Annapurna Interactive Showcase – everything announced
Annapurna Interactive, a publisher with a stellar track record when it comes to quality releases, might have been in the news lately for its mass departures and other strange business, but it’s eager for everyone to know the show – or rather the showcase, in this particular instance – must go on. So here we are, with a closer look at its next slate of titles – some known, some new, but all looking intriguing for their own reasons. So if you’re eager to see what’s on the horizon for Annapurna and its talented development partners, read on…
Wheel World
If Wheel World looks familiar, that might be because it was initially unveiled under the name Ghost World back in 2023. But despite its new moniker, the fundamentals remain the same. Developed by Nidhogg studio Messhoff, it’s a single-player open-world biking adventure with a touch of the supernatural – conjuring up a beautifully stylised world where players are free to simply putter around taking in the sights, or test their pedal mettle against quirky rivals and elite cycling teams. It looks a treat, and is coming to PlayStation, Xbox, and PC this “summer”. And if that appeals, there’s a Steam demo now.
Wanderstop
Wanderstop, as you might already know, is first game from The Stanley Parable co-creator Davey Wreden’s Ivy Road studio. It’s described as a “narrative-centric cosy game about change and tea”, and while there’s definitely a jaunty management aspect to it, Wanderstop seems equally concerned with exploring the emotional journey of its protagonist, Alta – a warrior who’s somehow ended up running a teashop in a magical forest and is definitely not happy about it. It’s an intriguing take on the often cloying cosy phenomenon, and we’ll see how well it all works when Wanderstop launches for Xbox Series X/S, layStation 5, and PC on 11th March. And if you want to get stuck in sooner, a Steam demo’s out now.
Skin Deep
It’s been seven years since Thirty Flights of Loving developer Blendo Games’ last release – VR strategy game Flotilla 2 – but the acclaimed studio is back with Skin Deep. Described as an “immersive first-person shooter [with] sneezing”, Skin Deep follows the adventures of Nina Pasadena – once one of the galaxy’s best assassins, now a lowly insurance commando. As Skin Deep begins, Nina’s starship is raided by pirates, meaning players will need to “sneak, subvert, and sabotage”, sandbox-style, across its non-linear interior to save the day. Oh, and you have no shoes. Skin Deep launches for PC on 30th April and a demo’s out now on Steam.
Cocoon news and a brief tease
If you liked what Cocoon was popping in your ears when it released back in 2023 (subsequently becoming Eurogamer’s Game of the Year), you might be thrilled to hear it’s getting a vinyl soundtrack, reimagining its procedural music in more permanent form. There’s also a Cocoon Collector’s Edition incoming, AND developer Geometric Interactive has teased a new project that’s being published by Annapurna Interactive. Details pretty much none existent right now, but the studio says it’s unlike anything it’s made before.
Lushfoil Photography Sim
If you haven’t already seen Lushfoil Photography Sim in motion, you should stop and watch its trailer right now. Developer Matt Newell has created some absolutely gorgeous environments for his freeform photography sim – little slice of real-world wilderness where players can complete objectives or simply explore and interact with the world.
