Unique upcoming games (that you haven't heard about)

VivaLand

A life sim where 1-8 players can craft their stories in a modern small-town. Create unique characters, steer their lives and careers! Let them breathe life into your unique town in Vivaland.

I have been following Paralives but somehow this one escaped my notice. Maybe a legit competitor to The Sims?

The Wayward Realms

Under the direction of Ted Peterson and Julian LeFay, lead developers of the team behind the original Elder Scrolls, Arena and Daggerfall, OnceLost Games is creating a new open-world fantasy RPG where choice and consequence are experienced on a scale never attempted before.

Interview / preview on YouTube

Kickstarter coming soon

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2958210/Connie_and_the_Essence_of_Chaos/

The Precinct

Averno City, 1983. Gangs rule the streets and your father lies restless in his grave. Clean up the city, uncover the truth, and embark on thrilling vehicle chases through destructible environments in this neon-noir action sandbox police game.

We Harvest Shadows

A first-person farming horror allegory. Become a recluse, build up your farm, and survive the lonely nights.

Roguelike about space troopers. Date of early access start: 30 sep:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2280060/Tenebris_Terra_Incognita/

Roguelike procedurally generated world layout
Cafe simulator
With a skill tree asl haha
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2990510/SkyBrew_Entropic_Strategist/

This already came out, but it looks really interesting
A Tower Defence game with resource gathering
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2707490/Tower_Factory/

I playtested Bladesong. Not bad for a bit of messing around. Playtest has just under 24hrs left if you want to try it.

River Towns

Solve puzzles by placing buildings and creating vibrant cities in River Towns. Each district has its own style and shapes, making every level a new challenge. Help to restore and rebuild our River Towns.

(Demo available on Steam page)

Kickstarter running until January 9

Nested Lands

Nested Lands is a ruthless medieval RPG game featuring in-depth village building, large-scale social management and combats. Gather survivors, build a settlement, craft, master your skills, survive, and endure alone or in online co-op.

Steam page has a link to sign up for playtesting.

Fanatical seems to have the same thing, it's described as an "Fanatical-exclusive Alpha test." here

RoadCraft

As the leader of a company specialized in restoring sites devastated by natural disasters, use your construction machinery to restart the local industry. Clear debris and faulty equipment, rebuild roads and bridges damaged by weather, and much more!

Aviassembly

Build and fly your own airplane! Complete missions to earn money, upgrade your plane, and discover new locations in an open world.

(Demo available)

Horse Racing Manager

Build your legacy in the horse racing world. Breed the next champion, making key decisions on training the horse and choosing its diet. Every choice counts, and every race tells a story. Create your own rags-to-riches journey, from being a stablehand to owning the greatest racing stable in the game.

(Demo available)

Alaska Gold Fever

It’s 1896 and recently something unbelievable has been discovered in the cold and wild fields of Alaska. It was something special and precious, something so valuable that entire kingdoms fell over for its beauty… GOLD!

Highlights for me are the dog sled and the mine trains.

(Playtest request available)

Town to City

Build an idyllic 19th century Mediterranean town and help it flourish into a prosperous city. Freely place and customise each element to create the perfect home for your growing population in this cozy city builder from the creators of Station to Station.

This one is a very pleasant surprise! A special gift for all of us who played Station to Station and said "I wish this was a city builder instead of just a train puzzle game."

Cool medieval pve extraction game. Playtest available till the 12th.
Expedition: Into Darkness

Hawthorn

Former developers from Bethesda, BioWare, and Naughty Dog bring you a sandbox RPG realm of anthropomorphic animals and fairy creatures. Play co-op or solo as you build a village of memorable NPCs, farm, craft, explore, and celebrate the seasons in an ever-changing world bigger than you.

Kickstarter running but ending soon.

Under Par Golf Architect

Step into the shoes of a golf architect as you build and manage your own golfing paradise! Sharpen your strategy by designing incredible courses to challenge the most demanding golfers and watch your club flourish as you attract VIP players, hire quirky staff and hold prestigious tournaments.

SimGolf!

Golden Tee Arcade Classics

Tee up the old-school fun with six classic Golden Tee arcade games, plus more!

More classic golf! Comes with a shuffleboard game and a bowling game also, apparently.

Primordial Empire

Primordial Empire is a side-on colony sim on the microscopic level. Cultivate a colony of microbes, plants and animals from small beginnings to mutualistic paradise. Connect the web of life in a tangle of nutrients and trophic balance. Scratch out a living and claim your empire from the rock itself!

Demo available.

Gameplay video by GamerZakh.

Ranch Farm and Store Simulator

Design, build, and manage your own ranch and store from the ground up. Grow crops, raise livestock, and keep your shelves stocked with fresh products for customer to buy. Expand your business, hire employees, and transform your humble ranch into a thriving marketplace.

I was a disappointed with Ranch Simulator, just felt soulless and empty. Hoping this one is essentially a better version.

Hounded

You are Duke, a determined young Border Collie who is searching for their lost master, the leader of The Rebellion. Hounded by a cunning hunter, can you track the scent, unearth the power of The Tide and find your way home?

Kickstarter running until July 2

No Steam page that I can find, but I think this Kickstarter project deserves a look:

Forever Home - A Sanctuary for the Forgotten

Running through July 15.

Rescue and care for animals that return, each with individual needs, habits, and emotions.

Craft tools, grow crops, rebuild structures, all from the ground up.

Explore nature, survive gently, and find joy in small moments: watching a dog rest by the fire, harvesting carrots, or nursing a scared rabbit back to health.

Form deep connections, with animals, the land, and perhaps yourself.

Forever Home is not about power or speed.
It’s about empathy, quiet triumphs, and the belief that every creature deserves a second chance.

Food Industry

Build and expand in agriculture, industry and commerce. Evolve in the food industry sector, and weather the storms by helping your people build the new world.

Release date Q3 2025. Demo is available.

Cowboy Life Simulator

It's 19th century America, and you want to escape the city and go find your new life path out in the Wild West. Is it a peaceful life of a humble rancher that you seek, or is it a grand cowboy adventure? Or perhaps – it’s both..?

Saloon Simulator

Saloon Simulator is a first-person sim where you restore and run an abandoned saloon. Master drink-making and cooking, customize the space to attract customers, and enjoy mini-games in a story-driven Old West setting.