Level Up KL: Southeast Asia's Finest Games of 2023

The annual Malaysian gaming convention, Level Up KL, was part of the Malaysia Digital Content Festival this year, showcasing video games and animations from across the Southeast Asian region. Participants presented their creations to the public from September 28 to October 1.

The SEA Game Awards also provided a platform for showcasing some of the best upcoming games, with public demos available for attendees to try out. For those interested in viewing the award results, they can do so here.

With all these incredible games on the showfloor, here are the best games that IGN Southeast Asia recommends keeping an eye out for.

Unyielder

Similar to Doom Eternal with a roguelite spin, the Singaporean game Unyielder was a clear favorite on the showfloor. With its epic boss fights and endless possibilities in the player’s loadouts, Unyielder is a game we anticipate playing repeatedly.

Sedap!

The winner of the Best Student Game category at this year’s SEA Game Awards, Sedap! offers a fun twist on the Overcooked co-op formula. Instead of cooking together, Sedap! has one player gathering ingredients while the other focuses on cooking, creating a dynamic experience.

Unplug

If John Wick took place in cyberspace, it would be Unplug. This Indonesian game seamlessly combines live-action cutscenes and real-time 3D graphics, allowing players to engage in high-octane fights and stealth sections.

Chiyo

A follow-up to the horror game, Malice, Chiyo continues the Malaysian game’s escape room-style design, intensifying the scares. It’s impressive to see this year’s Best Audio Design winner enhancing their Japanese horror-inspired experience.

Overhours

With its comic book aesthetic and anthropomorphic characters, Overhours is poised to become an online sensation someday. For now, this single-player tower defence game shows great potential, and we can’t wait to see what it has in store.

Robo Frenzy

Featuring fun Cartoon Network-like visuals and immersive combat, Robo Frenzy is definitely a diamond in the rough. Players battle giant robot bosses while creating tools and weapons to aid them in battle.

The Land Beneath Us

A brand-new game by the makers of Fallen Knight, this Thai game is a unique turn-based roguelite with a killer look. It’s as if Hyper Light Drifter was fused with Final Fantasy Tactics, but with a heavy cyberpunk aesthetic.

Whisper Mountain Outbreak

Toge Productions is back with something extraordinary – the multiplayer-focused Whisper Mountain Outbreak feels like Left 4 Dead made for the Game Boy Advance. This unconventional approach is not a bad thing, offering a surprising co-op survival horror experience.

Check out more of the SEA Game Awards nominees and other Southeast Asian games over on Steam’s Level Up KL Showcase.