Palworld 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 out of early access, nearly two and half years later. The Palworld 1.0 update brings 72 additional creatures to the game, along with new areas (such as an archipelago of floating islands) and points of interest, a higher level cap for players, audio and visual upgrades, an overhauled story and much more. To give you a sense of just how enormous this update is, the patch notes are over 10,000 words long. Developer Pocketpair suggests that players should start from a fresh save to get the most out of the revamped experience.
Before the patch went live, Pocketpair urged players to delete files for any mods they installed as there was a risk of those causing significant issues with the install, leading to problems like corrupted save data and being blocked from making progress. The company also announced this week that Palworld now has more than 40 million players, many of whom I'm sure have been seeking an alternative to Pokémon.
Tiny Bookshop
Developer: Neoludic
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
Tiny Bookshop has been a hit 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 sim game has landed on mobile.
As the title suggests, you manage a small bookshop on a trailer that you can tow to a number of scenic locations. You'll stock the shelves and decorate the shop with items you collect. The decor seemingly affects your customers, to whom you'll be able to recommend books. There are also secrets to discover in Tiny Bookshop, all of which seems quite lovely.
Cat Mail Co.
Developer: Maracas Studio
Publishers: Maracas Studio, Gamersky Games
Platform: Steam (Windows; playable on Steam Deck)
Price: $15, with a 15 percent discount until July 23
Here's another cute-looking cat game. Cat Mail Co. is a post office simulator set on an island populated by kitties. When you arrive, you learn that there's a backlog of mail to deliver after the previous postmaster vanished. It's up to you to sort out all of the mess even as more parcels arrive every day to be delivered.
Hopefully, it won't be too onerous to manage all of that, especially since this is supposed to be a relaxing game. There aren't any penalties or time limits to worry about here. When night falls, moonlight brings a magical twist to proceedings. There's a story to discover within the mountain of mail and there's co-op support for up to four players. So, you can hang out with your friends and handle packages at your own pace, not really having to worry about any resident of Cat's Island demanding their delivery right meow.
If you pick up Cat Mail Co. within the first week (the game went live on July 9), you can snag the Supporter Edition at no extra cost. This includes the soundtrack, a digital artbook and a supporter plaque you can use in-game. After the first week, the Supporter Edition upgrades will be available as a paid DLC.
Backyard Baseball
Developer: Mega Cat Studios
Publisher: Playground Production
Platform: Steam (Windows and Mac; playable on Steam Deck), coming to PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch and Switch 2 later
Price: $40
I was eager to check out the latest installment of Backyard Baseball after enjoying the demo. But after playing a couple of games, I can see why that was effectively limited to a home run derby mode. Outside of pitching and batting, the controls don't feel responsive enough. Fielding doesn't feel great especially because the characters on defense move pretty darn slowly. The commentary quickly becomes repetitive too.
I do like some other aspects of Backyard Baseball. It's just not quite where it needs to be yet. It looks charming as heck and a lot of the animations are fun. Some of the special pitching and batting abilities are a blast, even if it's annoying to be on the receiving end. I enjoyed the light approach to team management, as you swap out pitchers when the starter gets tired. There are no microtransactions here. You'll unlock more stadiums, characters and collectibles through gameplay. And, of course, hitting a grand slam feels real good.
Alas, you'll need to wait a bit longer to play Backyard Baseball online with your friends. "In our lead-up to launch, we found that the online experience wasn't yet meeting the standard we've set for the rest of the game," Mega Cat Studios said. "Online multiplayer is still coming, just not day 1." The developer hasn't confirmed when online multiplayer will be available, but it's important to iron out any major kinks before flipping the switch.
Hyperwired
Developer: SidralGames
Publisher SelectaPlay
Platform: Steam (Windows; Steam Deck Verified; demo available), Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Price: $8
I've been looking forward to Hyperwired since I first learned about it a few months back. It's a 2D, twin-stick shooter with a neat twist. There's a plug attached to your spaceship, which you insert into a socket to recharge your energy and manage resources. However, while you're tethered to the socket, you can only move within the range of your cable, potentially leaving you vulnerable.
Because it's 2026, every other game is a roguelite/roguelike, and that includes Hyperwired. The action takes place in a procedurally generated galaxy in which you have multiple ships with various abilities to choose from. There are dozens of upgrades and hundreds of bullet modifier combos to experiment with on your runs. A slow-motion ability you can trigger at almost any moment could help you survive the chaos too.
