It has been some time since I attended a gaming event in New York. New York Comedian Con was once my go-to, nevertheless it hasn’t had a lot of a gaming presence for fairly a while. Fortunately, the NYC Mayor’s Workplace of Media & Leisure invited me to go to the NYC Video Recreation Pageant 2026. That is the second 12 months of the occasion, and it was an excellent alternative to highlight indie builders engaged on distinctive gameplay experiences you’ll be able to’t discover within the AAA house.
Cakefoot
First up, we’ve got Cakefoot: a delightfully easy but painfully addictive recreation. It’s actually just one button you press to maneuver ahead, whereas releasing it makes you progress backward. However therein lies its genius. You’ll be guiding your cake with ft alongside numerous ranges, following predetermined traces that zigzag throughout. After all, there are numerous issues on the market to kill you, together with fish, fireplace, bombs, and spikes. There’s additionally the tantalizing prospect of avoiding hazards to amass cash that unlock emojis. Checkpoints are given simply sufficient per stage to not drive you loopy and to really push you to redo a troublesome part over and again and again. It’s such an excellent, easy idea. You may play a demo of Cakefoot on Steam or simply purchase it for a measly $2.99.
Shootlanzer
Subsequent, Shootlanzer wowed me with its presentation alone (although its gameplay can also be top-notch). Attendees had the choice to play the title on a customized arcade cupboard, so I needed to go old fashioned. A contemporary shmup, the sport has you controlling Leona Almeida, a Mid-air Cell Soldier. It has some basic trappings like a shot power-up system, nevertheless it additionally has a dodge that prompts this short-term slow-motion should you time it good. Moreover the dodging and weaving you’ll do with common enemies, there are additionally large bosses on the finish of every stage. These baddies have missiles that may harm you should you don’t destroy them shortly, so there’s all the time a bit of additional stress throughout these segments. The bosses are additionally the right time to unleash your screen-filling tremendous transfer, dealing large harm. What I additionally loved had been the on-screen prompts to “SHOOT IT!!” concerning the aforementioned missiles, and the “SPIN ON!” to point when your dodge cooldown was over and able to make the most of once more. There are all the time so many issues to maintain observe of in a shmup, so it’s good to have some indicator reminders. You may seize the demo of Shootlanzer over at Itch.io by naming your individual value.
Captain Corgi: Planetary Downside Solver
After all, it wasn’t simply violence, capturing, and frustration readily available on the occasion. Captain Corgi: Planetary Downside Solver lets company unwind on a soothing journey. Whereas the principle recreation has you and your brother Lem crusing to totally different planets to resolve points, the demo I performed confirmed the introduction to those characters. Corgi is aware of his mother was an area pirate again within the day, so he has an innate sense of journey already. I ran round city with Corgi, swapping my comedian ebook for a rake so I might do chores for my mother’s previous shipmate. She had the gas essential to pilot the house sailboat, so I needed to do what she needed to get it. Moreover raking, I painted her fence and had Lem mow the garden. The title has cute dialogue, humorous jokes, and delicate music. I’d like to see how the puzzles open up as soon as you permit your hometown. You may wishlist Captain Corgi: Planetary Downside Solver on Steam.
Bullet Mind
Final, however actually not least, we’ve got some of the creative video games of the present. Bullet Mind has you management a parasite that jumps between totally different our bodies, possessing enemies and using their weapons to beat concise ranges. Use the mouse to goal, then press the house bar to leap between our bodies. What begins out easy turns into devilishly advanced, as your hosts transfer on their very own, forcing you to goal and leap at numerous angles in fast succession. It will get even crazier as you hop into enemies, utilizing their motion and weapons to both destroy others or hop into them as your life timer quickly runs out. You want actually fast reflexes to make it to the top of every stage, and I used to be sweating attempting to take action. Phrases don’t do Bullet Mind justice, so try its trailer on Steam and obtain the demo to strive it for your self.
I actually loved the video games I checked out on the NYC Video Game Festival 2026. I hope the occasion continues to broaden, shifting into a much bigger house to accommodate much more builders. The present additionally had competitions involving Valorant, League of Legends, and Minecraft, so try extra data on how all the things went down here.
