The newest Day of the Devs showcase has come and gone, however the stream positioned a highlight on a complete bunch of promising indie video games. The occasion is curated by Double Superb and iam8bit and this digital showcase highlighted dozens of in-progress titles to regulate. The digital present included some world premieres and launch date bulletins, together with a bunch of recent trailers about video games we already knew about.
We winnowed down the checklist to our 14 favorites, so it’s a baker’s dozen plus one. These are all vastly completely different titles, with their very own publishers, genres, budgets and visible kinds. They’ve only one factor in frequent. These are indie video games, in the truest sense of the word.
Launch date announcement
Hyper Gentle Breaker
Are you able to consider it? The successor to the surprise hit Hyper Gentle Drifter is sort of right here, as the sport releases as an early entry title on Steam on January 14. Discover I stated “successor” and never “sequel.” Hyper Gentle Breaker drops the retro 2D Zelda aesthetic in favor of an all-new 3D engine, whereas the story itself is positioned extra as a prequel. It’s additionally not a single-player affair, as this sport locations an emphasis on co-op play. One factor that hasn’t modified? The motion continues to be relentless and there’ll nonetheless be waves of enemies to slash by way of. This follow-up has faced some delays, so it’s good to see we’re solely a month out from giving it a go.
Read the full story on Hyper Light Breaker here.
New video games
PBJ – The Musical
Because the identify suggests, it is a musical sport that stars peanut butter and jelly. The handcrafted artwork model is breathtaking, calling to thoughts stuff like the recent Yoshi games. The title chronicles the invention of the peanut butter and jelly sandwich, so it follows a peanut and a strawberry on their journey to get grinded up, salted, sugared and unfold between two slices of bread. We don’t know precisely how this sport will play, although I spied some quick-time occasions within the trailer, however the music sounds nice and the child-like mangling of Shakespearean dialogue is super-cute.
Neon Abyss 2
The hit run-and-gun roguelite is getting a sequel, and it appears to be like like an enchancment over the unique in each main means. There’s an up to date weapons system and loads of new melee and long-distance weapons to select from, together with a gun that fairly actually shoots out an enormous dragon. Merchandise synergies are again, and are even crazier this time round. The sequel additionally contains most of the random parts from the unique, like slot machines and claw video games.
There are brand-new minigames, comparable to a nifty-looking match-three puzzler. The graphics look just like the unique, however that’s not a nasty factor. I put like 80 hours into the primary one on my Steam Deck, so that is undoubtedly happening my wishlist. Neon Abyss 2 is because of hit early entry in 2025.
Recur
This goofy-looking puzzle platformer duties gamers with controlling a postal employee that may manipulate time. Is a pack of indignant canine (they hate postal employees) harassing you on the beat? Rewind time and put them behind a locked gate. There look to be every kind of distinctive puzzles that benefit from the overlaying sport mechanic. The graphics look beautiful, with a cartoony artwork design, and the world appears to be like each foolish and harmful. It’s being printed by Astra Logical, who launched the well-received Rebots and Star Stuff. We don’t have a launch window for this one, but it surely’s undoubtedly price maintaining a tally of.
Tankhead
This can be a third-person motion sport by which gamers management flying drones that may hook up with robots and automobiles, permitting for distinctive vehicular fight situations. The title Tankhead is kind of literal, because the drone sometimes sits atop the top of a tank. The trailer reveals different weird combos, like some form of nightmare hybrid between a constructing and a horse. Customization appears to be the secret right here, with a myriad of chassis and weapon combos out there. Need some excellent news? Tankhead is on the market proper now on the Epic Video games Retailer.
Blippo+
Right here’s one thing actually fascinating from Panic, the writer behind Untitled Goose Game and the creator of the adorable portable console Playdate. Blippo+ appears to be like much less like a sport and extra like these interdimensional cable episodes of Rick and Morty. The FMV title is a portal to a complete cable platform of made-up TV reveals, full with a listing of what’s airing and extra oddities than you possibly can shake a stick at. It is being developed by YACHT and Telefantasy Studios, and appears to have the same vibe to the latter company’s archive, drag performer included. We aren’t certain what the precise sport might be, or if there even is one beneath the layer of public entry grime, however the trailer certain has us intrigued. It’ll be out there for PC by way of Steam within the close to future.
Different stuff that appears dope
Faraway
In search of one thing easy, but hopelessly addictive? Faraway is a one-button affair that duties people with exploring the furthest reaches of house. That is completed by drawing constellations and connecting stars collectively. It’s a puzzle sport, full with numerous modes, a high-score counter and multipliers. The maps are procedurally generated and the graphics look appropriately minimal. This one has the Annapurna pedigree, so it’s undoubtedly price maintaining a tally of. We may all use a brand new iconic puzzle sport. Faraway might be launched for PC someday in 2025.
Read the full story on Faraway here.
Blue Prince
This sport is described as a “roguelike Gone Dwelling combined with a board sport.” From the trailer, that doesn’t sound thus far off. The sport duties gamers with exploring a big property that modifications each day, as a consequence of an ever-shifting blueprint (thus the title.) There are many household mysteries to unravel and a method part that enables for purposeful rejiggering of the aforementioned blueprint. The vibe is appropriately eerie and, properly, who doesn’t like exploring a creepy outdated mansion? Blue Prince is a PC title that launches within the early a part of subsequent 12 months.
Read the full story on Blue Prince here.
Kingmakers
Have you ever ever wished to vary the course of historical past by going again in time with a couple of machine weapons and laying waste to hordes of medieval-era bozos? That’s the fundamental premise of Kingmakers. The sport asks gamers to “seize a gun and lead a military of hundreds into large, real-time simulated battles.” It’s a mix of motion and technique, like many medieval real-time technique video games, however with an exceptionally sturdy hook. Additionally, all the things is destructible and will be blown up, which is at all times a pleasant contact. The sport will be performed solo or in a co-op mode with as much as 4 gamers. It comes out someday subsequent 12 months as an early access title.
Bionic Bay
This nifty-looking title takes its inspiration from video games like Gravity Rush and Limbo. It’s a side-scrolling platformer with a beautiful aesthetic, identical to the aforementioned Limbo, however the protagonist has the power to manage time and gravity. He also can teleport objects. This results in all method of precision-based platforming and loads of distinctive puzzles, all set throughout an historic biomechanical world. Writer Kepler Interactive, who launched the incredible Pacific Drive, are calling it “a platformer like no different.” It comes out on March 13 for PS5 and PC by way of Steam. It’s out there for wishlisting right now.
Sleight of Hand
This can be a third-person hybrid sport that mixes stealth motion with deckbuilding, all set in a magical noir-tinged metropolis. It’s extraordinarily straightforward on the eyes, with a darkened colour palette and a forged of oddballs. Gamers management an occult detective pulled out of retirement to do one final job. the drill. It’s noir. As for gameplay, the developer’s say it’s like Steel Gear Strong, solely with the weapons and instruments changed by playing cards. These playing cards dictate what strikes and powers can be found. The protagonist can disappear in a puff of smoke or set a bunch of anonymous thugs on fireplace, as long as the deck is true. It appears to be like enjoyable! Sleight of Hand is available to wishlist right now and might be launched for Xbox consoles and PC by way of Steam. It’ll even be out there on Recreation Go when it launches.
Read the full story on Sleight of Hand here.
Feltopia
This “hand-felted cease movement” sport appears to be like completely beautiful and it was developed by a pair of dual siblings. The felt. The material. All of it appears to be like so actual. Feltopia is, principally, a shmup, however with some distinctive mechanics that set it aside from rival shooters. Initially, there might be no killing of enemies. As an alternative, gamers shoot constructive vibes that rework monsters into mates. The builders are calling it a “cute-em-up” as an alternative of a shoot-em-up. Additionally, each single sprite within the sport has been needle-felted by hand. That’s some dedication. You’ll be able to wishlist this one on Steam right now, but it surely doesn’t truly come out till 2026. All of that material work takes time.
Read the full story on Feltopia here.
Incolatus: Do not Cease, Girlypop!
Right here’s one thing I’ve by no means seen earlier than. Incolatus: Do not Cease, Girlypop! is a first-person shooter impressed by early 2000s girly pop. The soundtrack is pumping, all the things is pink and gamers talk by way of a Nokia-style flip cellphone. There’s one other twist, past these retro-soaked vibes. The sport encourages folks to by no means stand nonetheless, just like the early 2000s motion flick Crank. Fixed motion will reward gamers with bonus injury and therapeutic. Lastly, there’s a costume up minigame that’s impressed by CD ROM titles from the Nineteen Nineties and early 2000s. Inject this sport into my Y2K-loving veins please. It’s out there to wishlist on Steam right now and might be launched “quickly.”
Read the full story on Incolatus here.
LOK Digital
Because the identify suggests, it is a digital model of a pre-existing puzzle book. It could appear to be a conventional phrase search puzzle, however gamers are dropped in with none steerage. We’ll have to determine the principles on our personal, which will be deduced by working by way of the 90 puzzles. There’s a authentic story and a complete made-up language. That’s proper. The phrases that comprise every puzzle grid won’t be in English, or in any recognizable language. Each time a participant unlocks (or unloks) a brand new phrase, it supplies a singular energy up. The entire level is to make use of these energy ups to black out your complete grid. It appears to be like fairly enjoyable and, guess what, it’s available right now on PC. The devs say it’ll be launched for cell units subsequent 12 months. This does seem to be the proper pill sport.
If these 14 video games aren’t sufficient, try the entire Day of the Devs stream here!
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