When Steamboat Willie — the short that introduced Mickey Mouse — entered the public domain on January 1, 2024, indie devs wasted no time. From eerie indie horror games to creative noir experiments, this earliest version of Mickey has already inspired a wave of projects. And alongside these bold releases, we’re also spotlighting a few free Steam demos you can play right now.
✅ Released Steamboat Willie-Inspired Games
Bad Cheese (PC, Sept 1, 2025)
A survival horror game dripping with 1920s cartoon atmosphere. You play as a cartoon mouse trapped in a nightmarish rubber-hose world — a clear nod to Steamboat Willie’s earliest designs.
➡️ Bad Cheese on Steam
Infestation: Origins (Early Access, 2024–2025)
Originally revealed as Infestation 88, this multiplayer co-op horror made headlines as one of the first to openly feature public domain Mickey. Grotesque cartoon enemies — including a warped Steamboat Willie mouse — stalk players in survival scenarios.
➡️ Infestation: Origins on Steam
➡️ Game Informer Coverage
🚧 Upcoming Steamboat Willie Projects
Mouse: P.I. For Hire (2025, PC)
Announced but not yet released, this noir-style FPS reimagines the Steamboat Willie aesthetic for crime drama. Expect smoky jazz clubs, trench coats, and a detective mouse straight out of the 1920s.
➡️ Mouse: P.I. For Hire on Steam
⚓ Where the Steamboat Sails Next
From survival horror to noir experiments, Steamboat Willie’s entry into the public domain has already reshaped the indie scene. Disney still owns later Mickey designs, but this earliest version is fueling a surprising wave of creative freedom — and this is only the beginning.
For smaller experimental projects, there’s also a growing library of hobby games and fan creations on itch.io.
Expect to see more devs take the wheel in the years ahead.
🎮 Indie Demo Spotlights – Free Steam Demos to Play
Looking for fresh indie experiences to dive into? These standout demos offer survival, strategy, and steampunk adventures. Play them free — and don’t forget to wishlist to support the devs!
🎮 Axom: Conquest (Demo)
What happens when tower defense meets roguelite progression? Build, upgrade, and adapt your base as relentless waves of enemies close in. The demo gives you 20 intense waves of action — enough to get hooked and start theory-crafting your next run.
⚙️ Clockwork Ambrosia (Demo)
Step into a hand-crafted steampunk world blending metroidvania exploration with 2D shooter combat. Craft weapons, explore moody environments, and face off against two demanding bosses in the first full chapter (around 90 minutes of play).
❄️ Don’t Freeze: A Winter Card Survival (Demo)
Bleak, beautiful, and brutally cold — this card-driven survival game turns resource management into a chilling battle against the elements. The demo covers the first two locations, giving a taste of its strategic, atmospheric gameplay.
👀 In Case You Missed It
Catch up on some of the latest features and dev updates from Indie Sagas:
- 📝 Dev Log – Closing the Loop
Our latest update for No One Leaves the Field dives into new farmhouse exploration, eerie child’s drawings, and building out the lore behind the curse. - 💀 Fear Friday – Dead Take
A spotlight on Dead Take, where the horrors of filmmaking collide with supernatural dread in this unique indie horror entry. - 🔫 Incision
A grotesque retro FPS where survival means blasting through flesh, metal, and nightmare landscapes. - 🩸 Mortal Sin
An indie horror roguelike with striking visuals and brutal, fast-paced combat. - 👥 Kinsfolk
A narrative-driven indie about family, memory, and the stories we pass down.
🙌 Thanks for Reading
Thanks for being part of the Indie Sagas community! Your support here on Patreon helps keep the newsletter going and gives indie devs the spotlight they deserve.
If you want to dive deeper, you can always find more features and dev logs at indiesagas.com. And if you’d like to support our own work directly, wishlist our upcoming folk horror game No One Leaves the Field on Steam.
Every wishlist and share makes a huge difference. Together, let’s keep celebrating bold and creative indie games.
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