Biomass is a side-scrolling sci-fi game with a few elements borrowed from Dark Souls. First, it's hard. Really hard! Enemies take two or three shots to take you down. Also, when you die, you lose the experience you have collected. Aside from that, the game has a refreshingly different theme. It's set in a glitzy futuristic metropolis crawling with robots and nasty humans wielding lightsaber-style laser weapons.

"Fallen Order" came first, but "Biomass'" buzzing laser swords and staffs are very satisfying, even if the combat feels somewhat limited so far compared to the abundant melee combat that is common in "Souls"-like genre games. But there is a wonderfully engaging atmosphere and beautiful pixel art, and this pre-release demo is packed with quite a bit of game content (the developer is aiming for a full-length release in early February).

Naturally, a Souls-like game would incorporate something in its formula, but Biomass allows you to regenerate your health with power gained by punching enemies. Basically, you fill up a gauge by punching enemies, which you can then use to recover. That's what you should do if you want to survive in a dangerous sci-fi world. (Thanks, Alpha Beta Gamer.)

For more great free experiences, check out our roundup of the best free PC games.