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Opinion
Tron-Like Shooting Game Makes The Blood 1’s and 0’s
Nullpointer is a cyberspace shooter that asks the important question “What if Tron but with guns?” It turns out that the result is a lot of fun. With a replayable rogue-like structure, Nullpointer offers plenty of bit and bytes to blast into oblivion. It’s this week’s Indie Pick. Originally created by Lycaon as part of…
By Heather Alexandra Published August 24, 2017 -
OpinionA Tactics Game Where Your Army Consists Of Woodland Critters
Wild Heart is a simple but fun strategy with a great concept: take a bunch of animals and let them duel using special abilities and smart positioning. It’s a light and charming affair full of fighting foxes and evil wolves. It’s this week’s indie pick. Developed by Tworavens as a university project, Wild Heart doesn’t…
By Heather Alexandra Published August 10, 2017 -
Opinion
A Game That Explains Why Nobody Trusts Each Other Anymore
The Evolution of Trustis an interactive presentation by Nicky Case that explores cheating and cooperation. The short narrative experience attempts to explain the rise of mistrust and suspicion in today’s society through the lens of game theory. It’s fascinating, and it’s this week’s Indie Pick. The Christmas Truce of 1914 was a remarkable show of…
By Heather Alexandra Published August 3, 2017 -
Opinion
A Puzzle Game About A Dungeon Delving Dog
Fidel Dungeon Rescueis puzzle game about a puppy plunging into dangerous dungeons out now on PC and Mac. In it, you must dispose of enemies using their weaknesses all while never doubling back to a tile you’ve already touched. It’s tricky but adorable. Originally published on 4/4/2017 Developed by Daniel Benmergui, Jeremías Babini, and Hernán…
By Heather Alexandra Published August 1, 2017 -
Opinion
Super Meat Boy Creator’s New Game Is Fun But Familiar
The End is Nigh is a new puzzle platformer by former Newgrounds creator Tyler Glaiel and Super Meat Boy’s Edmund McMillen out now on PC. It brings back Meat Boy’s precise controls and movement for a second round of dangerous jumps and spike pits. It’s a bit too familiar, but it’s still a lot of…
By Heather Alexandra Published July 13, 2017 -
Opinion
Convince This Giant Eyeball Of Your Own Self-Worth
A monster made of wings and eyes hangs in the abyss. It calls you a liar and demands that you prove your worth. This is the world of Boa Retina, a game about gender identity and the pain of feeling incomplete. It’s this week’s Indie Pick. Created by Jennifer Raye, Boa Retina is about “messy…
By Heather Alexandra Published July 5, 2017 -
OpinionA Twin Stick Game With No Bullets
Evader is a twin stick arcade game full of bursty voxel explosions and a trippy techno beat. There aren’t any bullets to fire—instead, players blow up baddies with two dots connected by a laser beam. It’s challenging and a lot of fun, which makes it a perfect Indie Pick. Arcade games are meant to be…
By Heather Alexandra Published June 23, 2017 -
Opinion
Moirai Is An Adventure Game With A Killer Twist
Moirai is a first person adventure game set in an idyllic farming village full of secret tragedy. Players explore a deep mine in search of a missing woman, armed only with a knife and their morality. It’s this week’s Indie Pick. I definitely recommend playing Moirai before reading further. The game is free for PC,…
By Heather Alexandra Published June 7, 2017 -
Opinion
A Game With One Door And Hundreds Of Keys
You Have 293 Keys is an absurdist look at game dungeons and an exercise in patience, created by 14HLB. Faced with a locked door and a massive pile of keys, players must brute force their way to victory or give into their deepest frustrations. It’s a silly game that makes repetition into art and a…
By Heather Alexandra Published June 1, 2017 -
Opinion
An Arcade Shooter That’s Anime As Hell
Meka On is a “run-and-gun-and-sword-and-weeb-and-zoom-boom-fwoosh mecha brawler” available on PC, Mac, and Linux. Players guide a giant robot through endless waves of enemies. It’s a delicious slice of arcade fun, full of explosions and laser swords. Anime as all hell, it’s a perfect Indie Pick. I have a special place in my heart for giant…
By Heather Alexandra Published May 24, 2017 -
OpinionA Platformer That Leapt Out Of A Sketchbook
2 is an experimental platformer by hubol that seeks to combine curiosity and platforming. Full of wild visuals, tense boss fights, and cute mini-games, it’s a playful experience that’s a perfect choice for this week’s Indie Pick. One of the things I appreciate most about 2 is the scope. There’s a genuine sense of adventure…
By Heather Alexandra Published May 18, 2017 -
Opinion
Paisley Princess Is A Terrific, Tiny Adventure Game In A 5×5 Grid
Paisley Princess takes all of the excitement and charm of a grand adventure game and shrinks it down to a snug 5×5 scale box for a pint sized bit of hacking and dungeon delving. It’s this week’s Indie Pick. Designed by Will Blanton (aka 01010111) Paisley Princess is a cute, Zelda-esque adventure that you can…
By Heather Alexandra Published May 11, 2017 -
Opinion
A Hand Drawn RPG About Everyday Life
Beeswing is a charismatic game dancing the line between adventure and RPG. Exploring a quiet Scottish village, you help citizens solve their problems in a beautifully handcrafted world. It’s this week’s indie pick. Created by Jack King-Spooner, Beeswing originally released in 2014. With a recent update, you can play the game in your browser. The…
By Heather Alexandra Published May 3, 2017 -
Opinion
Prison Architect Creators’ New Game Lets You Paint Caves With Light
There is nothing but darkness surrounding you. You raise your scanner and paint droplets of iridescent light that cling to the walls, guiding your way towards the surface and, you hope, home. This is Scanner Sombre and it’s this week’s Indie Pick. Scanner Sombre is an exploration game by Introversion Software, the team behind the…
By Heather Alexandra Published April 26, 2017 -
OpinionA Dungeon Crawler Based on Indian Mythology
Asura is a hack and slash that puts you in the role of a dangerous demon fighting an evil maharaja. Inspired by Indian myths and full of intense combat, it’s this week’s Indie Pick. I’m a big fan of rougue-lites and classic dungeon crawling. I picked up Brutal last year and still take time for…
By Heather Alexandra Published April 20, 2017 -
OpinionRoguelike Lets You Kill Your Evil Twin With Mind Bullets
I’m laying down to recover health by bathing my photosynthetic skin in the sun when my evil twin leaps from a portal and starts firing a laser pistol at me. I’m about to conjure a couple of fireballs before my narcolepsy kicks in at the worst time. Just another day in Caves of Qud. It’s…
By Heather Alexandra Published April 12, 2017 -
Opinion
An Arcade Shooter Where Gravity Is Your Plaything
You’re In Space And Everyone Wants You Dead is a flashy arcade shooter where you survive against a horde of monsters while bounding across a dizzying landscape. It doesn’t just have a great name; it’s also damn fun. That’s why it’s this week’s Indie Pick. Made by adamgryu, You’re In Space… is an experiment in…
By Heather Alexandra Published April 5, 2017 -
Opinion
Dogfighting Game Feels Like A Long Lost Sega Classic
Sky Rogue looks like it was ripped right out of an arcade. Colorful graphics, fun combat, and wonderfully realized community content combine for a damn good time. It’s this week’s Indie Pick. I was a bit surprised to see that Kotaku hadn’t covered this game much. My coworker Nathan Grayson enjoyed the gameplay, which is…
By Heather Alexandra Published March 29, 2017 -
Opinion
A Puzzle Game About Shuttling Around Alien Pals
Cosmic Express is a cute and surprisingly difficult puzzler about guiding aliens through a space colony. It’s easy to pick up and offers a lot of challenge underneath all the bright colors. It’s this week’s indie pick! The goal is pretty simple: get the aliens where they need to go on a one way track.…
By Heather Alexandra Published March 22, 2017
