Like the rest of the team Kotaku was chasing turkeys past their local Macy’s (I did some more research on what Thanksgiving is this year), again I had the key to the site, locked everyone out and then right immediately lost those keys. While I’m stuck here, I thought I should tell you about some nice looking indie games coming out.
Look, it could be worse. I’m trying to figure out some kind of feed path for the phrase, “Can capture the date of each attack.” [Ghost of Ari sweeps through Kotaku HQ’s dusty halls] It would be nice if I told you about a bunch of cool looking indie games that you would otherwise risk not hearing about. Put them in favorites, increase their YouTube views, and then tell all the other kids about them at recess.
As always, I do not personally endorse these games. These are random picks from a bunch of emails I’ve received below a clear call, and unless I say so, I haven’t played them. It’s all about seizing the opportunity to use this huge platform to highlight the types of games that the gaming media often overlooks. So let’s get started!
Muriet’s Heart
See, here’s what it’s all about. Muriet’s house is a voxel-based RTS game that completely avoids micromanagement in favor of strategic gameplay. It’s about magicians, building settlements, researching magical abilities, and making things explode. Also, OMG, check out that trailer. Usually when I read “voxel” I get nervous, but not this time. Looks like someone made a stop-motion movie in Minecraftand the result is perfectly spelled.
Developers: micro story
Release: August 2023
exclusive right
The Cold War spy simulator, which allows you to choose a country’s intelligence agency, then play as them from 1946 to 2020, on a world map. The video above is an absolutely stunning example of how to present a game that is otherwise mostly visuals of the map, making the game look fun. With 74 playable countries and claiming it will let you rewrite history in Paradox style, this is incredibly ambitious.
Developers: Ex Vivo Film Studio
Release: TBA
Harmony’s Adventures
Debuting last month, I’m most annoyed with myself for not making time for Harmony’s Adventures. Based on color alone, it qualifies to grab anyone’s attention. It’s a beautiful action-adventure, filled with puzzles in which you rearrange reality in a series of depth-of-field scenes. I’m glad MythicOwl sent the email, as it was the reminder I needed to finally start and play this game.
Developers: MythicOwl
Release: Out now
Jupiter’s Moon: Mecha
No, you can’t move for “roguelike deck builder” right now, so that’s what Jupiter moon caught my eye, and the second time! We’ll be a mechanical pilot, fighting off pirates and bandits from Jupiter’s moon colonies, but since it’s now, we’re using cards to do it. . This is the case where the trailer really sells it in a crowded market, it’s a combination of elaborate builds for your machine and then a fast pace of action, albeit executed with how to toss cards around the screen. Also, I really like the look of the art. And it was put on the wish list.
Developers: RocksAnd Bushes
Release: 2023
pregnant
You can immediately see why The recent healthy game is very exciting About pregnant. It’s a city-building sandbox, except, it’s really meant to be. So many city building games say “sandbox” just means “you can put buildings where you want, also tick this target list.” Not this: obviously no goals, no goals, just the fun of building a cute little city, then watching gourd eaters move in and interact with what you see. created. It sounds so adorable.
Developers: Aunt game
Release: 2023
EDAX . BLOCK
I’ll be honest: When I read Luis G. Bento’s introduction to seemingly being yelled at EDAX . BLOCK (which I think is Latin for Predator…), claims that he is creating a role-playing simulation in the style of Deus Ex and Fall out, my outspoken answer was, “No, you’re not.” Because one person can’t do it. And then I watched the trailer, and… oh my gosh. He could be. Now the clip above is described as “pre-alpha” and not only you, it has no sound, but go ahead! It looks impressive, doesn’t it? Also, you’ll note that there are no guns in this (no) “classic futuristic” RPG, instead you just fight using objects you find lying around. Like in real life.
Developers: Luis G. Bento
Release: September 2023
Stars in the Trash
If you’re of a certain age (called: Old), you’ll remember the golden age of Disney’s 2D platformer games. Have Aladdin, Lion King, and that’s it. But both are admire, which combines a half-baked platform game with Disney’s animation style. That’s what developer Valhalla Cats is aiming for Star In Trash. You can see in the video that it looks lovely, if more like an ’80s European cartoon than Disney. I really don’t like that title, but the game itself looks lovely.
Developers: Valhalla cat
Release: Q4 2023
Duppy Detective Tashia
Developer Spritewbler has two projects in the works, the first for next year is brilliantly named On the peril of parrots. It seems to be a fascinating puzzle game, where the familiar-looking puzzle style of the trailer then surprises me with the “Destroy All Humans” menu option. But what caught me even more was Duppy Detective Tashia 2024, a detective game set in the Caribbean, in which you’re helping the famous Tashia find her stolen phone and, well, shadow. It is based on the folklore of the region, where the “duppy” is a form of ghost, sometimes an evil spirit, and is the basis for many excellent stories.
Developers: wrench
Release: 2024
TOTAL
Another roaring game name, though this time a word asking for it. This is a tower defense (remember them?) with FPS elements! Oh my god, over the past decade I have written many times about “a tower defense with XXX elements”, but it has never been “FPS”. The trailer is brilliant, and makes the whole thing look breathtaking, even when I’m most confused about how the genres overlap. We’ll find out in a few months!
Developers: Hangy Owl game
Release: January 11, 2023
chicken journey
You could argue that I randomly picked this game because it’s called chicken journey, and on most other days you would be right. But after watching the footage, I discovered a pixel platformer that reminds me of when I was a boy and sprites clinging to vines correct. The whole game looks lovely, with a bunch of fun puzzles and chats, and really looks like a game I wish I was playing right now.
Developers: Loonyware
Release: March 2023
