This is Niche Early Access. In this column, we regularly showcase various promising games that are currently in some form of early access or development, and haven’t reached full release. Please let us know if there’s a game you want us to showcase!
It’s been quite some time since my last Early Access highlight article. As always, even if you don’t like buying titles that are still in Early Access, remember to wishlist any games that catch your attention so you’ll be notified when they get a full release.
Here are 5 Early Access games that might be worth checking out:
ScourgeBringer
Publishers: Dear Villagers, Yooreka Studios
Developers: Flying Oak Games, E-Studio
Platforms: Windows PC, Linux, Mac
Price: $14.99 (Price may increase)
ScourgeBringer is a 2D roguelite platformer that focuses on fast, fluid combat and movement. You play as Kyhra, a young warrior in a post-apocalyptic world that was sent by her clan to brave the dangers of the Scourge, an ever-shifting dungeon guarded by ancient machines.
Delve into the Scourge’s darkest depths to discover its secrets, and find humanity’s redemption in a grim world.
ScourgeBringer is expected to stay in Early Access for around six to eight months.
Warhammer Underworlds: Online
Developer: Steel Sky Productions
Platforms: Windows PC
Price: $29.99
Warhammer Underworlds: Online is a full digital adaptation of the Warhammer Underworlds tabletop game. The game follows small warbands of adventurers in Age of Sigmar‘s Mortal Realms, and is divided into rotating “seasons” that introduce new warbands, cards, and mechanics. Players have a fixed warband, with list building being based around creating your Objective and Power decks.
Warhammer Underworlds: Online is expected to stay in Early Access for around three months.
Rover Mechanic Simulator
Publisher: PlayWay S.A.
Developer: Pyramid Games
Platform: Windows PC
Price: $11.99 (Price may increase)
Rover Mechanic Simulator allows players to build and maintain rovers on the first Martian colony. Players will get to use real tools and heavy machinery as they fix rovers and send them back out into the field. The game’s extensive systems realistically model all of a rover’s major components, including circuit boards.
Rover Mechanic Simulator will be in Early Access for several months.
Stoneshard
Publisher: HypeTrain Digital
Developer: Ink Stains Games
Platform: Windows PC
Price: $14.99 (Price will increase)
Stoneshard is a challenging open world turn-based RPG, set in a grim medieval fantasy world. The game boasts an open ended approach to character progression, allowing players to dabble in a wide range of skills and playstyles. The game also features an in-depth injury system, including individually targetable body parts, illnesses, and mental health.
Stoneshard will remain in Early Access for upwards of two years.
Black Powder Red Earth
Developer: _Echelon Software
Platforms: Windows PC, Mac
Price: $14.99 (Price will increase)
Finally, we come to Black Powder Red Earth, a turn-based tactics game set in the near future. Players are tasked with conducting operations across the Middle East as a private military contractor. The game focuses on turn-based firefights, and doesn’t feature any sort of tech trees or base management.
Black Powder Red Earth is expected to stay in Early Access for around a year.
Which of these games are you interested in? Are you playing any recent Early Access releases that we missed? Tell us more in the comments below!
