steam – Ms. Bella's World

2–3 minutes

Steam’s game showcases are always fun, and the Steam Cooking Fest (now until Nov. 18th) is no exception! Featuring a buffet of cooking-themed games, some with delicious discounts, there’s something here for every type of foodie-gamer.

Here’s a taste of a few games I thought looked especially appetizing:

Chef Life: A Restaurant Simulator (Cyanide Studio, Feb 23, 2023)
In Chef Life, you create and run your dream restaurant, controlling everything from décor to the final dish. With an overall Very Positive rating, this one looks like it’s worth trying for any budding restaurateur—and it’s on sale for just $8.99, a tasty 70% off.

Chef RPG (World 2 Studio, Sept 12, 2024)
Want to blend your love of cooking with an RPG adventure? Chef RPG, currently in Early Access, might be your game. Its pixel-art style is charming, and the RPG elements give it a unique twist. Plus, it’s rated Very Positive and discounted at $17.99 (10% off).

Coffee Caravan (Broccoli Games, May 20, 2024)
If you’re craving a cute, coffee-fueled road trip, Coffee Caravan could be a treat. The game’s aesthetics are cozy, and I’ll likely be grabbing it myself before the sale ends. With Very Positive reviews, it’s $8.99, 25% off the regular price.

Coffee Shop Tycoon (Riff Studios, Dec 19, 2022)
Can’t get enough caffeine? Coffee Shop Tycoon lets you do it all—roast your beans, make custom recipes, and build a coffee empire. It’s got a Very Positive rating, and at just $3.99 (a steep 60% discount), this one’s hard to pass up.

Brewmaster: Beer Brewing Simulator (Auroch Digital, Sept 29, 2022)
More of a craft beer fan? Brewmaster offers a realistic brewing simulation where you create custom ales, experiment with recipes, and even enter competitions. With Mostly Positive reviews, it’s a steal at $4.49 (75% off).

Kebob Chefs! – Restaurant Simulator (Biotech Gameworks, Jan 19, 2024)
Ready for some co-op cooking chaos? Kebob Chefs! lets you and up to three friends build the ultimate kebob restaurant together. This Early Access game is on sale for $10.79, a savory 40% off.

Venba (Visai Games, Jul 31, 2023)
Venba offers a unique, narrative-driven cooking experience. Play as an Indian mom in 1980s Canada, exploring South Indian recipes and family stories through charming graphics. This one’s at the top of my list, and with Very Positive reviews, it’s well worth the $7.49 price tag (a 50% discount).

If you’re in the mood for some culinary adventures, the Steam Cooking Fest has plenty to offer! From creating your dream restaurant to brewing craft beer or exploring coffee culture, these games showcase the diverse and delicious world of cooking simulators. With discounts on highly-rated titles, now’s a great time to expand your library and maybe even pick up a few new skills in the kitchen—virtually, at least!

Until next time, bye for now!

3–5 minutes

Gamers love a challenge, and bullethell games have a special way of getting the adrenaline going. Recently, I tried out several demos that caught my eye, and I think they have potential. Here are five bullethell demos that impressed me—and one bonus that isn’t a bullethell!

1) Karate Survivor
Release Date: October 30, 2024

From the Steam page: “Become a martial arts master in this survivor-like roguelite inspired by action movies of the ‘80s. Use your fists, feet, and the environment to fight off relentless thugs. Master powerful combos, enhance your skills, and remember: everything around you is a weapon!”

Graphics: Colorful pixel graphics with the charm of old kung-fu movies, evoking memories of Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee.
Sounds: Solid music and sound effects that complement the action well.
Gameplay: Starts off fun, but the difficulty curve outpaces your character quickly—even with upgrades. Watch out: just touching mobs deals damage!
All in All: I had a great time with the demo, and I’m excited to see how the full release turns out. Hopefully, they’ll fine-tune the balance before launch.

2) Submarine Survivor
Release Date: TBD

From the Steam page: “Dive into the ocean’s depths, face fearsome sea creatures, and collect their experience crystals. In this roguelite action game, upgrade your submarines with various combinations of weapons and chips. Become the Lord of the Ocean!”

Graphics: Bright, simple visuals that still manage to look great.
Sounds: Basic but fitting music and sound design.
Gameplay: Starts easy, but things escalate fast. Each world offers unique modes like avoiding poisoned waters or dodging falling barrels. Replayability looks high, with lots of variety.
All in All: This one seems like it’ll be a solid entry in the genre. Now if only we had a release date…

3) Achilles: Survivor
Release Date: TBD

From the Steam page: “Achilles: Survivor is a dynamic single-player bullet heaven game where you face thousands of enemies, build destructive structures, develop your character, and survive waves of enemies.”

Graphics: Dark and gritty 3D graphics with a ¾ perspective—very reminiscent of aRPGs.
Sounds: Atmospheric music and sound effects that fit perfectly.
Gameplay: Easy to pick up but challenging quickly. You gather gold during each run to unlock permanent upgrades, making future runs easier.
All in All: With Greek mythology, permanent upgrades, and fast-paced action, this looks like it’ll be entertaining for several hours when it finally releases.

4) Smol Survivors
Release Date: TBD

From the Steam page: “Smol Survivors is a 2D reverse bullet-heck where smol blocks have become lost and need to find their friends while fighting through hordes of enemies.”

Graphics: Adorable blocky characters in bright, colorful worlds.
Sounds: The sound effects are nice, but I don’t recall there being any music.
Gameplay: Accessible and quirky, with fun weapons like soap, straws, and…cats? (Yes, cats.) Very easy to get into, perfect for newcomers to bullethell games.
All in All: If the price is right, this will be a great little game to pick up when you have a few spare minutes.

5) TemTem Swarm
Release Date: November 13, 2024

From the Steam page: “Unlock mighty abilities, find Tems to evolve, and discover wild synergies in this survivor-like bullet heaven. Play solo or with friends in online co-op with up to 3 players!”

Graphics: Gorgeous 3D graphics with classic TemTem characters in a colorful world.
Sounds: Excellent music and sound effects that really elevate the gameplay.
Gameplay: Easy to start but challenging as you progress. The permanent upgrades help, and the Tems can evolve during each run.
All in All: This one feels like it’s going to be a hit—if the price is right. Definitely one to watch when it releases in November!

Bonus Mention: 2048 – Dungeons
Release Date: TBD

Okay, so this isn’t a bullethell game, but I just had to mention it. If you enjoy puzzle games like 2048 and roguelike combat, this one’s worth a look.

From the Steam page: “A game that mixes 2048 puzzle mechanics with a roguelite style of play. Train your character, recruit allies, and test your luck in the dungeon of Blockshire.”

Graphics: Low-poly visuals with a high fantasy theme.
Sounds: Solid and fitting for the gameplay.
Gameplay: If you like number puzzles and strategic, turn-based combat, this is right up your alley. Just be warned—it crashed on me once and froze another time. Definitely still needs a bit of polishing before release.

There you have it—five promising bullethell demos (and one unexpected extra) that I think are worth keeping an eye on. Whether you’re dodging barrels underwater, throwing cats at enemies, or channeling your inner Achilles, these games all offer something fun and unique.

Have you tried any of these demos yet? Or maybe you’ve got a recommendation of your own? Let me know in the comments!

Until next time—stay sharp, dodge everything, and bye for now!