Ball Retrieval Simulator, also known as Ball Collecting Simulator, launched on Steam on August 31, 2026, with Czech language support added for a single wishlist user. The game depicts the oppressive hierarchy of a Japanese high school baseball club.
Ball Retrieval Simulator, the debut title from solo developer EBA GAME, launched on Steam on August 31, 2026. The first-person exploration game casts the player as a new member of a Japanese high school baseball club, ordered by seniors to retrieve scattered balls after practice. The only response the player can give to commands is "Yes." The game is based on the developer's real experiences and those of people around them, depicting the oppression and unreasonable hierarchy of that environment.
The game gained international attention before launch when developer Eba discovered a single wishlist registration from the Czech Republic and decided to add Czech localization for that one person. The decision drew volunteer cooperation, including help from Czech national team pitcher Ondrej Satria, who appears in the game through audio and photo compositing. Professional Czech voice acting was also planned. The related social media post surpassed 110,000 likes and 2.22 million views, and Steam wishlist registrations surged from about 350 to over 6,500, with more than 2,000 coming from the Czech Republic.
The game is priced at 700 yen, available at a 30% launch discount for 490 yen until September 14. Players can carry over surplus balls found beyond the required number, and the game over screen shows "YOU DIED" alongside a baseball-related message.
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At Tokyo Game Show 2026, Czech developer SCS Software is exhibiting at the Neon Noroshi booth with a playable PS5 build of Euro Truck Simulator 2, the studio's first full exhibit at an Asian event. Attendees can try pre-release builds of the Iceland and Coaches DLC for ETS2 and the British Columbia and South Dakota DLC for American Truck Simulator. The Coaches DLC adds long-distance passenger buses.
The Farm 51, the studio behind Chernobylite, announced Rescue Drone Simulator: Second Chance, a rescue drone sim for PC, PS5 and Xbox. Players join a new crisis response unit, piloting four drone types: rescue, firefighting, police and anti-drone. A workshop lets players build drones from parts. The campaign spans 20 missions across five maps, with free play, arcade and simulator control styles, and first- or third-person views.
DRAGO entertainment announced on September 16 that Roadhouse Simulator will release on September 21, with the Japanese release falling on September 22 because of time zone differences. The PC game for Steam and GOG.com is a management sim set in the same world as Gas Station Simulator, following a bouncer at a run-down roadhouse on U.S. Route 66 who works up to running the whole business. A Steam demo is available now.
Wild Dog announced on September 16 that its ramen shop management simulator Japanese Ramen Simulator will enter Steam Early Access on September 28 at 9:00, with support for up to six players in online co-op. The game is set in a shop that players design themselves, from layout and noren curtains down to noodle-draining motions. Work runs from stocking ingredients through cooking, serving, and cleaning up, with soup built from scratch and plating resolved by physics simulation so no two bowls match. Random trouble interrupts service: critics demand extra umami, thieves attack the register, and fires break out. Players can counter with shuriken or fire extinguishers, or hire NPC part-time staff and run the shop solo. Shops have levels that unlock new ingredients and equipment. The Early Access period is planned to run about six months, and the asking price will rise in stages as content is added.
FuturLab and Mattel announced the Barbie Pack for PowerWash Simulator 2 on September 15, with a trailer. The DLC adds five jobs based on Barbie playsets, including the Dream Camper and the Barbie Dreamhouse, plus Barbie-themed pressure washers and characters. It is scheduled for the second half of 2026 on Nintendo Switch 2, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, priced at 880 yen, or 890 yen on the Microsoft Store.
OPNeon Games released version 1.0 of TCG Card Shop Simulator on September 15, ending roughly two years in early access. The card shop management sim is available on PC through Steam and the Microsoft Store, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One, and it is on Xbox and PC Game Pass. On Steam it costs 2,600 yen, with a 15% release sale price of 2,210 yen running until September 29. The full version adds a playable card game mode called Tetramon TCG, the Ascension card pack, and 1,452 new cards, bringing the collectible total from 2,714 to 4,436. Sellable products rose from 77 types to 111, furniture from 21 types to 43, and the update adds 273 decoration options and 55 posters from a community art contest. Concurrent Steam players climbed from around 3,000 before launch to 7,350 afterward.
Studio Bitdot's Needle In A Haystack Simulator, a hidden-object game about finding one needle in 5 million strands of hay with up to 8 players, went viral on August 22 after developer Nas posted a video to X that drew roughly 54 million impressions. The game is set for Q4 2026 on PC via Steam. At least 7 similar titles with 'needle in a haystack' in their name have appeared, all retitled on or after August 22.
One More Time and Polnoch released Anime Shop Simulator for Windows on Steam, with Japanese support and four-player co-op. Players stock manga, figures, and trading cards, run the register, and open booster packs to build decks for card matches. At writing time it held a Mostly Positive rating with 75% of 167 reviews recommending it. It is 1,800 yen, discounted to 1,530 yen until September 26.
10ft Games released Ball Scratch Simulator for PC on Steam on September 11. Players scratch an itch without being noticed across six locations, including a school classroom, a job interview, and a presidential press briefing. The game supports up to four players plus bots, and VR. It costs 499 yen, with 15 percent off through September 25. Post-release updates will add maps and a story about the itch's origin.
Mind Creations renamed its SCP-inspired artifact investigation game from Anomaly Control Simulator to Anomaly Inspector Simulator. The change follows talks with Remedy Entertainment, whose CONTROL series inspired the game; CONTROL Resonant is set for September 24. In the game, the player is an employee of a secret bureau that manages anomalies and investigates objects that break the laws of physics, logic, and reality. It is planned for PC via Steam.
astragon Entertainment and Simteract released Bus Simulator 27 today for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S with Japanese support. The game combines bus operation management with realistic driving, letting players plan routes and expand a bus company, with cross-platform four-player co-op. It introduces long-distance buses for the series, set in Felicia Bay, a new region inspired by Spain and Portugal. The roster covers 13 manufacturers and more than 45 vehicles.
FuturLab, the developer behind PowerWash Simulator, has canceled an unannounced project that was in development for two to three years, and seven staff have left the company. CEO Kirsty Rigden confirmed the cancellation, saying the project was in preproduction and its costs would exceed expected revenue. The studio is now focusing on PowerWash Simulator 2 while continuing to prototype new games.
Solo developer Tamago Eggs announced on September 7 that Death Game Simulator, a party game that puts the player on the organizer side of a death game, will launch on Steam in September 2026. The game supports single-player and online PvP. Players design masks, alter their voices, and watch participants struggle through mini-games. Participants can fight back with chaotic cards that may even defeat the game master. Price is undecided.
SECOND DOOR will release The Can Stacking Simulator on Steam in September 2026. The first-person physics game has players grab, place, and stack empty cans of various shapes and sizes to build the tallest tower possible. There is no time limit, and slight tilts are fine as long as the tower does not collapse. Reaching certain heights levels the player up and unlocks new cans, scaffolds, and items. Wishlist registration is open.
PlayWay S.A. announced Thief Simulator 3: First Loot, a free prologue to the latest series entry, developed by Noble Muffins for PC (Steam) with Japanese display and subtitles. It covers the first mission and adds up to 4-player co-op, a feature new to the series. The prologue confirms the co-op support listed among improvements when the May demo was pulled. Noble Muffins, developer of the first Thief Simulator, returns after CookieDev handled the sequel.
Polden Publishing announced on September 4 that Studio Bitdot's Needle In A Haystack Simulator will support Japanese. The game literalizes the English idiom about a needle in a haystack: players sift through five million pieces of hay to find a single needle. Treasures found along the way can be sold for tools that expand search capacity. Online co-op is supported. The game launches on Steam in Q4 2026, with price undecided.
PlayWay S.A. announced on September 3 that Digital Melody's Zombie Wrap Simulator: Grill the Dead is in development. The first-person shop management sim is planned for PC via Steam with a 2027 release and Japanese language support. Players run the last kebab shop in a fallen world, collecting zombies to process into meat for kebabs, delivering meals by day, and defending the shop from Zomboners at night with barricades and stationary guns.
Releaseplay Studio confirmed online battles for SteelBlade Shop Simulator, its Beyblade-inspired shop management and spinning top battle game for PC (Steam), in a Reddit post that drew over 2,000 upvotes. Players run a SteelBlade toy shop in Japan, customize tops from three parts, sell them, and can battle themselves. A demo is planned for Steam Next Fest in October. Japanese is supported.
Skyhook Games announced Lawn Mowing Simulator 2 for September 23 on PC (Steam), PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. The sequel moves the series from the UK to America and adds a rebuilt blower system that can send tens of thousands of leaves flying at once. Japanese manufacturer Kubota joins the equipment roster alongside SCAG and STIGA. The grass system is revamped so cut and uncut turf read clearly at a glance. A demo is live on Steam.
Aerosoft and SWE Systems will bring the marine simulation game Professional Ship Simulator to Steam Early Access on September 16. The game lets players operate a range of vessels, from large cargo ships and cruise ships to small tugboats and rescue boats, with an advanced fluid dynamics model that makes wind, waves, currents, bank effects, and propulsion shape how each ship handles. Onboard systems are reproduced in detail, including radar with AIS/CPA tracking, sonar, navigation instruments, radio communication, and power generation and distribution. The open world covers two sea areas built on real geographic data, Rügen Island and the Dover Strait, with more than 40 ports, navigational markers, navigation lights, weather and day/night changes, wildlife, and AI ship traffic. Players take on tasks such as cargo transport, ferry operations, fishing, offshore logistics, towing support, buoy maintenance, rescue, and firefighting. The Early Access version includes the two sea areas, eight mission types, initial scenarios, and tutorials. Ships, missions, and scenarios will be added later, with mod support planned. A full release is expected around mid-2027.
4Gamer.net's Akane's Indie Pick Up column introduces Retro Rewind - Video Store Simulator, released on Steam on March 17, 2026. The first-person shop management game casts the player as a 1990s video rental store owner who handles returns, rewinds unrewound tapes, sets late fees, and orders stock by reading a calendar of rental events.
EBA GAME released the PC title Ball Retrieval Simulator on Steam on August 31, 2026. The first-person exploration game is set in a Japanese high school baseball club, where the protagonist, a new club member, must retrieve scattered balls after practice. Seniors, fearing the coach's reprimand, order the protagonist to search, and the player can only respond "Yes" to their commands. The game depicts the oppression and unreasonable hierarchy of that environment, based on the developer's real experiences and those of people around them. Priced at 700 yen, it is available for 490 yen (30% off) until September 14. Players can carry over surplus balls found beyond the required number, and the game over screen shows "YOU DIED" alongside a baseball-related message. The game also became a topic for adding Czech language support after the developer noticed a single wishlist registration from the Czech Republic. This led to volunteer cooperation, including help from Czech national team pitcher Ondrej Satria, and plans for professional Czech voice acting.
ASCII.jp tested Forza Horizon 6 and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 on three JAPANNEXT JN-VC236F curved displays. Each 23.6-inch Full HD monitor costs 12,980 yen, for a total of 38,940 yen. The triple-screen rig delivers a 5760x1080 resolution. The curvature is a gentle R3000, better suited for business than gaming.
The Steam store page for Needle In A Haystack Simulator is now live. The game hides one needle among 5,000,000 pieces of hay and supports online co-op for up to 8 players. Playtest applications are open, and the release window is Q4 2026. Creator Nas confirmed the co-op support on social media.
Xbox Game Studios announced at the XBOX @ gamescom Broadcast 2026 that National Championship Air Races for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 will release on October 13 local time. The simulation lets players race through the skies of New Mexico. A separate City Update 16: Italy began free distribution for all owners the same day.
Astragon Entertainment released a new trailer for Construction Simulator: Evolution, the latest entry in the construction industry simulator series for PC (Steam), PS5, and Xbox Series X|S, developed by weltenbauer.Software Entwicklung GmbH. The trailer focuses on the demolition element, introduced for the first time in the series with this title, showing breakers, cutters, and wrecking balls in action. A commentary video covering demolition basics was also released. The game is scheduled for release in 2026.
GameBusiness.jp interviews Nick Nieuwoudt and Dominik Latos, developers of the diesel-punk artillery simulation IRON NEST: Heavy Turret Simulator. Released for PC on August 6 at 1,980 yen, the game puts players inside a giant walking cannon, measuring targets and choosing from 30 shell types. Nieuwoudt cites the original Crysis as his favorite game and Katsuhiro Otomo's "Cannon Fodder" as a major influence.
Game Spark's Yoshida Terukazu played the PC management sim Bookshop Simulator. The game involves stocking books, setting prices, and expanding a store. Yoshida noted the store closes at 8 PM, staff can be hired, and pets can be introduced. He aims to keep four cats in the game, matching his real-life collection.
SEGA announced on August 26 that Farming Simulator 25 has surpassed 5 million copies sold worldwide. The publisher also released a new trailer for the Beans & Alpacas expansion, due October 27, introducing the South American Catuaí map, coffee growing, alpaca and Brahman cattle raising, banana cultivation, and over 25 new vehicles.
Nas announced the official title and Steam store page for Needle In A Haystack Simulator on August 28, 2026. The game tasks players with finding one needle among 5 million pieces of straw. A teaser posted on August 22 has surpassed 52.58 million impressions. Release is planned for Q4 2026.
Timi Ocean announced the PC incremental game Disco Ball Simulator 2000 and opened its Steam store page. Players spin a disco ball to raise Hype, earn money to repay a $1 million debt, and upgrade equipment like the ball, lights, and fog machine. Release timing is undecided and Japanese is not supported.
Clobetech released a demo of Dancing Wings - The Aerobatic Simulator on Steam on August 26, 2026. Players pilot a T-4 jet trainer in a Blue Impulse-inspired paint scheme. The demo features formation flight with up to three aircraft, some CURRICULUM modes, and online replay sharing, while the full version supports up to six aircraft.
Studio Hakua Laboratory announced Fuwa! Fuwa! Omurice Simulator Roguelite and opened its Steam store page. The management sim combines roguelite elements with rhythm game mechanics. Players run a small omurice restaurant through a day and night cycle, cooking to rhythm during the day and managing purchases, rent, and expenses at night. Global economy events, including AI-driven electricity cost rises and U.S. midterm election results, affect the business. A demo is in preparation; release timing is undecided.
Independent developer Babak released a demo for MMOS: MMO Simulator, a single-player management simulation where the player operates an MMORPG world instead of adventuring in one. Players shape terrain, towns, monsters, dungeons, drops, and quests while autonomous adventurers form parties, hunt, and trade. The full version is scheduled for Q4 2026.
Solo developer EBA GAME, run by developer Eba, announced that the first-person baseball ball search simulator 'Ball Collecting Simulator' will launch on Steam on August 31 for 700 yen, with a 30% launch discount bringing the price to 490 yen. The game is set in a Japanese high school baseball club and depicts the unreasonable hierarchies of coaches and seniors, described as psychological horror based on the author's real experiences. The project gained worldwide attention when Eba discovered a single wishlist registration from the Czech Republic and decided to add Czech localization for that one person. That decision sparked a viral reaction, with the related X post surpassing 110,000 likes and 2.22 million views. As a result, Steam wishlist registrations surged from about 350 at the initial announcement to over 6,500, with more than 2,000 coming from the Czech Republic. The localization, initially planned as AI translation, will now be done with volunteer cooperation from Czech people, and full voice acting by professional Czech voice actors has been decided. Czech WBC team pitcher Ondrej Satria has offered to cooperate and will appear in the game through audio and photo compositing.
Publisher astragon Entertainment and developer Grip Studios announced on August 27, 2026, during the Future Games Show: gamescom 2026 stream, a new entry in the Police Simulator series, simply titled Police Simulator. The game is scheduled for release in 2027 for PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, as well as PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. Set in the fictional American city of Faremont City, players take on the role of a police officer, starting with routine enforcement like parking violations and littering, then unlocking more serious duties such as car chases, drug busts, and gunfights with armed criminals. The game includes over 50 missions, a cross-play-compatible two-player co-op mode, and a customizable officer. A notable feature is the police dog companion, which can track suspects, search for drugs, and assist in dangerous situations. Players choose from various dog breeds. The game uses Unreal Engine 5 and features improved driving physics over previous entries, with an AI traffic system for realistic driving. Equipment such as cameras, traffic cones, barricades, and radar guns can be unlocked and upgraded.
Game Spark's hands-on look at Farming Simulator 26, out now for Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android, covers the latest entry in GIANTS Software's farming series. The feature details career mode, which starts with $100,000 and three fields, AI helpers that automate field work for a wage, livestock including rideable horses, forestry, and production chains. The article also highlights the inclusion of Japanese machinery brands Kubota and Iseki in the vehicle lineup.
Nick Nieuwoudt, co-developer of IRON NEST: Heavy Turret Simulator, says the most moving feedback came from veterans who told him the game captures the real work of fire direction commanders and gunners. One said it helped them face PTSD-related memories. The diesel-punk artillery game, out on PC since August 6 at 1,980 yen, is built as a psychological simulator rather than a mechanical one, with the player choosing among thirty shell types.
Ultimate Games and Ultimate Publishing released a Steam demo for Outpost Simulator, a survival craft FPS from developer Mental Dreams. Players build and defend an outpost for survivors in a monster-overrun world, gathering materials, trading at a market, and repelling raider attacks. The demo includes outpost construction, survivor care, raid defense, character growth, and early story content. The team is seeking community feedback, and the menu outlines future updates.
FerioWorks announced BURST NOIR - Fireworks Simulator, a fireworks festival production simulation, for Steam in early September at 1,350 yen. Players select fireworks by color, shape, and spread pattern from a library and place them on a timeline, adjusting order, timing, spacing, and combinations to build a single show. The game includes 24 missions with conditions such as budget, usable fireworks, timing, types, height, and overall composition, and completed shows can be replayed start to finish.
Wild Dog announced Japanese Ramen Simulator on August 21, a multiplayer ramen shop management game for PC via Steam. The early access version is scheduled for September, with a closed beta planned for August. The game supports up to 6 players in online co-op, covering the full range of ramen shop work: preparing ingredients, cooking, serving, customer service, and cleaning up. Players can also hire part-time staff to manage the shop solo. Gameplay involves combining ingredients for soup, boiling noodles to a specific firmness, monitoring soup temperature, and arranging toppings via physics simulation, so no two bowls come out identical. Side menus include gyoza, rice bowls, and beer, each with their own preparation details. During business hours, events can occur, including visits from a formidable ramen critic, thieves targeting the register, and sudden fires, which players resolve using shuriken and fire extinguishers. Shop funds can also be earned at a gambling den. The interior is freely customizable, and a My Design feature lets players draw on posters and noren curtains. The studio is based in Saitama Prefecture and founded in October 2024 by software engineer Hiroto Nakajo.
astragon Entertainment and Simteract released a multiplayer trailer for Bus Simulator 27, showcasing cooperative play for up to four players. Set in Felicia Bay, the game features over 45 licensed buses from 13 manufacturers. It launches September 8 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S with cross-platform play.
Ultimate Games and Ultimate Publishing announced the demo for survival craft FPS Outpost Simulator, developed by Mental Dreams, will release on Steam on August 21 local time. The demo includes base construction, survivor management, defense, upgrades, and a tutorial with the story prologue. Japanese language support is included.
NACON announced Hunting Simulator 3 will launch October 29 on PC via Steam, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. The open-world hunting game is set in Colorado and Texas, supports solo and up to 4-player online co-op, and includes dozens of animal species. Its SimFauna system simulates wildlife ecosystems with aging, breeding, and pack hierarchy changes.
Developer RockGame resumed development on the stealth roguelike Ninja Simulator after a halt, and started a free playtest on Steam on August 18. The game, set in feudal Japan, features randomly equipped ninjutsu skills, stealth kills, and experience penalties for discovery. Full release timing remains undecided.
Aerosoft announced Road Construction Simulator, developed by Caipirinha Games, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. Players plan routes, operate ten types of construction vehicles, and complete roads from gravel paths to highways. Academy and Sandbox modes are included, with vehicle customization and a personal premises.
Pizza House Simulator, developed by Broken Lyre Entertainment and Wendigo Games and published by Devotion Interactive, launched on Steam on August 19. The restaurant management game supports solo play and cooperative play with up to six players. Players bake pizza, manage finances, and handle random events like fires and thieves.
Overscan announced Touge: JDM Dealership Simulator, an economic simulation set in fictional 1989 Japan. Players buy and sell cars, negotiate with buyers and sellers via chat, and grow from a single parking space into a major corporation. The game is scheduled for release on Steam for PC in Q1 2027.
OPNeon Games announced on August 16 that the card shop management simulation game TCG Card Shop Simulator will officially leave early access on September 15, 2026. The full release will arrive exactly two years after early access began on September 15, 2024. Alongside the PC version, the game will launch simultaneously on Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 5. The announcement came with a new release trailer. The game currently sits in early access for PC (Steam/Microsoft Store) and Xbox Series X|S/Xbox One, and is available on Xbox/PC Game Pass. The full release update will make the in-game trading card game Tetramon playable, allowing players to battle with cards they have purchased or opened. The game has received over 46,000 user reviews on Steam, earning an Overwhelmingly Positive rating, with 96% of approximately 47,000 reviews positive at the time of writing. It has sold over 3.5 million copies as of June 2026. Pre-orders for the PS5 version have begun, with a 15% discount for PS Plus subscribers, bringing the price to 1,963 yen. The game costs 2,600 yen on Steam and supports Japanese.
Czech studio SCS Software announced on August 12 that it will exhibit at Tokyo Game Show 2026, held at Makuhari Messe from September 17 to 21. The booth in Hall 9-E86 will feature playable DLCs for Euro Truck Simulator 2 and American Truck Simulator, plus demos for in-development projects and a PlayStation 5 version of Euro Truck Simulator 2.