Dark Scrolls
Developer: Doinksoft
Publisher: Devolver Digital
Platforms: Steam (Windows; playable on Steam Deck), Nintendo Switch
Price: $10, with a 10% discount on Steam until July 5 and free copies of Gunbrella And Robot Cat included in certain territories
I especially enjoyed my time with Dark Scrollsalthough I don’t think it amounts to more than the sum of its parts. The title is perfect for a side-scrolling platformer influenced by FromSoftware games. I love the Master System style visuals and shoot-’em’up feel. It’s nice that there is local and online co-op support, but I haven’t tried it yet.
Stay in the old-school atmosphere of Dark Scrolls (as well as FromSoft games), there is no tutorial per se. You will discover the characters’ abilities through experimentation. Alternatively, you can pick up your phone in real life and call a hotline set up by Doinksoft, just like the old gaming helplines. Cute. The review guide sent to journalists also discussed classic game manuals. I really enjoyed that.
I also like the variety of heroes. You have access to three on the jump – the axe-throwing, ground-stomping Grizz suited my playstyle well – and you’ll unlock more as you progress. The first of these will probably be an adorable puppy named Biscuit with a bark more powerful than his bite. Alas, I couldn’t figure out Biscuit. I died much quicker as the dog than with the other characters.
You earn coins from chests and from defeating enemies, and you use them to purchase perks that you can use throughout your run. The perks are tied to your character’s star level, and from what I’ve seen so far, they each last for a short period of time. Still, this could be enough to quickly destroy a boss if you have the bomb advantage. Star levels are reset when you trigger your special ability. In Grizz’s case, this involves firing multiple axes in multiple directions at once.
However, the roguelite aspect is where Dark Scrolls it’s insufficient for me. Many perks, like a rocket jump, are fun, even if the upgrade economics are brutal. Each level has a store where you can purchase upgrades, but prices increase significantly between stages.
I understand what Doinksoft is looking for. Every time you upgrade your character, let’s say, Ancient Ringit costs more. This approach doesn’t really work here given the linear format of the levels and the randomization of chests. You can’t exactly harvest coins from enemies whenever you want.
Mini-AirHockey
Developer: Geert Verhoeff
Publisher: Sumatras Studios
Platform: Steam (designed for Steam Deck)
Price: $1, with a 10% discount until July 8
Geert Verhoeff makes neat hand-drawn projects, mostly designed for Steam Deck, like a maze game that you can play using gyroscopic controls. The last one is Mini-AirHockeya two-player experience that uses the handheld’s touchpads.
This works best when players are positioned at either end of a Deck, as if they were playing regular air hockey and defending a goal on the narrower side. They use a touchpad to control a paddle and hit the puck.
There is no real depth to Mini-AirHockey and it’s a bit weird – a bit like the Scotland team that sorely disappointed me in the Men’s World Cup. Still, it’s an interesting way to see how the Steam Deck could be used to offer different types of games, even if this one is reminiscent of games like Pong. It could also be a fun way for Deck owners to show family and friends what the system is capable of.
Dart Runner
Developer: LubSoft
Publisher: Proteus Interactive
Platforms: Steam (Windows, VR; Steam Deck verified). Also available on Meta Quest
Price: Usually $10, with 20% off until July 7
I was already impatiently waiting Star Wars Galactic Runner even before previews were released this week, suggesting it plays like a roguelite version of the Burnout series. This game is still a few months away. Waiting for, Dart Runner This might be a good way to get up to speed.
This is an arcade racing game with a Nintendo 64 look from solo developer Piotr Jastrzębski aka LubSoft. You can customize the design and capabilities of your ship (or “dart”). The option to play in VR with a first-person cockpit view is intriguing, although I’d worry about getting motion sickness while riding these tracks.
Dart Runner is initially available in early access. Jastrzębski estimates that the full version will be available in at least nine months. The plan is to add more darts, tracks, upgrades, customizations and a campaign mode.
Deer and boy
Developer: Lifeline Games
Publisher: Dear Villagers
Platforms: Steam (Windows; Steam Deck verified; demo available), PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch
Price: $20, with a 10% introductory discount
Here we have a narrative platformer similar to Inside And Lana’s Planet. A young track and a fawn (which grows over the course of the game, as in Neva) forge a bond by helping each other navigate the wilderness and overcome various obstacles. Along the way, they will face dark threats.
Lifeline Games and Dear Villagers say Deer and boy is a family game that contains “no graphic violence or complex text.” There’s also no dialogue, so the music will have to do the heavy lifting to sell the issues and convey the emotion. This looks pretty nice and I hope to check it out at some point.
