Publisher Panic is holding its first games showcase in 2023. The event will be packed with all sorts of exciting games, the type that the publisher has made a name for itself by helping to bring to life in the past. Fans of Firewatch and Untitled Goose Game have this company to thank for getting those games to the finish line, and many more are undoubtedly on the way.
Like the Play Date Community Direct, the Panic Games Showcase 2023 is a pre-recorded event. However, this event is official and organized by Panic instead of the Play Date community like the aforementioned one. A video will premiere on YouTube with high-quality versions of all trailers and details on the games shown, so there’s no need to worry about missing details if a stream gets overloaded.
Related: The 10 best indie games on Nintendo Switch
All Announcements from the Panic Games Showcase 2023
Thank Goodness You’re Here
Thank Goodness You’re Here is a slapstick comedy game drenched in British humor with an art style reminiscent of 60s cartoons that were very much designed for adults. Developed by Coal Supper, a Yorkshire, UK-based developer, players take on the role of a traveling salesman in this title as they enter the town of Barnsworth.
This is no ordinary town, and each NPC has wacky quests for players to tackle along their journey. Each screen is brought to life with hand-drawn animations that pop with an unrivaled feel and make this title look like a game players will want to lose themselves in.
Key Facts
Release Date: 2024
Platforms: PC, PS5, Nintendo Switch
Wishlist on Steam
Nour Play With Your Food
Nour Play With Your Food is a culinary creation game that’s all about making food look good. It combines two of the world’s greatest joys, food and art. The team has been hard at work building a title that provides users with the tools they need to create their favorite meals and then arrange them into interesting poses for the perfect photo.
It’s possible to make the best-looking bowl of ramen in the world or throw a full English breakfast around a room and pause every item of food mid-fall to capture a moment in time that’s chaotic, beautiful, and mouth-watering.
Key Facts
Release Date: September 12, 2023
Platforms: PS4, PS5, Steam, and the Epic Game Store
Wishlist on Steam
Despelote
Despelote is a slice-of-life game set in Ecuador in the early 2000s. Players take on the role of a young boy in 2001 when the country’s football team is coming close to qualifying for the World Cup. The recent economic crisis means that everyone is feeling financial staring, but the vibe of everyone coming together behind the football team is lifting their spirits.
Players interact with the cast of characters by kicking a football at them. It’s unique, but it also says something about the time period. Even in the UK at this time, kids had little more to do than get outside and play if they wanted to be with their friends, and football felt like a way of life.
The world around the player will change as events unfold and matches are played by the country’s team. It’s more about living through what the country was going through, the buzz of the highs and lows of wins and losses, and the camaraderie in a time of great need created by something as simple as football.
Key Facts
Release Date: 2024
Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PS5
Wishlist on Steam
Arco
Arco is a gorgeous pixel art narrative-driven RPG with a killer soundtrack. The wild west aesthetics have been created to reflect the distinct cultures the developer has crafted as a background for each of the main characters.
The world of Arco is being ravaged by a corporation that’s only interested in its natural resources. Players will roam the land seeking revenge or justice for what this company has done, recruiting characters and meeting others the upheaval has affected along the way. Accompanying this world is an incredible soundtrack that brings the world to life in a way only Jose Gonzales has managed to achieve before for us in the scene in Red Dead Redemption just after players reach Mexico. The snippets we’ve heard are breathtaking and we can’t wait to hear more.
Players can choose how far each character will go in their quest, meaning not everyone will make it to the end, and there are choices to make along the way that will impact future events in unforeseen ways. For example, killing an NPC to get the item players need early can result in a fight against an angry spirit later down the line, a tough enemy players may not be able to beat.
Combat is fast-paced, with characters moving around the screen to avoid incoming fire. But when players want to attack, the action freezes, offering a tactical view where nothing is moving and attacks can be planned in great detail despite the pace outside of this screen.
Key Facts
Release Date: 2024
Platforms: PC
Wishlist on Steam
Time Flies
Time Flies is simultaneously the most hilarious game in this showcase and the one that hits the heart the hardest. In it, players are a fly, and they have a list of jobs to complete within a set time limit. Once the time limit ends, the fly dies. That’s it.
Players can optimize their routes to grab the wheelchair controls and push art together so it kisses as fast as possible before making the painting smile and tickling the feet, or they can explore. Simply landing on a wall and chilling out while the fly cleans its wings is also an option. Anything goes.
That’s what makes this game so powerful. It’s about the way we live our lives and how insignificant the actions we take can seem. Sometimes, taking time for oneself is the most important thing, and that’s okay. We don’t always need to hit the daily grind quite so hard.
This is one of the games we’re most excited about from the Panic Games Showcase 2023 because of that openness to interpretation. It’s from the same developer as the eerie Kids and oddly enjoyable Plug & Play. It’s strange, but in a way, it’s impossible to put down.
Key Facts
Release Date: 2024
Platforms: PC, PS5, and Nintendo Switch
Wishlist on Steam
Partnerships With Okomotive and House House
The Panic Games Showcase 2023 rounded out with two partnership announcements. The publisher is teaming up with Okomotive and House House on two indie titles that push the boundaries of game design and will intrigue and engage players in years to come.
Okomotive is the developer behind the fantastic FAR series of games, incredibly personal stories that teach players to push themselves and really feel what they’re feeling. This new game in partnership with Panic isn’t set in the FAR universe. It’s something brand new. While all we have is a small piece of animated art, the pedigree of this developer makes this game an exciting prospect.
House House is the developer behind the runaway indie success Untitled Goose Game. There are no details on what the developer’s next title is, other than it’s something new. As with Okomotive, it’s the game that’s come before what lies ahead that makes this partnership exciting, even though there’s absolutely nothing to show at this point.
When is the Panic Games Showcase 2023
The Panic Games Showcase starts at 10 AM PT/6 PM BST on August 29, 2023. This is a fairly reasonable time for everyone, though it might require some fans to wait and watch the video during their break at work. In the UK, it’s the perfect time for a showcase because most people will be about to eat dinner or relax at the end of the day.
How to Watch the Panic Games Showcase 2023
The best place to watch it is Panic’s official YouTube channel, where there’s already a Premiere of the video waiting to go live. Given that this is a pre-recorded video, it doesn’t look like Panic will be doing anything on Twitch, so fans only need to worry about one video when it comes to watching this exciting showcase.
Published: Aug 29, 2023 12:59 pm