Remedy Entertainment officially launched 'Control Resonant' this week at $60, simultaneously landing on Steam, Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. Writer Kris Holt noted that the day he opened his browser, he saw full-page official ads splashed across the screen — a scale that feels a bit at odds with slapping the "indie game" label on it. But Remedy isn't tied to any major publisher, so by the rules, it still counts as an indie developer.
This installment doesn't continue Jesse Faden's story — the protagonist is now her brother, Dylan Faden. The setting has also expanded from The Oldest House, the shape-shifting building in 'Control,' into an open world; the freely transformable service weapon has been dropped in favor of melee-focused combat. Kris Holt says most reviews he's seen have been positive, though some note the combat can feel repetitive, and the game includes built-in invincibility and one-hit-kill options that could be read as an official pressure valve.
Also on the list this week: a game about beating up your boss
By comparison, 'Stick It to the Stickman' feels a lot more in line with what this weekly roundup is usually about. Developed by Free Lives and published by Devolver Digital, this action roguelite normally costs $12 and is 50% off from now through October 1. The premise is blunt: fight your way up the corporate floors, beat down the CEO, take their job, then start all over again as a new hire. Every character is a featureless stick figure, and weapons include staplers, flying kicks, hadoken-style fireballs, and thrown coffee cups. The game officially left Early Access this week.
'Doggy Don't Care' takes a completely different approach. Developed by Rohan Nowell and published by Rotub Games, it's priced at $15 with a 10% discount running now through October 8. Players control a dog named Charlie causing chaos while the owner's away, unlocking costumes dubbed "pawjamas." Comparisons point to 'Untitled Goose Game' and 'Little Kitty, Big City.'
Another title picked up by the Out Of The Box Games showcase is 'Video Game Menu: The Game,' solo-developed by Sebastian Gioseffi. Normally $4 on Steam, it's 10% off through September 30. The entire game revolves around operating a game settings menu, hiding all kinds of gag options — like sliding "emotional depth" from "I just want to kill zombies" all the way to Sophie's Choice territory. Turn on gore effects and every setting toggle sprays blood; what happens when you flip on flight mode is left for players to discover for themselves.
November's the Real Test: Ball x Pit Gets a Massive Expansion
If there's one upcoming update to get most excited about, it's the 'Ball x Pit: Risen Ballbylon' expansion. Developed by Kenny Sun and Friends and published by Devolver Digital, it's set to launch November 12 at $7, hitting Steam, Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, PS4, PS5, the full Xbox lineup, plus iOS and Android. Content includes 8 new characters, over 45 passive abilities, 24 new balls (one monster-themed), a new resource type, and extra buildings for the city-building mechanic. The 4 new stages added by the expansion come with brand-new bosses and enemies, deliberately cranked up in difficulty — a direct response to complaints that the base game gets too easy in the late game.
Also worth noting: 'Virtue and a Sledgehammer' launches on Steam October 27 at $15, developed by Deconstructeam and Selkie Harbour and published by Devolver Digital. It's a narrative-driven walking sim where you swing a big sledgehammer at digitized ghosts of your hometown neighbors — android-like machines — to uncover the past between the protagonist and their family.
Closing out the list is 'Laser Guy,' developed and published solo by Point N' Sheep, with only a March 2027 release window announced so far and a demo already up on Steam. The premise: stress makes the protagonist involuntarily shoot lasers from their eyes, forcing them to dodge coworkers using office cover — accidentally hit anyone and the whole room resets. The concept traces back to a game jam from six years ago.
