Thinky Games has announced the return of the now-annual Thinky Direct showcase at the end of May. The showcase is a dedicated livestream for new and upcoming ‘cerebral and problem-solving’ puzzle games, and if you love puzzle games of any kind, from challenging head-scratchers to cosy management sims, you’ll likely find a new game to enjoy here.
The upcoming Thinky Direct will run for an hour and feature over 40 new puzzle and ‘thinky’ games, with the showcase promising to reveal new trailers, demos, release dates and other updates.
Thinky Direct 2026 – quick links
What to know about this year’s Thinky Direct
This year’s Thinky Direct will accompany the launch of the Cerebral Puzzle Showcase on Steam. Run by Draknek & Friends, the showcase will be a week-long celebration of puzzle games featuring demo spotlights as well as major discounts. The event runs from 28 May to 4 June.
The 2026 Thinky Direct showcase aligns with the event kick-off, functioning as an early showcase of many of the titles set to appear.
So far, a handful of game developers have confirmed their involvement. Borbware’s creature-scanning Metroidvania EMUUROM will get a new trailer during the show. Whitethorn Games will show off more of Colorbound, a colour-based puzzle platformer. It also appears puzzle designer Le Slo will have something on show.
Last year, Thinky Direct included new looks at an array of anticipated puzzle games like City of Voices, Shape Sender Deluxe, Parallel Experiment, Strange Antiquities, Is This Seat Taken?, Nonolith, The Mermaid Mask, and more.
With a tendency to focus on cool, innovative, under-the-radar titles, the Thinky Direct showcase is always worth a look.
How to watch the 2026 Thinky Direct in Australia and around the world
The 2026 Thinky Direct kicks off the Cerebral Puzzle Showcase on Steam, arriving just ahead of the Summer Game Fest rush. Here’s when you’ll be able to tune in around the world:
- Australia – 3am AEST 29 May | 2.30am ACST 29 May | 1am AWST 29 May
- New Zealand – 5am NZST 29 May
- United States – 10am PT 28 May | 1pm ET 28 May
- United Kingdom – 6pm BST 28 May
Where to watch: The 2026 Thinky Direct will be available to livestream on the Thinky Games YouTube and Twitch channels. It will also be livestreamed on Steam.
Also on ScreenHub: Six One Indie Showcase returns with blockbuster livestream in May
The Six One Indie Showcase will officially return on 21 May with a blockbuster livestream featuring a whopping 61 games over a 93 minute runtime. If you’re looking to bulk out your wishlist, or just to see everything cool, new, and original arriving to the world of gaming in future, it should be worth tuning in for.
Established in 2022, the Six One Indie Showcase has become well-known for featuring a lovingly curated blend of wild, fun, creative, and often under-the-radar games, all of which present novel ideas and gameplay. We expect the latest showcase will be no different: a bright spark for those looking to be inspired by the next generation of indie games.
The Six One Indie Showcase, and the preceding Petey’s Play Now Pre-Show, will spotlight innovation across the board. The pre-show will focus on five recently released but somewhat overlooked indie games, while the main show will speed through the remaining 56 titles with new trailers, first looks, development updates, release date announcements, and more.
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