Under the radar, these indie books shine.
So far in 2023, there have been some huge games, and the rest of the year looks like it will have some more. As more live service experiences and billion-hour open worlds are made, the triple-A scene doesn’t seem to be slowing down.On the other end of the scale, the indie game scene, you can find comfort to ease your stress.
As always, the indie game scene is where you’ll find the most creative, original stories, and daring experiments. Every day there are a lot of new titles on the market, making it hard to stand out. Indie gems can get lost, so here are a few that may have slipped your mind but are well worth the look.
Bramble: The Mountain King
Bramble: The Mountain King, a game by Dimfrost Studio, is like a dark tale come to life. Nordic folklore is used as a background to paint a picture of a trip filled with scary scenes, traumatic events, and harmful encounters.
You should pay attention to the content warning at the start.
This is the kind of game that Limbo and Little Nightmares read before bed. Bramble will immerse you in both mystery and pain. Its brave depictions of religious horror are truly worth seeing, and the story will stay with you.
Slayers X: Terminal Aftermath: Vengance of the Slayer
A great skill is being able to make a game that is supposed to be bad playable. As you can see, No More Robots has done a great job with Slayers X.
The game is a silly, built-engine-like shooter for kids that is full of creativity and cheesiness. Under the satire, though, there is a heart.
While you’re killing alive poop and shooting hackblood beams out of your hands, Slayers X shows you a time capsule of old game-making interests and tells you that it’s never too late to finish that project, no matter how old you are.
Burnhouse Lane
Burnhouse Lane, a great secret gem that was just released on Xbox, is now available to console gamers. If you know of the movie “The Cat Lady,” this is Harvester Games’ newest eerie story game full of dark and scary stories.
Get ready for a scary time.
The story is about Angie Weather, who wants to get her life back by doing a bunch of impossible things. The combat and drama make this game stand out, putting it in the same category as great survival horror games like Resident Evil and Silent Hill.
Arcade Paradise
The Xbox Game Pass includes a “own-your-own” arcade model where keeping the place clean is just as important as playing the games.
You’ll be taking regular breaks from the blips and rows of the games to do things that will make you money so you can buy even more cabinets. Why do people say arcades are dead?
In the arcade, you can play all of your favorite games, like air hockey and the fun foosball table. The chores have also been made more like games so they fit in nicely with the world and tie the whole sim together.
Soccer Kids
When you think of football games, only the triple-A scene comes to mind. As a result, Soccer Kids is a clever turn-based indie football game created by Acid Wizard Studios (of Darkwood fame).
If you want to score the best goal, you have to figure out every kick and corner.
For years, sports games haven’t had a lot of new ideas. This game’s gameplay style is interesting. Soccer Kids is a fun brain teaser for football fans who also like to be artistic. It is currently in alpha.
Nuclear Blaze
Do you remember the PSOne game Rosco McQueen? An action game played from a third-person view with robots and firefighters. Well, Nuclear Blaze is a new attempt at the niche fireman subgenre.
As a firefighter, you have to find your way through a burning underground building in this 2D platformer with tight controls.
Nuclear Blaze, which came out earlier this year for Nintendo Switch, is well-made and makes great use of the way it fights fires.
As you try to get to the next refill, you’ll need to save water and pick which fires to put out. A hot one to play anywhere.
Lone Fungus
While they wait for the follow-up game Silksong, Hollow Knight fans are getting cold feet.For now, Lone Fungus might be a good meal to think about.
It has the same sprawl and otherworldly feel as Hong Kong while still being its own thing.
Even though it’s simple, the art direction is bright and makes you feel calm as you explore. Fans of Metroidvania games will still find some problems here, but this search and action game is fun for everyone.
Spirit Hunters: Infinite Horde
Because Poncle’s Vampire Survivor was so popular and well-reviewed, it makes sense that there are now a lot of roguelite reverse bullet hells. The business world loves a good trend.
To be fair, Spirit Hunters: Infinite Horde is a copy that is done right and with heart. It’s a lovely addition to the genre.
There is a lot of stuff to grind out, as with many of these games. There is a Saturday morning cartoon feel to the graphics, and the fantasy theme makes the different creature designs and spells feel special.
OTXO
For people who have played MadWorld, the black-and-white color scheme that made the blood stand out is easy to remember. In the same way that a top-down, split-second roguelite does, OTXO tries to shock you with violent gunplay and abstract fear.
There’s no doubt that it’s cruel and fun to play. OTXO reminds me of the evil idea from games like Hatred and Penalty Kick Online.
It’s been a while since a fast-paced top-down shooter was interesting, but this one is ready for the spotlight. You’ll keep coming back for more because of the intense gunplay, unpredictable story, and lots of blood.
Greedventory
Without naming a game that is based on Dark Souls, what would an indie game list be like? Now it’s time for that required entry with Greedventory, which combines souls-like gameplay with point-and-click games from all over the world.
How good you are with your mouse is important in this pixel RPG because you have to flick the mouse to do everything from blocking to throwing.
This game does a great job of focusing on the funny parts. Its clever and often sarcastic comedy makes me think of the Monkey Island series, which is a nice change of pace.
You can’t find a place like this anywhere else. If you want to feel like you’re in Souls while having fun, this is it.