Liminal areas and the “backrooms” have change into overused ideas on the web, with folks labeling any room or space that’s even barely off as some creepy house. It’s annoying and tiring. However I nonetheless like the concept of eerie, lifeless areas hidden in our world in locations like forgotten hallways and empty resort rooms. I additionally like fast-paced boomer shooters that really feel nice. So I’m a giant fan of the newly launched indie FPS Oddcore, which mashes all of these items up into one fashionable sport. Out now on Steam by way of early entry, Oddcore doesn’t have a lot setup. One second you’re hanging out in a room in your home, watching TV, earlier than you all of the sudden clip by means of actuality and enter a wierd multidimensional hubworld known as Oddcore that acts as a demented spin on a theme park. Form of. It’s all very, effectively, dare I say…odd! Although it’s unclear why you’ve ended up right here or what “right here” even means, it doesn’t actually matter a lot when you get previous the tutorial. All that issues is lasting so long as you possibly can as you hop between completely different liminal areas and unusual dimensions, killing all of the weird monsters you encounter alongside the best way with weapons, swords, particular talents, and far, way more.
What sort of sport is Oddcore? The fundamental loop in Oddcore entails you hopping into an area after which finishing an goal. It is likely to be to kill 10 enemies. Or gather seven unusual objects. Or to outlive a corruption ambush that sends lethal large faces at you. You recognize, the standard stuff. Survive, and also you hop to a brand new place and repeat. Killing enemies earns you souls, which will be spent to increase how a lot time you will have earlier than your run ends or to heal you by way of capturing your individual ft. Between each few worlds, there are merchandising machines that allow you to improve your gear or talents, and random containers that comprise power-ups and different helpful specials.
Survive lengthy sufficient, and also you’ll earn tokens which will be spent in numerous methods. I spent most of mine at a slot machine inside a big arcade within the hub world. That slot machine spit out tickets if I acquired fortunate, and I may use these to purchase different items of substances. There’s truly so much occurring in Oddcore, and after simply an hour or so of taking part in, I may really feel it begin to pull me into its internet. I wished to do only one extra run…earn just some extra tokens…play just a bit bit extra.
It additionally helps that Oddcore has primo aesthetics. It’s acquired that retro boomer shooter look I’ve come to anticipate from these sorts of video games in 2026, however augments that with monsters and places that appear misplaced. I like to recommend turning on the VHS filter because it covers all the unusual artwork and retro visuals in cozy scanlines that add to the expertise. However even with out the VHS filter, Oddcore is a rattling superb indie shooter that may hopefully solely get greater and higher because it makes its approach by means of early entry.
