by On average, a dozen new games are released on Steam every day. And while we think that’s a good thing, it can be hard to keep up. Potentially exciting gems are sure to be lost in the deluge of new things to play, unless you sort through every game released on Steam. So that’s exactly what we did. If nothing appeals to you this week, we’ve rounded up the best PC games (opens in a new tab) you can play right now and a running list of 2022 games (opens in a new tab) which start this year.
Choo-Choo Charles
Steam page (opens in a new tab)
Released: December 10
Developer: Two Star Games
Introductory price: $20 | £16.75 | AU$29.50
Choo-Choo Charles is a survival horror on a mean train. A train, I might add, that has giant spider legs. I would hazard a guess that it is inspired by the many Thomas the Tank Engine mods available for games ranging from Elden Ring (opens in a new tab) up to Kingdom Hearts 3 (opens in a new tab), and while Choo-Choo Charles as a concept is kind of funny, it’s also scary. Set in a dark, open world, you’ll be cruising around in your own engine most of the time (a peaceful, non-scary engine), but you’ll also spend time on foot as you upgrade your engine to be better prepared for a final showdown with the bastard Charles. As far as I know, there is no other horror game about a hectic and murderous train, so full marks for originality. Early reviews from Steam are also “very positive”.
turbo lazy
Steam page (opens in a new tab)
Released: December 9
Developer: RainStyle Games
Introductory price: $18 | £16.87 | AU$26.55
Turbo Sloths is a post-apocalyptic arcade racing game with vehicular combat, extensive customization, and sloths. Yes, for some reason all the characters in this fast-paced racing game are sloths, but far be it from me to complain: sloths are awesome. The desert circuits are full of obstacles and opportunities to get some fresh air, but there are also Arena and Survival modes that seem to have a lot in common with classic Twisted Metal outings. Judging from the gameplay footage I’ve seen, it’s a very fast-paced game indeed, somewhat reminding me of the very underrated Onrush. This has lazy people though, so comes out of the gate with a clear advantage.
NecroBouncer
Steam page (opens in a new tab)
Released: December 9
Developer: Alchemy Sheep
Introductory price: $11.89 | £10.19 | AU$16.95
We’ve had angry trains and racing sloths, now it’s time for a necromancer security guard. NecroBouncer is a roguelite dungeon crawler that’s all about doling out vigilante discipline to wasted monsters in an underground nightclub. Narrative dress-up romance aside, NecroBouncer is a pretty orthodox top-down action game: you’ll kill baddies, level up your skills, chain them up, and inevitably die a lot. This being a roguelite, there is a macro progression system that allows you to carry over certain powers and weapons. File next to Enter the Gungeon, Binding of Isaac and games about magical security guards.
Toggs
Steam page (opens in a new tab)
Released: December 8
Developer: Regular Studio
Introductory Price: $18 | £15.29 | AU$26.05
The most striking thing about this 3D platformer is its art style. Sure, the bright and colorful cartoon landscapes aren’t new to the genre, but there’s a certain flair particular to Togges that’s gorgeous in action. The developers at Regular Studio describe it as a “classic non-linear 3D Collect-A-Thon platformer”, but it also contains some light puzzle elements, mostly involving block stacking and manipulation (the playable character looks like a little to a hockey puck). There are seven great levels to explore and master, along with 30 bonus levels. Even better, there’s a demo.
Surrealism – Definitive Edition
Steam page (opens in a new tab)
Released: December 9
Developer: Dimitri Kozma, Orbe Filmes
Introductory Price: $6.39 | £5.35 | AU$9.43
Here’s a bizarre point-and-click adventure originally released in 1999. As the name suggests, it’s about the art movement of surrealism, tasking you with exploring a world very heavily inspired by famous works from that tradition. “Your mission in search of Supra-Reality will be arduous,” reads the Steam description. “You will have to follow the path traveled by the Artists and Philosophers of the Surrealist Universe. Be careful, you risk arriving in less welcoming places.” It looks worrying! Definitely worth checking out if you like weird video games.
