If you like your video games with a side of suffering, you might want to look at WALTO.
Released this past March by solo indie developer KUKUKU GAMES, WALTO is a brutal 2D boss-rush game that has flown almost entirely under the radar, currently sitting at just a single user review on Steam. But obscurity doesn't always mean a lack of ambition. Built for players who like to test their reflexes and patience, the game is leaning into its hardcore identity with a 50% discount, dropping the price from $2.99 to just $1.49 through September 8.
The developer is upfront about what to expect: this is a hard game, designed deliberately for those who enjoy punishment. If you bounce off of merciless difficulty spikes, this likely isn't for you.
However, for fans of precision action, WALTO hits some intriguing notes. Drawing comparisons to the tight, deliberate pacing found in other challenging indie titles like Bittersweet Birthday, the game revolves around a unified core mechanic where dodging and attacking are bound together. There's no mindless button-mashing here; success requires reading your opponent. Each boss features three escalating phases, meaning players have to truly master enemy patterns, spacing, and timing to survive.
At $1.49, the barrier to entry is practically non-existent for anyone looking for a fresh, punishing test of skill to add to their Steam library.
If you're brave enough to give a lonely solo developer's passion project a shot, you can check out the Steam page for WALTO before the sale ends on September 8.