The best hidden indie gems to play before BitSummit 2026

For those who don't know, there is a gaming festival in Japan called BitSummit. It was founded in 2012 as a way to help promote indie games from Japanese developers. Over the years, other indies have appeared from around the world, so overall it's just a great festival of indie games, complete with rewards that can help keep an eye on projects past, present, and future.

To get excited for BitSummit in May, gamers may want to play these indie games from this year and last year. The following games will focus on Japanese and Asian developers, or games that drew heavily on Asian influences. What caused the cut? Read on to find out what hidden gems are missing.

Blade chimera

Tokyo Symphony

• Developer: Team Ladybug

• Publishers: Playism, WSS Playground

• Released: January 16, 2025

• Platforms: PC, Switch

Blade chimera is a 2D Metroidvania set in a demonic apocalypse in Japan. Players take on the role of demon hunter Shin, who is aided by the spirit-like entity Lux, who takes the form of a sword. Players can attack enemies with ranged weapons like pistols, melee weapons like swords, equip other stat-boosting gear, use items, and level up in the process.

With Lux, her abilities evolve, but some early ones include sticking to a wall for Shin to climb up, turning into a grappling hook, or being able to move thrown objects back into reality, like a forklift. Castlevania: Symphony of the Night fans will be pleased with the gearbox and leveling systems.

Hotel Barcelona

Searching for killers

Hotel Barcelona is another interesting game from Hidetaka Suehiro, aka SWERY, the wild Japanese mind that created the cult classic, A deadly premonition. The game has the same quirky tone, even if the story bits are few and far between. The game takes place in the titular hotel, where US Marshal Justine has come with his inner serial killer to look for other killers in the area.

The grounds are cursed, meaning that after death, Justine will wake up and start over. It's a 2D roguelike with constant progression, from stat boosts to weapon upgrades, even when it doesn't need to be Hades 2, A deadly premonition fans will love Hotel Barcelona's vibration.

To AT

Bizarre school days

to T was designed by another great Japanese developer, Keita Takahashi, who launched Katamari Damacy series. The game also has a weird vibe, albeit a healthy one, as players can create their disabled teenager who has to be in the T-pose all the time. From getting dressed to brushing your teeth to eating, everything is a challenge. The game is linear because each day is like an anime episode, each one presenting the child with a new complex challenge, such as dealing with school. It starts off a little slow, but with the colorful characters and all-out smash theme song, it's easy to get hooked to T.

Ender Magnolia: Bloom In The Mist

Using the past

Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist is a 2D Metroidvania set in a dystopian world that is collapsing. Players take on the role of Lilac, who has lost her memory but soon discovers that she can absorb and control robotic entities called Homunculi. It serves as the game's progression method to gain passing abilities and as a means for Lilac to defend.

Some Homunculi can be summoned to attack with a sword, while others will fire weapons, and each can be upgraded. Traversal options include gliding and using the hookshot, and the more Homunculi players unlock, the deeper they can go in this dark Metroidvania.

Dreams About Another

Surreal shooter

Dreams of another is a trippy game set in dreams that change between levels. Once the dream starts, the background is slightly blurred, so players can shoot them with a pistol or blow them up with grenades and the objects will become clearer. There are occasional enemies, but it's more about shooting dream particles to navigate the mazes.

Like dreams, goals can often be abstract. The game works well on the PS5 as a third-person shooter, but for anyone who really wants to invest Dreams of another can also be played with PSVR 2.

Rattan

A musical roguelike

Rattan is a spiritual successor Pataponone of the strangest games on PSP. Players can choose their hero, each equipped with a different skill set, and then embark on 2D roguelike missions. Units will be assigned followers who can be given orders to march, defend or attack to the beat of a rhythmic chant.

With hand-drawn visuals and catchy music, Rattan is a treat for the eyes and ears. It is currently in early access and shows great promise despite some bugs that could hopefully be fixed in version 1.0.

CASSETTE BOY

Zelda meets Fez

• Developer: Wonderland Kazakiri inc.

• Publisher: Pocketpair Publishing

• Released: 1/14/26

• Platforms: PC, PS5 and Switch

CASSETTE BOY is like a spiritual tribute to both The Legend of Zelda and Fes. Soon, players will gain a sword and bow to use to attack enemies, and by collecting their essence, players can level up. A cooler early entry will advance the game, literally, as the magical headset will allow players to rotate the camera.

By shifting perspectives, players can view problems in new ways, often revealing hidden NPCs, items, or exits that don't exist from different angles. CASSETTE BOY may be the biggest hidden gem of 2026 so far that deserves a lot more attention.

Never Grave: The Witch And The Curse

The Adventures of the Sorting Hat

Never Grave: The Witch and The Curse is a hand-drawn 2D Metroidvania mixed with a roguelike that is often referred to as a Roguevania. Players will explore a labyrinth and attack enemies with blades or magic, but there's also a cooler gameplay twist.

The heroine's hat is magical and can have enemies similar to Cappy Super Mario Odysseywhich lends itself to larger combat occasions. Another thing that sets it apart is the four-player co-op and village-building aspect, so Never Grave: The Witch and The Curse is another hidden gem worth exploring for Metroidvania and roguelike fans.

SONOKUNI

DJ-inspired roguelike

• Developer: DON YASA CREW

• Publisher: Kakehashi Games

• Released: 3/24/25

• Platforms: PC and Switch

SONOKUNI is a surreal experience that heavily uses music to entertain the ears and tell its story through Japanese hip-hop and electronica. The game is played from a top-down perspective and can be compared Hotline Miami. Players enter a room to take out everyone in one hit, but players can die just as easily.

Fortunately, there are more checkpoints SONOKUNI than Hotline Miamiand loading is fast so players can jump right back into the action. In addition to normal attacks, players can deflect and slow down time for their main moves, but there are other surprises along the way.

Stray children

Crayon-like EarthBound

• Developer: Onion Games

• Publisher: Onion Games

• Released: 10/30/25

• Platforms: PC and Switch

Stray children is an incredible experience if players have the patience for it, and it also looks unique. As a dog child, players will be drawn into a never-before-released video game world where they will have to embark on a quest to save the world because no one plays with the hero character.

In combat, players can freely run around small arenas to avoid attacks, and can attack or talk to enemies on their turn, similar to e.g. Undertale. It's more of a talking game with quirky characters than a traditional RPG, and the trial and error can be frustrating at times, so patience is required.