Games

Art, Dreamscapes, and Haunted Podcasts: Nine Games I Played at the Capital Creative Showcase

Games
A grid of five images, including the logo for the Capital Creative showcase 2026. Around it are images from the games, Wherever You Get Your Podcasts, HerSalon, Fugue Shot, Prickles, and Puzzle Spy International.

Capital Creative Showcase (CCS) is a one day event that brings together game developers and creatives from the local Sacramento area, Northern California, and beyond. Around 120 games were showcased at the event (both in person and via the online Steam event).

It was a fantastic showcase, with more games than I could have possibly played during my short time there in person. I especially liked having the opportunity to speak with devs (some of whom I know from online discussions) who could share insights into their work.

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Games I Played in April 2026

Games
Exploring the Orchard in 1000xRESIST | Source: Fellow Traveller

I knew nothing about 1000xRESIST (Sunset Visitor) going in, except that it has been highly praised for its narrative. The game immediately launches the player directly into a shocking scene, in which a prayer is interrupted by violence. There’s confusion in this moment. What is happening? Who are these people who call each other “sister” and then “mother”? What is this shiny scifi world?

The story then shifts backwards to explore the events that lead us here. Taking the role of Watcher, who is being inducted into new knowledge by being granted permission to explore the memories Iris (“Mother”), only to witness and report a betrayal from Fixer.

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Games I Played in March 2026

Games, Review
A screenshot from The Séance of Blake Manor showing three panels of images. The first is a view of the bustly streets of Victorian Dublin, Ireland. The second shows a man approaching another man who is reading a newspaper, and the third shows a letter being passed from one to the other.
The Séance of Blake Manor | screenshot by me

I started playing The Séance of Blake Manor (Spooky Doorway), a first person puzzle adventure and detective game. Declan Ward is hired to find Evelyn Deane, a woman who seems to have disappeared at Blake Manor. The Manor (a high-end hotel) is hosting a séance, attracting a dozen or so strange individuals who believe in the supernatural and strange. The player’s job is to explore the Manor, sneak into guest rooms, and interrogate guests and staff to find evidence of what happened to Evelyn — all of which is displayed on an elaborate mind map that allows the player to make connections to find the truth in the limited time before the seance takes place. Each investigative action costs the player a minute of time, building a sense of tension and the need to rush.

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Megaphone-Controlled Dystopias, Rad Record Stores, and Haunted Post Offices: Eight Cool Games from Steam Next Fest

Games

In recent years, I’ve been trying to expand into playing a wider variety of games, especially indie games created by small teams. Steam Next Fest, an online event held three times each year, is an excellent way to explore a variety of games and game genres to find something new. The most recent event, from February 23 to March 2, event hosted a slew demos for forthcoming indie games in a wide variety of genres.

As I scrolled through the list of games participating, I made my choices mostly based on vibes. Interesting artwork or creepy atmospheres caught my attention immediately — and before I knew it, I had a massive list of games to explore. Unfortunately, I only made it through a small fraction of the games I wanted to play. Here are some of my favorites, and if any of these games sound interesting, you can support them by wishlisting them on Steam.

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