I’m back with another batch of Early Access release highlights. 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 five Early Access games that might be worth checking out:
Sentimental K
Developer: Fordays Co.
Platform: Windows PC
Price: $24.99
First up this week is Sentimental K, an action-roguelite about beating up lots of enemies as petite anime girls. As with most games in the genre, you’ll delve into randomly generated dungeons and acquire new weapons, special abilities, and artifacts each run. Build synergies and chain attacks together, to slice your way through packs of enemies and boss encounters.
Sentimental K is expected to leave Early Access before the end of 2020.
Spirit Oath
Developer: Triangle Square
Platform: Windows PC
Price: $14.99 (Price will increase)
Spirit Oath is a unique mix of tower defense and RTS. You play as a forest guardian trying to save Elderwood, and your siblings, from dark and mysterious forces.
Rebuild the world tile-by-tile, and create different rune patterns to summon spirit warriors to defend you. Back up your forces with powerful spells and other special abilities to give them an edge in battle.
Spirit Oath is expected to remain in Early Access for about 6 months.
World of Contraptions
Developer: JCP Games Studio
Platform: Windows PC
Price: $7.99 (Price will increase)
World of Contraptions is an experimental, physics-based puzzle game about building absurd contraptions. Each stage is full of various obstacles that you’ll need to overcome. Plan your route and build contraptions to solve each level’s obstacles using an in-depth construction system.
As a physics-driven game, you’ll need to consider how your invention will interact with the various challenges, be they bridges, ramps, walls, and more. The game also comes with a built-in level editor.
World of Contraptions will stay in Early Access for at least 6 months.
Main Assembly
Developer: Bad Yolk Games
Publisher: Team17 Digital
Platform: Windows PC
Price: $19.99 (Price will increase)
Main Assembly is another physics-based building game with a complex and deep construction editor, though this time the game is more based around a visual programming system. Instead of solving puzzles, however, Main Assembly is more about just testing your creations in large sandbox worlds.
The game also features a variety of multiplayer challenges, and comes with Steam Workshop support to share your creations.
Main Assembly will be in Early Access for around a year.
Cepheus Protocol
Developer: Halcyon Winds
Platform: Windows PC
Price: $19.99 (Price will increase)
Finally, we come to Cepheus Protocol, a squad-based RTS set in San Francisco during an apocalyptic pandemic caused by an alien virus. Lead squads of customizable, upgradable soldiers as you travel around the city trying to find patient zero.
You’ll also need to fortify your base to hold off attacks by the infected hordes, as well as stop the spread of the virus before it completely takes over the city.
Cepheus Protocol is expected to remain in Early Access for about 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!
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!
