First Break Labs Launches Three New Demos
First Break Labs’ upcoming slate of games is worth your attention.
Passionate indie publisher First Break Labs has released demos for three exciting upcoming games. I got to see a presentation of these games ahead of time, and they all look great. First Break Labs is bringing some great indie talent into the spotlight.
ILA: A Frosty Glide
ILA: A Frosty Glide is a cozy 3D platformer developed by Magic Rain Studios, a small team in Barcelona. It’s inspired by A Short Hike, among others. In the game, a young witch in training explores an island to search for her lost cat. A Frosty Glide features fun traversal mechanics involving ILA’s upgradable skate broom. Players can glide, dash, and stick the broom into walls to create platforms. Stardust charges hidden around the game’s world give players extra jumps to allow further flight.
The game takes place in a bounded open world with numerous paths. Each level is full of hidden chests, coins, secrets, and puzzles. ILA encourages exploration in a friendly way, not punishing players for missing jumps and the like.
ILA: A Frosty Glide is coming to PC, Xbox, PS5, and Nintendo Switch in Summer 2025.
Wishlist ILA: A Frosty Glide on Steam and check out the demo.
Particle Hearts
Developer Underwater Fire Games brings us Particle Hearts, a mysterious 3D puzzle platformer inspired by Ico and Shadow of the Colossus. As the title alludes, the entire world is made of particles. Players can use special abilities to manipulate the particles to solve puzzles and progress.
Underwater Fire Games is a small team of four based in Los Angeles. It is led by a former Call of Duty artist who wished to create a less violent game.
Particle Hearts gives players little handholding, encouraging them to explore and discover its world. It’s full of puzzle platforming challenges, many of them in small dungeons in the style of Breath of the Wild.
I’m very much into the game’s stunning visuals and vibe, and am looking forward to experiencing it when it’s released in Fall 2025 on PC, Xbox, PS5, and Nintendo Switch.
Wishlist Particle Hearts on Steam and check out the demo.
Baseless
Solo dev Andrew Armstrong’s (Fermenter Games) latest is a 2D platform arcade shooter with a single-player story campaign. Players shoot to move, propelling protagonist Caf in the opposite direction to hop from planet to planet with 360° gravity in the style of Super Mario Galaxy.
The game is structured around a hub world that expands as players finish levels. There are multiple weapon varieties; the player’s default weapon has unlimited ammo, but the secondary weapon controlled with the left controller trigger is limited. Shield mechanics and a melee combo add more spice to the combat. There’s a high skill ceiling, but Baseless features an assist mode for players who just wish to engage with the story.
I’m a fan of the colorful, minimalist graphics in this one. It’ll be available in Fall 2025 for PC, PS5, and Xbox.
Wishlist Baseless on Steam and check out the demo.
