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Day of the Devs Summer Showcase 2026 | Our Top Picks

Dan Anderson

Day of the Devs is back, bigger and better in 2026, shining a spotlight on indie developers and their creative work. It remains my personal highlight of the Summer Game Fest festivities, and this year’s showcase has me as excited as ever.

From rhythm-based platformers to unsettling psychological narratives, there was something here for every type of gamer. Packed with Earthwide Debuts, thanks to Tim Schafer’s new term for World Premieres — it was a showcase well worth watching.

These were the five games we couldn’t stop thinking about.

Super Yooka-Laylee Kart

In one of the biggest surprises of the showcase, Playtonic revealed Super Yooka-Laylee Kart. This time, the lizard and bat duo are swapping platforming for high-speed kart racing. Giving strong classic Mario Kart vibes, the trailer showed off gorgeous pixel art, colourful tracks, and a cast of familiar faces from across the Yooka-Laylee universe.

What really caught my attention was the focus on skill and competition. The unique Rage system rewards players who fight back after setbacks, while custom races, chaotic items, and advanced racing techniques promise plenty of friendship-testing moments.

A Steam playtest is planned soon, as Super Yooka-Laylee Kart races onto my wishlist.

Apple Crumble

The smell of Granny’s apple crumble is always a favourite. But what happens when a lovely family reunion turns into a murder mystery? From the creators of Duck Detective comes Apple Crumble, a suspenseful mystery where someone at your grandmother’s 84th birthday party is plotting something sinister.

Described as a creepy-cosy walking sim, the game sees you exploring your childhood home, snooping through drawers you definitely should not open, and uncovering your family’s dirty secrets. The trailer immediately hooked me with its quirky humour and intriguing mystery. Who is trying to take out poor Granny? More importantly, will we ever get to eat the apple crumble?

Sniff your way to Steam to wishlist Apple Crumble which launches later this year.

Prove You’re Human

Prove You’re Human was a particularly exciting announcement from the developers of cult classic 1000xRESIST. You play as a digital copy of a person paid to test a new corporate product. The catch? The AI you’re evaluating is convinced it is just as human as you are, perhaps even more so.

This game has an excellent premise. With AI becoming an increasingly hot topic, the developers have immediately caught my attention by exploring what it means to be human. I love the idea of uncovering more about the AI, the company behind it, and the employees involved, all while making decisions that could shape the outcome.

There is no release date yet for Prove You’re Human however, it is available to wishlist on Steam now.

Threads of Time

When I saw Threads of Time, it instantly struck me as a love letter to classic RPGs. With clear influences from Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy, it took me back to sitting in front of my CRT TV and Super Nintendo, completely absorbed in a grand adventure.

Threads of Time is a turn-based RPG where you use your ship, The Needle, to travel across time. I loved seeing the prehistoric era, particularly the dinosaurs. One of the most intriguing ideas shown was the ability to decide whether they become extinct or survive, changing the timeline as a result. Combined with its gorgeous pixel-art style, it immediately caught my attention.

Threads of Time is available to wishlist on Steam, with a release date to be announced sometime in the future for both PC and Xbox Series X|S.

Mr Records

Mr. Records is an incredibly interesting genre mash-up, blending a rhythm platformer with a record shop simulator. You play as George, a record store owner who spends his days helping customers find the perfect album, learning about their lives, and uncovering their stories. However, George is no ordinary shopkeeper, he can step inside the music itself.

The moment the needle drops, George is transported into vibrant rhythm platforming levels inspired by memories and emotions. These musical journeys looked fantastic during the showcase, and I cannot wait to hear the game’s original soundtrack. Best of all, completing a record’s story allows you to add it to your growing collection back at the shop.

Mr. Records is available to wishlist on Steam. A release date is yet to be announced, but this is one game I’ll be spinning on day one.

On a quest for more games? Check out the Day of the Devs Summer Showcase in its entirety below:

More from Showcase Season 2026:

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