World Pal 1.0
Developer and publisher: Pocketpair
Platforms: Steam (Windows; Steam Deck verified), Mac, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox for PC, PS5
Price: $30, with launch discounts on Steam and for Xbox and PlayStation Plus subscribers. Available on Game Pass Ultimate and Premium, as well as PC Game Pass
One of the biggest indie success stories of recent times is finally available in Early Access, almost two and a half years later. THE World Pal Update 1.0 brings 72 additional creatures to the game, as well as new areas (like an archipelago of floating islands) and points of interest, a higher level cap for players, audio and visual improvements, a revamped story, and much more. To give you an idea of the scale of this update, the patch notes are over 10,000 words long. Developer Pocketpair suggests players start from a fresh save to get the most out of the revamped experience.
Ahead of the patch going live, Pocketpair urged players to delete the files of any mods they have installed, as they risk causing significant issues with the installation, leading to issues like corrupted save data and preventing progress. The company also announced this week that World Pal now has over 40 million players, many of whom I’m sure are looking for an alternative to Pokémon.
Small bookstore
Developer: Néoludique
Publishers: Skystone Games, 2P Games
Platform: iOS, Android. Already on Steam, Nintendo Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox for PC. Available on Game Pass Ultimate and Premium, as well as PC Game Pass
Price: $8
Small bookstore was a success on other platforms. It sold more than 500,000 copies between its debut in August 2025 and the end of that year. Now, the cozy life simulation game has landed on mobile.
As the title suggests, you run a small bookstore on a trailer that you can tow to many scenic locations. You will fill the shelves and decorate the store with the items you collect. The decoration seems to affect your customers, to whom you can recommend books. There are also secrets to be discovered in Small bookstorewhich sounds rather charming.
Chat Mail Co.
Developer: Maracas Studio
Publishers: Maracas Studio, Gamersky Games
Platform: Steam (Windows; playable on Steam Deck)
Price: $15, with 15% off until July 23
Here’s another cute cat game. Chat Mail Co. is a post office simulator set on an island populated by kittens. When you arrive, you learn that there is a backlog of mail to be delivered after the previous postmaster disappeared. It’s up to you to sort out all the mess even as more and more packages arrive for delivery every day.
Hopefully it won’t be too complicated to manage all of this, especially since it’s supposed to be a relaxing game. There are no penalties or delays to worry about here. At nightfall, the moonlight brings a magical touch to the proceedings. There’s a story to discover in the Mail Mountain and cooperative support for up to four players. So you can hang out with your friends and handle packages at your own pace, without really having to worry about Cat’s Island residents demanding their delivery, meow.
If you pick up Chat Mail Co. During the first week (the game went live on July 9), you can get the Supporter Edition at no extra cost. This includes the soundtrack, a digital artbook, and a supporter plaque that you can use in-game. After the first week, Supporter Edition upgrades will be available as paid DLC.
Baseball in the yard
Developer: Mega Cat Studios
Publisher: Playground Production
Platform: Steam (Windows and Mac; playable on Steam Deck), later available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch and Switch 2
Price: $40
I couldn’t wait to discover the latest opus of Baseball in the yard after enjoying the demo. But after playing a few games, I can understand why this was effectively limited to a home run derby mode. Outside of throwing and batting, the controls don’t feel responsive enough. Fielding is not feeling well, especially because the defending characters are moving very slowly. The commentary quickly becomes repetitive too.
I like other aspects of Baseball in the yard. It’s just not where it should be yet. It looks charming and a lot of the animations are fun. Some of the throwing and batting special abilities are awesome, even if it’s annoying to be on the receiving end. I appreciated the lighthearted approach to team management, as you swap pitchers when the starter gets tired. There are no microtransactions here. You will unlock more stadiums, characters and collectibles through gameplay. And of course, achieving a grand slam is really good.
Alas, we will have to wait a little longer to play Baseball in the yard online with your friends. “During the lead-up to launch, we found that the online experience was not yet meeting the standards we had set for the rest of the game,” Mega Cat Studios said. “Online multiplayer is still coming, but not on day one.” The developer hasn’t confirmed when online multiplayer will be available, but it’s important to iron out any major issues before flipping the switch.
Hyperwired
Developer: SidralGames
SelectaPlay Editor
Platform: Steam (Windows; Steam Deck verified; demo available), Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Price: $8
I was impatiently waiting Hyperwired since I first heard about it a few months ago. This is a 2D twin-stick shooter with a neat twist. There is a plug attached to your spaceship, which you insert into an outlet to recharge your energy and manage resources. However, when you’re tethered to the outlet, you can only move within the range of your cable, potentially leaving you vulnerable.
Because it’s 2026, every other game is roguelite/roguelike, and that includes Hyperwired. The action takes place in a procedurally generated galaxy in which you have the choice between several ships with various abilities. There are dozens of upgrades and hundreds of bullet modifier combinations to experiment with on your runs. A slow motion ability that you can trigger at almost any time could also help you survive the chaos.
