Our 9 favorite highlights from the 2024 Women-led Games Showcase
The 2024 Women-led Games Showcase was a highlight of Summer Game Fest this year. In addition to bringing us fun, innovative gaming experiences, we treasure indie games for their focus on diversity, both in the content of their games and in the industry at large. We loved seeing the hard work of women game devs and women-led teams highlighted in this showcase.
We had an amazing time watching (and co-streaming) the 2024 Women-led Games Showcase, and if you have the time, we highly recommend you watch the full event. But if, like us, you’re feeling overwhelmed by all of the amazing game announcements coming out this summer, we’ve selected 9 highlights from the showcase that you won’t want to miss!
1. Woodo
Emily’s Pick
“We unfortunately did not get to play the demo at Pax East this year because the booth was just so dang packed!! It was wild. I think people were waiting in line for upwards of an hour to to play the demo. So I’m very excited for it. It looks very cozy, like just a total vibe. You’re putting together these little figurines made of wood and putting the right piece in place. It seems very zen, very relaxing, very cute.”
—Emily
Developer: Yullia Prohorova, Timur Bogotov
Publisher: Daedalic Entertainment, Yullia Prohorova
Release Date: TBA
2. Urban Jungle
Kate’s Pick
“This just looks great. It looks really bright. You’re moving around plants and interior decorating. You’re placing plants around in different locations, in various apartments. Just like Unpacking, it tells the story of this one character’s life through the places they live and the plants that they wind up cultivating and growing in those spaces. It was a really sweet demo. It is. It’s like kind of puzzly in the way that Unpacking is a little puzzly. and so it’s very rewarding.”
—Kate
Developer: Kylyk Games
Publisher: Assemble Entertainment
Release Date: 2024
3. México, 1921: A Deep Slumber
Emily’s Pick
“This is a mystery game, an investigation game where you are playing as a reporter. In 1921, in Mexico, during the Centenario celebration. There’s a plot to assassinate the president of Mexico, and you’re on the case. One of the cool things that stood out to me from the trailer was finding out that they actually worked with some national archiving organizations, and museums in Mexico, to scan and recreate real artifacts from the time period. So some of the things that you’re able to pick up and examine are really real pamphlets or other kinds of artifacts from about 100 years ago, which is really neat.”
—Emily
Developer: Mácula Interactive
Publisher: Mácula Interactive
Release Date: 2024
4. Phoenix Springs
Kate’s Pick
“This just looks so beautiful to me. It’s got this almost noir style to it. It’s a mystery game where you are trying to find your brother, I believe. But the the things that stood out to me most were the voice acting and the visuals. It just looked totally stunning. It’s got more of a limited color palette and art style. It just looked like a total vibe and in a way that really stood out to me.”
—Kate
Developer: Calligram Studio
Publisher: Calligram Studio
Release Date: September 16, 2024
5. Albert Wilde: Quantum P.I.
Emily’s Pick
“This is a neo noir story, featuring a detective who has a human body and a cat head. I get the impression this is another anthropomorphic animals situation. But it also has a really distinctive noir style to it. And I love an investigation game. I love a mystery. And anything that’s kind of weird, so I’m immediately intrigued.”
—Emily
Developer: Beyondthosehills
Publisher: Beyondthosehills
Release Date: TBA
6. The Star Named EOS
Kate’s Pick
“This one caught my eye quite a while ago. It’s a whimsical little photography puzzle game. It reminds me of Assemble with Care, Projected Dreams, it also looks a little bit like Simpler Times, too. So, right up my alley. I’m very curious to play the full game when it comes out. And I think I’ve seen it featured in a few showcases at this point.”
—Kate
Developer: Silver Lining Studio
Publisher: Silver Lining Studio, Playism, Active Gaming Media
Release Date: Jul 23, 2024
7. Soulitaire
Emily’s Pick
“This game follows a theme I’ve been talking about lately, where games are taking a mobile game or casual game genre or gameplay and incorporating it into a broader standalone title with more of a narrative. So the idea here is, you are a psychic medium that people are coming to for answers about their life. They have questions that they would like you to answer, and you read your cards to tell them what is in store for them. Except that your cards are not tarot cards. You’re playing solitaire to see their future, which I think is such a hysterical concept. I think it’s going to have a Coffee Talk-style narrative where you’re exploring these people’s lives. Look, I love a game of Klondike, so I think it’s going to be really clever. I’m excited to check it out.”
—Emily
Developer: Beardshaker Games
Publisher: Beardshaker Games
Release Date: TBA
8. Just Crow Things
Kate’s Pick
“I just love crows. I think they’re a really cool, smart bird. And this is giving a little bit of Little Kitty, Big City, Untitled Goose Game vibes, where you’re a crow causing a little bit of chaos. I think that the art style did it for me. I was a little bit more intrigued because of the aesthetic, and also the concept of being able to fly and jump around as a crow. I was happy to see more from this game.”
—Kate
Developer: Unbound Creations
Publisher: Unbound Creations
Release Date: TBA
9. Hyde’s Haunt & Seek
Emily’s Pick
“This seems to be a co-op/PvP paranormal game where at least some of the players are ghosts and you’re trying to hide and possess things. And you’re trying to find each other. And I think there are some horror elements, too. But mainly it just looks wacky. And the trailer was musical! There was a barbershop quartet singing at me in the trailer. There was a lot going on. It was very theater-kid coded. It looks intriguing. And I’ve already got people saying, ‘hey, I want to play this with you when it comes out.'”
—Emily
Developer: Smol Games
Publisher: Smol Games, Daedalic Entertainment
Release Date: TBA
Thanks for checking out our highlights from the Women-led Games Showcase!
We hope you enjoyed these highlights from the 2024 Women-led Games Showcase!! If you want to hear our full thoughts and highlights from other Summer Game Fest Showcases, like the Day of the Devs and Wholesome Direct, check out the full Summer Game Fest Recap episode of No Small Games.
Also, don’t forget to check out our episodes recapping previous gaming events, like our episodes covering PAX East 2024 and the 2023 Wholesome Direct.