Hello, while the calendar suggests that spring is approaching, my inner ear is caught in a winter storm. I'm Mob from the Negolove team at SKOOTAGAMES.
Now, one of the first big events of 2026, the "Steam Next Fest," has come to a close. What games left an impression on you?
Amidst the vast number of demos, the word that stirred my timeline the most was undoubtedly "FPS." Specifically, the genre known as "Boomer Shooter," which has a retro feel reminiscent of the 90s. Have you noticed this on your own X timeline?
7 included FPS elements.
about double that.
This is not just my personal experience or bias. When we look at the actual data, out of the "Top 50 most played demos" at this Next Fest, an astonishing 7 titles were from the FPS genre. Considering that the release ratio of FPS games on Steam has been around 3.3% in recent years, the figure of 6.8% share of FPS in the Top 50 proves that there is more than double the usual interest and enthusiasm concentrated in this genre.
Of course, many users who don't usually engage with data may have come across indie FPS games through social media. For example, last year, 'Beyond Citadel' by doekuramori gained attention among overseas gamers through clips and screenshots, and more recently, 'MISHA' by gaman has been making waves with its unique world and perspective that allows players to look down at their character. It seems that quite a few FPS titles are gaining global attention beyond Japan.
Looking at just the examples above, it may seem that visuals are the only focus, but in terms of gameplay, the primal and straightforward pleasure of "shooting and dodging," along with the developers' raw individuality, seems to resonate deeply with today's gamers. Therefore, it may not be an exaggeration to say that the FPS genre is experiencing a bit of a renaissance in the indie game scene.
With that in mind, I would like to review three FPS titles that have caught my attention on social media, making me wonder, "What kind of games are these?" and that participated in this Next Fest. By the way, I am quite weak when it comes to 3D action games (I often get motion sickness), and I had to sacrifice my stomach and sense of balance to write this review. If there are others among you who are also sensitive to 3D games, I hope you can read this in a relaxed state.
While they all involve the act of "shooting," these titles offer completely different sensations, which I will introduce along with unique parameters for comparison.
The Last Salvage Squad | Finding a Certain "Weight" at the Edge of Despair
This title stood out on social media with its unique graphics and intense color palette. In terms of visual impact alone, it may not be an exaggeration to say it is the most striking among the three games featured here.
Behind the delicate animations of handling firearms lies a forest of towering buildings. And, as if mocking those skyscrapers, enormous enemies approach from afar. The sensation of an enemy that once appeared as a black dot in the distance suddenly looming right in front of you, revealing its massive form, is truly "overwhelming." What I felt while playing is that this "sense of being overwhelmed" is likely what the creators intended.
The setting of this work is a world where humanity has already perished. Humanity has been defeated by aliens that invaded Earth. The characters, including the protagonist, are not human but rather the remaining "swarm weapons." While they take the form of young girls, they collect special weapons that are humanity's legacy and confront gigantic enemies. For the Earth that has already been destroyed, the remaining assets continue to resist until the end... This setting is both magnificent and simultaneously suggests an overwhelming sense of powerlessness against the enemy, which may have reflected the "overwhelmed feeling" I sensed through social media.
it had a unique charm.
Users who approached this work seeking the exhilaration of an FPS may be surprised by the unexpectedly heavy and profound world view. Particularly symbolic was the episode involving a single "dog" discovered by chance in the game.
According to the setting, the height of the weapons we control is 12 meters. The dog is only the size of a finger joint. Protecting such a small life and rejoicing that "humanity has perished, but we were able to save the dog" made them appear both adorable and somewhat poignant. Even though they are the same type of weapon, learning that each one has a different personality and individuality felt like finding a small light in this dark world, which made me inexplicably happy.
as well as a sniper and a sword.
and increase your stats.
One point I want to touch on regarding gameplay is that the surrounding "concrete jungle" is not just a background. The massive buildings can serve as obstacles when attacking enemies, as well as valuable cover to withstand enemy assaults. The playstyle of "just shoot everything and dominate" does not work in this game. You must constantly consider the surrounding environment, the number of enemies, and your available resources, making calm judgments. In fact, shooting wildly can lead you into a disadvantageous situation. It is this "weight of judgment" that makes the action gameplay feel more substantial.
Due to its dark atmosphere, preferences may vary, but the depth of this world view was enough to raise expectations for the final product. If anyone reading this review is curious about what lies beyond this despair, it might be a good idea to check your Steam wishlist now. This highly anticipated title, 'Final Recovery SQUAD,' had a perfect balance of action, gameplay, and world view.
📊 [Mob's Experience Parameters]
Depth of World View: ★★★★★
Strategic Depth: ★★★★☆
Exhilaration: ★★★☆☆
3D Motion Sickness Level: ★★★☆☆ (It hits hard after a certain time)
One Word: A beautiful fusion of a desperate world view and a weighty strategic FPS.
Gyarutomura | A chaotic and unique work wrapped in all-affirming kindness
Next up is the work that made a tremendous impact on social media, "Gyarutomura." If the previously mentioned "Final Collection SQUAD" showcased an unexpected "depth," this title delivers a certain shock and confusion with the thought, "I never expected to encounter something like this in the FPS genre..." It is an incredibly energetic work.
What first surprised me was the unique title screen. The entire screen is black, filled with white pixel text, creating a stoic yet surprisingly "functional" layout. The title is in the top left, with language settings below it. In the center is the start button. And the pièce de résistance is the "title song MV playback panel" placed in the top right. The way all the information is condensed into one screen gives off an extraordinary vibe even before playing.
Its "extraordinariness" is fully demonstrated in the tutorial. While the game has the feel of a classic FPS, it offers two types of tutorial options: "normal tutorial" and "over-the-top tutorial."
If you choose the latter, every time you press a key following the instructions, a powerful sound effect and cheers of "Great job!!" resonate. I have never encountered a case that embodies the game development principle of "praising the user" so directly.
What’s even more surprising is that this game is a "full voice" demo. Once the tutorial ends and the main stage begins, not only the protagonist gal and the operator she communicates with via radio, but even the enemy boss character has voice acting. Knowing how difficult and labor-intensive it is to implement voice in indie game development, I couldn't help but express my respect for this volume of work. (How did you even manage to get all this??)
Looking at the gameplay, this title creates a unique play feel by intentionally imposing "restrictions." The most notable of these is the inability to "jump." Instead of allowing vertical movement, which is common in recent FPS games, this title focuses on fast movement and information gathering through radar, basing its gameplay on flat maneuvers. Rather than jumping over obstacles, it’s about how to secure advantageous lines of fire and blind spots. This simple yet strategic back-and-forth evokes the spirit of classic FPS games.
Additionally, the ability to wield a "knife" as a melee weapon is an interesting element. At lower difficulty levels, it has enough power to take down enemies in one hit, and as you get used to it, you can experience the thrill of dominating the battlefield with just a knife. Since you can choose different options based on the player's skill level, there is a solid "fun as a game" hidden behind its flashy appearance. If you're interested in experiencing this unpredictable adventure, why not check out the Steam store page?
It was a unique title that shines with its distinct personality while providing a solid FPS experience: Gyarutomura.
📊 [Mob's Sensory Parameters]
Uniqueness (Chaos Level): ★★★★★
Tension: ★★★★★
Satisfaction: ★★★★☆
3D Motion Sickness Level: ★★☆☆☆ (Symptoms are minimal due to primarily flat movement)
One-liner: New strategies born from constraints and overwhelming energy that envelops the player.
Guns and Nuns: Storming Hell｜Letting Go of Gravity, 100% Pure Madness
Finally, we introduce a title that stands apart from the previous two, a work that thoroughly pursues score attack: Guns and Nuns: Storming Hell. This is also the only work by an overseas creator featured in this article.
The first time I saw this game on social media, it was due to the concept of "a protagonist in a nun's outfit wielding dual guns to take down demons." Particularly, her maniacal smile when defeating enemies left a strong impression and garnered enthusiastic support among some indie gamers. The character's traits reminiscent of the anime Hellsing likely struck a chord with many people.
What’s surprising is that this game has no explanation of its world or story at all. In the demo, you simply pick your preferred weapon on the given stage and exterminate the approaching demons. Only pure action is presented. All we know is that the protagonist's name is Angelica Amadeus and that she wields a golden dual gun called "Requiem." It’s a beautifully simple and clean structure.
What surprised me the most when actually playing was the "gravity system" in the stages. The setting is like a virtual space where platforms float in the air, but if you step off a platform and fall into the void, it doesn’t result in a game over. Instead, gravity reverses, and you continue to fight while standing upside down on the "underside" of the platform. It’s a design that seems to say, "There’s no need to die from falling while exterminating demons." By the mid-game, in a chaos where you can’t tell what’s ground and what’s sky, an extreme situation unfolds where you simply point your gun at the demons.
the Sister smiles warmly like this.
There's no way to beat that.
This straightforward gameplay and score attack system are incredibly compatible, and the addiction it brings is astounding. By the way, my global ranking during my first play was 11,242. While I desperately managed to score 200,000 points, the top players were racking up astronomical numbers of 10 million points. There's no way to compete with that.
In terms of action freedom, this title stands out among the three games. The only downside (which is a personal issue) is that the intense movements make it unavoidable to feel "motion sickness." I needed a 10-minute break after each play, but the charm packed into the game was worth it. If you want to experience the "madness" of this game, definitely check it out on Steam.
It was truly a work that embodies the idea of "simple is best," titled 'Guns and Nuns: Storming Hell.'
📊 [Mob's Sensory Parameters]
Score Attack Enthusiasm: ★★★★★
Sense of Speed: ★★★★★
Level of Madness: ★★★★★
3D Motion Sickness Level: ★★★★★ (※ A longer break after playing is strongly recommended)
One-liner: A high-speed action that transcends even gravity, embodying simple is best.
In Conclusion: The "Persistence" of Indie Games Seen Beyond Motion Sickness
The three FPS games I encountered during this Steam Next Fest each housed completely different souls within the common act of "shooting." Some conveyed the nihilism of a dying world, others embraced total affirmation within constraints, and some offered the pure pleasure of destruction that transcended gravity.
Even within the same trend of "boomer shooters," there exists such a variety of interpretations and expressions. That is the charm of indie games and the reason we continue to follow such events. The fragmented information that flows through short videos on social media transforms into the "dedication" of the creators, which can be felt the moment you hold the controller and experience the "tactility" with your fingertips.
Honestly, I have never tested my physical limits as much as I did with this article. As the density of action increased, the screen shook violently, and my vestibular system was screaming. However, I was able to have a genuinely enjoyable experience, so personally, I was very satisfied.
We tend to seek efficiency and clarity. However, the games introduced this time taught me that sometimes it’s interesting to love "inconvenience," sometimes to surrender to "madness," and to empathize with "small lives," which transcends logic. With this stimulation etched into my fingertips and sense of balance, I want to return to my own game development— and my activities with the Negolove team— starting tomorrow.
Why not search for your own "striking work" (with motion sickness medication in hand)? Until next time, see you in the next report.