Insider Gaming held its inaugural showcase this morning, and it took a refreshingly different tack from the usual AAA-heavy event circuit. Big publishers and blockbuster titles don’t really need the extra attention, so Insider Gaming instead focused on the smaller games that could actually use the boost.
The showcase’s goal is to connect participating developers with publishers who can help finance their games. And on that front, it proved to be a treasure trove of potential gems the stretch from concept art to ready-to-play demos.
READ MORE: Six One Indie Showcase 2026 | Our Top Picks
If I could fund them all, I would. But for us mere mortals, wishlist support is the next best thing — it’s a critical KPI for securing funding, and the showcase’s ambition is to generate a million new cumulative wishlists for these games.
Here are our top give picks from the showcase. Happy wishlisting!
Terminal War
Terminal War is a 4v4 shooter, set in a broken-down America caught in some kind of civil war. Its presentation is dark and gritty — think Resident Evil but with clear inspiration from The Last of Us Factions. And if it is even half the game that The Last of Us Factions is, we’re in for something very special.
There’s also a resource management layer in the mix, plus the promise of deeper lore. Colour me excited!
Terminal War is expected to launch into early access soon, so throw it a wishlist and keep an eye out!
Becoming Pablo
Becoming Pablo takes obvious inspiration from the world of Pablo Escobar, but it appears to go much wider than that, exploring drug cartels across the globe. It doesn’t seem interested in glorifying the violence so much as unpacking the strategy, rivalry and empire building that sits behind it all.
I’m a huge Narcos fan (the show, not the, erm, narcotics), so I’m thrilled to see a turn-based strategy game that blends city-building and resource management take on the subject matter.
Becoming Pablo is pre-Alpha, but demo details are set to be announced soon.
Take That Mainstage!
For all you wanna-be rockstars out there, Take That Mainstage! is the game for you. But to typecast it as a rockstar life sim would undersell it massively.
Sure, the game has you living the rockstar fantasy, but there’s a lot more going on here — picking chord progressions, writing lyrics, practising your instruments to build your skill, and layering that with a rhythm-game component for on-stage performances. It’s a genuinely novel combination.
I can’t wait to get my hands on it — but wait we’ll have to, as Take That Mainstage! is scheduled for release in Q2 2027. Wishlist it now so you don’t forget!
AGX GP
The Wipeout DNA is strong with AGX GP — and that’s a very good thing. I love anti-gravity racers — they unshackle you from the often drab realities of racing life, like rules, and physics. They’re a sandbox for lovers of speed, and as a lover of speed, I am very excited for this one.
The settings and track designs are striking, and it looks fast, smooth and genuinely fun. AGX GP is scheduled for release in Q3 2026.
Carrier Cuties – Pets in Mechs!
The premise for Carrier Cuties – Pets in Mechs! is simple — AI has extinguished all of humanity, and all that’s left are our pets. So, naturally, they take control of human mechs and fight each other. In this AI timeline, it isn’t even that absurd.
The art style is visually distinctive, with clay-sculpted characters, and it just looks like a hilarious time. There’s no release date for Carrier Cuties – Pets in Mechs! yet, so let’s just hope the premise hasn’t come true before it does.
On a quest for more games? Check out the Insider Gaming Showcase in its entirety below:
