As part of this week’s installment of Wishlister, Polygon’s weekly newsletter spotlighting upcoming PC titles worth adding to your library, six new games have been selected for their striking visual styles and distinctive art direction. Delivered on Tuesday and published Friday, the roundup highlights a hand-drawn anime-inspired cozy game, a comic book-styled precision platformer, a Metroidvania that evokes Hayao Miyazaki, an Adult Swim-flavored first-person shooter, a co-op puzzle title inspired by Flipnote Studios, and a monochromatic Game Boy-era adventure.
The selections span multiple genres and development stages, but they share a common thread: art styles compelling enough to earn a spot on players’ Steam wishlists. Each entry offers something distinct for different types of gamers, from tense skill-based platforming to relaxed cozy experiences that feel like playable animation.
A Curated Look at Art That Demands Attention
Polygon has been asking what motivates players to add games to their Steam wishlists ever since launching the newsletter. Sometimes it is a great elevator pitch that sparks curiosity; other times it is the pedigree of the developer behind the project. And sometimes, as this week’s picks demonstrate, it is something far simpler: just being won over by cool art.
This week’s selections fall squarely into that last category. All feature eye-catching visual styles that have landed them on the editorial radar, whether they are stylish 2D platformers or cozy games that look like playable anime. Anyone intrigued by these titles is encouraged to add them to their Steam wishlists and subscribe for more weekly PC picks.
Vivarium Brings Miyazaki-Inspired Charm
The hand-drawn small-town cozy game Vivarium looks so gorgeous that it is hard to believe it is a real game. Its art style makes it look exactly like an anime, drawing on a similar approach Orbitals used earlier this year but in what appears to be an even prettier package that evokes the naturalistic work of director Hayao Miyazaki.
Sometimes we’re just won over by cool art. This week’s wishlist picks fall into that last category, featuring eye-catching art styles that have landed them on our radar.
Polygon Wishlister
Precision Platforming and Painterly Worlds
Among the promising games showcased at this year’s Tribeca Fest, Rebounder stands out as especially worth watching. The 2D platformer looks exactly like a comic book, complete with inky colors, while appearing to be a tense precision-based platformer built for fans of Celeste.
Similarly hand-drawn is The Eternal Life of Goldman, a Metroidvania that promises to take players’ breath away the first time they see it. Its trailers advertise a gorgeously animated adventure following an old man’s quest to bring down a deity, with developer Weappy Studio promising a subversive side-scroller that balances challenge with accessibility.
Bold Styles Define the Remaining Picks
Cybrlich and the Death Cult of Labor caught attention at this year’s Game Developers Conference for reasons beyond its title. This Doom-like first-person shooter features a wild art style reminiscent of an Adult Swim cartoon, delivering what appears to be a blast full of blood, skeletons, and oversized blunts based on available demos.
For those craving more co-op puzzle games like Big Walk, Reason and Rhyme launches on October 15. The two-player title has players solving puzzles together as a pair of angry birds, rendered in an art style inspired by the Nintendo 3DS Flipnote Studios app that looks terrific in motion.
Capping the roundup is Lelu, an indie game about a clockwork toy’s quest for freedom. Riding the wave of black-and-white games like Toem 2 currently in fashion, it sports a charming monochromatic look that recalls the Game Boy era while remaining entirely distinct, positioning itself as a bite-sized delight for fans of top-down adventure games.
Looking Ahead
While most titles have not yet announced firm release dates beyond Reason and Rhyme’s October 15 launch, all six are available to add to Steam wishlists now. Players can track their development progress, receive updates on trailers and demos, and be notified when they officially launch across PC platforms.
The Wishlister newsletter continues its weekly cadence, with new selections delivered every Tuesday and published on the site each Friday, ensuring players stay informed about upcoming games worth saving for later without any commitment to purchase.
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