One of my favourite things about public gaming events is the sense of discovery. While I love getting invited to media previews, you generally have some idea of what to expect going into the game. But walking through a show floor, coming across something that catches your eye and taking a shot on it, only to be pretty excited coming out? That’s an incomparable feeling.
It’s something BCN Game Fest does so well. While other events like PAX and Gamescom have fantastic lineups of playable games, especially those from indie developers, they’re also extremely packed. But that’s not a problem with BCN Game Fest, the latest iteration of the annual Barcelona-based event formerly known as IndieDevDay. With an attendance of sub-20,000 people, there’s just enough people to make it feel lively and worthwhile for those investing in it while also giving you room to breathe and enjoy the games on display. And that’s exactly what I did this year.
In total, I probably played a couple dozen games at BCN Game Fest — here’s a breakdown of my favourite demos.
Denshattack!
Image credit: Fireshine Games
Developer: Undercoders (Barcelona)
Publisher: Fireshine Games
Platform: PC
Release date: TBA 2026
I’m a sucker for over-the-top experiences, and Denshattack! offers plenty on that front. It’s sort of like Temple Run or Subway Surfers in that you’re moving forward on rails, and you’ll have to jump between different lanes to avoid obstacles. The kicker here, though, is that you’re controlling an extremely fast train and have to perform all kinds of tricks as you stylishly vault between tracks and over hazards. The game is also very lovingly Japanese-inspired, from the gloriously colourful Jet Set Radio-esque aesthetic to the actual Japan setting, which features all kinds of big mech- and kaiju-like bosses.
Gothic 1 Remake
Image credit: THQ Nordic
Developer: Alkimia Interactive (Barcelona)
Publisher: THQ Nordic
Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Release date: TBA 2026
Gothic is one of those cult classic games I’ve heard about here and there but actually know little about. For that reason, I’m intrigued by this remake of the 2001 action-RPG from the now-defunct Piranha Bytes. While my BCN Game Fest demo didn’t tell me all that much about it, it did leave me curious to see more. Right off the bat, I appreciated that the medieval fantasy world, despite its outwardly serious story of a king battling with a lawless faction of his former subjects, had some charm to it. As a new prisoner to this world, the NPCs welcomed me in with dark humour and pity. I’d heard the original game’s English localization was rough, and that’s one area in which the remake is already improving immensely. Admittedly, I didn’t get a feel for the actual combat in my brief demo, but the premise, setting and writing already seem promising, and I’m looking forward to learning more.
A free prologue demo is also available on PlayStation, Xbox and PC.
The Great Farce
Image credit: Auxilio Games
Developer/publisher: Auxilio Games
Platform: PC (Steam)
Release date: TBA 2026
This point-and-click mystery game immediately caught my eye due to its stylish Carmen Sandiego-esque key art featuring a suave fedora-wearing woman, and that interest continued throughout my demo. In The Great Farce, you play as Claudia, a journalist and the wife of the ex-president who finds herself entangled in a conspiracy that could uproot the recently democratized nation. Right off the bat, this creates a compelling sense of political intrigue, especially as Claudia must head into a police station for clues. Upon entering, she weighs her options, noting that her status as a journalist might not play well when political tensions are so high. Instead, I try to sweet-talk my way through, eventually meeting someone who knows her husband. Besides the striking graphic novel-esque visuals, I was also surprised to see that almost every action you take results in a few seconds passing in-game, so you have to consider what to do, especially if you’re on the clock to leaf through confidential police files when an officer briefly leaves the room. Lots of promise here.
The Occultist
Image credit: Daedalic Entertainment
Developer: Daloar (Valladolid, Spain)
Publisher: Daedalic Entertainment
Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X, PC (Steam, EGS)
Release date: TBA 2026
I will always be intrigued by a new paranormal horror game, and The Occultist looks really solid. The game follows Alan Rebels, an occultist who travels to a cursed island of Godstone to investigate his father’s disappearance. Right away, I loved the supernatural elements here, with Alan using a mystical pendulum that can reveal secrets in the environment. Based on the in-game menu, it looks like there will be other power use cases, which is even more tantalizing. All of this is baked in a wonderfully atmospheric experience that reminded me in the best way of Resident Evil as I left a spooky forest and entered a creepy cabin and learned more about this creepy family. And best of all, Alan is voiced by none other than The Witcher 3‘s Geralt of Rivia himself, Doug Cockle, who brings the gravitas you’d expect to this spooky investigation. If that weren’t enough, Daloar is promising a combat-free experience focused on stealth, and while I didn’t get to see that, I’m loving the sound of that direction. Count me in.
One Minute to Close
Image credit: SleepySwan Studios
Developer/publisher: SleepySwan Studios
Publisher: Devolver Digital
Platform: PC
Release date: TBA
In terms of pure concept, this was probably the most interesting demo and one that really hit close to home. In One Minute to Close, you play as a pesky shopper who sneaks around to grab a bunch of things as a store is closing, avoiding the understandably aggravated employees who just want to go home. This appealed to me as someone who worked in retail and had to deal with those people, as well as someone whose job at Future Shop (RIP) and Best Buy for years specifically entailed finding products to put on hold for customers. There are some interesting wrinkles thrown in, too, like having to sneak into the employee room to get a key card to activate the cash registers and pay. (The developers don’t condone stealing.) It’s easy to see how this clever riff on a stealth experience could lead to some fun chaos, especially if you play with a friend in the optional co-op. Admittedly, the demo was a bit janky in terms of putting things in your shopping cart and how the “guards” would or wouldn’t detect you. But considering this was just an alpha based on a few months of development from a very small team, it’s very promising right now.
Skate Story
Image credit: Devolver Digital
Developer: Sam Eng (U.S.)
Publisher: Devolver Digital
Platforms: PS5, Nintendo Switch 2, PC
Release date: December 8, 2025
This skating game had a particularly unique demo in that it was attached to a motion-controlled skateboard rig. Admittedly, this made the actual skating more tedious than it would be in-game, as you had to stand on and off the board depending on whether you wanted to accelerate. (The last thing I want to do after walking around at a convention all day is balance on a skateboard, especially in front of others.) But that aside, I really dug the actual game experience. From the trippy, hellish visuals to the mix of a sandbox hub area and linear, challenging levels, there looks to be a lot to Skate Story. I’m especially curious to see how the story, which sees a crystalline demon working for the Devil, plays out. As part of that premise, you can actually sell part of your soul for new board parts, which is such a wild concept that I can’t help but be interested.
Honourable(?) mention
I played a 2D pixel art action-adventure game called NetherWorld in which I had to fight a big, grotesque boss. Admittedly, I found the controls a bit finnicky and the boss annoying as it kept trapping me in a corner and stomping on me. But I still had to give it a shout because immediately after playing, one of the representatives let me reach into the nethers of a Dune sandworm-esque figure to claim a prize: a branded condom. That’s certainly the most unique way I’ve seen a game promoted at an event.
Header image credit: Daedalic Entertainment
