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OpinionShape Of The World Is A Gorgeous Exploration Game
Shape of the World is an exploration game that weaves colors into breathtaking landscapes. The shifting pastel horizons create one of the best game worlds I’ve ever explored, capturing both the thrill of hiking and the colors of a solid psilocybin trip Shape of the World invites comparison to 2013’s exploration game Proteus, but while…
By Heather Alexandra Published June 29, 2018 -
OpinionThis PlayStation-Inspired Arcade Game Is Scarier Than It Looks
OK/NORMAL is an experimental arcade game by Toni Kortelahti that embraces the visuals of early PlayStation games. The game, which captures the strange and abstract worlds of mid-90s 3D, is one of several new indie titles that embrace a new form of “retro” aesthetics. It’s an oppressive, bizarre, and overwhelming game whose glitch spaces are…
By Heather Alexandra Published June 20, 2018 -
OpinionA Game About Stopping Corporate Demon Takeovers
Settling a bet with Rock, Paper, Scissors is nice but it’s even better when you can read the future. In Fortune 499, you use fortune-telling cards to predict your opponent’s move and win battles against the demons attacking the human resources department. Fun combat and a unique twist on magical bureaucracy make it a perfect…
By Heather Alexandra Published June 8, 2018 -
Opinion
Clever New Text Game Asks Whether You’ll Trust An Alien
In Quarantine Circular, a plague is ravaging humanity, destroying cities and pushing our existence to the brink. As extinction looms, a mysterious creature from the stars appears, their motives unclear. It’s up to you to navigate the situation and hopefully save humanity. Quarantine Circular is created by Thomas Was Alone developer Mike Bithell as a…
By Heather Alexandra Published May 23, 2018 -
OpinionSpartan Fist Was Born In A Bowl Of Spaghetti And Carpet Fragments
Spartan Fistis a first person brawler where you have to punch your way through randomly generated maps. Along the way, there’s tons of special attacks and silly upgrades that turn each new playthrough into a hilarious beatdown of hapless enemies. Developed by Seattle based developer Glass Bottom Games, Spartan Fist’s origins spring from personal tragedy.…
By Heather Alexandra Published May 16, 2018 -
Opinion
A Game That Explains How Good (And Bad) Ideas Spread
The Wisdom and/or Madness of Crowds is an interactive game by Nicky Case all about how ideas and trends spread. Short puzzles teach the player how popular perception changes as groups grow smaller or larger. It’s an important lesson wedged between devious brain teasers and a perfect Indie Pick. We’ve featured Case’s work before, which…
By Heather Alexandra Published May 10, 2018 -
OpinionPhoton Highway Is The Perfect Racing Game To Play On A Lunch Break
Sometimes, you just want to hit the road. Photon Highway takes cues from games like Audiosurf and Temple Run to create a randomized highway through the stars. It’s great for those times you want to sit back and cruise away from life’s problems. Created by Sirnic, Photon Highway is a moody racing game with a…
By Heather Alexandra Published May 2, 2018 -
OpinionA Hand Drawn RPG With Great Boss Fights
Lucah looks like it leapt right off a chalkboard, with a distinct hand drawn style somewhere between wild scribblings and hallucinations. It mixes tense combat and exploration into a wild action-RPG. Created by melessthanthree, Lucah takes place in a dream world full of monsters. The player takes the role of Lucah, a young adventurer seeking…
By Heather Alexandra Published April 26, 2018 -
OpinionIndie Brawler Has Some Of The Best Punching Ever
Beat the Art Breaker is a game about dashing around and punching folks. It’s not done yet, but a new playable demo gives a glimpse at an indie game that has a fast and exciting take on hand to hand combat. Beat the Art Breaker is designed by Jesse Burnett, whose work I’ve shared before.…
By Heather Alexandra Published April 18, 2018 -
OpinionFree Game Is WarioWare With Ducks
Duck Jam mixes WarioWare style mini-games with a touch of absurdist comedy to tell the story of a bunch of ducks trying to make money. Bills, you could say. The fast-paced change from one game mode to another means you need to always be on your toes if you want to avoid begging for bread…
By Heather Alexandra Published April 11, 2018 -
OpinionNew Switch Port Is One Of The Best Bullet Hell Games I’ve Played
Danmaku Unlimited 3 is a bullet hell arcade game that came out for PC last year but was recently released for the Nintendo Switch. The laser-filled shoot ‘em up is exciting, with tight dodges and massive beam blasts that make for a good time. Danmaku Unlimited 3 chases after other bullet hell games like Ikaruga…
By Heather Alexandra Published April 4, 2018 -
OpinionBleed 2 Is A Non-Stop, Action-Packed Daydream
Bleed 2 initially released last year for PC, Playstation 4, and Xbox One, but was ported to the Switch this month. It’s a relentless action game full of air dashes, bullet deflecting, and tons of bosses that feels freshly sprung from the mind of an eight-year-old on a sugar high. Developed by Ian Campbell, Bleed…
By Heather Alexandra Published March 28, 2018 -
OpinionA Low Poly Horror Game That Gets Under Your Skin
Paratopic is a horror game about cursed video tapes and horrible monsters lurking in the woods. Following an assassin, a smuggler, and a photographer, it’s a slow-burning tale of violence that uses film editing techniques to ramp up the tension. It’s a perfect, moody Indie Pick. Paratopic, available now for Windows PC, tells the story…
By Heather Alexandra Published March 23, 2018 -
OpinionThis Puzzle Platformer Is Giving Me Mario 2 Flashbacks
Uurnog Uurnlimited feels like a knock-off Super Mario Bro 2. It’s a blocky platform puzzler where you pick up and throw everything, from enemies to bombs. It’s a bit rough around the edges, but its freeform approach to puzzle design means that you’re able to come up with your own solutions. It’s a sneaky little…
By Heather Alexandra Published March 14, 2018 -
OpinionSecret Little Haven Is A Game That Captures The Feel Of Late 90’s AOL
Capturing the feeling of early AOL chats can be difficult, while crafting an engrossing LGBT narrative can be ever harder. Secret Little Haven nails both, transporting players to the earlier days of the internet and telling a story that is both empathetic and believable. It’s intriguing and a great choice for this week’s indie pick.…
By Heather Alexandra Published March 7, 2018 -
OpinionIs That Bear Driving A Car?
Enviro-Bear 2000 is an arcade driving game about a bear frantically careening through the forest to grab fish and berries before winter comes. Awkward controls and loose car physics turn foraging into a dizzying affair of hairpin turns and rabid possums. It’s a classic game and perfect Indie Pick. Released by Justin Smith in 2010,…
By Heather Alexandra Published February 28, 2018 -
OpinionTactics Game Lets You Possess Hapless Villagers
Ambition of the Slimes is a tactical roleplaying game where the player wrangles an army of vulnerable slimes. By themselves, these cute critters are squishy and easily defeated but they have a trick up their sleeve: they can possess enemy units. Created by altairworks, Ambition of the Slimes offers a quick blast of tactics action…
By Heather Alexandra Published February 21, 2018 -
OpinionPaintball Game Brings Out Your Inner Artist
Joy Exhibition is a freeform art game in which the player must communicate with a mute alien race by painting. They are given a blank canvas, a massive arsenal of procedurally generated paint guns, and free rein to create whatever art they can think of. Created by game developer Strangethink, Joy Exhibition is a celebration…
By Heather Alexandra Published February 15, 2018 -
OpinionIf You Like Metroid, Play Dandara
Dandara is an action game where you can’t run. Your character leaps from wall to wall across massive maps while battling bosses and collecting power ups. It takes the exploration of Metroid and adds a ton of style. Created by Brazilian developer Long Hat House, Dandara tells the story of a warrior who must save…
By Heather Alexandra Published February 7, 2018
