As we shiver down here in Australia, the Frosty Games Fest has just aired, presenting over 50 games developed in Australia and New Zealand. Among the over 50 announcements, here are ten standout titles showing off new gameplay content.

Bones: Wandering Soul

Release date: TBA
Platforms: PC
Developer: Studio Tinkerhaus
Links: Steam page

“Sneak past the living. Speak for the dead. Solve your way through a strange city, limb by limb, as a skeleton with no memory in a story-rich puzzle adventure full of mystery and meaning.“

This charming puzzle-platformer developed by Victorian developer Studio Tinkerhaus looks very appealing even based on the alpha footage shown off, make no bones about it. The game’s skeletal hero looks adorable as he zip-lines down ropes using his detached leg bones and skulks beneath the city. The game is still in early development, but certainly looks like one to keep an eye out for.

Junklands

Release date: Q4 2026
Platforms: PC
Developer: Deadleaf Games
Links: Steam page

“Junklands is a 3D action-platformer that thrusts Rahr, a brave paper fledgling, into a polluted world ruled by its toxic overlords. As Rahr, your actions will impact the environment and change how you navigate it. Recycle polluting foes, clean up waste, and rescue wildlife. See the land transform as your efforts heal the Junklands.“

Junklands has been on our radar since it was announced that it was announced to be among the many games supported by Film Victoria back in 2021. This 3D action-platformer already looked impressively detailed when it was first revealed early last year. The new gameplay footage displayed in this showcase displays new enemies, environments and ways of getting around. Junklands is expected to release in Q4 next year, so be sure to add it to your Steam Wishlist if you want to be kept updated!

Tryhard

Release date: TBA
Platforms: PC
Developer: Grapefruit Games
Links: Steam page

“Turn-based tactical RPG about managing an underdog rugby club in New Zealand. Outsmart opponents and upgrade your squad in this epic saga of love, betrayal, and community sports.“

Tryhard is perhaps the world’s first and only rugby-themed turn-based RPG/auto-battler/life sim hybrid, instilled with a large degree of Kiwi cultural identity. It’s an unconventional blend of flavours, to be sure, but from what we have seen, it seems to come together rather well. This new gameplay trailer has provided some insight into its unique turn-based rugby gameplay, as well as proving, contrary to club director Margo’s assertions, that a dog can indeed play rugby.

Slumbering Woods

Release date: TBA
Platforms: PC
Developer: Chunky Quail
Links: Steam page

“Slumbering Woods is a cosy, hand-drawn adventure with nature-based puzzles, crafting, and exploration. Grow mushrooms, collect bugs, and restore a forgotten village. Uncover hidden paths in a puzzle-filled forest healing from a climate catastrophe.“

It’s hard to describe Slumbering Woods as anything but completely adorable, from its vibrant hand-drawn aesthetic to the charming premise of returning life to a swamp devastated by an ecological disaster. The new gameplay trailer featured in the Frosty Games Fest shows off more of the game’s crafting and plant-growing systems, as players build bug traps and bridges and grow plants through a dynamic day/night cycle. For those looking for a cosy puzzle/exploration game with an ecological theme to it, Slumbering Woods seems worth looking out for.

My Arms Are Longer Now

Release date: TBA 2026
Platforms: PC
Developer: Toot Games
Links: Steam page

“My Arms Are Longer Now is a grotty 2D comedy, where you play as are a long-armed thief. Snake through levels, retract like a vacuum cord, or put on a sock to seduce a lonely guard — whatever it takes to pull off the perfect heist!“

We have covered this quirky heist game where you pick pockets as a criminally-inclined and unnaturally elongated arm when it was shown off at PAX Aus 2024 and liked what we saw very much. With your dastardly arm able to pilfer anything not tied down (or just slap random passer-bys if you want to be a menace), the game brings a surreal charm to the stealth genre. In this new gameplay footage, we see a varied amount of customisation options you can give your arm, being able to pick skin colour, arm hair, dirt and wrist accessories, among others. Many of these options will be available from the start of the game, with others able to be unlocked as you progress.  My Arms Are Longer Now is currently set to snake its way onto Steam sometime in 2026.

Innkeep

Release date: TBA 
Platforms: PC
Developer: Boot Disk Games
Links: Steam page

“Innkeep is an immersive job simulator with a mischievous twist. Run a lonely house in a lawless land. Serve ale. Cook ‘creatively’. Rob your guests. Uncover an arcane secret that may shake the world to its foundations…“

Inkeep is an upcoming inn management sim, but not as you might expect. As the owner of a fantasy-style inn called The Weary Pilgrim, your role involves typical activities like preparing food for your guests, robbing them blind as they sleep, summoning eldritch creatures from another plane of existence…you know, typical inn management stuff. The new gameplay footage revealed in the Frosty Games Fest gives more insight into the food and drink preparation gameplay as well as demonstrating how you can pilfer your guests’ belongings while they slumber.

Anticitizen Red

Release date: TBA 
Platforms: PC
Developer: Queebly Software
Links: Steam page

“In an American occupied cyberpunk Australia; use bullet time, movement mechanics and more gun than you can poke a stick at to outwit biker gangs and face off the corporate police. Meet a unique cast of Aussie battlers, explore the new American empire, stay for the larrikin charm.”

This retro-themed third-person shooter was a delight when it was shown off at PAX Aus last year. Set in a futuristic Neo Sydney under the oppression of the American mega-corporation Cold Corp, you must shoot your way through the streets as ex-cybersoldier Barnsy to liberate his city. This new gameplay trailer shows off some additional iconic Sydney landmarks, such as the Sydney Opera House and Luna Park, rendered in the game’s blocky 90-style aesthetic, along with a cutscene of Barnsy fighting off two knife-wielding thugs.

CORPOREAL

Release date: TBA 
Platforms: PC
Developer: Cold Out Interactive
Links: Steam page

“CORPOREAL is a paranormal investigation where you piece together a cursed family photo album found in the ruins of your childhood home in mid-90s NZ. Unravel the past, encounter specters & map your haunting family history.”

Another highlight of PAX Aus 2024, CORPOREAL is a spooky narrative-focused investigation game where you sift through cursed photos of your childhood in mid-90s New Zealand. In the new gameplay footage unveiled in this showcase, we see new mechanics and ways of interacting with the photos and documents that you are inspecting, moving between different dates to uncover the mysteries of your character’s childhood, and the paranormal secrets buried within this family photo album.

Doggy Don’t Care

Release date: TBA 
Platforms: PC
Developer: Rotub Games
Links: Steam page

“Unleash chaos, solve puzzles, and leave your mark (literally!) as a mischievous dog. Fetch the approval of your feathered friends by digging into a list of fun-filled tasks and earn mischievous badges. It’s sure to be a pawsitively unforgettable day!”

Doggy Don’t Care was a highlight of SXSW Sydney last year, and it is great to see more of it. The game sees you causing chaos as a naughty dog left to their own devices, causing destruction in your wake by ruining the garden, peeing on anything which can be peed on and filling out a list of crazy tasks as you cause mayhem. This new gameplay footage unveiled by the developers shows off more of the crazy antics your canine protagonist can get up to, from printing out scans of their nether regions with the office printer to taking photos next to a “No Photos” sign. Also, there are myriad adorable costumes (or “pawjamas”, if you will) with which you can dress up the mischievous pup as they cause as much anarchy as possible.

Nullstar: Solus

Release date: TBA 2025
Platforms: PC
Developer: Smash Attack Aus
Links: Steam page

“Nullstar: Solus is a precision platformer where speed is of the essence, as your drone races down into forgotten, overgrown chambers and corridors, facing ancient dangers and forgotten hazards in its quest for the most powerful energy source in existence.”

Nullstar Solus, a tough-as-nails precision platformer where you play as a drone evading lasers and traps, is coming out later this year, and this new gameplay footage gives us a better look at what to expect. From this new gameplay trailer, we can see some new snippets of its more than 75 levels spread across 5 worlds. We also get a good look at the game’s global leaderboards allowing players to compete against one another for the fastest times.

This is just a small selection of the over 50 games featured in the Frosty Games Fest. There are some truly promising projects being worked on by local developers, and if you want to keep tabs on them and be notified of future updates, feel free to add them to your Wishlist on Steam. Which games featured in the Frosty Games Fest stood out the most to you? Be sure to mention it in the comments!