Few video game publishers live up to their namesake quite like Humble Games. Despite a company record of $33 million raised for thousands of charities in 2022, a steady stream of critically acclaimed games and forward-facing ambitions surrounding diversity in the development scene, Humble has remained shockingly just so. Riding the high of recent releases Signalis and Ghost Song, Humble has turned an eye to the future and earlier this week we caught a glimpse at what they’ve got in store for players in 2023 and beyond.
After an impressive showcase, complete with scripted banter and slick graphics (who really needs E3?), we also saw Humble at its best – a small group of representatives with modest headset mics and choppy video connections taking questions and riffing on the company ethos and hopes. It was charming, insightful, and true to the vibe of Humble Games. You can watch the presentation for yourself on YouTube but below we’ve broken down what we thought were the best parts of Humble’s 2023(ish) line-up.
Lost Skies
Capping off the event but headlining in my mind was the tiny glimpse we got at Bossa Game’s ambitious new title Lost Skies. In what Humble is describing as an attempt to redefine what can be achieved by an independent developer, this open-world co-op action adventure will see you and up to five mates craft customised flying machines and navigate a fractured world in the grips of a fantastical array of monsters. Gameplay was sparse but the concept art and tone setting featured characters using grappling hook-style climbing gear for combat and traversal, which combined with aerial navigation could make for a tremendous fantasy romp.
“We’re excited to show this first view of the world of Lost Skies,” said Henrique Olifiers, Co-founder and Gamer-in-Chief of Bossa Games. “You can see from the trailer the kind of high-flying, exciting world we’re building for players to explore, and the co-operation that will help them to survive.” Perhaps most interesting about Lost Skies though is Bossa’s plans to actively include the player community in the development process. “Using our open development method, we’ll be sharing with our community through every stage of development,” Olifiers said via a press release, “Just as players will work together to explore the shattered world of floating islands, we’ll be working with them, using their feedback to inform our creative process, and including their designs in the game itself.
Lost Skies is looking mighty fine
Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical
Not sure there’s a game in the independent scene that seems as relentlessly cool as Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical. Coming to us by way of Melbourne developers Summerfall Studios and slated for release on August 3 this year, Stray Gods is looking to seamlessly blend roleplaying mechanics with player-driven musical performances – think sing-talking your dialogue choices in dramatic fashion. Helmed by industry veteran David Gaider of BioWare fame, the game has also managed to attract massive names to its cast like Laura Bailey, Felicia Day, and Rahul Kohli, all of whom are being directed by Troy Baker.
While the showcase couldn’t show us any new gameplay footage just yet, you can check out a slick little behind-the-scenes look at a recent live event in LA promoting the game in which the cast sang a selection of songs live.
Tell me to my face this doesn’t look sick, you can’t.
#BLUD
Moving right past the slightly dated joke in the title, #BLUD looks like an absolute delight for animation fans. The first game from Exit 73, a team stacked with incredibly skilled 2D animators whose work you’ve probably seen in some Nickelodeon titles, #BLUD is an over-the-top dungeon crawler that sees high-schooler Becky Brewster fighting hordes of vampires between classes, field hockey, and mates. Exit 73 seems to be shooting for the moon on this one, blending stunning and expressive 2D animation with RPG and action mechanics.
Like playing a Saturday morning cartoon
Breeze in the Clouds
Breeze in the Clouds sports an adorable, weather-controlling Corgi and a genuinely great origin story to boot. The second-ever game to be brought into the Humble catalogue via the company’s Black Game Development Fund, Breeze in the Clouds emerges from SrBilyon Harris’ Stormy Nights Interactive. In it, you’ll play as Breeze as he traverses and tries to survive the colourful, but dangerous weather world of Tropolis. Breeze can use a variety of weather-based powers in this platforming experience which has a dash of that Mega-Man enemy design DNA for good measure. The game is also in keeping with Humble’s goal to start including more environmentalism in its future charity efforts.
It’s a dog with the power of the weather, honestly not sure what else you could want in a game
Cataclismo
Pivoting hard from the colourful world of Moonlighter, developer Digital Sun is riffing on dark fantasy with a cultural lens in its latest offering, Cataclismo. Leaning into the team’s Spanish origins, Cataclismo will see players blending real-time strategy mechanics with tower defence as they build fortresses to defend against waves of unspeakable horrors – apparently stone by stone. With a stunning art direction and an ambitious take on an existing genre, Cataclismo is one to keep an eye on.
A Spanish inspired grimdark fantasy sounds amazing
The Humble Games Range
Elsewhere we saw a bevy of exciting announcements and reveals. Wizard of Legend 2 is ramping up the magical co-op action as new developers Dead Mage steer the Humble title into even more chaotic waters under the guidance of original developers Contingent 99. In another debut title, Squid Shock Studios has teamed up with Humble to deliver Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus, a Japanese folklore-inspired 2.5D action platformer. And in a surprise drop, Supraland: Six Inches Under drops on PlayStation, Xbox, and Game Pass today – a first-person Metroidvania that’s packed with puzzles and some cool-looking exploration elements.
You can read more about Humble Games and its incredible charity work right here.
Did you enjoy the Humble Games Showcase for 2023? Be sure to let us know in the comments and on social media.
