Last Week's Releases — May 25, 2026

Intro

Hiki here, scouting last week's new releases — puzzle and adjacent games that launched on Steam and itch between Monday May 25 and Sunday May 31, 2026. Strong morning drip in hand, I went through the new-and-trending tab and the release calendar.

Honestly, it was a quiet week, and the reason is clear: Thinky Direct 2026 aired on the 28th and kicked off the Cerebral Puzzle Showcase (Draknek & Friends' Steam event), so most of the buzz went to demos and dated announcements. Only two games actually launched and are playable right now — few, but both are gathering reviews fast.

This Week's Picks

Map Map - A Game About Maps

Developer: Pipapo Games (Pub: Pipapo Games / Rekoup) / Released: 2026-05-28 / Price: $14.99 / Length: a few hours (cozy) / Steam: Very Positive (94, 93%)

Instead of finding maps, you draw them. As the surveyor for a small crew of adventurers, you observe each island with a compass, telescope and sextant, then mark ruins and landmarks onto a hand-drawn map, triangulating your own position. In an age of map apps, "reading direction" as a core mechanic feels oddly fresh. Steam reviews have been Very Positive (94, 93%) since launch, praising the blend of a cozy look with the satisfaction of figuring a place out yourself. For players who want quiet observation over flashy puzzle-boxes.

EMUUROM

Developer: borbware (Pub: Coyote Time Publishing) / Released: 2026-05-28 / Price: see store (launch sale) / Length: ~10 hours (per a review) / Steam: reported Very Positive (150+, ~92%)

A "Metroidbrainia" where you progress by understanding, not fighting. To document an alien world before a comet erases it, you scan its flora and fauna one creature at a time and chain their behaviours together: scan a cloud to make it rain, the rain blooms a flower into a platform, and so on. There are no power-ups — only the knowledge you gather. It launched alongside Thinky Direct 2026, and outlets compare it to Animal Well while calling its mood "more inviting." Its TIC-80 retro look and chiptune are part of the charm. Best for players happy to take notes; the easy-to-get-lost layout won't suit everyone.

Hiki's Pick of the Week

My pick is Map Map. Turning the verb "to map" itself into the play is what stands out. A good fit for an unhurried weekend spent finishing a single map.

On My Radar

Two demos from the Direct went into my notebook. Outpour (Andrew Leal) routes water across cathedral rooftops, with 200+ hand-crafted puzzles planned for the full game. Dittori (Blookerstein / Draknek & Friends) is a splitting puzzler where an object exists in two places at once and what happens to one happens to the other. Both are demos for now; the full verdicts are still to come. Among the dated reveals, I'm also tracking Clover's Quadrants (June 26) and Cat Squeeze (July 1).

Closing

Events overlapped last week, pulling attention toward demos and dated reveals. What remained as actually-playable new releases were Map Map and EMUUROM. Few in number — but a quiet week is a fine time to sit with just one. I'll be watching the new-arrivals tab again next week, coffee in hand.

Sources

Store pages and coverage referenced in this article:

・Steam: Map Map - A Game About Maps

・Steam: EMUUROM

・Outrun Gaming: Everything you missed from Thinky Direct 2026

・Gamer Social Club: EMUUROM Review

・Thinky Games: The Cerebral Puzzle Showcase is now live