Top-Rated Free Difficult Games on Steam

138 free Difficult games with 500+ reviews and a 70%+ positive rating, newest first.

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Touhou Koumakyou: New Classic - the Embodiment of Scarlet Devil - Players say: Choose Reimu or Marisa and weave through a vertical bullet storm, firing back to clear the Scarlet Mist incident. Players like: Classic Game Access · Remastered Music · Helpful Dodging Cues ·
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Dodge the barrage, defeat the enemies, and brave the Scarlet Mist Incident. The Embodiment of Scarlet Devil returns with fresh music and graphics. Control the shrine maiden Reimu and the magician Marisa, weaving between bullets that fill up the screen. The soundtrack has been fully remade by ZUN.

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Sep 9, 2026
98% 👍
of 4.1k
Chronigma - Players say: As Cygnus, solve Sokoban-style puzzles by recording actions, rewinding time, and coordinating with your past self. Players like: Past-Self Time Loops · Clever Room Puzzles · Father-Son Story ·
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Master time in this time-bending sokoban-like puzzle game with a story. You travel back in time to be in two places at once, to solve puzzles impossible to complete alone. Your success hinges on your ability to collaborate with yourself. Can you learn to manipulate time to save humanity?

Pathologic 3: Quarantine - Players say: As doctor Daniil Dankovsky, investigate a plague-struck town by diagnosing patients, uncovering secrets, and revisiting events. Players like: Patient Diagnosis · Plague Atmosphere · New Story Perspective ·
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In this free prologue to a narrative-driven adventure, watch a mysterious plague break out in a small town. Learn what drove a celebrated academic to leave his acclaimed lab. Examine patients, uncover strange secrets, and make first steps towards immortality.

The Chef's Shift: First Course - Players say: Type orders, cook and serve impatient diners, and handle kitchen distractions as Lorenzo begins his chef career. Players like: Typing Meets Cooking · Funny Story Characters · Busy Restaurant Rushes ·
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A fast-paced typing game in a restaurant setting, where you’ll both cook & serve food to hungry customers, all done by TYPING. Play through the Italian restaurant and get a taste of The Chef's Shift!

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Feb 7, 2025
98% 👍
of 529
Animal Jam - Players say: Customize an animal, explore Jamaa, play mini-games, collect pets and items, decorate a den, and meet other players. Players like: Animal Customization · Den Decorating · Nostalgic Charm ·
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In Animal Jam, you can become your favorite animal, collect amazing items, adopt adorable pets, and create a style to express the real you as you explore the beautiful 3D world of Jamaa! 2017 Google Play Awards Winner ★ Best App for Kids

Awaria - Players say: Repair failing generators in haunted tunnels by finding and delivering parts while dodging ghosts, projectiles, and lethal hazards. Players like: Challenging, Rewarding Runs · Distinctive Character Art · Ghost Romance ·
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Awaria is a short game about working in haunted maintenance tunnels.

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Dec 16, 2024
96% 👍
of 19k
PAPERHEAD EP.0 - Players say: Escape a blood-streaked cardboard prison in a fast-moving horror FPS, blasting enemies and drawing bombs or doors with a pencil. Players like: Fast, Mobile Combat · Cardboard Horror Style · Pencil World Tricks ·
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In this cute cardboard world, something went horribly wrong... You wake up in a prison cell. A strange voice calls to you from the depths of dark corridors covered in runic symbols and blood. Reload your trusty shotgun and find out... WHY WOULD CARDBOARD... BLEED?

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Nov 14, 2024
94% 👍
of 3.7k
Chambers: The Outlaw - Players say: Ride the Wild West, fight through bandit-held territories, duel for respect, and use odd skills in a fast-paced shooter. Players like: Snappy Gunplay · Oddball Western Style · Interesting Upgrades ·
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Take a bite of GETTING CHAMBERED in the Wild West: improvise to survive. Feed and take care of your horses. Open World with warring factions. Skills and upgrades: catch bullets, eat hats, summon bears. Revolver Monsters!

Akatori: Сhapter One - Players say: Young monk Mako explores two realms, fighting with fists and a bird companion that doubles as a weapon and platforming tool. Players like: Distinctive Pixel Art · Satisfying Combat · Responsive Platforming ·
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Join young Mako as she ventures into a wild world of exploration and finds a mysterious bird companion. Navigate through two distinct realms with your staff and face off against an ancient sentinel in this prologue to the action-packed metroidvania Akatori.

WOWOWOW KORONE BOX - Players say: Play as Inugami Korone in a top-down shooter, collecting score-boosting boxes that swap your weapon as enemy waves grow. Players like: Cute Korone Charm · Quick Arcade Runs · Random Weapon Variety ·
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A hololive fangame featuring Inugami Korone of hololive GAMERS! Collect as many Korone Boxes as possible while contending with an endless onslaught of enemies and bosses using whatever weapons you happen to pick up!

Notanote - Players say: A visual rhythm game where you hit notes with any key, hold long notes, and unlock collectibles and related story content. Players like: Animated Chart Visuals · Memorable Music · Any-Key Controls ·
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Welcome to Notanote!

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Feb 13, 2024
88% 👍
of 965
Intravenous 2: Mercenarism - Players say: As mercenary Gideon, take paid jobs in a top-down tactical shooter where you can infiltrate quietly or fight with customized weapons. Players like: Tactical Freedom · Tense Stealth · Weapon Customization ·
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Playing as Gideon, a cold-hearted mercenary willing to kill for money without any moral principles, you'll have tactical freedom with a wide variety of weapons and special gadgets to complete your mission in the prologue of Intravenous 2.

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Jan 19, 2024
94% 👍
of 2.7k
I Wanna Maker - Players say: Build and share trap-filled precision platforming levels, or test your timing against a campaign and a vast library of player-made stages. Players like: Flexible Level Editor · Varied Community Stages · Campaign Level Design ·
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I Wanna Maker is a precision platformer with a robust level editor and online level sharing, based on I Wanna Be The Guy fangames. Create complex levels using a variety of objects, a powerful events system, and customizable visuals. Browse levels online, take on challenge modes, and more!

Sim Companies - Players say: Grow a small company by building production chains, trading with players, and adapting your business to a shifting online market. Players like: Dynamic Player Market · Deep Production Chains · Company Growth ·
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Build a business empire in a player-driven online economy. Manage supply chains, trade with thousands of players, dominate markets, research new products, and grow from a small startup into a global corporation.

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Aug 31, 2023
80% 👍
of 1.1k
Steam Engine Simulator - Players say: Operate a miniature steam engine by balancing heat, water, and pressure, then tune its output or power a city in optional DLC. Players like: Hands-On Engine Tuning · Learning Steam Mechanics · Realistic Machine Physics ·
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The Steam Engine Simulator shown on AngeTheGreat's YouTube channel.

Quasimorph: End of Dream - Players say: Lead a PMC through turn-based raids on space facilities, fight mercenaries and demons, and extract valuable gear to your ship. Players like: Prologue Story · Tactical Challenge · Loot Design ·
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Quasimorph: End of Dream is the first chapter of the extraction turn-based RPG Quasimorph. Confront your fears in brutal shootouts with PMC -fighters and demons and try to survive to complete your mission and bring the gear back to your spaceship!

SCP: Observer - Players say: Trapped in a security room during a containment breach, monitor SCPs, ration emergency power, and seal doors to survive. Players like: SCP–FNAF Crossover · Tense Horror Atmosphere · Camera And Power Strategy ·
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SCP: Observer is a frightening experience in which you'll play the role of a maintenance engineer trapped inside a security room. Survive by managing the emergency power supply, monitoring the facility's camera system for threats and blocking the paths of oncoming horrors.

Shogun Showdown: Prologue - Players say: As the Wanderer, a lone warrior seeking redemption, position attacks, chain upgraded tiles, and battle the Shogun's forces. Players like: Tactical Turn-Based Combat · Attack Combos · Pixel Art ·
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Fight the army of the Shogun in this free version of Shogun Showdown, a turn-based combat game with rogue-like and deck-building elements. Position yourself and attack at the right time, upgrade your tiles and combo them to get ready to face the Shogun!

Gatekeeper: Eclipse - Players say: A rogue-lite shooter prologue where you defend gates from machine hordes and pursue a stolen cosmic heart. Players like: Nerve-Racking Tension · Gate Defense ·
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Fast-paced rogue-lite shooter. Gatekeeper: Eclipse is a prologue ver. of the game Gatekeeper. Go on a quest to find the stolen Heart of the Universe and shoot your way through the hordes of machine enemies!

MuseSwipr - Players say: Match falling left- and right-side beats by swiping your cursor across two lanes, then build and share custom charts. Players like: Novel Mouse Controls · Custom Workshop Charts · High Skill Ceiling ·
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A rhythm game where you swipe between two lanes to the beat. Form your own flow and unleash your greatest swiping performance.

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Dec 20, 2022
86% 👍
of 691
Perseus: Titan Slayer - Free Trial - Players say: As Perseus, fight through Tartarus in a roguelike action crawler, choosing weapons and upgrades while battling Titans and Chaos. Players like: ·
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Defeat the Titans as you battle your way into Tartarus to stop Chaos from conquering Olympus and destroying the world. In this rogue-like dungeon crawler adventure, you will play as Perseus, a demigod tasked with one mission; stop Chaos and the evil forces that surround him.

RUNGORE: Beginner Experience - Players say: In this roguelike prologue, direct three heroes by playing unrestricted cards during automatic real-time battles. Players like: Real-Time Card Battles · Silly Humor · Pixel Graphics ·
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Card game mechanics - check. Real time battles - check. Silly humor - check. If this isn't the game of your dreams i don't know what is (Also we have hidden memes everywhere lol)

Pixel Puzzles Ultimate Jigsaw Puzzles - Players say: Assemble image-based jigsaws from 21 to 1,410 pieces, using hints, adjustable settings, and themed digital workspaces. Players like: Relaxing Puzzle Sessions · Varied Puzzle Images · Free Monthly Puzzles ·
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The Number 1 Jigsaw Puzzle Game.

Quaver - Players say: Hit falling notes in four- or seven-key rhythm charts, create song maps, and compete for scores in online matches. Players like: Community-Made Charts · Custom Skins · Built-In Map Editor ·
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Quaver is a community-driven and open-source competitive rhythm game with two game modes and online leaderboards. Create your own maps, or challenge the world in online multiplayer matches.

Mago: The Villain's Burger - Players say: A sorcerer who ate the evil Gourmet’s food crosses perilous platforming levels, using magic to rescue a princess from the menu. Players like: Nostalgic Soundtrack · Autumn Theme · Good Prequel ·
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Mago: The Villain's Burger is a retro 2D platformer that puts us in the boots of a sorcerer, who was unfortunate enough to eat evil overlord's food. Now he has to rescue his beloved princess from the dinner menu of the evil Gourmet! Nostalgia awaits!

Blind Fate: Edo no Yami — Dojo - Players say: As blind cyber-samurai Yami, sense a machine-filled Edo through damaged sensors and fight robots with a katana and finishers. Players like: Challenging Combat · Cyber-Edo Atmosphere · Sensor-Based Awareness ·
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Dive into a world that mixes Sci-Fi and ancient tradition. Slash through robots with a trusty katana, use hi-tech implants to navigate the surroundings, dodge enemy attacks, and land devastating finishers. Reclaim the past following the way of the Japanese samurai in the fantastic period of New Edo.

Bloons TD Battles 2 - Players say: Build monkey defenses, manage your economy, and send escalating Bloons at an opponent in fast-paced one-on-one tower defense. Players like: Strategic One-on-Ones · Competitive Matches · Fun With Friends ·
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From the creators of Bloons TD6... Bloons TD Battles 2 is a brand new installment of the top-rated head-to-head tower defense game. Gather your Hero, choose your team of powerful Monkey Towers, and prepare to battle one on one against other players and relentless waves of Bloons!

Dwerve: Prologue - Players say: As a young dwarf tinkerer, explore a ruined kingdom and place turrets and traps to turn back waves of monsters. Players like: Tower-Defense RPG Mix · Tactical Turret Placement · Challenging Battles ·
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Begin your apprenticeship as Dwerve! Tinker with a couple of the turrets! Meet your companions! Learn the basic strategies and tactics of turret-based combat. Hone your tower-defense dungeon-crawling skills so you're ready for the full game!

Dodge It! - Players say: Steer a black circle to collect black dots, dodging red hazards that multiply with each pickup as you chase a higher score. Players like: Score-Chasing Replay · Simple Rules · Satisfying Challenge ·
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Do you have enough strength to be #1?

Dark Roll: Free Kick Challenge - Players say: Control a rolling orb to take precision free kicks, clear solo challenges, chase leaderboard scores, and face rivals in shootouts. Players like: Orb-Controlled Free Kicks · Satisfying Skill Practice · Unlockable Orb Builds ·
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A ball rolling game, where you take football free kicks. Single player challenges, Steam Leaderboards and ranked multiplayer. Free to play.

Quantum League - Players say: Compete in arena FPS matches alongside past versions of yourself, using time loops to win 1v1 or 2v2 battles. Players like: Time-Loop Tactics · Fun Matches · Interesting Concept ·
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Quantum League is a revolutionary Time-Paradox Shooter: a competitive online FPS where you are battling within a time loop, tactically teaming up with your past and future selves in mind-blowing 1v1 and 2v2 matches.

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Apr 15, 2021
75% 👍
of 2.3k
Zardy's Maze - Players say: Enter a procedurally generated corn maze at night, cut giant weeds with an axe, and evade hostile creatures by flashlight. Players like: Tense Horror Atmosphere · Demanding Challenges · Changing Maze Runs ·
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Zardy's Maze is an extremely challenging horror game where you must enter a corn maze in the dead of night. Your goal? Cut down the giant plants that have started to grow there. Equipped with a flashlight and an axe, you must brave the unknown... And avoid what lurks in the darkness.

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Jan 22, 2021
91% 👍
of 1.6k
I Am Your President: Prologue - Players say: Run a US presidency through branching dialogue, cabinet choices, and responses to world events while trying to win the election. Players like: ·
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I Am Your President: Prologue is a free narrative strategy simulator. Play as the previous US president, decide the fate of the world and run the country any way you like! Enjoy the unique storyline, make choices and carve your path to victory. Election Day is coming – can you secure your victory?

Shotgun Witch - Players say: A shotgun-wielding witch fights through bullet-filled arena waves to recover her stolen spellbook in Story or Infinite mode. Players like: Funny Shotgun Premise · Cute Pixel Art · Short Arcade Run ·
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Only armed with a double barrel shotgun, go through waves of hell spawns to get your book back! A bullet hell arena shooter!

Vecter - Players say: Pilot a ship down procedurally generated neon tracks, dodging hazards at high speed and chasing daily and global scores. Players like: Fast Arcade Runs · Custom Music Options · Retro Neon Visuals ·
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Get in your ship, push the throttle to max, and try not to die. Daily leaderboards where your name stays forever if you're good enough. Custom colors, custom music, YouTube in-game. It's free. What are you waiting for?

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Oct 14, 2020
95% 👍
of 2.9k
Raji: Prologue - Players say: In ancient India, Raji uses powers granted by the gods to fight demons and search for her captured brother. Players like: Distinctive Visual Style · Indian Mythology · Enjoyable Gameplay ·
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Raji: An Ancient Epic is an action-adventure game set in ancient India. A young girl named Raji has been chosen by the gods to stand against the demonic invasion. She must use the powers granted to her by the gods to rescue her brother as she battles to face the demon lord Mahabalasura.

DDNet - Players say: Race through demanding 2D obstacle maps, mastering jumps and a grappling hook alone or with teammates who can rescue you. Players like: Satisfying Skill Mastery · Co-op Teamwork · Community Map Variety ·
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Want to play the hardest cooperative 2D platformer ever? Want to finish no map ever? Want to be in pain for hours and cry, getting nothing in return? Come play DDNet with a large community of other sufferers!

A Night In Berlin - Players say: Three MI6 agents hunt targets in 2024 Berlin, using distinct combat styles in a fast, lethal third-person shooter. Players like: Retro Visual Style · Demanding Combat · Synth-Wave Soundtrack ·
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A Night in Berlin is a narrative-driven third-person shooter featuring brutal fast-paced gameplay in a dark and atmospheric world.

F1® 2020 - Players say: Race the 2020 F1 calendar, build and manage your own 11th team, or compete in career, classic-car and split-screen events. Players like: Responsive Car Handling · My Team Management · Classic F1 Cars ·
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F1® 2020 allows you to create your F1® team for the very first time and race alongside the official teams and drivers. Alternatively, challenge your friends in new split-screen with casual race options for more relaxed racing. Compete on 22 circuits, with current and classic content.

GWENT: The Witcher Card Game - Players say: Build a Witcher-world deck, bluff through tactical card duels, and win two of three rounds by outscoring your rival. Players like: Tactical Round Strategy · Detailed Card Artwork · Faction Deck Variety ·
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Command mighty Witcher-world heroes in epic online PvP card battles!

Micro Platformer - Players say: Guide a tiny square through precise 2D platforming challenges, choosing difficulty levels and chasing faster clear times. Players like: Satisfying Challenge · Tight Platforming · Minimalist Clarity ·
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A minimalistic platformer with a 1x1 tileset. No enemies, no bullets, no lasers. Just sheer platforming.

West of Dead Beta - Players say: Fight through procedurally generated Purgatory as a dead gunslinger, dodging between cover in twin-stick shootouts. Players like: ·
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Descend into the grim and gritty world of Purgatory in this fast-paced cover shooter which combines the fluidity of twin-stick controls and tactical cover usage. Dodge behind cover as you try to outgun your enemies in the unknown procedurally generated hunting grounds.

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Mar 31, 2020
93% 👍
of 784
Unbound: Worlds Apart Prologue - Players say: Guide Soli through a fractured fantasy world, using reality-bending portals to solve platforming puzzles and evade threats. Players like: Interest in Full Game · Portal Puzzle Design · Illustrated Visuals ·
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Unbound: Worlds Apart Prologue is an introduction for an upcoming 2D Metroidvania puzzle platformer where you can conjure different magic portals to travel between the worlds. Each portal gives you a unique ability to explore hand-crafted worlds and outsmart deadly creatures.

Stela - Players say: Guide a young woman across a collapsing ancient world, solving environmental puzzles and slipping past dangerous creatures. Players like: Haunting Atmosphere · Wordless Storytelling · Engaging Pace ·
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Stela is a cinematic, atmospheric platformer about a young woman witnessing the final days of a mysterious ancient world.

LOEK - Players say: Blast farm animals with a rocket launcher, dodge incoming rockets, earn medals, and unlock eight levels in a first-person shooter. Players like: Psychedelic Weirdness · Rocket Animal Combat · Achievement Hunting ·
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LOEK is a FPS where the goal is to shoot farm animals with a rocket launcher.

Star Fetchers - Players say: A former shop clerk joins an ambitious gang leader, fighting rival crews with mouse-guided sword swings in a surreal city. Players like: Distinctive Pixel Art · Memorable Soundtrack · Offbeat Humor ·
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The introduction to a wild ride with gangsters and deep state conspiracy theories

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Jan 17, 2020
97% 👍
of 7.4k
Deep the Game - Players say: After falling into a vast cave system, an explorer navigates hazardous ruins with precision platforming to find a way out. Players like: Pixel art and music are praised as appealing. · Some players enjoy the platforming mechanics and moment-to-moment gameplay. · Some find the short campaign fun to play through. ·
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Welcome to the Deep: Pixelart platformer indie game located deep inside caves. You are a cave explorer who accidentally falls in a pit which leads to a big cave system. After some exploration, you find remains of an old civilization that used to live there and decide to explore it a little further.

Hellbound: Survival Mode - Players say: A retro-styled first-person survival shooter where you face demonic hordes with heavy weapons in fast, violent combat. Players like: 90s FPS Nostalgia · Powerful Weapon Feel · Secret-Filled Levels ·
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FULL GAME NOW AVAILABLE. GO GET IT! This is the Free Survival Mode for Hellbound: a '90s style First Person Shooter, made 30 years later… but just a glimpse of the full game, go check it out!

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Nov 22, 2019
87% 👍
of 1.9k
Frenzy Retribution - Players say: Play an orc girl fighting through a sci-fi city, chaining attacks, counters, and executions to survive relentless enemy waves. Players like: High-Stakes Combat · Satisfying Counters · Visual Style ·
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This hardcore hard style with high penalty and high reward requires players to deeply understand the complete motion system and various values, weapon activity, counterattack, enemy fury and execution, etc., with the uninterrupted fast-paced attack and defense of the enemy and the enemy, let the player experience Stimulating battle.

Hello Neighbor Alpha 3 - Players say: Sneak through a sprawling, dark house, evade its Neighbor, and use found objects to solve puzzles and uncover basement secrets. Players like: Eerie House Atmosphere · Exploration and Mystery · Stealth Tension ·
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Alpha 3 of Hello Neighbor brought the first iteration of the large house. Hello Neighbor is a stealth horror game about sneaking into your creepy Neighbor's house.