Deal with loss

The adventure game Selfloss takes place in a magical world inspired by Slavic and Icelandic folklore. Here, people worship whales, the seas are inhabited by mermaids and flying turtles, and Russian landscapes curiously mix with coral reefs and stalactites. The story focuses on Kazimir, an old healer who goes on a quest across land and sea in order to heal his soul after a devastating loss. On his journey, he’ll have to help magical creatures rediscover the purpose of life and, with the help of a magical staff, fight the Miasma – a mysterious dark entity that has conquered the world.

Get philosophical

The Talos Principle series consists of several first-person puzzle games in which you take on the role of a robot that has gained human consciousness. The android finds itself in a world filled with ruins of ancient civilizations and high-tech gadgets. While exploring this world, the player solves varied puzzles in order to collect “sigils” that allow them to advance into newer areas. Throughout the game, you’ll also receive messages from a strange voice that poses philosophical questions and provides you with tasks. The Talos Principle is full of ruminations on the nature of consciousness, humanity, and free will.

Visit a fantasy world 

In the action-adventure game Ivana Kupala, you must take a deep dive into Slavic mythology while searching for the protagonist’s missing son. The game was developed by the students of ITMO’s Game Development School, who got into the finals of this year’s VK Play Laboratory. Playing as the heroine, you get to mow down hordes of forest-dwelling monsters with your family’s sword and shield. Her quest takes you through the serene Oakland, otherworldly forests, frightening swamps, and other areas – each with its own intimidating boss. The entire world is beautifully drawn in the Palekh style – a type of traditional Russian painting used to illustrate stories from folklore. The game is set for release in 2025, but the demo version is already available on VK Play.

Save a cat

Take on the role of a freewheeling cat and explore a post-apocalyptic city inhabited by robots in the widely acclaimed Stray. To help the orange-tinted feline protagonist find its way home, you’ll need to scout the streets and roofs of a cyberpunk metropolis, solve puzzles, make friends with robots, and climb, jump, and stealth your way out of trouble. Despite the simple game mechanics, the game’s captivating atmosphere makes it a great fit for a winter evening playthrough.

Find the treasure

Have you ever wanted to become a pirate and compete for treasure with friends, even if for a short while? This is exactly what you get to do in Funky Pirates, another video game developed by Game Development School students (and VK Play Laboratory finalists). Players are split into teams, each with its own half of a treasure map – but only one side can claim the booty! So, you’ll have to fight for the map, be the first to find that coveted chest, and manage to get away with it. The competition will be fierce: players can use fists, pistols, coconuts, bear traps, bombs, and more… The game is set for release in 2025, but the demo version is already available on VK Play.

Industrialize a mystery planet

In the construction sim Factorio, you take on the role of an engineer, stranded on a foreign planet following a shipwreck. To return home, you’ll need to build a new rocketship – but you’ll need to build a whole factory to do that. This includes setting up complex production chains, studying technologies, and optimizing processes. Starting with mining, the player gets to gradually improve their production with conveyor belts, robots, and all sorts of gadgetry. You’ll need to protect your base from local fauna, as well. The game includes a co-op mode, so you can build awe-inspiring industrial complexes with your friends.