It has been a pretty busy month for me, even when ignoring the global issues, having a newborn baby around the house has seriously dented my indie game playing time, although I’ve managed to cycle through a few gems and there are a couple of changes that I’ve made to the top 10 list. Let me know in the comments if you think I’ve missed any, and I must say there’s a couple of games I know I haven’t gotten around to yet that I really hope that I can catch up with over the next few months!
10 – Monster Viator
This is probably the unexpected game on my list and when I first played it I didn’t expect it to be as interesting as it was. An old school turn based RPG that screams nostalgia and is just fun to play. It doesn’t have the same visual aesthetic as a game such as Ara Fell, but there’s just something about the game that keeps you coming back. This one can be played on a number of different platforms and is one to look into if you love the retro RPG genre.
9 – Darksburg
Darksburg is best described as a top down view vermintide game with MOBA style controls and abilities. It’s a lot of fun and is really good to play co-operative in a four person squad. It has a great feeling of horde gaming with large arrays of enemies to fight, and I really like the special enemies, that each have their own unique way to try and spoil your run through. The difficulty is set pretty high, and i’m curious how much replayability it has, given there’s currently only 5 maps to chose from, but it’s a game definitely worth checking out!
8 – Iris & The Giant
When I looked at Iris and The Giant before playing, I wasn’t sure if it was going to be a game that I enjoyed. It had, what looked to be a simple deck building mechanics, but I loved the art direction so I gave it a go. I was wrong. It is fantastic and is a game that would be higher up if not for the fact that there has been so many top notch roguelite games released this year. The game plays fast, with interesting build paths and strategy, and has a lot more depth than I had thought after getting into it. The art and aesthetic remains fantastic, and it’s a definitely can hold its head up high in the genre!
7– The Longing
So I have to come out clean here, I forgot about The Longing when I did my first list, and if the title of this post was “the most unique games of 2020” I think it would probably come in top of the list. A game in which you need to pass time, for 400 days until you get to see the king wake up. It’s slow, as in possibly the slowest game you will ever play, and you can read whole books within the game, but it has this romantic and relaxing feel to it, mixed in with quirky interactions that make it a worthy game to check out. I must say that this game is one which feels like a work of out, expression that transcends pure entertainment, and is a project which I feel should be lauded for it’s willingness to be completely different to everything else out there!
6 – Crown Trick
One of the newer games that I’ve played, Crown Trick is a game that i’ve spent a fair amount of hours playing through the beta, and it’s got a lot to like about it. Another roguelike game in such a competitive genre, this one has a point in different in the way the movement and turn based system works. In a similar style to games like Crypt of the Necrodancer, Crown Trick has all enemies and abilities working in time with your own moves, which makes it a strategic game in which you control the pace of everything. A game which already is a lot of fun, and one which i’m looking forward to seeing in a fully fledged version.
5 – Space Gladiators – Escaping Tartarus
When I saw the video for Space Gladiators I thought it looked cool enough, but was surprised at how well it controls and how it adds up in a really crowded rogue lite genre. It’s a funny game, but the humour is intertwined with really solid mechanics and addictive game play which will keep you coming back for more. There is the different add ons that you expect in an action platformer with roguelike elements and playing as a potato was just so much more fun. I never knew how much I needed to smash my way through enemies as a potato. A very under rated game in my opinion!
4 – Ara Fell
I’ve spent a bit more time playing through Ara Fell this month, and I continue to be drawn into it’s nostalgic sense of being a classic RPG. Beautiful graphics set in a charming world with fun characters that will draw you in. Ara Fell released on the Switch this year after previously having a presence on others platforms. I can’t reiterate how much I love the art style on this one and a great game for traditional style RPG lovers. I’ve found myself drifting away from the RPG genre which i enjoyed in the past, and it was nice to play something that had all the elements that I’ve always been drawn to in a turn based game.
3- Skul The Hero Slayer
I’m not addicted to Roguelikes, you’re addicted to roguelikes! But seriously this ones a fun game to play and surprisingly uncomplicated in a genre which can sometimes be so technical that you need a manual to work your way through. Skul is a fast paced action game with lots of fighting and unique characters that you can find along the way. I really appreciate how simple it is to pick up skul and play and feel like your beating the daylights out of toxic trees, and yet there is still a sense of progression and that feeling that you are improving. The hero fights are awesome and fun as well. I’ve dropped a lot of hours into this one and never got bored of it!
2- Coffee Talk (Nintendo Switch)
I’m still desperately looking for another story heavy game to fill the void of Coffee Talk, and it is the only game on this list i’ve spent a large amount of time playing through with my partner! Potentially my number 1 pick from earlier in the year and very much different from the rest of the list according to the genre of game it falls under. Coffee Talk is at its heart a story told through the dialogue and interactions of a unique set of characters with their own problems. Yes there is some coffee to make and relax with, but its the story and relationships that keeps you playing this one! I’ve always been impressed with the creators ability to create storylines that are relevant and understandable whilst utilising characters from a fantasy and science fiction set of races. The art is unbelievable and you will learn to love Freya by the end!
1 – One Step From Eden (Nintendo Switch)
Still coming in as my number on pick of the year and I must say, although i haven’t read through any patch notes, it feels like they might have lowered the difficulty of the game on my most recent play through. It definitely felt much more forgiving, and I could see why that would make One Step an easier learning curve. It’s going to take a cracking game to knock it off the top spot this year! A fun game to watch, one full of progression and moments of pure frustration. One step mixes fast paced “megaman battle network” style fighting mechanics with a technical deck building system that makes it a game that has so much depth you might just get lost (I definitely did) before it starts to become clear. I feel like an amateur playing it, but it has been a refreshing experience of getting my backside kicked repeatedly just trying to unlock those extra characters! Definitely one for the people with quick reactions and great memory of patterns!
What do you think of the changes? Let me know your thoughts!
Indie Game Blitz 