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Just dropped

Sixty-three demos dropped yesterday, nine in ten of them self-published, with simulation and strategy leading the tag charts as usual. Five already carry reviews out of the gate. Today's picks split between fresh arrivals chosen for craft and distinctiveness, and a trio of early movers already pulling in warm review signal.

Today's pick

Field Surgeon

by Trevor   Self-published

Simulation · RPG · Medical Sim · Fantasy · Story Rich · 3D

Why it leads: our strongest combined read on craft plus distinctiveness, out of the 63 demos that dropped yesterday.

A surgery sim where the patient list spans humans, dwarves, elves, orcs, hornfolk and giants, and the real threat is a curse that fights back mid-operation.

Play the demo ›

Also worth a look

Deck of Taboos

by Studio MING   Self-published

Roguelike Deckbuilder · Strategy · Deckbuilding · Adventure · Card Game · Poker

A poker-flavoured deckbuilder that splits your hand across three lanes in a rain-soaked city, pairing spirit powers with card upgrades for score runs.

Play the demo ›

TsundereSQL

by Orphan Rows   Self-published

Visual Novel · Programming · Puzzle · Education · Dating Sim · Anime

A visual novel that teaches real SQL through story scenes with three instructors, working through 224 problems across 14 modules on the way to production-grade queries.

One of just 6 Steam games combining Programming + Dating Sim

Play the demo ›

Typo Arena

by Tuxul   Self-published

Sports · Racing · Typing · Casual · Education · PvP

A competitive online typing game that doubles as a touch-typing tutor, having you shoot letters and play out music pieces with your keystrokes.

Play the demo ›

Bloom among thorns

by 开始饭困工作室   Self-published

RPG · Visual Novel · Female Protagonist · Simulation · Comedy · Multiple Endings

A choice-driven visual novel following an ordinary girl scouted into an entertainment company, navigating teammates with complicated pasts toward a debut or something worse.

Play the demo ›

Catching on

Demos that launched in the last few days and are already getting noticed. From the moment a demo goes live we watch two things - the reviews players leave on the demo itself, and how many people are playing it right now. These are the ones where early players clearly like what they tried.

[Nightmare Files] Stoned

by Raycastly   Self-published

Adventure · Atmospheric · Dark · First-Person · Horror · Indie

A short horror outing casting you as a ship's mechanic on an expedition chasing a map to a forgotten island, with players already warming to the atmosphere.

13 demo reviews so far, rated Positive · 897 community-hub followers

Play the demo ›

Disconnected

by Typing Monke   Self-published

Casual · Puzzle · First-Person · Realistic · 3D · Singleplayer

A photorealistic horror piece built around a streamer using a smartphone to solve puzzles and manage chat while something relentless closes in, meant for one sitting.

12 demo reviews so far, rated Positive · 43 community-hub followers

Play the demo ›

Double Down & Out

by Quiggy   Self-published

Roguelite · Puzzle · Deckbuilding · Card Game · Roguelike · Casual

Blackjack rebuilt around combining cards and maths toward a target total, with chip upgrades and buffs stacked against dealers who bend their own rules.

10 demo reviews so far, rated Positive · 9 community-hub followers

Play the demo ›

How our picks are doing

How earlier flags are doing - the demo reviews accrued since we picked them, wins and misses alike.

Potion-making: Path of the Alchemist - flagged Sep 30 with 27 demo reviews; now 33, Positive.

Inkblood - flagged Oct 1 with 3 demo reviews; now 25, Positive.

Fieldcraft Scout reads every demo that drops on Steam and flags the few worth opening. Picks are notable / distinctive, not a quality verdict - the reviews decide that.

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