4 highlights from Kinetic Publishing's debut indie lineup
The studio behind Phasmophobia is funding a new slate of indie games, including a stressful space job simulator and a parasitic Metroidvania.
Kinetic Games struck gold in 2020 with Phasmophobia. The co-op ghost-hunting game sold over 27 million copies and allowed the studio to expand to over 40 employees. Now, founder Daniel Knight is using that capital to fund other independent developers. He launched Kinetic Publishing in January to provide the kind of financial and marketing backing he lacked when starting out.
Today, the company revealed its first slate of games during the Kinetic Publishing showcase. Kinetic Publishing actually revealed five games in its debut showcase lineup, though PlayStation highlighted the PS5 releases and all of these titles are multiplatform. They will launch across PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2. The lineup looks remarkably varied. Here are four highlights from the event.
1. Contact Protocol
Cold Zephyr Games is building a sci-fi starship job simulator scheduled for Spring 2027. You play as a security officer handling corporate admin aboard a mining vessel called the Pale Horse. Your job is to cross-reference administrative files and assess incoming ships to decide if they are hostile. If you make the wrong call, you might blow up an innocent crew or let a threat destroy your own ship. The developers say the cognitive load ramps up to force near-impossible decisions under pressure. I am curious how the game balances the mundane paperwork with the high stakes of space combat.
2. Crescent County
Electric Saint brings a witch-tech slice-of-life adventure in Summer 2027. Directed by Anna Hollinrake, the game blends parcel delivery with motorbroom street racing on the magical Isle of Mor. It has a distinct painterly open-world art style. The project already has a built-in audience after raising over 94,000 pounds on Kickstarter in 2025.
3. Shellbound
Fake Lobster Games is developing a 2D Metroidvania set entirely on the shell of a giant snail. You control a parasite that can possess different host creatures to navigate the environment. The terrain dynamically shifts based on the biology of the massive snail underneath you. It launches in Summer 2028.
4. Aether Wizard Life
Vonder Games is working on a town-building action-RPG slated for Fall 2028. You rebuild a magical settlement while fighting off threats in the surrounding areas. It is the furthest out on the release calendar, so gameplay details are still sparse.
It is always encouraging to see a breakout indie success turn into a funding source for smaller studios. Innersloth did something similar with the Outersloth fund earlier this year. Kinetic Publishing seems to be taking a hands-off creative approach while ensuring these games hit every major console.
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