- A Broadsheet for Persons of Refined Algorithmic Taste -

The New Steam Times

VOL. MMXXVI · No. 1 All the games that's fit to ship. Not affliated with Valve. TWO BITS · 30 SEP 2026

Max Columns:

SIMULATION · LIFE SIM · SINGLEPLAYER 30 SEP 2026

Princess Maker: Children of Revelation

87%
OF 1021 REVIEWS
Created by GEAR2
$34.99 $27.99 -20%

Princess Maker: Children of Revelation is a raising simulation game that returns after nearly 18 years as part of the Princess Maker package series, where you raise a young girl into adulthood.

While maintaining the charming art style and character development system of the original, it has been reborn as a modern game.

Become a parent in the game and help fulfill your daughter's dreams!

The schedules you choose lead to your daughter's future.

She can study, help others through social activities, or explore various parts of the world.

Sometimes you can also take breaks by sightseeing around town or going on vacations.

Through various activities, you can build relationships with different characters.

You can develop deep bonds with your daughter's peers through interactions.

Some relationships might even lead to lifelong commitments.

This story takes place in the demon world.

In the demon world, there are regions centered around specific races.

Gather information in each village and explore unknown territories beyond the gates.

You may face dangers, but with luck, you might find treasures.

Deal with situations flexibly according to your daughter's talents.

After numerous experiences, the day finally comes when your daughter becomes independent.

What kind of person have your choices made her into?

When you follow your daughter's final footsteps, you can always look back on the precious memories you shared together.

HIDDEN OBJECT · ONLINE CO-OP · FUNNY 29 SEP 2026

Needle In A Haystack

66%
OF 32 REVIEWS
Created by NoGlyph
$5.99 $5.09 -15%

Needle in a Haystack is a co-op game for up to 6 players about doing exactly what the name suggests.

There’s a needle hidden somewhere among millions of pieces of hay. You know it’s there. You’ve brought your friends to help. This should be manageable.

Troll your friends

Dig together, spread out, or spend far too long arguing about which part of the pile looks promising. There’s plenty of work to share, although bringing more people doesn’t necessarily mean anyone is being particularly helpful.

It’s a game you can settle into while talking with friends, right up until somebody does something that needs explaining.

Get a little carried away

Earn money as you search and spend it on equipment that opens up new ways to tackle the pile. Put together a sensible setup, experiment with what you’ve got, or throw money at an idea your group is absolutely convinced will work.

There’s a lot you can pick up, move around, and throw. You’ll probably find a use for most of it. Whether that use has anything to do with finding a needle is another matter.


Collect them all


Collect all the different needle types and add them to your collection. Each with their own crazy look.

Leave room for distractions


The haystack isn’t the only thing worth paying attention to. There are discoveries tucked away, things happening around you, and plenty of opportunities to abandon a perfectly good plan.

We’d rather let you stumble into those yourself.

Take the search seriously or make an afternoon of it. Just remember where you put the needle if you actually find it.

SIMULATION · SPORTS · STRATEGY 29 SEP 2026

Cricket Management 26

69%
OF 35 REVIEWS
Created by Wilks Studios
$17.00

Build your cricketing dynasty in Cricket Management 26 - a deep and immersive cricket management simulator where every decision matters

Take control of a domestic or international side and oversee every aspect of your club, from tactics and transfers, to player development, finances, staff recruitment and long-term strategy.

Create winning squads across multiple formats including red-ball, one-day and T20 cricket. Manage schedules, deal with injuries and fatigue, scout rising stars, develop youth prospects and guide your team to glory.

Featuring realistic statistics, dynamic competitions, detailed scorecards, immersive match presentation and a modern management interface, Cricket Management 26 delivers the authentic cricket management experience fans have been waiting for

Will you build a dynasty or crumble under pressure?

ROGUELIKE DECKBUILDER · DECKBUILDING · ROGUELIKE 29 SEP 2026

Dicevaders

99%
OF 70 REVIEWS
Created by Pengonauts
$14.99 $13.49 -10%

Lead the Invasion. Master the Dice. Break the Game.

Humanity had a good run, Now it’s time to take back what’s yours. Dive into a dice-based roguelike deckbuilder where your tactical decisions, not luck, determine the fate of the planet.

Build your own Invasion

Build a growing alien force on a turn-based grid where every placement matters. Each turn you can acquire different units, artifacts, budges and chrono. Place your invaders strategically in the grid to enhance your scoring potential.

Manipulate the Dice

Dice aren’t a game of chance here, they’re your most powerful tool. With ‘Chrono’ you can strategically reroll your dice and restock the shop to draft your most vital units.  You can transform a bad roll into an unstoppable chain reaction. Use ‘budge’ to  manipulate your dice throw to build the exact combo you want. Even, align your dice in pairs, triples or quadruple to ignite devastating combos.

Be the Commander

Each commander brings a distinct strategic approach, specialized synergies and XP scaling possibilities unlocking new ways to dominate. Each equipped with unique perks and artifacts so each run gives you new ways to send your attack score into the stratosphere.

Earth won’t be destroyed without a fight. Beware, the legendary Pilots from StarVaders will show up to protect the planet, each armed with unique abilities designed to disrupt your invasion.

Break the game

Experiment with absurd synergies and push the game’s systems to their absolute limit. Discover a broken combo that launches your score into orbit and out smarts the pilots.

CASUAL · SIMULATION · SANDBOX 29 SEP 2026

Gamer Stop Simulator

72%
OF 326 REVIEWS
Created by Red Axe Games
$12.99 $7.79 -40%

Following a letter from your grandfather, you travel back to your birth country, Japan. He has passed away and left behind an old video game store as your inheritance.
To honor his memory, you set out to restore the store to its former glory.
That’s the heart of Gamer Stop: build the video game store you’ve always dreamed of.

Gamer Stop isn’t just a simulation game. It’s also an adventure with an explorable map.
Need a break from work? Step outside and immerse yourself in the breathtaking world of Japan. A variety of activities and mysteries await:

  • Go fishing

  • Complete obstacle courses and collect unique pieces for the Shamisen instrument

  • Capture stunning shots of Japan’s scenic beauty

  • Discover treasure chests hidden throughout the open-world map

And so much more is waiting for you!

Unique Moments – SEASONS

Every day in Gamer Stop feels different. As your journey continues, your store grows and your legacy expands.
Japan transforms with the calendar, showcasing its charm across four seasons with special events.
“The more you play, the more you’ll discover.”

Your progress in Gamer Stop is entirely up to you.
Greet your customers yourself or hire employees to help you out.
“All that’s left for you is to enjoy your own flow.”
Your store will never stay the same. Customize both the interior and exterior with plenty of options.

**AI tools were used in the production process of some visual assets and shop materials in the Gamer Stop universe. This allows us to offer you a much wider and more diverse range of content to decorate your shop.

SIMULATION · TRANSPORTATION · MANAGEMENT 29 SEP 2026

Transport Fever 3

70%
OF 1180 REVIEWS
Created by Urban Games
$49.99

Plan, build, and optimize! Transport Fever 3 puts you in charge of your own transport empire. From humble beginnings with horse-drawn wagons, steam trains, and paddle-steamers working towards the latest jet planes, supertankers, high-speed trains, and helicopters, you will build the network that drives the world!

Every delivery earns money, while every train, truck, plane, or ship increases your costs. You’ll plan and build profitable routes, balance infrastructure expenses, and invest in upgrades to stay ahead of growing demand.

With success comes the financial freedom to expand your reach, while earning the right to build world famous landmarks to demonstrate your achievements. Fall short, and you’ll be seeking efficiencies and improvements to propel your company forward.

As your influence expands, the needs of every city become more challenging to fulfill. There's no such thing as one plan that works forever, you will need to adapt, overcome, and solve problems as they come up, balancing your desire for growth with the needs of the populations you serve.

BECOME THE TYCOON

Build your personal transport empire by creating perfect routes to maximise your profits. Ensure that cargo and people get where they need to be, when they need to be. Manage and optimize your vehicle fleet, balance maintenance costs, efficiency, and priorities. Resolve bottlenecks and meet the evolving demands of dynamic towns and a multitude of industries that operate on- and offshore. Develop commercial centers, industrial powerhouses, and commuter cities by specializing deliveries and mastering every transport decision.

CONNECT THE WORLD

Connect towns and industries to fuel their growth. Plan and construct rails, roads, sea- and airways to build your transport empire. Grow tiny villages into major cities as you master traffic priorities and management systems. Analyze trouble using data layers and visual displays to identify traffic hotspots, delivery problems, or excessive noise and pollution. Make use of intuitive building tools to further optimize your network and grow from small country roads to highways and from old-wooden rails to modern high-speed tracks.

EXPERIENCE A LIVING SIMULATION

Every citizen has a home, a job, and places to go in the expanded living simulation, letting you follow each one along the way. Dynamic weather and a full day-night cycle let you experience your world in countless moods, from sunny mornings to rainy, clouded afternoons. Each of the four climate zones brings unique challenges, from temperate valleys and subarctic swamps, to desert plains and tropical islands, all demanding a fresh approach to your transportation strategy.​

PLAY IT YOUR WAY

Customize your game with multiple difficulty options, enabling you to create your perfect game. Adjust the way the world, economy, and its citizens react to your style of play. Design ultimate tycoon adversity, that will test you to the limit, as you race to complete contract objectives in the fastest possible time. Ease the difficulty to a more relaxed setting and play for fun, or disable the economy entirely and build the most stunning city, station, or diorama you can imagine.

WRITE TRANSPORT HISTORY

Solve epic transport missions from history that will test your planning, efficiency, and cunning in the extensive story campaign. Immerse in the full tycoon experience, making use of the largest range of vehicles in the series that spans over a century of transport evolution. The whole world, including buildings, people, and cars, follow designs and trends through time. Rewrite transportation history and run steam trains and jets side by side as you progress through the 20th century and beyond.

CREATE WITHOUT LIMITS

Modding tools have been greatly improved, enabling mod creators to bring their favourite vehicles, buildings, and infrastructure to life. The fully featured in-game map editor allows anyone to craft maps closely matching reality or drawn from your wildest imagination. Share your creations or expand your collection and the scope of your worlds with ease using the in-game mod browser, expanding the range of possibilities in directions that will keep your experience fresh again and again.

BUILT ON WHAT WORKS

Transport Fever 3 builds on everything that has made the series a favorite among transport and tycoon fans for years. Every system has been refined, every feature expanded, and every tool streamlined to deliver the most complete and rewarding experience yet. With smarter cities, deeper logistics, improved performance, and an even greater focus on tycoon gameplay, it’s the ultimate evolution of a proven formula, built for both newcomers and veterans to enjoy for years to come.

FEATURE OVERVIEW

  • Tycoon mode with highly-adjustable difficulty to set the perfect level of challenge

  • Sandbox mode to build with unrestricted creativity and strong mod support

  • Campaign mode featuring entertaining missions inspired by real historic events

  • Map editor to design comprehensive maps in-game and accessible modification tools

  • Wide range of tricky achievements with unique goals and rewarding challenges

  • More than 125 years of transport evolution - from horse-drawn wagons to high-speed trains

  • 275+ realistic vehicles such as trains, buses, trams, trucks, ships, aircraft and helicopters

  • All major transport types covered, including light rail systems and dedicated cargo trams

  • Modular infrastructure spanning multiple eras - from classic train stations to modern airports

  • Physically-based atmosphere and cloud-coverage, day/night cycle and dynamic lighting

  • Multiple highly immersive climate zones, including a brand new subarctic region

  • Randomly generated maps with distinct biomes that offer unique game-play challenges

  • Town growth featuring dynamic districts based on simulating individual inhabitants

  • Advanced traffic simulation with lane control and realistic behavior such as overtaking

  • Landmarks inspired by real-world architecture, adding character to towns and regions

  • Over 35 unique industries, including off-shore sectors such as fishing grounds and oil platforms

  • Demand-driven industry expansion with production boosted by workers and optional inputs

  • Redesigned cargo simulation providing full control over loading and unloading

  • Warehouses and specialized terminals for intermediate storage and logistics optimization

  • Dynamic loan and contract system offering risk versus reward opportunities

  • Simple yet deep game mechanics based on maintenance, noise/pollution, reputation and more

  • Extensive customization options ensuring a high replay value and diverse play styles

  • Powerful road and track construction tools including overland trams and highway ramps

  • Flexible road design options with individual tram lanes and configurable lane connections

  • Intuitive landscaping tools for terrain sculpting, ground painting and vegetation placement

  • Cross-platform modding support with in-game mod browser for easy content discovery