Galicians fighting for survival in space, stalkers exploring the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone, Cossacks waging wars, and forest spirits gathering herbs for tea—these are just a few of the captivating worlds found in Ukrainian video games.
Yellow Blue has curated a selection of 30 titles across multiple genres, ranging from massive RPGs and strategy games to horrors, detective mysteries, puzzles, and immersive simulators. Each of these games has earned high praise from both critics and the Steam community.
First-person shooters
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series
Overview. A post-apocalyptic first-person shooter blending role-playing and survival horror elements. The game is set in an alternate version of the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone, where a second catastrophic disaster in 2006 triggered a massive release of radiation, spawning countless deadly anomalies and mutants.
The iconic series was developed by GSC Game World, with the first installment, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Shadow of Chernobyl, debuting back in 2007. Players step into the shoes of the Marked One—an amnesiac stalker taking on contracts from other explorers in the Zone while piecing together his lost identity and past. Its sequels, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Clear Sky and S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat, put players in the roles of veteran mercenary Scar and SBU agent Major Degtyarev, respectively. Both titles deeply expand the lore of the Zone and flesh out the intricate dynamics of its warring factions.
In 2024, the highly anticipated S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl revitalized the franchise. Players return to the Zone as a new protagonist, the stalker Skif. The game introduces a massive, seamless open world and a deeply reactive storyline heavily shaped by player choices. The journey expanded further in August 2026 when GSC Game World dropped the first major DLC, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Cost of Hope, which plunges players into a bitter conflict between two local factions.
Why it’s worth playing. The unparalleled, oppressive atmosphere of the Zone, gripping quests, deeply charismatic characters, and a branching narrative with multiple endings completely driven by the consequences of your choices.
The Sinking City
Overview. A third-person, open-world detective adventure infused with survival horror elements, developed by Frogwares in 2019. The narrative draws deep inspiration from the cosmic horror of H.P. Lovecraft.
The game is set in the 1920s in Oakmont—a fictional, half-submerged city gripped by supernatural forces and creeping mass hysteria following a catastrophic flood. Players take on the role of a private investigator tasked with unraveling the disturbing truth behind the city’s affliction.
In 2026, Frogwares launched the highly anticipated sequel, which critics are already hailing as one of the year’s standout horror titles. The new installment shifts to the iconic fictional town of Arkham, now swallowed by a mysterious deluge. When sinister forces possess Fay, the beloved of protagonist Calvin, he must venture into the very heart of the flood to save her.
Why it’s worth playing. A sprawling open world, a deeply oppressive Lovecraftian atmosphere, engaging puzzles, and truly non-linear investigations. Every case offers multiple methods of deduction, leading to a climax shaped entirely by the player’s choices.
- Buy The Sinking City and The Sinking City 2
Metro franchise
Overview. A post-apocalyptic first-person shooter with strong survival horror elements. Developed by 4A Games, the inaugural title of the franchise launched in 2010. In this grim timeline, a nuclear holocaust has decimated humanity, rendering the Earth’s surface a toxic wasteland. The remnants of mankind were forced underground to forge a fragile new civilization.
Set in the year 2033, players follow Artyom, a young man raised in the dark depths of the Moscow metro system, as he uncovers a terrifying impending threat. To warn the rest of the survivors, he must navigate a treacherous labyrinth of tunnels, battling both grotesque mutants and desperate, hostile human factions.
The gripping narrative continues in Metro: Last Light and Metro Exodus. Fans can also look forward to a brand-new installment, METRO 2039, slated for release in 2027.
Why it’s worth playing. A meticulously crafted post-apocalyptic setting, a deeply unsettling atmosphere, and a reactive narrative where your moral choices and combat actions directly dictate the final outcome.
AI Olympius
Overview. A futuristic third-person shooter blending deep RPG mechanics with base building. In a world overrun by a rogue artificial intelligence, humanity’s bravest have forged a fierce resistance movement to fight back.
Currently in Early Access, the game already boasts 30 story-driven missions offering around 35 hours of gameplay. Players deploy to diverse locations across the globe to complete tactical objectives and scavenge vital resources. These materials feed into a deep progression system—allowing you to level up your character, upgrade your arsenal, and expand your own private island stronghold.
Dive into the action solo or team up with a friend via online or local split-screen co-op. The upcoming 1.0 release promises even more story missions, fresh enemy archetypes, and uncharted locations.
Why it’s worth playing. A visually striking collision of cyberpunk aesthetics and ancient architecture. The game offers realistic weapon and vehicle handling, extensive skill trees, and the total freedom to craft custom loadouts.
Horror games
Dread Fields
Overview. A first-person indie horror game steeped in the nostalgic aesthetics of a 1990s and early 2000s Ukrainian village. Burnt out from big-city life, the protagonist relocates to a remote rural settlement seeking peace. By day, the gameplay revolves around mundane chores like tending to the garden and caring for livestock. But as night falls, players begin unearthing the dark secrets of the property’s former owner—horrors that literally claw their way out of the earth. The conclusion of this grim story is entirely shaped by the player’s actions.
Why it’s worth playing. Retro-inspired visuals echoing the mid-2000s era, a highly authentic Ukrainian village setting, and a brilliant juxtaposition of peaceful farming simulation with spine-chilling horror.
Last Pirates: Die Together
Overview. A first-person online co-op horror game for up to four players. Taking on the roles of loyal pirates, players set out on a perilous treasure hunt for their captain, crossing paths with deadly monsters along the way. However, surviving these encounters is heavily complicated by the game’s intentionally awkward mechanics—controlling your pirate is a hilarious challenge thanks to their comically flexible, physics-based arms.
Currently in Early Access, the game already offers plenty of fun, with upcoming updates promising to introduce brand-new locations, enemy types, weapons, loot, and extensive character customization options.
Why it’s worth playing. Hilariously chaotic gameplay, quirky characters, and a diverse cast of bizarre monsters to face off against.
BIGFOOT
Overview. A tense, first-person survival horror game. Players take on the role of a hunter driven to prove the existence of the legendary Bigfoot. He succeeds, but quickly discovers the mythical beast is relentlessly bloodthirsty, leaving him with almost no chance of surviving a direct encounter. To stay alive, players must rely entirely on their wits and makeshift tools.
Currently in Early Access, the game features several dynamic modes. You can brave the wilderness solo or team up with friends in co-op against an unpredictable, AI-controlled Bigfoot. Alternatively, you can dive into asymmetrical multiplayer by stepping into the role of the beast itself to hunt down the human players. The development team frequently updates the title, consistently rolling out fresh mechanics and content.
Why it’s worth playing. Versatile multiplayer modes, a genuinely terrifying atmosphere, and a wide variety of creative ways to fend off Bigfoot—or meet a grisly end.
Detective mysteries, adventure games, and visual novels
Sherlock Holmes series
Overview. A celebrated franchise comprising four detective adventure games and five DLCs, developed by Frogwares. Players step into the shoes of the greatest detective of all time—Sherlock Holmes. Throughout the series, he solves grisly murders, unravels perplexing cases bordering on the supernatural, and even uncovers the dark truths behind his own mother’s tragic demise.
Why it’s worth playing. A masterful blend of psychological thriller and classic mystery, featuring engaging puzzles and deeply rewarding investigative mechanics.
Hollow Home
Overview. A narrative-driven experience set against the backdrop of the Russo-Ukrainian war and deeply grounded in the real-life testimonies of Ukrainians. The game is set in Mariupol, depicting a city under siege and being methodically devastated by Russian airstrikes. Players follow 14-year-old Maksym, who is forced to grow up fast as he learns to survive the brutal realities of war. Survival relies on desperately scarce resources, and the game’s world dynamically shifts based on the weight of the player’s choices. A playable demo is currently available, with the full release slated for late 2026.
Why it’s worth playing. Classic RPG mechanics, branching questlines, and a heartbreaking narrative firmly rooted in real, documented accounts of Russian war crimes.
Kill Ralph
Overview. A choice-driven visual novel featuring heavily branching dialogue. Set in a fictional realm in medieval Eastern Europe, players take on the role of a ruthless local bounty hunter willing to do whatever it takes for coin. Tasked with tracking down the dangerous outlaw Ralph Devor, you must manipulate, lie, and ultimately betray your fragile alliances to secure your bounty.
Why it’s worth playing. Stunning hand-drawn artwork, a cast of deeply charismatic characters with robust romance options, plenty of dark humor, and ten distinct alternative endings.
Cradle
Overview. A first-person sci-fi adventure game. In the year 2076, the protagonist mysteriously awakens in a yurt in the middle of the vast Mongolian steppe alongside his android companion. Players must gather resources to restore her mechanical body, teaming up to unravel the dark secrets of an abandoned amusement park looming nearby.
Why it’s worth playing. A brilliantly crafted narrative filled with unexpected plot twists, a vibrant and meticulously detailed world, and the freedom to spend hours exploring the sprawling Mongolian landscapes.
Detective Inna Duke
Overview. A noir visual novel following Lieutenant Inna Duke and her partner Arkadiy Dykyi as they investigate the mysterious kidnapping of popular streamer Oleh Khomiakov. Players will explore the streets of Kyiv, search crime scenes, analyze clues, and tail suspects, all while slowly uncovering the enigmatic secrets of the protagonists' own pasts.
Why it’s worth playing. Engaging puzzles, a gripping narrative, striking visuals, and a finale completely shaped by your choices. It is also an accessible, family-friendly experience that can be enjoyed with children.
Point-and-click puzzles
Tukoni: Forest Keepers
Overview. It’s a wholesome and cozy point-and-click puzzle game. Players follow the wandering forest spirit Tukoni as he explores an enchanted forest, solving engaging puzzles to help his friends prepare for the coming winter. Along the way, he gathers fresh herbs to brew delicious tea, which he loves to sip on his own or share with his woodland companions.
Why it’s worth playing. Charming puzzles, a deeply comforting autumnal vibe, and enchanting hand-drawn artwork by author and illustrator Oksana Bula.
Dark Grim Mariupolis
Overview. A detective adventure blending elements of noir, ancient Greek mythology, and mysticism. Players step into the shoes of Thor, a freelance detective investigating a murder in ancient Mariupolis—a quirky town entirely run by robots. To crack the case, he must rely on a rather unconventional toolkit: vivid hallucinations, mystical dreams, and local folklore.
Why it’s worth playing. Stylish 2D artwork, a compelling detective mystery, and a delightfully sarcastic protagonist who never stops complaining about his life, his job, and just about everything else under the sun.
AntVentor
Overview. An adventure game where players experience the world entirely from an ant’s perspective, turning an ordinary forest into a vast, meticulously detailed ecosystem. The protagonist is Florantin, an inventive ant whose perfectly structured life is accidentally upended by the player. Now, he must set things right while helping Florantin achieve his ultimate dream: seeing the world beyond the anthill.
Why it’s worth playing. A captivating story featuring characters who occasionally break the fourth wall to address the player directly, paired with stunning animation, plenty of comedic moments, and accessible, lighthearted puzzles.
Boxville
Overview. A puzzle game about two friends—a blue tin can and his dog, also a tin can, living in a city built from cardboard boxes. Their idyllic life is upended by an earthquake, separating the protagonist from his pet. He sets out on a journey to find the dog, but navigating the damaged city is no easy task. Along the way, he must solve numerous puzzles and help fellow residents who are also in trouble.
The first Boxville game launched in 2022, followed by its sequel in 2025. The second installment shifts focus to two new tin cans who are separated by a catastrophe of their own making.
Why it’s worth playing. A picturesque and cozy world, gorgeous animation, and dozens of challenging, intricate puzzles and minigames.
Shapik
Overview. A series of two indie adventure games. In the first title, Shapik: The Moon Quest, players journey through a mysterious, neon-lit world following a nuclear war. Its prequel, Shapik: The Quest, shifts focus to a forest dweller on a desperate search for his missing sister. To explore these environments and progress through the narrative, players must solve dozens of clever puzzles.
Why it’s worth playing. Meticulously crafted animation, a deeply atmospheric world whose lore unfolds naturally as the characters journey through it, and an engaging array of puzzles and minigames.
Fox Tail
Overview. A retro-style adventure game heavily inspired by 1990s classics. Players follow a young fox named Leah as she sets off on a journey to find medicine for her ailing grandmother. Along the way, she explores picturesque landscapes, helps whimsical creatures, and gradually uncovers the mystical past of her grandfather. Although the game is still in development, four out of the eight planned chapters are already available to play.
Why it’s worth playing. Nostalgic old-school charm, gorgeous pixel art, and challenging puzzles that offer multiple ways to solve them. Fox Tail also makes for a wonderful, family-friendly experience that can be enjoyed together with children.
Strategies and city builders
Ostriv
Overview. A city-building simulation game where players govern a fictional 18th-century Ukrainian town. Ostriv offers a variety of development paths: you can focus on agriculture or livestock, or build an economy centered around resource trading. Success requires careful resource management and a realistic assessment of your workforce to avoid crippling debt and population loss.
Currently in Early Access, the game will expand significantly upon its full release. Planned additions include a narrative campaign and deep new mechanics—such as extended production chains, refined trade systems, realistic citizen behaviors including crime, alongside fresh maps, buildings, and decorative assets.
Why it’s worth playing. A deeply challenging economic simulation that demands a balanced approach to urban development and rigorous winter preparation. One of Ostriv’s standout features is its grid-free building system, allowing you to design organic, historically authentic towns that look and feel entirely real.
Becastled
Overview. A blend of city builder and strategy game. The Solar Kingdom thrived until one fateful night when it was ambushed by moon monsters. Ever since, the resilient citizens have spent every night fending off increasingly brutal attacks.
By day, players focus on expanding the city, constructing defenses, training troops, optimizing resource extraction, and keeping the populace happy. By night, you take direct command of your army to repel the invading hordes.
Why it’s worth playing. Gorgeous visuals and two distinct gameplay modes: a classic campaign featuring eight difficulty tiers for enemy raids, and a sandbox mode that lets you build and expand your city completely uninterrupted by combat.
Cliff Empire
Overview. A post-apocalyptic city-builder. Following a nuclear conflict, a toxic radioactive fog blanketed the Earth, rendering the surface uninhabitable. The remnants of humanity retreated to an orbital space station. However, scientists anticipated the catastrophe decades in advance, constructing reserve settlements hidden in the mountains where brave pioneers are now working to reclaim the planet.
Players simultaneously manage the economies of multiple settlements, establish trade routes between them, and constantly weigh eco-friendly construction against environmentally harmful methods. Over time, you unlock new locations and building types while learning to adapt to harsh, volatile climate shifts.
Why it’s worth playing. A stylish architectural blend of futuristic and classical aesthetics paired with a deeply intricate economy. A standout gameplay feature is the severely restricted building space, which adds an intense layer of challenge to rebuilding civilization.
Farlanders
Overview. A retro strategy game where players build and manage a colony on Mars. Your mission involves terraforming the planet’s surface to make it habitable for humanity while constructing residential districts and industrial factories. Expansion isn’t limited to the surface alone, as players can also tunnel deep underground to build subterranean networks.
Why it’s worth playing. Nostalgic old-school graphics paired with engaging, deep city-building mechanics. Every new playthrough starts on a completely unique procedurally generated map, with a dynamic pool of available buildings, tools, and unpredictable weather conditions that keep every run fresh.
Railroad Corporation
Overview. A franchise comprising two games and seven DLCs. Players step into the boots of a pioneer building a sprawling railway empire across 19th-century North America. Racing against fierce competitors, you must connect growing cities, expand trade networks, research cutting-edge steam locomotives, and even lobby politicians to bend the laws in your favor.
The first installment launched in 2019, followed by the sequel in 2026. Set at the dawn of the 20th century as electric and diesel engines begin to gradually phase out steam power, the new title introduces major mechanics. Players can upgrade aging tracks, lay down electrified railways, research advanced locomotive and electric engine models, and configure block signals to optimize rail traffic.
Why it’s worth playing. Stunning, realistic graphics, a deeply challenging and intricate economy, engaging quests, and a narrative rooted in historical events. The core titles are further expanded by story-driven DLCs featuring unique campaigns, such as navigating the chaos of the American Civil War.
Action and Combat Games: RPGs, RTS, and Shooters
Cossacks
Overview. A trilogy of classic real-time strategy games accompanied by seven DLCs, developed by GSC Game World. Players command massive armies of Cossacks—legendary Ukrainian warriors who served as mercenaries across European militaries—alongside units from 19 other distinct nations, each boasting unique traits and tech trees.
Leading these forces through five historical campaigns, players recreate major battles that shaped 17th- and 18th-century Europe. Simultaneously, you must establish and expand your own Cossack stronghold—the Sich—by gathering resources, researching technologies, and constructing buildings.
Cossacks 3, the third main installment, is further expanded by six story-driven DLCs. Beyond the campaigns, players can test their tactical mettle in multiplayer matches supporting up to eight participants per map, engaging in free-for-all warfare or forming alliances to battle formidable AI opponents.
Why it’s worth playing. Massive real-time battles, refined combat mechanics, timeless graphics, thrilling historical campaigns, and a diverse suite of game modes.
Bosorka
Overview. A top-down 3D action roguelike. The story follows a young witch who accidentally botches a spell while working with a magical tome, causing the book to escape and relentlessly summon monsters. Players take flight on a broomstick, navigating multi-layered dungeon levels and blasting hordes of creatures using powerful spells.
Why it’s worth playing. Stylish, fairytale-inspired animation steeped in Ukrainian mythology, featuring charming characters and gorgeous environments. The game utilizes procedural generation to deliver uniquely randomized levels and varied monster encounters with every playthrough.
Titans of the Past
Overview. A first-person RPG heavily inspired by the mechanics of 1990s cult classic role-playing games. Players step into the boots of an Adventurer delving deep into treacherous dungeons, battling monsters, and uncovering legendary gear and hidden treasures.
Characters are fully customizable, allowing you to tailor their skills and equipment to your preferred playstyle. Combat features a tactical pause system, giving you time to analyze the battlefield and carefully plan your next move. All dungeons are meticulously handcrafted, while enemy spawns, loot drops, and environmental details are dynamically randomized with every run.
Why it’s worth playing. A love letter to fans of hard-boiled old-school RPGs, offering deep combat mechanics and a wide selection of fantasy character races to choose from.
SAND: Raiders of Sophie
Overview. A multiplayer extraction shooter set in a gritty “Galician steampunk” universe. The game takes place in an alternate 19th-century Europe where humanity harnessed radical new energy sources and rapidly expanded into space. Spearheaded by the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the colonization of other worlds offered Galicians a massive share of the planet Sofia—on the condition that they conquer and settle it.
Though the Galicians fulfilled their end of the bargain, a catastrophic event reduced Sofia to a desolate wasteland. Now, the most daring scavengers illegally slip away to the planet to right a historical wrong and claim what they believe is rightfully theirs.
In SAND, players team up in squads, battling rival crews for precious resources and lost treasures. Traverse the hostile terrain aboard massive tramplers—colossal, heavily armed mobile bases that can be customized, upgraded, and decorated to your squad’s exact specifications.
Currently available in an early version, the game will expand significantly upon its full release. The developers plan to introduce more weaponry, deeper trampler customization options, new locations, survival mechanics, environmental hazards, graphical upgrades, and continuous improvements driven by community feedback.
Why it’s worth playing. Seamless co-op gameplay with friends, a striking and original lore-rich world, diverse combat mechanics, and near-limitless ways to build and personalize your ultimate mobile base.
Platformers and simulators
Through the Nightmares
Overview. A platformer centered around the Sandman—a spirit who brings sweet dreams to humanity. The story kicks off when Morpheus, the god of dreams, twists children’s slumber into inescapable nightmares, forcing the Sandman to step in and save them. The game features 45 levels spread across six eerie environments that personify common childhood fears.
To defeat Morpheus and rescue the children, players must dash and leap through hazardous stages while utilizing a unique suite of abilities: altering your size, smashing through obstacles with a heavy strike, and triggering custom respawns.
Why it’s worth playing. A punishingly difficult platformer that will test the mettle of even seasoned veterans of the genre. Atmospheric visuals and a haunting score are paired with a standout mechanic that lets you place custom checkpoints and resurrect wherever you see fit.
Fishing Planet
Overview. A realistic first-person online fishing simulator featuring competitive multiplayer gameplay. The base game and starter equipment are completely free-to-play, with optional paid DLCs introducing new gear and sprawling fishing locations.
Players can navigate waters by boat to catch over 300 species of fish featuring lifelike behaviors. Powered by a sophisticated AI system, fish react dynamically to environmental variables such as time of day, water currents, and air or water temperatures. Daily missions offer opportunities to earn in-game currency and leaderboard points to climb the competitive ranks against other anglers.
Why it’s worth playing. Deeply realistic fishing mechanics paired with thousands of tackle and bait combinations. Explore stunning, atmospheric waterways featuring diverse climates, unique landscapes, and dynamically changing weather.
Remote Reaper: FPV Combat Drone Simulator
Overview. A combat FPV drone flight simulator developed in direct collaboration with Ukrainian military pilots. Missions are grounded in authentic combat experience—players must skillfully pilot their drones, bypass diverse forms of enemy electronic warfare, and strike precisely at vehicle weak points. Drones can be thoroughly upgraded and customized, and missions can be tackled cooperatively online with other players.
Currently in development yet already available to play, the game is set to expand with upcoming updates introducing new missions, maps, and mechanics.
Why it’s worth playing. A rigorously realistic simulator that delivers an experience as close to operating a real combat drone as possible, featuring punishing missions and obstacles that demand absolute precision and skill.
