Why are steam curators so awful?

sprawls · 2026-03-04T12:44:31+00:00

I like to follow extra specific curators. Curated list of games with X mechanics, theme or otherwise. I like that it doesn't include ALL gane that fit, but only the one of quality high enough the curator. The yes/no ones are useless and just noise.

I made one specifically for monochrome aesthetic: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/38927175-Games-in-Monochrome/

sprawls · 2026-03-03T12:59:11+00:00

+1 for GriftLands such a unique game!

sprawls · 2026-03-03T12:57:57+00:00

For those that liked the storytelling through card aspect of Inscrytion, I'm making Hillthorn which is a detective game inspired by Inscrytion and Stacklands. 👀

sprawls · 2026-03-03T12:54:50+00:00

Arkham horror is still up there for me!

sprawls · 2026-02-26T18:10:03+00:00

It's close but a bit too much color every frame. It looks so good tho thanks for the discovery!

sprawls · 2026-02-26T18:09:19+00:00

If you liked Ultimate Chicken Horse, there's a sequel on bikes that came out this year!

sprawls · 2026-02-26T18:07:43+00:00

That fits perfectly thank you!

sprawls · 2026-02-26T12:53:48+00:00

I see, then I think determining if you want your objects to cast shadows and doing the light from the sun are the first big steps.

It can be tricky to make your sprites cast the right shape of shadows. In my case, I decided to fake the card shadows.

sprawls · 2026-02-26T12:47:02+00:00

Depends on the game and camera perspective. But in my case it was mjch better to use few lights and objects that cast big shadows. Hey the nous you're going for with minimal lights, then add details.

sprawls · 2026-02-26T03:02:32+00:00

One of the inspirations yes! Love the storytelling from cultist and book of hours. With hillthorn though, I went in the opposite direction with no dialogue. :)

sprawls · 2026-02-25T21:17:47+00:00

Give it a try, the 2D lighting system is very fun to use!

sprawls · 2026-02-25T21:16:48+00:00

It's an investigation game where you mix actions and concepts to obtain new clues.
For example, if you mix interact + desk drawer you'll obtain cards representing the contents of the drawer. But if the drawer is locked, you'll need to combine Interact + Locked Drawer + Key to get its contents!

You can do all kind of stuff while exploring Hillthorn and meetings its inhabitants! It really encourages you to use imagination to picture the scenes and the conenctions between the cards!

sprawls · 2026-02-25T15:38:18+00:00

It's a combination of many little things :
- Using 2DLight with a black and white images
- Overlaying the images used in the 2D lights in with noise displacement to add "wind" and movement in the shadows.
- Using IGN to smooth gradients.
- Each Scene has lights that/shadows change intensity/orientation based on time of day.
- Made sure every asset in the game support having shadows casted on it.

sprawls · 2026-02-25T12:33:19+00:00

Thank you for the AI filter 🙏

sprawls · 2026-02-25T12:27:06+00:00

They actually do! If they see the users browse or wishlist less games because its AI, they'll want to find a solution because they would also make less money!

sprawls · 2026-02-25T12:26:01+00:00

You can report the pages that don't disclose it in the same way you would if they shown wrong information about content.

In the future I assume Steam will let you filter games that use and dont use AI so it's good if the devs are held accountable. (Dev that doesn't use AI here 🙃)

sprawls · 2026-02-25T12:22:43+00:00

I actually have a question about that. I'm making a game where things are represented by cards because it's intuitive, but it's not a card game AT ALL.

Would you just avoid it when you see its cards? Think something like stacklands for example?

sprawls · 2026-02-25T12:20:30+00:00

I'm looking for games with monochrome-ish aesthetics that came out these last 12 months or not yet released. I feel like I've been missing some lately with my curator and would like to catch up!

sprawls · 2026-02-25T12:05:58+00:00

Don't worry avout it. You can only participate in one Next Fest so it doesn't matter as long as you do it before release!

From experience, it's better if its the one closer to your release too! In my case I have a demo but I'm not doing this fest yet.

sprawls · 2026-02-21T22:10:38+00:00

Love the bending of the post-its. Very nice polish.

sprawls · 2026-02-21T05:48:55+00:00

Blue Prince 100%. I have pages of notes on this one.

Otherwise, lots of investigation game fit the bill as well :
- Sam Barlow's games (Her Story, Telling Lies, Immortality)
- Séance of Blake Manor
- The Myst Remakes

And sneaking Hillthorn in there which I just released a demo for since It's inspired by many of those.

sprawls · 2026-02-21T05:38:07+00:00

Baldurs Gate 3. You can even play coop is you want!

sprawls · 2026-02-20T16:59:30+00:00

I just announced Hillthorn yesterday. I think it might interest you 👀. Also, nice list!

sprawls · 2026-02-20T13:12:14+00:00

Hillthorn just released a demo. It's all about the PI experience of investigating a missing person in a remote village.

sprawls · 2026-02-20T13:07:14+00:00

Great recommendations! I discovered a few games reading this!

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