Wardogs Tops 1 Million Sales, Valheim Exits Early Access in Indie Game Roundup

Wardogs is available in Steam early access for Windows at $40, with PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions planned for 2028. Instead of battle royale or extraction mechanics, it uses a king-of-the-hill format. Each match can include 100 players divided into three squads. Teams fight for control of a 2km-square area that can appear anywhere on one of three maps. A side earns more points the more players it has in a control zone, and the first team to 100 points wins. The game includes local voice chat, so players can speak with enemies as well as teammates, along with base building and destruction. Its economic system has players spend cash on a loadout each time they spawn. They earn more by controlling the zone, transporting allies there, reviving downed teammates and taking out enemies. Remaining cash carries over to the next match, meaning a player who spends heavily on a vehicle while low on funds may begin the next game with basic equipment.

Valheim's 1.0 release arrived after five years in early access. Developer Iron Gate and publisher Coffee Stain Publishing made the Norse mythology-inspired survival game available on Steam for Windows, Mac and Linux, Humble, the Mac App Store, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox for PC, PS5 and Nintendo Switch 2 at $30. It supports crossplay for up to 10 players across all platforms. The 1.0 update adds a Deep North biome and new weapons, armor sets, tools, creatures, buildable items, crafting materials, locations, events and a new animated intro. Valheim has sold more than 17 million copies. Engadget's writer said they spent a few hours in the procedurally generated sandbox when it debuted in 2021, and a friend has put around 600 hours into the game.

Mewgenics, developed and published by Edmund McMillen and Tyler Glaiel, is now available on Switch 2, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S after launching earlier on Steam. It costs $40. The game sold one million copies in its first week earlier this year. The long-in-development RPG focuses on breeding cats to combine their attributes and abilities, then taking a crew of cats into a run of turn-based battles. After a successful run, a cat may only be used for breeding. Engadget described it as a strategy game with life sim elements and complex systems, where players can experiment with combinations of powers, mutations and items.

The roundup also highlighted Worming From Home, an ultra-serious remote job simulator in which the player tries to stop co-workers from discovering they are a worm. Players work up a financial analyst career by completing spreadsheets, gaming the stock market with insider information and staying in the boss's good graces. Self-help books and workouts provide skill boosts through minigames based on Snake and Breakout. Players can decorate and upgrade an office with new equipment and complete timed tasks. The game is on Steam for Windows and Mac and is Steam Deck Verified. It typically costs $8, but is available for $6 until September 18.

The roundup title also mentioned a double deckbuilder, capybara puzzles and an undead William Wallace among the games to check out.