Finding new games to play can get overwhelming — there are so many options out there. And if you try looking up what to play, everybody is recommending the same games over and over. Chances that you already played them are high and if you’re a gamer, I think you should also try games that didn’t have millions poured into marketing. Also, Mondays are usually tough but I think having something to look forward to can help it make them just a little bit easier. So here is a list of upcoming games that are coming this week that I think are worthy of checking out:
Gamer Stop Simulator – 12 Jan, 2026
Gamer Stop Simulator is a brand new game developed and published by Red Axe Games. It’s a studio that already has a lot of experience in making simulators, so it already has a decent chance of being good. As for what the game is about, you can kinda deduce from the name. It’s about running your own game store. It’s located in the heart of Japan and that’s where you’ll be able to buy and sell games, repair consoles, test games, and collect rare stuff. From what I’ve seen, they don’t intend to make a basic simulator where you spend the whole day in the shop selling and filling shelves. They’ll have an open world map where you can explore, find hidden treasures and do all sorts of mini-games/challenges like fishing, shooting a basketball, etc. Hopefully they deliver on everything and keep working on making this game great.
Big Hops
Big Hops is a new 3D platformer published and developed by Luckshot Games. In this game you get to play as a lil frog called Hop (very creative). He was kidnaped and all he wants to do is go home. In order to escape he needs to find parts to build an airship. The game features a healthy amount of puzzles and a lot of parkouring. It was made by a small team and you can really feel all the passion and work they’ve put into making it. On top of everything, there’s a free demo that you can check out before making a decision about buying it.
Kotama and Academy Citadel
Kotama and Academy Citadel is a 3D side-scrolling Metroidvania developed by Atomstring Games and published by 2P Games. For some reason this game looked familiar and I couldn’t figure out why. Only recently it came to me — it reminds me of Arknights. But that’s only look-wise, gameplay couldn’t be further from it. You get to play as Kotama, an exchange student who explores Academy Citadel all while trying to unlock new abilities. On that journey, you’ll face numerous enemies and challenging bosses that will make you question life. At this point you’re probably thinking “we already have so many metroidvanias”. So what? Can you really have enough of them? Not me.
Kejora
Kejora is a hand-drawn puzzle platformer developed by Berangin Creative and published by Soft Source. Kejora is a main protagonist of the game who is stuck reliving the same day in her village. She sets out to solve the mystery behind everything. With these sorts of games, you can’t expect next level puzzles that will make your hair fall out but rather look at it as a very beautiful game that features small brain teasers. If I’m honest with you, I really have a soft spot for these types of games, mainly because I find them very soothing to look at and almost always there is a deep story behind everything. In case you’re not sold on it, there’s a free demo that you can check out.
Conclusion
That’s it from me for this week, I hope there’s at least one game to your liking. If not, there’s always next week. I’m planning to make this a series. You can expect it to drop every Monday. Though keep in mind some weeks might be better than others. Some week I might end up picking only one game or if it gets really bad then I won’t pick any. So make sure to stay tuned for next week.
Pavle is the founder of PlayForge and its lead writer and reviewer, covering PC, PS5, and mobile games, a with a focus on RPGs, MMOs, FPS games, and more. He’s been gaming since the PS2 days and now writes in-depth reviews and guides to help players find their next obsession and get gaming insights from real players, not just critics. His reviews are honest and transparent, but he always tries to stay positive, because in his opinion, almost any game can be fun if you look at it the right way.
In his free time, he likes to (obviously) play more games, spend time with his family, theorycraft about various media with his wife, and watch anime. So yes, he’s a complete nerd, even if he’ll never admit it.