Time 2
Developer: Something we did
Publishers: Something We Made, Popagenda
Platforms: Steam (Windows, Mac, SteamOS/Linux; Steam Deck Verified), PS5, Switch, Switch 2
Price: Normally $20, with a 15 percent discount until October 13 (PlayStation Plus required for the PS5 discount)
If you are looking for a game to relax this weekend, Time 2 could fit the bill. The sequel of 2021’s Toem: A Photography Adventure put an updated camera in your hands with some new attachments to help you solve his puzzles. There is a fresh cast of characters to meet and help. As you complete quests, you fill a journal with stamps that act as both a reminder of your journey so far and a way to unlock the next area.
There’s also some platforms here – you’ll make your way around the environment to find hidden paths and vantage points where you can take some great snaps. The first game is a real charmer, and the follow-up seems like another good way to spend a few hours.
Small flock
Developer/Publisher: No Brakes Games
Platforms: Steam (VR only), Meta Quest
Price: Normally $19, with a 21 percent discount on Steam until October 13
The studio behind the hugely successful Human case flat is back with more physics-based chaos, but Small flock looks like a much sweeter game. The goal here is to herd a small flock of sheep across diorama-style levels. You can move objects to form bridges and break through environments to create new paths because you can interact with everything in the environment. The Meta Quest version also has handtracking and passthrough support.
“After the success of Human case flatand some early VR experiments along the way, we wanted to set ourselves a new challenge, so we thought we would try something that used all our favorite features from VR, such as tactile physics, two-handed interactivity and the interesting game verbs that you play in the room, “Tomas Sakalauskas, the CEO and co-founder of No Brakes Selfish, said that even my whole family could enjoy a game. My child even designed some puzzles and some voice lines during the prototyping recorded.” I love that Sakalauskas’ kid helped make the game. That’s adorable.
Keep going
Developer: YCJY Games
Publishers: YCJY Games, Kepler Ghost
Platforms: Xbox Series X/S, PS5, Switch. Already available on Steam
Price: $18
This roadtrip RPG (or should that be carPG?) got a very positive reception when it debuted on Steam last year, and now it’s available on consoles. Mod support just went live in the Steam version.
This is a management sim set in the early 2000s in which your character drives across the country to attend a festival. You must overcome challenges, such as sheep blocking the road, with a spin on turn-based combat. Maybe you pick up hitchhikers and do odd jobs on your journey. You can also customize, repair and upgrade your vehicle. There are multiple endings, and it is said to take between one and four hours to see each one.
I didn’t play Keep goingbut the vibes in the trailer are great. It’s currently 30 percent off on Steam until October 8 as part of that storefront’s big fall sale.
Endless rails
Developer: Studio Monoblok
Publishers: Studio Monoblok, Maple Whispering Limited
Platform: Steam (Windows; Playable on Steam Deck)
Price: Normally $7, with a 30 percent discount until October 13
Endless rails is a mashup of survivor-style action and a tower defense game. In this roguelite, you take charge of automatic drones protecting a moving train from enemies. At each station you can upgrade your drones and train, also by merging cars and their attributes in the last case. You will continue this loop until the train suddenly stops permanently. Before jumping into your next run, you can unlock some permanent upgrades.
Studio Monoblok designed Endless rails with short gaming sessions in mind. The journey between the stations only takes about 20 to 30 seconds. It might be a good fit for Steam Deck, so I think I’ll give it a go.
Dog in the machine
Developer: Studio Chahut
Publisher: Goblinz Publishing
Platform: Steam (Windows, Mac)
Price: Normally $18, with a 20 percent discount until October 13
Here we have a turn-based tactical roguelite that looks like And the crimeunless you control a robot dog. The AutoDog you take on is trying to escape a “dystopian mecha city” and get back to his humans who are in exile. The mechanical puppy must overcome a fleet of enemy guardians to get out.
Each stage is designed to help you set up chain reactions that damage a bunch of baddies in a single turn. Before you commit to a move, you can preview how it will play out. You’ll customize your AutoDog on the fly as you progress through a run, including combining tricks and killer combo moves. Normally this wouldn’t be my kind of game (I skipped And the breach very fast!), but the robot dog and fun title grabbed my attention.