Slay the Spire 2 reveal, UnderMine 2, and more

For those seeking innovation beyond the traditional triple-A gaming scene (some publishers are even talking about making “AAAA” games now), it might be worthwhile to explore the catalogs of independent developers. The recent Triple-i Initiative 2024 showcase, held on April 10, unveiled a plethora of new indie games, including the much anticipated Slay the Spire 2, a new installment in the Prince of Persia series, and the sequel to the highly rated UnderMine. Details below.

10 most promising games from the Triple-i Initiative showcase

The Triple-i Initiative offered plenty of new details about indie games, including ones that are already on the market (in relation to future expansions as well as development plans). We’ve curated a selection of the most promising upcoming titles showcased during the event. Enjoy!

And if you want to watch the entire showcase, here’s the link to the video from The Triple-i Initiative channel.

Cat Quest III

Beginning with one of the most charming games on the list, Cat Quest III is coming, this time with a pirate-themed setting. The cat hero will be searching for hidden treasures while fighting against pirate mice. Targeting younger audiences, this RPG is listed as coming in 2024, so we should be able to conquer the Purribean sooner rather than later.

Hyper Light Breaker

Are you ready to return to the world of Hyper Light Drifter? Heart Machine’s upcoming game will soon be released on Steam in Early Access. Developers promise interesting logic and environmental puzzles to solve, but the focus will be on fighting. Hyper Light Breaker will offer an elaborate combat system, the mastery of which will require quick reflexes. We can expect to face increasingly powerful bosses along the way.

Wizard of Legend 2

If you love roguelite games, here’s something that may well capture your heart. Wizard of Legend 2 will differ from its predecessor, as its developer changed to Dead Mage, a studio behind Children of Morta. Moreover, the sequel will no longer be a 2D pixel-art experience, now offering 3D graphics and a comic book-esque style. At its core, the gameplay will still be all about dynamic combat with hordes of enemies, though.

Laysara: Summit Kingdom

Surprise! Following the showcase, Laysara: Summit Kingdom debuted on Steam in Early Access and is currently available with a 20% discount. This unusual city-builder tasks players with creating chains of mountain settlements, catering to the needs of their inhabitants, and protecting them from dangerous weather conditions.

Streets of Rogue 2

Streets of Rogue 2 is yet another sequel shown during the Triple-i Initiative showcase. Developed by Matt Dabrowski, the first game was a mix of RPG and roguelike. This time around, players will have total freedom when traversing an open, randomly generated world. The task? To wreak total havoc and take down a vile president.

Gestalt: Steam & Cinder

Aside from new material, the Gestalt: Steam & Cinder release date was also unveiled, and the game will launch on Valve’s platform on May 21, 2024. It should be a treat for all metroidvania enthusiasts, especially those who enjoy 16- and 32-bit-inspired titles. We’ll step into the shoes of Aletheia to uncover the dark secrets of the steampunk city of Canaan and test our skills against hordes of golems.

KILL KNIGHT

This brand-new IP turned out to be one of the biggest surprises of the Triple-i Initiative 2024 showcase. With visuals clearly inspired by 90’s arcade hits, KILL KNIGHT is shaping up to be an ultra-fast and gory hack and slash game with bullet hell elements. A betrayed knight seeks revenge! To achieve it, he’ll have to reach deeper and deeper into the Abyss and slay everything that stands in his way.

The Rogue Prince of Persia

The rumors turned out to be accurate—a new PoP is indeed in the works, and it’s going to be a roguelite title. That’s not all, however, as The Rogue Prince of Persia release date has been revealed, and the game will drop into Steam’s Early Access on May 14, 2024. It’s being developed by Evil Empire, a team known for its work on Dead Cells.

UnderMine 2

The sequel to the 2020 action-adventure roguelike hit is coming. In UnderMine 2, players will be able to explore procedurally generated dungeons alongside a friend, as it will introduce a co-op mode. As is usually the case with sequels, Thorium’s new title will be bigger and have better visuals. The game will have new characters with unique abilities as well as fresh areas for our heroic peasant to discover.

Slay the Spire 2

Here’s what was probably the most important announcement of the entire showcase: Slay the Spire 2 will launch in 2025 as an Early Access title. The expectations are soaring, as the original StS remains one of the most popular indie games of all time and is responsible for popularizing the roguelike deckbuilder genre. The sequel is being developed with a new engine, and developers promise plenty of visual upgrades as well as new enemies, items, treasures… and more.

What are your personal highlights of the Triple-i Initiative showcase? Let us know in the comments!