of a very different breed, it's definitely worth paying attention to.

9 Penguin Colony

There's no shortage of Lovecraftian video games, including some standouts like Amnesia: The Dark Descent, The Shrouded Isle, and even Bloodborne. Unfortunately, none of these games focus on penguins, a problem addressed by Origame Digital's Penguin Colony.

This upcoming title takes At the Mountains of Madness's Antarctic setting in a new direction, injecting a healthy dose of penguin gameplay into the mix. Watching penguins waddle and slide around with a dramatic voiceover creates a truly unusual trailer experience, and it should be fascinating to see if the final product can make the unusual mash-up work. If you'd like a less penguin-centric game inspired by At the Mountains of Madness, there's also Dread Meridian, a VR title coming in January 2026.

8 Nightmare Operator

Survival horror is bigger than ever, and Nightmare Operator is yet another indie game looking to build on the genre's classic roots. Taking place in a ruined Tokyo, the game will task players with mastering a complex shooting system to blast through yōkai with combos and status effects.

Nightmare Operator's low-poly aesthetic and anime influences fit perfectly into popular indie game trends, and this one has already picked up a lot more traction than other indie games on this list. With no release date on the horizon, however, it isn't the topic of many discussions right now.

7 Weeny Wise

Among so many games without release dates, there needs to be at least one with an imminent launch. Weeny Wise fits that bill perfectly, with a February 17, 2026 debut already locked in place. This co-op puzzle platformer takes place in an adorable fantasy setting, featuring environments that range from crystalline ice palaces to bioluminescent swamps.

In the model of Hazelight Studios games like It Takes Two and Split Fiction, Weeny Wise uses a Friend's Pass system that lets two players join up with only one copy of the game. It also follows the Hazelight tradition of frequently shaking up the gameplay, with plenty of mini-games to provide a break from the platforming elements.

6 Nazralath: The Fallen World

Dark Souls inspired a countless array of gameplay imitators, but the richness of its dark fantasy atmosphere has proven harder to recapture. While Nazralath: The Fallen World is a more story-focused game, its emphasis on mood could scratch that Dark Souls itch.

The art and tone of Nazralath are inspired by Zdzisław Beksiński, a Polish artist behind quite a few uniquely haunting works. Whether the story and choices will live up to the game's obvious command of atmosphere remains to be seen, but at any rate, it should be an interesting RPG to check out.

5 Bashful Adoration

3D platformers recently received some AAA love in the form of Astro Bot and Donkey Kong Bananza. The indie gaming scene, however, is the place to look for the genre's future. Upcoming titles like The Big Catch have already won over plenty of fans, but Bashful Adoration is one that deserves more attention than it's currently getting.

With a vibrant art style and fast-paced, fluid movement, Bashful Adoration's gameplay footage so far is already bursting with energy. Its focus on PvP action could be a nice change of pace from other indie multiplayer games, many of which have recently been following Lethal Company's model.

4 Scarlet Deer Inn

From the hand-drawn art of Cuphead to the clay models of Hylics, indie games have covered the gamut of craftsmanship. Scarlet Deer Inn has to be one of the most unique examples, using real embroidery for all of its character art. Add in a dash of Slavic folklore, and you've certainly got my attention.

Scarlet Deer Inn made a reasonable stir when it was announced, but nearly five years later, the hype has stalled. At this point, it could start to feel like a project in limbo, but a 2024 demo proved that development was still ticking along. Hopefully, 2026 will finally bring news of a release date.

3 Sleight Of Hand

The Steam page for Sleight of Hand describes it as a "Stealth Action Card-Sim," which is already enough to get my attention. Even better, a Reddit post from the developer cites Dishonored, Metal Gear Solid, and "noir flavour" as key ingredients. If that's not a winning recipe, I don't know what is.

For now, there's neither a release date nor an available gameplay demo, so I'm not too optimistic that Sleight of Hand will be coming soon. When it does arrive, it's slated to debut on Xbox Game Pass, which could be exactly what it needs to attract an audience.

2 The Grey Elegy: Under The Cursed Wings

Indie JRPGs are another genre that's spoiled for choice, but nothing else looks quite like The Grey Elegy: Under the Cursed Wings. 3D environments are populated by 2D characters in a hand-drawn chibi style, taking the HD-2D concept of games like Octopath Traveler in an entirely new direction. It's a concept that could easily fail to come together if done sloppily, but a meticulous approach to lighting and texture unites the disparate elements.

The Grey Elegy also boasts a unique combat system, with turn-based battles influenced by combos that are created before the fights even begin. If a name like Square Enix were behind this game, it would already be at the center of the spotlight.

1 Glasshouse

Isometric CRPGs are all the rage right now, and plenty of fans are begging for Baldur's Gate 3 or lining up for competitors like Warhammer 40,000: Dark Heresy. One of the most promising, however, is Glasshouse, an upcoming CRPG from a new game development collective.

Glasshouse's turn-based combat should appeal to fans of Baldur's Gate 3 and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, while its literary stylings and urban setting could win over Disco Elysium acolytes. Of course, it remains to be seen whether Glasshouse can live up to any of these titans, but the team has already started to run playtests and incorporate feedback into the development process. Even if it doesn't take the world by storm, I'd be shocked if this upcoming indie game doesn't prove to be compelling.