Summary
Theterm Early Accesscan cause a ton of emotions to stir within a player. Some people don’t appreciate the idea of developers selling an experience that isn’t complete, while others feel that fan feedback goes a long way in helping Early Access success stories feel that much more rewarding.
It’s always a gamble to support an Early Access game, but most players love games that do a great job of justifying this beta release by incorporating feedback, communicating with fans, and giving clear information surrounding their game and what fans can expect from a 1.0 release.
Supergiant Games has a great reputation as one of the best indie developers that just gets it. Players love their games for how they manage to intertwine gameplay and stories in a satisfying knot, andHadesis no exception.
This was easily their most ambitious title by a country mile, and Supergiant Games decided to follow an Early Access strategy with complete transparency to ensure that their roguelike action gameplay (their first attempt at the genre) was as strong as ever. The result was a 1.0 release that floored fans and let them enjoy one of the greatest indie action games of all time.
With two amazing modern CRPGs under their belt that turned theDivinityseries into a household name among fans of this genre, it was clear that the sky was the limit for Larian Studios. After acquiring one of the biggest CRPG franchises of all time and working on a much-awaited third entry, it was clear that this studio wanted everything to be perfect forBaldur’s Gate 3.
This was achieved with an Early Access release that covered Act 1 of the story and let players enjoy the masterful systems at play in the game. Fan feedback and gameplay tuning were downright necessary for this game’s role-playing and combat to feel as natural as ever, andBaldur’s Gate 3took all its lessons in stride and releasedone of the greatest modern RPGsthat fans can’t get enough of.
Minecraftis one of the biggest Early Access success stories and has becomethe best-selling game of all time— indie or otherwise. The survival and crafting elements of this game were a huge inspiration for both genres, allowing these types of games to dominate both indie and AAA gaming landscapes.
It was clear that the Early Access period was a huge reason for the game’s success, improving the gameplay and ensuring that it lived up to fan expectations. WithMinecraftcontinuing to dominate the gaming industry to this day, it’s easy to see why Early Access has become so commonplace for most games nowadays.
Darkest Dungeonis a hardcore RPG where every party member’s death serves as a learning experience for players. People love the idea of amassing a party and exploring dark, brooding dungeons where huge losses are an eventuality that players must prepare for.
It can be frustrating to lose a party member players have invested a lot of time in, but that’s precisely what makesDarkest Dungeonsuch a blast to play through. The Early Access period ensured that the title’s gameplay was sharpened to a deadly edge, with any unpopular additions being booted or reworked to make the experience as satisfying as it could possibly be.
Roguelike games can hugely benefit some time in Early Access to know whetherthe procedurally generated contentis sitting right with fans.Slay the Spireneeded this side of the gameplay to be as satisfying as ever if players wanted to immerse themselves in the act of deck-building.
Slay the Spirecan be daunting to get into, but fans can rest assured that the gameplay is quite balanced and the difficulty curve isn’t too jarring. All of this is a result of a sublime Early Access period that used fan feedback to ensure thatSlay the Spirewould be more engaging than ever.
RimWorldisone of the deepest and most engaging colony simulationsthat players can get their hands on. The numerous layers that make up this title are all expertly crafted and benefited from its time in Early Access.
Without all the improvements made over the course of this period, it’s possible thatRimWorldwouldn’t have received half of the love and adoration it’s showered with to this day. Once players get used to the act ofresource management and base-building, the individual stories of each colonist are what will keep fans coming back for more as they get attached to their survivors.
Players may have to get over their thalassophobia to enjoySubnautica, but this is a worthwhile effort to make. The amazing atmosphere of this game makes every underwater dive as harrowing as they come as players scavenge for resources, make progress, and ensure that their base is running smoothly.
The Early Access period of this game allowed players to check out a title with a ton of potential, which was met and possibly surpassed with the 1.0 release. The fact that players consider the second game in the series to be inferior to its predecessor is a testament to the genius that led toSubnautica’s development.
Don’t Starvecombines itshardcore survival gameplaywith a gothic art style that looks amazing. Players will be drawn in by the game’s visuals before realizing how tough it can be to survive night after night when the terrors get too much to bear.
This game is somehow charming yet unnerving at the same time, and this masterful atmosphere is just one of the many elements ofDon’t Starvethat werefine-tuned in Early Access. Players patient enough to back this project and give feedback were treated to one of the greatest indie survival video games of all time.
