Summary
- Releasing games into Early Access helps indie developers fund projects and gather player feedback.
- Some Early Access games, like Palworld and Ultrakill, offer unique and exciting gameplay experiences.
- Project Zomboid is a prime example of a long-term Early Access game that continues to receive updates and provide enjoyment.
Sometimes a game is just about complete, but requires a little more work to get it over the finish line. That's why releasing a game into Steam Early Access is a great idea for many indie developers. It allows them to earn more money to fund their projects, and those who choose to play the title can provide feedback and report bugs.
Schedule 1: Best Items To Buy As Soon As Possible
For those looking to make the most of Schedule 1's early-game, here are some of the best items to buy as soon as possible.
Despite not being complete products, some of these games are already fantastic experiences that only require a few adjustments to hit 1.0 status. These next titles are a prime example of this, as they demonstrate the kind of high-quality games that come from the Early Access process, even when they haven't been officially released yet.
8 Palworld
Semi-Automatic Pokemon
Palworld
- Released
- January 19, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Violence
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Shooter, Survival
- Early Access Release Date: January 19, 2024
The world of Pokemon is incredibly family-friendly despite its dark premise of magical animals fighting each other. Since it's a Nintendo franchise, there is little to no chance of the series veering in a more adult direction. That's why Palworld made such a splash when it released into Early Access in 2024. It allows players to capture legally distinct Pokemon-esque creatures called "Pals" while armed with automatic weapons.
While the "Pokemon with guns" premise of Palworld is what got it attention, the game itself is more of a base-building survival game. While captured Pals can engage in traditional Pokemon-like battles, their main purpose is to perform various acts of servitude. This includes farming, producing resources, operating machines, and other functions. As if forcing adorable monsters to work wasn't messed up enough, players can also use them as a source of food. It's a fun game, but it sure does raise some disturbing questions.
7 Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor
Rock And Stone!
Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor
- Released
- September 17, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Teen / Violence, Blood, Use of Tobacco, Drug Reference, Mild Language
- Genre(s)
- Shoot 'em Up, Roguelike, Action
- Early Access Release Date: February 14, 2024
This spin-off game differs heavily from the game it is based on. Both games are about shooting alien bugs and mining rare materials, but while Deep Rock Galactic is a four-player co-op FPS, Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor is a single-player auto-shooter similar to Vampire Survivors.
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Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor offers up one of the best takes on the auto-shooter genre. Even in the early stages of development, this title gives players tons of content. Several weapons, upgrades, challenges, and levels are already available in the game, with more to come from future updates. That's a whole lot of rock and stone to bring back home.
6 Ultrakill
Puts The Boom In Boomer Shooter
Ultrakill
- Released
- September 3, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- FPS
- Early Access Release Date: September 3, 2020
The boomer shooter genre is an entire category of games for players who pine for the days of classic FPS titles like the original DOOM and Wolfenstein. However, as Ultrakill proves, these titles can be modernized while retaining their frenetic, fast-paced tests of endurance and skill .
This FPS puts players in the role of a robot powered by blood in a world where humanity has gone extinct. As if that wasn't metal enough, the supply of blood has dwindled to the point that the only way to get more is to dive deep into the depths of Hell. Ultrakill's high-octane gameplay is almost perfect, even though the game is still unfinished. It will no doubt be regarded as one of the premier boomer shooters once it officially releases.
5 Abiotic Factor
It's Not Half-Life 3, But It'll Do
Abiotic Factor
- Released
- July 22, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Early Access Release Date: May 2, 2024
The wait for Half-Life 3 has been excruciating. While rumors persist about its existence, it can be difficult to believe any of them. This is a shame since fans would love to return to the world that Valve built and finally get some closure to Gordon Freeman's story. If players want something that resembles a Half-Life game, Abiotic Factor may scratch that itch.
This Early Access title is essentially a spiritual successor to the Half-Life series. It has players take on the role of a new scientist working for a top-secret, Black Mesa-like research facility. Predictably, things go horribly wrong. Now, the player and up to 5 other friends will need to scrounge up supplies to craft items, weapons, and other important tools to survive against the monsters lurking around. It's not going to answer any of the questions that Half-Life fans want answered, but it's as close as anyone is going to get for now.
4 R.E.P.O.
Lethally Funny Company
R.E.P.O.
- Released
- February 26, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Early Access Release Date: February 26, 2025
Games like Lethal Company and Phasmophobia have demonstrated that horror games can become the funniest games around by adding the ability to play with friends. REPO cranks up the hilarity by having players take the form of googly-eyed robots.
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For those who love their time with R.E.P.O., these great co-op horror games deliver similar but distinct cooperative experiences.
The game itself is inspired by similar titles like Lethal Company, with players entering buildings and trying to locate valuable items to salvage for loads of cash. Of course, it's not an easy job, since each location is inhabited by monsters that will try to harm or at least annoy the robots and prevent them from doing their job. It's a simple premise, but the addition of funny-looking robots whose mouths move when players speak is the secret ingredient that makes REPO one of the most hysterical co-op experiences available right now.
3 Schedule 1
An Addictive Substance
Schedule I
- Developer(s)
- TVGS
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Simulation, Crime, Action, Management, Strategy
- Early Access Release Date: March 24, 2025
Simulation games have become quite popular on Steam. There are sims all about managing a supermarket, a trading card shop, and other mundane jobs that make for surprisingly fun experiences. Schedule 1 is similar to those sims, but the difference here is that players are simulating the work of a drug dealer looking to expand their narcotics empire.
What makes Schedule 1 different from many other simulation games is its scope. Players start out as small-time drug pushers, but over time their operations will expand with new properties to purchase, drugs to manufacture, and areas to explore. There's even a skateboard! It has become one of the biggest indie hits of 2025, which goes to show that being in Early Access doesn't restrict the success a game can find.
2 Hades 2
A Supergiant Sequel
Hades 2
- Released
- September 25, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Early Access Release Date: May 6, 2024
Hades 2 follows the story of Melinoe, the princess of the Underworld and the sister of Hades' protagonist, Zagreus. As with many sequels, the happy ending of the first Hades has been undone by a new antagonist, the Titan of Time, Chronos. It's up to Melinoe to try to beat this new foe and bring some semblance of peace back to the underworld.
Hades was one of the biggest Early Access success stories, and Hades 2 looks like it will be just as good. It's shaping up to be another fantastic action roguelike from Supergiant Games, with new bosses, boons, and areas, and a slew of gameplay improvements. The finished product will no doubt be a Game of the Year contender, but even in its current Early Access build, Hades 2 is one of the best games for roguelike fans.
1 Project Zomboid
Some Games Will Never Die
Project Zomboid
- Released
- November 8, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- Early Access Release Date: November 8, 2013
Games that release into Early Access are typically expected to be fully completed sometime in the not-so-distant future. However, there have been several cases of games that seemingly never leave Early Access and remain in continuous development for many years.
The prime example of this is Project Zomboid, an open-world, isometric, zombie survival game that's been in Early Access since November 2013. However, unlike many other long-term Early Access games, this one has not been abandoned. In fact, it just received an update back in April of 2025, adding new content and various bug fixes. If fans of the zombie apocalypse genre are looking for an in-depth zombie game about trying to survive in a world filled with the undead, Project Zomboid will provide hours of fun, even though it's technically not finished.
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Steam Early Access is a great way for indie games to expand their audience prior to a full release, something these open-world games succeeded in.