A Video games Record of Solely Superb Hidden Indie Gems and Snubs

Over the previous 12 months we have been slammed with a barrage of very good video games, from AAA blockbusters similar to Baldur’s Gate 3, Resident Evil 4 Remake, and Alan Wake II, to indie darlings similar to Towards the Storm, Pizza Tower, and Cocoon. Nonetheless, hidden within the shadows of those excellent video video games that had been performed by thousands and thousands had been equally spectacular titles that by no means bought the possibility to bounce below the brilliant lights.

On this article, we’ll introduce you to a different 20 hidden indie gems you possible have not heard of, however which totally deserve your consideration. Whereas the majority of those titles have been launched in latest occasions, we have additionally bought a collection of video games that got here out within the final 3 to 4 years.

These are all indies, and whereas some managed to seize the eye of media or players, if just for some time, each sport on the listing beneath might be categorised as a highlight snub. We have listed them alphabetically since that appeared like probably the most truthful option to showcase them, contemplating they’re all fairly darn good…

What number of video games have you learnt out of those 20?
> Do not miss our reader ballot on the finish of the article… <

A Highland Music

Click on on picture for gameplay video

At 15 years of age, Moira McKinnon determined to run away and eventually see the ocean along with her personal eyes. However the street to the shore is long-winded, crammed with environmental perils, paths that lead nowhere, and every kind of dangerous climate that may creep upon you in a minute within the Scottish Highlands the place A Highland Music takes place.

This 2D journey / platformer manages to create an immensely wealthy and distinctive world of intertwined 2D planes with a formidable feeling of depth. A world the place you will get misplaced in a jiffy after making only a handful of unsuitable turns. So it’s important to climb close by peaks and map your route by fixing map-based puzzles as a way to discover your method ahead, transfer deeper into the 2D airplane of the sport to find new routes, and conceal in caves and ruins from occasions lengthy gone to climate storms and proceed your journey to the ocean.

Purchase it from: Steam

Bzzzt

Click on on picture for gameplay video

A pixel artwork platformer that includes tight controls, difficult gameplay, excellent degree design, a traditional mode the place a single hit means demise, and a time problem in every degree, Bzzzt is a speedrunners dream, however this doesn’t suggest others will not benefit from the sport.

Decrease the issue and Bzzzt transforms right into a extremely pleasant exact platformer with a near-perfect circulation, greater than 50 ranges, and collect-them-all challenges which might be extra suited to common players who’re superb with getting higher at a sport however do not discover the near-insurmountable problem at larger issue ranges all that engaging.

Add a lot of thrilling boss battles, the truth that you’ll be able to end most ranges in a minute or much less, very good optimization permitting the sport to be performed on a toaster or any handheld gaming PC, and you have one of many slickest platformers of latest years that begs in your consideration. Bzzzt affords one thing for everybody, so long as they seem to be a fan of platformers.

Purchase it from: Steam, GOG

Cobalt Core

Click on on picture for gameplay video

While you hear the phrases “roguelike deckbuilder,” among the issues that come to your thoughts in all probability embody punishing issue, barebones story, and static battles the place neither you nor your opponents transfer across the battlefield. Cobalt Core subverts these expectations, presenting a deckbuilder roguelike that options an enticing meta-story, a number of ranges of issue, and dynamic battles the place it’s important to care about your place as a lot as your card synergies.

This sport appeals to those that sometimes do not get pleasure from roguelikes by encouraging gamers to embark on one other run not solely with guarantees of cool new playing cards and enjoying characters to unlock, but in addition by unveiling a brand new character-specific story bit every time you end a run. It is a nice carrot-and-stick mechanic for players who lean extra towards story-rich video games than titles that put gameplay in entrance of every part else. That stated, Cobalt Core isn’t a one-trick pony on the subject of unlocks. Except for the slowly unraveling meta-story, you additionally unlock new crew members, playing cards, and ships.

And contemplating that every crew member solely has three unlockable story bits – out of 18 bits in whole – and that every ship has totally different unlock necessities, the sport continually pushes you to experiment with new crew members and crew combos, every character having their very own distinctive deck of playing cards, and take a look at enjoying at larger difficulties as an alternative of settling right into a feeling-good-but-not-trying-new-stuff rut when you discover a crew and ship combo that fits your playstyle the perfect.

Purchase it from: Steam

Dodgeball Academia

Click on on picture for gameplay video

Dodgeball Academia is a sports activities RPG paying homage to a Saturday morning cartoon, with gameplay akin to a 90s console RPG, crammed with humorous and healthful moments, with a forged of quirky however lovable characters and a ton of participating dodgeball battles. The sport affords a captivating story and a compact sport world crammed with content material that also manages to maintain the spirit of exploration alive since every a part of the map has its justifiable share of hidden collectibles.

The story unfolds over the course of a couple of dozen hours, with the sport continually feeding gamers with new areas to discover and new opponents that can check your dodgeball and roster-building talents. Dodgeball battles are simple at first, however afterward within the sport, you’ll have to sweat as a way to be the final man standing. Don’t dodge this sport!

Purchase it from: Steam, GOG

El Paso, Elsewhere

Click on on picture for gameplay video

What would you get for those who’d combine parts of Max Payne and Management after which glaze the ensuing potpourri with retro visuals? In all probability one thing similar to El Paso, Elsewhere.

It is a style-and-substance neo-noir third-person shooter that appears and feels nice. Battle tons of bizarrely-looking enemies, use bullet time like there is not any tomorrow, and unveil the story of affection gone foul.

The sport options pretty retro visuals alongside continuous explosive motion the place utilizing bullet time is as pure and frequent as respiratory. Ranges are designed in a option to promote Max Payne-like sort of set items the place model is as necessary as getting issues completed, the place the expertise of taking pictures baddies is the perfect a part of the entire sport. Verify this one out, you will not remorse it.

Purchase it from: Steam, GOG, Itch

Empty Shell

Click on on picture for gameplay video

If one expression may describe Empty Shell, it could be “an train in futility.” Empty Shell is an unrelenting, dissonant barrage of punishing encounters that always result in a fast sport over.

The sport’s overly darkish, twisted, ill-defined visuals that often pressure you to squint as a way to see the enemies marching in direction of you provides a second layer of unapproachability that punishes its gamers each by way of gameplay and visible presentation.

However for those who persevere and provides Empty Shell an opportunity, you are in for a deal with. At the very least for those who like gruelingly troublesome survival horror video games with an obtuse, twisted story, oppressive ambiance, and roguelike gameplay loop. The sport’s tactical gameplay that does not forgive errors can change into tremendous addicting. If you happen to like this sort of video games, you may end up awake at 3am after yet one more defeat, urging your physique to search out sufficient vitality to embark on simply one other run.

Purchase it from: Steam

Islets

Click on on picture for gameplay video

Islets is a one-man undertaking that oozes artful design and love for the Metroidvania style. As an alternative of happening the route of blocky pixel artwork, Islets makes use of hand-drawn art work to offer life to the tiny but courageous mouse you play as, and its playground made of assorted islands floating among the many clouds.

The sport appears nice but in addition incorporates a well-designed gameplay loop the place you discover pretty giant standalone maps crammed with upgrades, bosses, and exquisite surroundings. The catch right here is that your aim is to reunite the fragmented islands, which in flip mends the maps and drops new areas to discover and upgrades to gather, making the method of backtracking the style is thought for a lot much less tedious than in most different metroidvanias.

Except for the attractive hand-painted visuals, music in Islets can also be worthy of reward. Lush visuals mixed with sprightly melodies give Islets a vivacious and opulent ambiance, the exact opposite of the somber tones of Hole Knight. Locking it in is comparatively easy fight that is not too onerous, permitting gamers to deal with exploration and contentment of the sport’s astonishing ranges as an alternative of attempting to git gud as a way to beat the boss they have been caught on the final three hours.

Purchase it from: Steam, GOG, Epic Video games Retailer

Loddlenaut

Click on on picture for gameplay video

Choose up trash, recycle supplies, clear the ocean, and revive the planet. The premise of Loddlenaut is straightforward, and this cozy sport within the vein of “A Brief Hike” would not attempt to oversell itself, in contrast to many different such titles that market themselves like they’re the second coming of A Brief Hike.

The sport’s chill gameplay and the truth that you’ll be able to befriend cute axolotl-like loddles will win you over the second you place in your diving helmet and dive into the polluted ocean of the planet GUP-14, which can quickly be cleaned by none apart from your self. Loddlenaut is a wickedly cozy sport with slews of allure.

Purchase it from: Steam

OlliOlli World

Click on on picture for gameplay video

The primary two OlliOlli video games had been tons of enjoyable, and the newest entry maintains the unbeatable high quality of the OlliOlli circulation expertise whereas additionally taking the franchise into 3D realms. Lauded by critics however failing to change into a smash indie hit critiques had been hinting at, OlliOlli World deserves your consideration for those who’re into the fast-paced combo-hoarding model of video games that pack tons of favor and substance.

The sensation of touchdown one combo after one other whereas driving via deftly designed ranges and whereas the frenzy of pleasure in your mind is rising with every second till you cross the end line and uncover that you’ve got managed to accrue sufficient factors to advance to the following degree is without doubt one of the greatest examples of a top quality tension-and-release design in a contemporary sport. And for those who’re into conquering every degree, the sport affords a lot of further achievements that normally require full dedication to be obtained.

Purchase it from: Steam

Patch Quest

Click on on picture for gameplay video

Patch Quest is a peculiar indie sport that mixes among the greatest parts of roguelites, metroidvanias, and shmups, infuses them with Pokemon-like creature amassing, and serves the ultimate course with an additional dose of problem. The sport world is humongous and rife for exploration, however you may have to attend a bit and die just a few occasions earlier than you receive sufficient upgrades to outlive on the earth of Patch Quest for lengthy sufficient to embark on prolonged runs and truly handle to attain some cool loot and unlock extra everlasting upgrades.

When you get the ball rolling the sport opens up, and also you’re greeted with a ton of content material that features quite a few gadgets to acquire, everlasting upgrades to unlock, dungeons to discover, and managers to beat. One other excellent news is that taking pictures this is phenomenal, with the sport packing a large sufficient collection of weapons and skills to not flip stale when you change into highly effective sufficient to current an actual hazard to the denizens of Patchlantis. Final however not least, the sport helps split-screen co-op for as much as 2 gamers, which means you’ll be able to shuffle issues up with a buddy as soon as solo exploration begins to change into uninteresting.

Purchase it from: Steam

Pseudoregalia

Click on on picture for gameplay video

Pseudoregalia is a 3D metroidvania that places the enjoyment of movement in entrance of every part else. Its N64-like visuals could also be off-putting to some, however when you enter the fortress, unlock just a few talents that make traversing the degrees a breeze, and embark on the hunt to search out all keys wanted to face the ultimate problem, Pseudoregalia turns into one of the crucial addictive metroidvanias on the market.

Every degree within the sport features a few areas you’ll be able to attain by pulling off inventive, sequence breaking transfer combos and utilizing the extent design to your benefit. This design choice at all times retains you guessing whether or not you’ll be able to advance along with your present set of strikes or need to unlock extra talents, eliciting a charming gameplay loop crammed with rewarding discoveries.

The one factor we advise all potential gamers is to make use of the sport map obtainable on this Steam information, until you get pleasure from free-form exploration and sometimes getting misplaced in sport worlds for hours on finish.

Purchase it from: Steam, Itch

Roadwarden

Click on on picture for gameplay video

If you happen to fancy enjoying a text-based RPG with troves of selections to make and exquisite isometric pixel artwork embellishing virtually each dialog window, look no additional than Roadwarden. That is an expertly crafted RPG the place many facet quests embody a lot of impactful selections to make and the place combating mobs contains plenty of studying, typing, and clicking on multiple-choice solutions.

This choose-your-adventure sport would not attempt to escape its text-heavy roots, nevertheless it additionally manages to create a gameplay loop the place you cease caring about not with the ability to swing your ax at dangerous guys and as an alternative embrace the sport’s dialog home windows crammed with textual content and cute pixel artwork illustrations.

The sport contains three courses to select from, every distinctive sufficient to supply a very totally different expertise than the opposite two; an incredible incentive to beat the sport a number of occasions. Professional tip: in order for you the utmost degree of immersion, flip the time restrict off and take your time absorbing the masterfully written fantasy world of Roadwarden.

Purchase it from: Steam

Rush Rally 3

Click on on picture for gameplay video

One man’s journey of making an final indie rally simulation had began years in the past on smartphones, with the third iteration of the Rush Rally collection being the primary one to launch on PC. And, oh boy, this one’s a keeper.

If you happen to like Colin McRae video games, together with the newer Filth titles similar to Filth 2 and Filth 3, you may love Rush Rally 3. The sport is a simcade rally racer with a meaty marketing campaign and greater than 20 rally automobiles from all eras you’ll be able to unlock, customise, tune, and improve. The phases are a pleasure to drive and might get greater than a bit difficult as you progress via the marketing campaign mode.

As for the driving mannequin, it leans extra in direction of the arcade however contains real looking physics of driving over totally different surfaces, in addition to fairly detailed deformation and injury fashions. Lastly, whereas the visuals will not blow your thoughts, they match properly with the general retro really feel of the sport, taking you again to the 2000s and early 2010s, the golden age of Colin McRae and Filth video games. If you happen to want isometric racers, try Rush Rally Origins from the identical developer.

Purchase it from: Steam

South Scrimshaw, Half One

Click on on picture for gameplay video

A free visible novel that includes an authentic story a couple of whale rising up in an ocean that is uncannily comparable but completely alien to ours in addition to among the greatest illustrations you may ever see in a sport is a deal you should not miss, even when visible novels aren’t your cup of tea.

As an alternative of enjoying out a branching story crammed with selections, penalties, a number of endings, and all that jazz, South Scrimshaw affords a novel method of telling a narrative in a online game. This visible novel makes use of a pseudo-documentary model of narration with totally voiced traces and exhaustively detailed worldbuilding that features particulars not solely about lifeforms occupying the stated ocean but in addition concerning the human-led expedition that found the planet on which the story takes place.

If there is a main flaw with the sport, it is the truth that it ends form of in the midst of the story and that now we have to attend for half two to see how the story ends.

Obtain it from: Steam, GOG, Itch

Stasis: Bone Totem

Click on on picture for gameplay video

The Brotherhood is a studio with a knack for isometric journey video games boasting a observe file that features admirable achievements similar to Lovely Desolation and Cayne. Their newest sport, Stasis: Bone Totem, is arguably The Brotherhood’s greatest sport so far.

Whereas previous video games from The Brotherhood lacked in a method or one other, Stasis: Bone Totem is the place every part clicks into place. You have bought spectacular visuals, intelligent puzzles which might be enjoyable to resolve, an enticing story, phenomenal worldbuilding and artwork course, an excellent soundtrack, and a gameplay loop that tries to innovate on the tried-and-true point-and-click journey hallmarks.

And whereas journey aficionados will most probably adore this one, Stasis: Bone Totem must be performed by everybody who likes darkish, bleak sci-fi video games with a top quality story. Better of all, regardless of the sport being a sequel to 2015’s Stasis, the 2 video games solely share the universe they passed off in.

Purchase it from: Steam, GOG, Epic Video games Retailer

Tremendous Woden GP 2

Click on on picture for gameplay video

If you happen to’ve ever wished for a retro-styled isometric tackle the legendary Gran Turismo 4, Tremendous Woden GP 2 is that sport. The meat and potatoes of the sport contains the hefty marketing campaign that can see you drive automobiles in a dozen totally different courses, every class with distinctive dealing with and methods to go quick across the tracks. The sport affords a ton of various automobiles to acquire, both by unlocking them by profitable championships or shopping for them at automobile tons.

Regardless of the sport’s arcadey dealing with, every championship in Tremendous Woden GP 2 feels totally different. Rally automobiles can drive throughout grass and grime virtually as quick as on asphalt, compact hatchbacks speed up like lighting and are tremendous simple to regulate, however their max pace leaves one thing to be desired, whereas the highly effective GT automobiles have each the acceleration and max pace, however require a gold certificates on the braking academy.

The varied providing of championships, the flexibility to improve each automobile you personal, in addition to a slew of content material together with four-way split-screen native multiplayer for when your pals come out, weekly on-line occasions with leaderboards, greater than 180 automobiles to unlock, and an excellent variety of significantly difficult time trial races that put your mettle to the check make Tremendous Woden GP 2 the most effective indie races on the market, interval.

Purchase it from: Steam

The Multi-Medium

Click on on picture for gameplay video

An easy but participating puzzle platformer gameplay the place each degree follows a unique artwork model with the one fixed being the ragdoll-like enjoying character, and the truth that each asset present in The Multi-Medium is hand drawn or hand painted make this one a doozie.

Mechanically, The Multi-Medium performs like your regular puzzle platformer. You spend your time operating, leaping, avoiding obstacles, fixing puzzles, and combating numerous bosses and common enemies whereas attempting to remain alive and go to simply one other world. However as the sport progresses, you uncover that the majority worlds characteristic a novel gameplay mechanic that retains stuff contemporary and prevents the sport from turning right into a chore after the preliminary amazement with the improbable artwork design fades.

The platforming sections are intermittently dotted with numerous puzzles which might be, typically, comparatively easy but enjoyable to resolve, supplying the sport with an excellent quantity of participating content material however stopping gamers from getting caught on that one super-hard puzzle discovered in lots of different comparable titles. On the finish of the day, The Multi-Medium is a cute little hidden gem that revels within the ambiance and is without doubt one of the greatest methods to spend a pair hours of your free time.

Purchase it from: Steam

Tunguska: The Visitation

Click on on picture for gameplay video

Whilst you’re ready for S.T.A.L.Okay.E.R. 2: Coronary heart of Chernobyl, you possibly can strive Tunguska: The Visitation. This sport takes the S.T.A.L.Okay.E.R system and locations it in an isometric perspective, all whereas maintaining even nearer to the principle inspiration for each video games, Roadside Picnic. As an alternative of the zone being across the Chernobyl nuclear half, the Soviet Exclusion Zone in Tunguska: The Visitation is situated across the Podkamennaya Tunguska River, close to which the mysterious Tunguska explosion occurred in 1908.

The Soviet Exclusion Zone is crammed with perils but in addition treasures, untold tales, and tons of enemies starting from fellow human stalkers to otherworldly mutants that may flip the ambiance in direction of survival horror the second you encounter one.

The sport’s designed as a light-survival shooter with RPG parts, permitting gamers to design distinctive builds revolving round taking pictures every part that strikes, sticking to the shadows, or every part in between. You have bought tons of content material, a chunky story with a lot of cool discoveries and twists, and an exploration-heavy, zero-quest marker gameplay loop that continually drives you ahead into the unknown.

Purchase it from: Steam, GOG, Itch

Beneath A Star Lengthy Chilly

Click on on picture for gameplay video

Beneath A Star Lengthy Chilly is yet one more stealth-focused micro sport from Antonio Freyre that options retro visuals and sensible stealth motion gameplay. However in contrast to most of his different works that comply with a linear story, Beneath A Star Lengthy Chilly is an open-world sport that duties you with looting sufficient sources to pay your money owed earlier than the planet you are on will get destroyed. You have got half-hour, and the way in which you sort out this time-based problem is totally as much as you.

This time trial twist retains the sport contemporary and offers it a ton of replay worth. You may strive totally different approaches and techniques and check whether or not you’ll be able to end a run efficiently sooner by taking it gradual and quiet, or using a guns-blazing strategy.

When you amass sufficient money to repay your money owed, you’ll be able to simply keep on with your favourite schtick and take a look at beating your excessive rating, or strive mixing issues up. The well-designed stealth gameplay will in all probability change into the go-to strategy for many gamers, however the appreciable problem of your debt-repaying quest will most probably be a motivation to experiment whereas attempting to get off the planet alive.

Purchase it from: Steam, Itch

Zortch

Click on on picture for gameplay video

Zortch Maxinum wished to avoid wasting money, so she booked a less expensive vacation package deal. The alien ruse has succeeded, and Zortch is now caught in an alien world attempting to get again dwelling whereas killing hordes of fairly unfriendly aliens that come in additional than 30 flavors. Zortch is a love letter to FPS video games launched through the early 2000s; the sundown of the N64 and the daybreak of the PS2 period.

The visuals comply with the requirements set by the PC and console shooters of that point, however the degree design leapfrogs a lot of the stated video games, providing an explosive motion sport crammed with early aughts humor and uniquely designed weapons. Zortch is a correct banger that must be performed by everybody who grew up through the golden age of N64 and PS2. In spite of everything, a sport endorsed by David Szymanski of the Nightfall and Gloamwood fame cannot be dangerous.

Purchase it from: Steam, Itch

Reader Ballot: