The Indie Highlight is a showcase of indie games I’ve loved. It’s a celebration of innovative development, personal stories, and risk-taking concepts. A place for me to wax poetic about the games that keep my gaming, from the acclaimed darlings of the scene to the hidden gems.
The article below explains a little about where indie games came from, and what defines them.
Death’s Door
If you don’t get excited about a crow with a lightsaber, I don’t know how to talk to you.
Crow Country
The 90s were a strange old time - 3D graphics were just coming into their own, gaming had started to open to the masses, and theme parks were on a different level. Wait, what?
Valfaris: Mecha Therion
We’re not in a decrepit old church anymore, or crawling our way through slimy, alien tunnels - we’re on a revenge tour in a huge mech, and we’re not slowing down.
Slain: Back From Hell
Heavy metal is always a good choice when picking a theme to base a game on - loud, energetic, and ready to kick you in the teeth.
Sheepy/Froggo’s Adventure
Whilst many indie games are personal stories explored through interactive media, experimental ideas, or even epic tales, there are still some that are just fun adventures that don’t need to be big to feel big.
Graveyard Keeper
Graveyard Keeper feels like a game that happens when the intrusive thoughts win. What happens if you let a random guy in a morally loose town take care of the dead?
Harold Halibut
When it comes to an industry where so much has already been done, it’s hard to think of what new innovations could come along. Harold Halibut is proof that there’s always something new to bring.
Eastern Exorcist
Whilst I’m loath to compare everything to Dark Souls, or label any game with one-on-one combat and souls-as-currency a ‘souls-like’, there is some overlap here. It might be more appropriate to label Eastern Exorcist a souls-lite, but that still spikes the back of my brain. For now, let’s just understand a bit more about the game, and we can find a label later if we need one.
Cocoon
The nature of indie games very often allows developers to explore concepts that larger publishing doesn't always lend itself to, for a variety of reasons. Indie and puzzle games often go hand in hand, as do indie games and unusual gameplay mechanics. Indeed, the three very often cross over. So what exactly makes Cocoon special?
BroForce
Over-the-top action? Check. Over-the-top characters? Check. Freedom?! Check. BroForce is nothing if not completely insane. It combines the weirdest mix of every action film ever made, and a fully self-aware understanding of a parody. It’s also an incredibly fun game that still offers a challenge.