In This Week in Gaming, we shed some light on some Early Access Gems worth your hard-earned cash. The Early Access category on Steam is a category for games still in early development stages (Alpha or beta state) considered in a playable state. So today, we will deep dive into Steam and find a few promising Early Access Gems!

20 Minutes till Dawn

The first title on our journey for Early Access Gems is 20 Minutes till Dawn by flanne, released into early access on June 8, 2022. It is an exciting combination of Action Roguelike and Top-down Bullet hell, where the game’s goal is to survive the night from a mounting horde of Lovecraftian-inspired monsters. The impressive enjoyment we’ve found during our time playing, the vastness and exciting combinations and intricacies of game mechanics, and a constant stream of new notable updates to the game make this a must-try for anyone that’s a fan of the genre.

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Brotato

Next on our list of Early Access Gems is Brotato by Blobfish, released into early access on September 27, 2022. Ever wanted to be a literal potato fighting off hordes of aliens? Well, in this Early Access Gem, you fight through waves of aliens as a potato wielding up to 6 weapons at a time in this exciting combination of top-down shooter and roguelike mechanics. The extensive selection of unique and powerful weapons to use and quirky potato characters to play makes us want to come back time after time to become the best potato possible.

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Vampire Survivors

Our final stop on our journey through the Steam Library is Vampire Survivors by poncle, released into early access on December 17, 2021. This Early Access Gem packs a punch with an exciting take on the Bullet hell genre and the immense amount of fun that, with the game’s various gameplay choices, allows you to snowball your power and truly become the Bullet Hell! In this top-down Bullet hell with rogue-lite elements, you flip the traditional script of the genre and become the Bullet hell to mow down thousands and thousands of the creatures of the night. With a vast array of unique weapons and characters that will make players want to overcome the hordes and survive another day.

Brandon Asher

Student Writer - Fall 2022

Brandon Asher is a student currently attending Gulf Coast State College, working towards his bachelor’s degree in Digital Media with a specialization in Web Development.