Get Ready to Rock, New Kid
Cozy-punk vibes abound in Wax Heads, the upcoming narrative sim from Patattie Games, now set for release in the first half of 2026 on Steam and Xbox. I wrote about the game earlier this year (check out the link or embed below), and I’ve been a big fan since playing the demo for the first time.
I wrote in my first feature about the game that “My goal for The Indie Game Cafe is to introduce people to their next favorite video game experience, so it’s no surprise that I fell in love with Wax Heads. In this gem, you’re slinging records at a struggling shop, connecting people with their favorite artists, or introducing them to something you know they’ll love.”
In the demo, still available on Steam, you’ll meet characters of all kinds, from the uber-Mimi (think Taylor Swift) fan to the gentleman who loves to chill out with some male choral ensembles. You may think there’s an equal opportunity for each to be mocked, but not in Wax Heads. Some people will straight up tell you what they’re looking for, making an easy sale for you. Some people, though, will only have a vague idea of what they’re looking for or tell you they would like certain things, leaving you to go on a hunt through the many records available for you to sell them. You also get to flex your creative muscles, using a plethora of provided assets and plucky spirit to create fliers for local acts.
In their newly published Dev Log #1 titled “Welcome to the Neighbourhood,” the duo behind Patattie Games, Murray Somerwolff and Rothio Tome, share their excitement about launching in the first half of next year and offer up some tantalizing details about what’s to come.
They shared that one of the main themes of the game is what makes a community, and that’s explored through the colorful cast of characters that make up Wax Heads. There’s Hank, who’s been playing in bands for his whole adult life to varying degrees of success, but he keeps doing it because it’s who he is. There’s also Tee, the youngest of the crew, who is struggling to understand dedicating so much time to something that ends in disappointment, and Abi, who is just finding out the impact live that music can have on people.
In addition to helping your guests find the perfect record, Wax Heads is more than just a management sim. Repeater Records isn’t just a setting, it’s a character. It’s not just a flat space; it’s almost like a maze, with tons of little details to find as you explore.
Make sure to wishlist the game on Steam, and follow on Bluesky or Twitter for more! (And check out Murray and Rocío online, too, especially if you enjoy watching gamedev streams!)
