In case you missed the news, the Itch Bundle For Racial Justice And Equality, already the best deal in the history of games, just keeps getting better. An actual more than a thousand games for under a fiver? Absolutely unmissable. And here’s another reason why.

I keep a list of games trying to do what Dwarf Fortress does. Unfortunately the nature of these games is so time consuming that progress on working through it is excruciatingly slow. There are many people going after the ☼management game☼ crown. Odd Realm is one of the more humble efforts, but also one of the most impressive.

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Strange things are afoot in steamgamesland. A powerful new force has begun to show its face on Western shores. Hailing from the tiny island nation of China, a wave of intrepid indie developers are shaking off a variety of undeserved reputations and delivering a solid fifth* of the shortlist of games we consider for Unknown Pleasures, the roundup of the best new games too few people are playing.

But did any of them make the final cut? Is this the beginning of a bright new era following Steam’s recent controversies? And are any of them bloody roguelikes?

Adhering to the rule of three this week: non-dwarven fortresses, kindhearted fireflies, and China, China, CHINA. (more…)