Once upon a time, back in the days of the printed magazines Home PC and Gameplay, we made materials from the “Made in Ukraine” series almost every year, dedicated to games from domestic studios that were under development. At one time, this is how we were one of the first in the world to write about Cossacks, Oblivion Lost, which later became S.T.A.L.K.E.R., Xenus, Collapse, Cryostasis, Vivisector and other cool Ukrainian games.
Usually, it took about two months to prepare such material, during which half of the editorial team, or even two of them, went to visit the developers, watched yet unannounced games, chatted, and asked tricky questions. But now, when almost all contacts of developers with journalists are controlled by PR departments, or even individual PR agencies, this is impossible, at least if it concerns large studios.
And now everything is difficult with offices. A lot of developers work remotely and never even meet in real life, some have moved to other cities or even abroad due to hostilities. And everything is still not well with electricity. So let’s postpone face-to-face visits to the developers for “after the victory”, and now let’s just see what Ukrainian games should be released in 2023.
If you think that all Ukrainian gamedev is limited to S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl, Sherlock Holmes The Awakened and World of Warplane, you are very wrong. We have a lot of interesting games in development – both small indie projects with experimental game mechanics, and huge A- and even AAA-hits, which are developed by hundreds of people in several countries.
Using our own database and information collected by the Steam curator “Ukrainian games” (380+ domestic games, impressive work, thanks to colleagues from PlayUA!), we counted more than 90 Ukrainian games under development. And we’re talking only about PC and console projects! Despite the full-scale war, the Ukrainian game industry is experiencing a new boom and after the victory, we will definitely see even more cool Ukrainian games, including about the events of 2022-2023.
For this material, we have chosen only those games that have already managed to be released within the first two months of 2023, or those that have a clearly indicated release date of 2023 in the description. First, the list is sorted by release date, then alphabetically.
Let’s go! Made in Ukraine: return!
Brichi Quest
Developer Bohdan RadchenkoGenre action/adventure
Release date January 5, 2023
A small action/adventure with roguelike elements, which the author himself describes as a mix of Don’t Starve and Zelda with low-poly graphics. The game is made on the open engine Godot. As a first try, it’s pretty cute.
Mudoba
Developer ExarchikGenre horror
Release date January 5, 2023
Atmospheric horror with one procedurally generated location located in the other dimension. The player has to explore locations, look for clues and try to find a way out. The author of the game has been involved in electronic ambient music for 15 years, so the soundtrack in Mudoba is really good. Also, the game has some S.T.A.L.K.E.R. vibes.
Farlanders
Developer Andrii BychkovskyiGenre turn-based economic strategy
Release date January 17, 2023
We have already talked about this interesting turn-based colony-building strategy in which you conquer Mars. Since release, Farlanders has received several major balance and interface updates that have really improved the game (especially the undo button). It seems that Farlanders was really enjoyed by the players, the project has an impressive Steam rating of 93/100, and judging by the number of reviews, sales have exceeded 10 thousand copies.
The developer plans at least one more major update that will add a sandbox mode and daily tasks to the game. Give it a try, it’s a really cool game, plus it has a demo on Steam.
Ultimate Admiral: Dreadnoughts
Developer Game-LabsGenre tactical strategy
Release date January 25, 2023
Ultimate Admiral: Dreadnoughts, a naval strategy game about large ships of the early 20th century, was released on Steam Early Access back in December 2021. Recently, the developers announced the release of the final version, and it seems that this did not go down well with players who felt that the game was not ready for release and has to be refined. The Dreadnoughts rating dropped from a fairly friendly 73/100 to a “mixed” 52/100.
Since the release on January 25, 2023, the developers have managed to release a dozen hotfixes and announced plans to develop the project until the summer of 2023.
Ultimate Admiral: Dreadnoughts is one of the most profitable Ukrainian games according to GameSensor. Judging by the number of reviews, sales of the game are approaching or have even exceeded 100,000 copies.
As a reminder, Games Labs is one of the most productive Ukrainian studios, which already has 6 games in its portfolio, which have been released since 2014. In May 2021, Games Labs became part of the Swedish game holding Stillfront.
PARANOIA PLACE
Developer Madbox, Bloody PixelGenre cooperative horror
Release date February 13, 2023
PARANOIA PLACE is a single-player/cooperative horror game in which you alone or with a friend have to solve puzzles, find things and try to get out of a scary place where a bloody killer threatens you.
PARANOIA PLACE was released on Steam Early Access on February 13, 2023 and received positive reviews from players. On the other hand, ETERNAL BLOOD, Bloody Pixel’s previous game, was released in Early Access two years ago and has not been updated for almost two years, although it also has good reviews.
The Moon Hell
Developer A.M. TeamGenre action/RPG
Release date February 17, 2023
We recently published a small interview with the developers of The Moon Hell. Judging by the number of views, this action/RPG in a dark fantasy setting has attracted players. The game was developed by only two people for three years in their free time from their main work.
To what extent the authors managed to make The Moon Hell unlike Dark Souls, comparisons with which they very persistently avoid, you can already decide for yourself. The game has a good Steam rating, but sales are still low.
My Dream Setup
Developer Campfire StudioGenre designer
Release date February 20, 2023
My Dream Setup is not exactly a game, but rather a meditative, cozy and very cute designing game, in which anyone can create the room of their dreams and furnish it according to their own preferences. It is really very relaxing and allows you to fulfill your secret desires and show your imagination.
My Dream Setup is Campfire Studio’s second project since the start of All Out War. Another cute game, Package Rush is out at the end of October 2022. The game has very good user reviews and has already sold around 15,000.
As far as the editors know, the authors are going to support the game by adding new features, new furniture and decor elements. But the My Dream Setup franchise is not planned yet. And it’s a pity, we would love to play My Dream Setup Ukrainian Hata or My Dream Setup Mars Colony in the setting of a novel by Max Kidruk.
Museum of Monoliths
Developer Podoba InteractiveGenre audiovisual experience
Release date February 21, 2023
Museum of Monoliths is a kind of musical walking simulator, a unique work of modern audiovisual art, where the player travels through abstract levels similar to museum exhibition halls, and the sound of each level changes depending on their actions.
DESTRUCTURE: Among Debris
Developer Team Instant DefeatGenre action/RPG
Release date February 27, 2023
DESTRUCTURE: Among Debris is the winning game of Indie Cup Ukraine’22. This is an explosive, sometimes literally, mix of arkanoid, air hockey, bullet hell and roguelike in a post-apocalypse setting. It is difficult to explain, it is easier to try, especially since there is a demo version on Steam.
Sears: The Sky Frontier
Developer Acoma GamesGenre real-time strategy
Release date March 3, 2023
Real-time tactical strategy with a rather interesting visual style and strange characters. Sears: The Sky Frontier features battles in picturesque levels of the sky city and the ability to set up defenses, set traps and place fighters and defensive structures before the start of the battle.
Sears: The Sky Frontier will be released on Steam Early Access on March 3, 2023, and the developers hope to release the final version of the game by the end of 2023. Let’s see if they can keep their promise.
The Safe Place
Developer Anate StudioGenre adventure
Release date March 22, 2023
The Safe Place is a classic point-and-click adventure game. At the beginning of development, the game had the vibe of the Russian countryside of the 1990s. After the start of a full-scale invasion, the author removed any references to the aggressor country. Now this is a game about Ukraine of the early 90s, there are even very characteristic hints which look like porcelain figurines produced by the Horodnytsky Porcelain Factory in the form of a kobzar-bandurist.
The game tells a rather dramatic story involving a 12-year-old girl and a young man who is trying to earn money for his family. The choices you make during the game affect the story. The Safe Place has full English and Ukrainian voice acting, and no Russian at all.
VRNOID
Developer Fullmetal DeveloperGenre VR-arcade
Release date March 2023
A mix of arkanoid and air hockey in virtual reality. As they say, bricks, bricks and some more bricks. And there are also boss battles that fire back, a level editor and local multiplayer. The game has a demo, so if you have a VR helmet you can try it out.
Bosorka
Developer Sengi GamesGenre action/RPG
Release date Q1 2023
Bosorka is an unusual action/RPG with flying on a broomstick and a young witch trying to defeat the evil that she herself summoned. There are roguelike elements, and a good selection of brooms, spells, and runes. The game is quite dynamic and has an interesting perspective. There is a demo on Steam with the starting levels and the first boss.
Bosorka is Sengi Games’ second game since the start of the full-scale invasion, and the studio’s second game overall. The previous game, action/adventureThe Serpent Rogue was released on Steam on April 26, 2022.
Greedventory
Developer Black Tower BasementGenre action/RPG
Release date April 20, 2023
A parody and sometimes very funny pixel action/RPG that tries to combine elements of clicker and traditional Japanese turn-based role-playing games. The humor here is sometimes very dark and adult, the opponents are funny, and the main character’s companion is incredibly impudent and spiteful. During the Steam Next Fest, you could try a demo version of the game.
Sherlock Holmes The Awakened
Developer by FrogwaresGenre adventure
Release date April 2023
We have already written many times about the remake of Sherlock Holmes The Awakened by the Kyiv studio Frogwares, which should be released this year. Recently, the developers announced postponing the release for several weeks due to blackouts in late 2022 and early 2023.
Frogwares is currently aiming for late March/early April, so there’s not long to wait. During the last Steam Novelty Festival, those interested could get acquainted with a demo version of the game.
Smelted Kin: Inhuman Impact
Developer Microbat StudioGenre action/platformer
Release date April 2023
A fantastic action/platformer in which at different levels you control either a heroine with a machine gun in her hands, or a heavy walking tank. You will have to fight against enemy robots. The game has a demo on Steam, but unfortunately there is no Ukrainian support yet.
Puzzles For Clef
Developer Weasel TokenGenre platformer, adventure
Release date Q2 2023
A very cute musical adventure platformer about a rabbit named Clef. The game has a very pleasant, albeit somewhat childish visual style, a soothing atmosphere, a lot of secrets and interesting and logical puzzles.
SCP: EVENT CLASSIFIED
Developer ArchotechGenre online shooter
Release date Q2 2023
Ukrainian game which, like Control by Remedy Entertainment, is based on a fan wiki, which tells the story of the fictional mysterious organization SCP Foundation. Yes, the game Control appeared much later than this collective conspiracy project.
SCP: EVENT CLASSIFIED is a multiplayer horror shooter where the player can take on the role of a soldier, scientist, prisoner or even a monster. The main task is to survive in a dangerous and mysterious underground complex. Sounds like some sort of Class Battle Royale in the SCP universe.
SCP: EVENT CLASSIFIED will be released in Steam Early Access in Q2 2023. The authors promise unique themes and objects not yet covered in the SCP wiki and high replayability with the generation of a map of the complex, anomalies, weapon location cities and even relationships between classes. Sounds interesting if you like horror.
Sunset Ride
Developer Roenko GamesGenre arcade
Release date Q2 2023
A simple linear racer with a powerful retro vibe. Neon surrounds, a DeLorean DMC-12 and a Tesla Cybertruck are among the cars available. In fact, there are a lot of similar games on Steam, and if you are interested in how Sunset Ride looks against their background, you can download a demo from the game page.
Hoglands
Developer Piggy GamesGenre strategy, role-playing game
Release date Q3 2023
The authors of Hoglands were inspired by games such as Kingdom: Two Crowns, Until We Die and Tails of Iron. In general, this is a 2D Tower Defense with RPG elements in which you, in the role of a noble boar, must protect your kingdom from hordes of dead pigs and find the cause of the plague that is spreading around the world. During the day, the player builds defenses, hires fighters and so on, and at night repels the attacks of zombie pigs.
The game has nice graphics and several interesting gameplay solutions that distinguish it from the Kingdoms series. The release is planned for the 3rd quarter of 2023.
Railroad Corporation 2
Developer Corbie GamesGenre economic strategy, simulator
Release date Q3 2023
Ukrainian Sid Meier’s Railroads! This is actually Corbie Games’ third railroad game after Bounty Train and Railroad Corporation, to which, by the way, there are many other DLCs. So, you can say that they know a thing about the railway theme.
If Railroad Corporation was dedicated to the golden age of railroads in the United States, then in Railroad Corporation 2the age of diesel and electrification has come, that is, the 20th century. The game will include the development of cities and the construction of factories and plants and, of course, many, many trains. In addition, the authors promise a multiplayer mode. But Ukrainian support is not yet indicated on the Steam page.
Hanako’s flower shop
Developer by FantaJI GamesGenre simulator, casual game
Release date October 2023
An extremely cute simulator of a flower shop somewhere in Japan. The characters talk a little too much, but there is full Ukrainian, English and Japanese (!) voice acting, which is really cool. Among other things, the game teaches the basics of ikebana, that is, what this or that flower symbolizes and how best to combine them into bouquets. If we did not know that this game was made in Lviv, we would have decided that it is Japanese.
FutuRACEtic
Developer Stanislav MarchevskyiGenre simulator
Release date November 28, 2023
A futuristic racing simulator that, visually, looks like Mirror’s Edge on cars. You drive a super-powerful electric car on tracks built on flyovers in the middle of an abstract city of the future. Despite the somewhat arcade-like appearance, FutuRACEtic is quite a serious simulator and driving a car here is quite difficult. There is a demo version on Steam, so you can try to drive at least half a lap.
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl
Developer GSC Game WorldGenre action/RPG
Release date December 2023
This game and its developers need no further introduction. Work on S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 continues, due to full-scale invasion and blackouts, it has been delayed a bit. Some studio employees serve in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, some gave their lives for the freedom of Ukraine. Currently, GSC Game World operates from two offices, in Prague and Kyiv. And we really, really hope that at the end of 2023, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 will finally be seen by players from all over the world. And we are sure that this Russian-Ukrainian war has already affected the content of the most anticipated Ukrainian game of the last 10 years.
Wandering Wolf
Developer Tihor TeamGenre survival, shooter
Release date Q4 2023
A first-person shooter with a focus on survival in a dark fantasy setting in a world that has survived a civil war. The authors promise challenging levels, metroidvania elements and Steam Workshop support. The game is published by Kyiv-based MIROWIN, which specializes in VR games.
Corsairs Legacy
Developer MaurisGenre action/adventure
Release date 2023
We recently did a big interview with the developers of Corsairs Legacy, so let’s not repeat ourselves. The authors of this descendant of “Corsairs” have very ambitious plans, and whether the developers have a chance to bring them to life, you can decide for yourself by trying the demo version on Steam.
Erra: Exordium
Developer Fair PixelGenre action
Release date 2023
Erra: Exordium is a 2D-action with pixel graphics and an interesting story in the world of Dieselpunk, which is based on Sumero-Akkadian mythology. Sounds weird, looks even weirder. But the gameplay and feel of Erra: Exordium is very good, it’s for a reason that the game won the Critics’ Choice award (yes, we participated in it too) at the Indie Cup Ukraine’22.
Next week we plan to publish a detailed interview with the developers of this game.
Level Zero
Developer DogHowl GamesGenre action/horror
Release date 2023
Asymmetrical fantasy PvP-horror in which a team of scientists must fix an electrical system to survivefrom a place where they are threatened with death.
There are four scientists, two monsters. Playing as monsters, players use telepathy, traps, and electricity manipulation. Light is the main weapon and means of protection for scientists. You will not have to shoot, rather repair various devices, perform tasks together, and warn others about the movement of monsters.
Unreal Engine 4 is responsible for the graphics of the game, and the atmosphere of Level Zero resembles the Alien series. The project already has a publisher, it is the controversial tinyBuild.
Spark in the Dark
Developer Stellar FishGenre action/RPG
Release date 2023
A complex, dark and very interesting Dungeon Crawler in a dark fantasy setting. No, not Dark Souls, but challenging and very atmospheric. The authors promise procedural dungeon generation, five character classes with their own progression, and rich lore. There is a demo version of Spark in the Dark on Steam, and as players rightly note, the demo is better than some of the full games. Try it.
Strategic Mind: Spirit of Liberty
Developer Starni GamesGenre wargame
Release date 2023
Strategic Mind: Spirit of Liberty is the fifth game in the series of turn-based wargames by the Kyiv studio Starni Games. The game, which tells the story of the Winter War (1939-1940), during which little Finland withstood the onslaught of Russian invaders, was announced even before the start of the heated phase of the Russian-Ukrainian war.
In 2022, development was a little slower than the authors had hoped, and the Starni Games studio managed to release another game – a free selection of visual novels Ukraine War Stories is probably the first game about the current Russian-Ukrainian war.
The authors still hope to release Strategic Mind: Spirit of Liberty this year, although they have already started the development of another project – a tactical wargame Headquarters: World War II. The publisher of this game will be the Slitherine company known to connoisseurs of strategies, which, since 2000, has already published more than 200 (!) wargames.
STONKS-9800: Stock Market Simulator
Developer TERNOXGenre simulator
Release date 2023
A simulator of the life of a businessman on the Japanese stock exchange in the 80s and 90s of the last century. With an early 1990s vibe and graphics. Buy stocks, dump stocks, get dividends, follow the rate, play pachinko and bet on horse racing and don’t overwork yourself.
The game is developed by Ruslan Salikov from Ternox Games, whom we recently interviewed. STONKS-9800: Stock Market Simulator is due out on Steam Early Access this year.
Through the Nightmares
Developer Sandman TeamGenre platformer
Release date 2023
Through the Nightmares is a kind of Dark Souls of the platformer world. Games of this genre have never been easy, but Through the Nightmares seems to raise the bar of difficulty even higher. However, the high difficulty did not prevent the game from receiving the Rising Star Award of the festival of Ukrainian indie games Indie Cup Ukraine’22.
One of the interesting game mechanics of the game is the ability to reduce/increase the character right in the jump. In general, Through the Nightmares uses many different mechanics and the player’s task is to combine them correctly. The game has a demo on Steam, so you can try out some of these mechanics for yourself.
Train World
Developer Turn Point GamesGenre economic strategy, simulator
Release date 2023
Another Ukrainian Sid Meier’s Railroads! The authors of Train World promise players a truly gigantic map divided into separate regions, a large number of locomotives and carriages, 30 loads to transport, passenger and freight stations, special tasks and much more. And that’s all this seems to have been done by only one developer – Dmytro Aleksiuk. The game has a demo version on Steam.
We understand very well that this list is incomplete and it will grow every day, and this is actually very gratifying. What’s more, we actually know about a few more games coming out in 2023, but we can’t talk about them yet.
If we missed any of the domestic games that will be released in 2023, let us know in the comments or write to us, and we will definitely make a patch for this article.
In the next article from the Made in Ukraine series, we plan to talk about other Ukrainian games that do not even have an approximate release date yet. In fact, there is also a lot of interesting stuff there.
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