Annapurna Interactive has a strong 2025 lineup, including Katamari Damacy creator’s new game

One of the crucial stunning gaming information tales of the 12 months was the revelation that all of Annapurna Interactive’s staff had resigned amid complicated inner politics. In spite of everything, the boutique indie writer is well-regarded for its persistently robust output that features the likes of The Outer Wilds, Stray, What Stays of Edith Finch and Kentucky Route Zero. With IGN reporting {that a} “tiny management crew” was left making an attempt to assist round 40 initiatives, the way forward for Annapurna’s gaming division has been left unclear.

Fortunately, my quick fears in regards to the firm’s longevity have been assuaged throughout a current preview occasion in Los Angeles wherein a number of of its video games have been featured with the assistance of Montreal-based indie assist agency Popagenda. Given my packed Recreation Awards schedule, I used to be solely capable of go hands-on with 4 of the six featured titles, however I used to be undeniably impressed from what I noticed from all of them, together with in gameplay footage from the 2 others. Whereas the bigger well being of Annapurna Interactive stays unclear, the promise of those titles is hopefully an indication of fine issues to return.

Listed here are my impressions of the 4 video games:

Faraway

Developer: Steph Thirion
Platform: PC (Steam)
Launch date: TBA 2025

I all the time admire video games which might be made by single builders and people who characteristic easy and intuitive management schemes, and Faraway ticks off each of these bins. As a vanishing taking pictures star, you’re solely technique of survival is to harness vitality by creating constellations. To try this, you need to slingshot your consistently transferring mass between stars utilizing an vitality string, all via a single button. Whereas mechanically easy, the depth comes from the intricate design of the celebrities themselves, which turn out to be more and more extra difficult as you’re challenged to attach every form’s factors with a single string — no overlapping allowed.

Admittedly, this took a little bit of time to wrap my head round, however finally, it felt extra pure as soon as I envisioned it kind of like Luke Skywalker looping the tow cable across the AT-AT’s legs in The Empire Strikes Again. In reality, there’s a stage of exact timing that I wasn’t anticipating, which provides it a sufficiently difficult puzzle-like aspect. The core gameplay loop options procedurally generated stars and is successfully a survival mode, permitting freedom in the way you create your constellation loops, however as a pleasant contact, there are additionally 16 bespoke puzzle levels which might be trickier however permit for infinite retries. Throw in a stunning minimalist audiovisual presentation and also you get this neat little space-themed informal sport.

Morsels

Developer: Furcula
Platform: PlayStation 5, Nintendo Change, PC (Steam)
Launch date: TBA 2025

I’m not usually a fan of roguelike video games, however Morsels caught my eye as a result of it hails from Toronto-based Furcula. It additionally has a extremely enjoyable premise: you’re a hungry little mouse that should navigate a sprawling sewer system. This provides the whole lot a bit extra of a grounded and tactile really feel, all rendered via a comfy, grainy retro-inspired artwork type. The developer additionally teased some Toronto inspirations within the environmental design — a nod to everyone’s favourite dead raccoon, maybe?

However I used to be additionally pleasantly stunned by the mechanics of Morsels. Sure, there’s the standard type of roguelike rotating power-ups you’ll discover on every run, however Morsels additionally has a job system that allows you to swap between one among a number of of the titular creature varieties. There’s various versatility to every Morsel, like one which shoots multidirectional bubbles or one other that turns into slightly bee that may shoot stingers and hover over traps. You’ll be able to have a number of Morsels at a time, and every have their very own well being bar, so additionally they function a kind of lives system, including much more technique into the combination. On the entire, the ever-changing roster of Morsels appears to be like to be a wise method to make sure that every run feels recent.

To a T

Developer: Uvula LLC
Platform: Xbox Sequence X/S (plus Xbox Recreation Move), PC (Steam)
Launch date: TBA 2025

I went into this demo completely darkish past figuring out that it was directed by Keita Takahashi, the person behind Katamari Damacy. For the unfamiliar, that’s a splendidly weird sport wherein a tiny celestial prince should rebuild the galaxy by rolling collectively all types of objects and residing creatures whereas eclectic Japanese pop music plays. I adore it when issues are so unabashedly foolish, and that’s no much less true for To a T.

Amusingly, the title’s that means is kind of literal: the protagonist, a young person merely named “Teen,” should undergo life along with his arms without end prolonged in a T-pose. It’s a degree that’s instantly hammered residence via a hilarious anime-style opening wherein the lad sings in regards to the trials and tribulations of inexplicably going via life with this uncommon posture. You’ll additionally shortly admire the day-to-day struggles of such a conundrum, with the sport wringing a lot humour out of the boy making an attempt to do the whole lot from placing on garments and brushing his tooth to consuming cereal and opening doorways. To try this, you’ll have interaction in easy minigames that have you ever concurrently controlling particular person physique elements like his head and arms, in addition to commanding your canine to assist out the place wanted.

All in all, it’s as lovably weird as you’d anticipate from the creator of Katamari Damacy, and I’m excited to see simply how a lot weirder these kinds of slice-of-life actions get within the remaining sport.

Wheel World

Developer: Messhof
Platform: PlayStation 5, Xbox Sequence X/S, PC (Steam)
Launch date: Early 2025

As I become older and busier, I discover myself in search of extra stress-free video games, particularly these with none kind of fight, and Wheel World appears to be like to suit the invoice properly. Developed by Nidhogg maker Messhof, Wheel World is a laidback sport about exploring beautiful, painterly vistas atop your bike. Whereas there’s a “save the world” story right here that features a surprisingly in-depth spirit-filled mythology, the main target is on the exploration. Within the sport’s expansive areas, you possibly can come throughout numerous races, sidequests (together with finding hidden objects and taking up impromptu races) and ‘Ubisoft Tower’ kind of buildings to reinforce your increase.

However above all else, I actually simply liked the vibe. Leisurely biking alongside the winding roads in the direction of a lighthouse, stumbling upon quirky folks (together with a spirit named ‘Ghoulia’ and an odd tribe with bins on their heads) on the best way, is kind of soothing. It additionally helps that there’s a sturdy bike customization system that includes a whole lot of various handlebars, wheels, saddles, frames and extra. The gameplay loop of acquiring new elements from retailers, races and the overworld and creating more and more superior bikes is satisfying, particularly for people who enable you to down off-road paths. I need to journey my bicycle, certainly.

Altogether, I actually dug my time with every sport. Whereas the respective roguelike and puzzle components of Morsels and Faraway aren’t usually my jam, I can see myself having fun with the complete experiences. In the meantime, the wonderful goofiness of To a T and stress-free biking exploration of Wheel World are proper up my alley and up to now delivering the whole lot I’d need from these experiences. If that weren’t sufficient, the opposite two Annapurna video games on show, Matt Newell’s Lushfoil Photography Sim and Wanderstop (a teashop-focused narrative sport from a few of the creators of The Stanley Parable and Gone Dwelling), look nice in their very own methods.

Clearly, there’s a lot of selection in simply these six video games, so hopefully, they — and all of Annapurna’s different gestating initiatives — proceed to get the assist they should thrive. After attending to see extra from them, they’re undoubtedly all value maintaining in your radar, particularly To a T. 

Picture credit score: Annapurna Interactive