Embark on a Journey: Highlights from the Annapurna Interactive Showcase
Chilling bicycles! Insurance protection agents! And more!
Annapurna Interactive, a publisher with an impressive track record when it comes to high-quality releases, has recently been in the headlines due to mass staff turnover and other surprising developments. However, it’s important for everyone to realize that the cover – or in this specific case, the showcase – must continue. Thus, here we are, providing a closer look at its upcoming lineup of titles – some familiar, some novel – yet all appearing exciting for their unique reasons. So, if you’re keen to discover what lies ahead for Annapurna and its talented development collaborators, continue reading…
Wheel World
If Wheel World seems recognizable, it might be because it was initially revealed as Ghost World back in 2023. However, despite its new name, the essence remains unchanged. Developed by Nidhogg creators Messhoff, it’s a single-player open-world biking adventure with a dash of the paranormal – evoking a beautifully stylized environment where players can casually explore or challenge their cycling skills against quirky rivals and championship biking teams. It looks delightful and is set to debut on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC this “summer”. If that piques your interest, a Steam demo is currently available.
Wanderstop
Wanderstop, as you likely already know, is the debut title from The Stanley Parable co-creator Davey Wreden’s Ivy Avenue studio. It’s labeled as a “narrative-focused cozy game about transformation and tea”, and while there’s certainly a whimsical management aspect to it, Wanderstop also seems deeply involved in exploring the emotional journey of its main character, Alta – a hero who finds herself operating a teashop in a mystical forest and is not entirely content with her situation. It’s a refreshing take on the often sentimental cozy genre, and we’re eager to see how it all unfolds when Wanderstop releases for Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC on March 11th. And if you’d like to get involved sooner, a demo is available now on Steam.
Skin Deep
It has been seven years since the last release from Thirty Flights of Loving developer Blendo Games, which was the VR strategy game Flotilla 2. However, this acclaimed studio is returning with Skin Deep. Described as an “immersive first-person shooter [featuring] sneezing”, Skin Deep chronicles the exploits of Nina Pasadena – once one of the galaxy’s finest assassins, now a lowly insurance operator. As Skin Deep begins, Nina’s starship gets attacked by pirates, meaning players will need to “sneak, outsmart, and sabotage” in a sandbox-style across its non-linear environment to save the day. Oh, and you might not be wearing shoes. Skin Deep is set to launch for PC on April 30th, and a demo is currently available on Steam.
Cocoon updates and a brief hint
If you enjoyed Cocoon when it was released back in 2023 (thus earning the title of Eurogamer’s Game of the Year), you’ll be pleased to know that a vinyl soundtrack is on the way, reinterpreting its procedural music in a more lasting format. Additionally, a Cocoon Collector’s Edition is forthcoming, AND the developer Geometric Interactive has teased a new project that’s being published by Annapurna Interactive. Information is almost non-existent at this point, but the studio claims it’s unlike anything they’ve created before.
Lushfoil Photography Sim
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LUSHFOIL PHOTOGRAPHY SIM | Launching on PC, PS5 & Xbox Series X|S April 15
If you haven’t yet seen Lushfoil Photography Sim in action, you should definitely take a moment to watch its trailer right now. Creator Matt Newell has crafted some remarkably stunning environments for his open-world photography simulator – a tiny slice of realistic wilderness where players can complete objectives or simply roam freely and interact with the surroundings.
There are kites to fly, bicycles to ride, boats to paddle, and – of course – photographs to capture across the sparkling lakes and forests of Italy, the sunset-kissed beaches of South West Australia, the moody valleys of Southern Iceland, and beyond. You can even play in the Northern England rain if you’re seeking something more familiar. Lushfoil Photography Sim is set to launch on PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PS5 on April 15, and a Steam demo is available now.
Faraway
Faraway, developed by Steph Thirion, is an “infinitely replayable immersive cosmic game” about a shooting star that seeks to explore the universe – which it accomplishes by swirling around, connecting stars, and forming constellations. It’s a game of interstellar navigation designed to be as user-friendly as possible, requiring only a single button to play. However, it also promises hidden complexities, with mentions of randomly generated stages to keep things interesting, score-boosting loop-building, and other gameplay intricacies. It even features several unique puzzle modes. Faraway does not yet have a release date but is expected to launch on PC later this year.
To a T
If you have been curious about what Katamari Damacy creator Keita Takahashi has been up to lately, this is your answer. To a T, from Takahashi’s Uvula studio, is a 3D narrative adventure revolving around Teen, a young individual striving to navigate life in a small coastal town while being perpetually stuck in a T-shape. Crafted in collaboration with AbleGamers, it chronicles Teen’s journey over various days as they find a way to fit in, discovering a newfound identity along the way. It features unicycling, corn munching, sunset gazing, whimsical mini-games, a vibrant world to explore, and a “very adorable dog.” This title will be available on Xbox, PlayStation, PC, and Game Pass on May 28 of this year.