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Posted by Ben Huber on Oct 27, 2014 in Videogames 
You may have heard of a small indie game from earlier this year called Stranded. It was a unique sci-fi exploration-based adventure game amidst ancient alien ruins depicted with gorgeous pixel art. Now, the devs are teasing their next game, titled Murder, which looks to be exploring a robot murdering a human in a cyberpunk future. They list their biggest inspirations: Masamune Shirow, Katsuhiro Otomo, and Neal Stevenson, among others. Ok, I’m interested! I love this style of world, with its oppressive rain, neon lighting, and dark alleyways. Check out the teaser trailer below, then keep an eye on their website for future updates. Read more…
Tags: Indie Games
Posted by Ben Huber on Jul 5, 2014 in Videogames 
There’s always something new a creative coming out of the indie games scene, and Virginia really caught my eye. Just announced, this first-person interactive drama takes hints from Gone Home and Thirty Flights of Loving, combines it with Twin Peaks and a dash of the X-Files, and comes out feeling fresh and unique. It follows a recently graduated FBI agent and her partner as they investigate the disappearance of a young boy. The developers, Variable State, come from bigger developers in the past, but wanted to strike out and do their own thing, inspired by 90s TV dramas. I love the concept and the art design, so I’m sold already! The game isn’t releasing until 2015, but till then, check out the art and screenshot. Read more…
Tags: Indie Games, Virginia
Posted by Ben Huber on Jun 22, 2014 in Videogames 
Out of all the games at E3 last week, one of the most interesting games that caught my eye was Cuphead. It’s a run-and-gun platformer that can be played single player or co-op — and it has some amazing art direction. Reminiscent of classic cartoons from the 30s and 40s (while still being its own thing), Cuphead hits a niche I didn’t even know I wanted to see. The art is all hand-drawn, and the jazz soundtrack is completely original as well. Really impressive! I can’t wait to see more of it. The game sadly doesn’t come out until 2015, and will arrive on Xbox One and PC. Check out the trailer below. Read more…
Tags: Indie Games, Steam, Xbox One
Posted by Ben Huber on Jun 7, 2014 in Videogames 
Tom Francis, the creative mind behind Gunpoint (one of my favorite indie games from last year), has released a new game: Floating Point. For free. Yes, the whole game. For totally free. He says it’s a ‘thank you’ to all the people who supported Gunpoint and him over the last year, and he wanted to give something back. It’s not a large game, but it is incredibly cool and relaxing. You swing about from shape to shape, collecting objects and listening to some cool tunes. It’s really unique and and be played entirely with your mouse. Oh yeah, and it’s free! Who can argue with that? Check out a trailer below. Read more…
Tags: Gunpoint, Indie Games, Tom Francis
Posted by Ben Huber on May 5, 2014 in Videogames 
Capy has quickly become one of my favorite game developers out there, with their insanely clever and creative collection of games (Sword & Sworcery EP, Below, and now Super Time Force). The latter is finally arriving on Xbox 360 and Xbox One on May 14th. The general concept of the game is that as you platform through the levels, each previous life will repeat its journey beside you, killing the same enemies as before and performing the same actions. If you die enough, eventually you can have an entire army of characters rampaging through the screen — until you get past the point where they died. Check out the trailer below! Read more…
Tags: capy, Indie Games, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Posted by Ben Huber on Apr 5, 2014 in Videogames 
It seems like every month there’s a new indie darling showing up. I’ve got to say, though… Monument Valley really swept me away. It’s a gorgeous (and I do mean gorgeous) iOS puzzle game in which you guide a princess named Ida through complex geometry that remind you of M. C. Escher’s artwork. Impossible shapes and moving parts that defy physics re the name of the game here, and it all flows incredibly well. It also has some fantastic sound design. I highly recommend it! It’s available now on iOS, and will be coming to Android soon. Check out their official site here to grab it or watch the trailer below. Read more…
Tags: Indie Games, iOS
Posted by Ben Huber on Mar 22, 2014 in Videogames 
GDC brought a lot of big announcements, but one of the things I was most interested in seeing was new footage of Hyper Light Drifter. Thankfully, Polygon sat down with the developers of the game and got a nearly 18-minute video featuring footage of the game and dialogue about the game and its features. The animations and art look really impressive despite not being final, which bodes well for the final game. So far it looks like it’ll be exactly the kind of game I want to play. Check out the full video below for some neat footage. Read more…
Tags: Hyper Light Drifter, Indie Games
Posted by Ben Huber on Mar 12, 2014 in Videogames 
Frog Fractions was one of my favorite experiences from last year. It appeared to be simple on the surface, but after a little prodding, revealed a grandiose labyrinth of hidden gameplay and bizarre content that made you yell at the screen is disbelief. It’s really hard to describe, so if you haven’t played it, go do so now, it’s free. Anyway, this brings us to a Kickstarter for Frog Fractions 2. The trick is, you’re paying for a surprise. The release date for the game will not be announced. It’ll just come out at some point, and people will have to find it. The developer says, “It will not be called ‘Frog Fractions 2.’ It will probably be called something like ‘Lost Kingdom: Reckoning,’ by Fork Bomb LLC or ‘Turbo Finance 2015’ by Vespenta Holdings. Does that Russian flight sim on Desura look suspicious to you? Better play it just to make sure!” Amazing. Watch the equally amazing announcement video below and then pledge here. Read more…
Tags: frog fractions, Indie Games, Kickstarter
Posted by Ben Huber on Feb 10, 2014 in Videogames 
Here’s a snappy and addictive new title for you iOS devices: Threes! It’s a surprisingly simple game by Asher Vollmer that requires you to match numbers together. Two “3” cards make a “6” card, two “6” cards make a “12” card, and it keeps building from there. Soon you’re sliding “96” together and swiping around the board in a hypnotic state. Each card is adorned by adorable faces (illustrated by Ridiculous Fishing and Hundreds artist Greg Wohlwend) to some insanely catchy music (by Jimmy Hinson). Just wait until you get the pirate card with an eyepatch. It’s worth it. Check it out here! Read more…
Tags: Apps, Indie Games, iOS
Posted by Ben Huber on Feb 9, 2014 in Videogames 
You can finally play the ultimate simulator video games: Goat Simulator! Yes, you play as a goat, and yes, you buck things. Just charge into everything you find and do your best to send it flying. Carts? Ram it. A bucket? Ram it? A car? Eh, maybe not so much. But you can climb ladders, with an animation clearly inspired by the historic laddergoat. The creators said that this was just a silly experiment in their off time, but given the hugely positive reaction to their video, I imagine they might actually try to release it. I can only hope — I would love to play a goat simulator. Check out the video below! Read more…
Tags: Indie Games
Posted by Ben Huber on Feb 2, 2014 in Videogames 
Here’s a really neat little indie game that just came out: The Floor is Jelly. It’s a platformer with a twist — oh, I know we’ve got plenty of those, but this wraps it all up in such a delicious package it’s hard to ignore. From the wiggly, stretching physics, to the beautiful color palette and design, it exudes a warm, colorful feeling. It also helps that it has a soundtrack by Disasterpeace, one of the best game composers around right now. There’s lots of great little touches in it, such as and way the trees and bushes bounce with the ground, to the schools of fish that swirl around you when you dive underwater. You can buy it online, DRM-free, here for $8.99 for the next few days before it goes back to $9.99. Check out the trailer below! Read more…
Tags: Indie Games
Posted by Bob Muir on Jan 22, 2014 in Videogames 
La-Mulana was a great retro-inspired 2D game with lots of exploration and secrets to uncover. (In fact, you can buy it on Steam for only $1.49 if you get it quickly!) Indie developer Nigoro wants to make a sequel that doesn’t require you to have played the original, and it needs your help to kickstart it on Kickstarter. In La-Mulana 2, you’ll play as the previous protagonist’s daughter, though it looks like her father is still in the game. There will be new monsters to fight in new ruins called Eg-Lana. Nigoro needs to raise $200,000 in funds by February 22, which seems totally doable, but there are of course tantalizing stretch goals to make the game even better. This is something any retro-enthusiast should want to exist! Read more…
Tags: Indie Games, Kickstarter
Posted by Ben Huber on Jan 20, 2014 in Videogames 
Kickstarter! How dare you fulfill young designer’s dreams to finally make the game they’ve always wanted! Yes, Rain World is on Kickstarter. This new indie game stars an adorable little cat-slug creature as it tries to survive in a desolate, possibly post-apocalyptic world. Given that you’re part cat and slug, clambering up pipes, across thin ledges, and through tights spaces in your favorite way to travel. Creepy-crawlies will hunt you, so you must do everything to protect yourself — and your eventual catslug family! They’ve already hit their goal, but you can still pledge if you’d like. Check out some images below, too! Read more…
Tags: Indie Games, Kickstarter
Posted by Ben Huber on Jan 18, 2014 in Videogames 
This was some nice news to see this morning: Octodad: Dadliest Catch will be releasing on Steam, GOG, and Humble on January 30th! The popular indie game features an octopus who’s doing his best to fit in. He might be an octopus, but he’s still got a family, a job, and he’s got to make sure no one realizes that he’s an ocean creature! The trailer shows off a lot of goofy fun – most of the entertainment comes from trying to do basic tasks and your tentacles getting in the way, flopping around – but the second half threw me for a loop. Is Octodad going to make me cry, too? Check out the trailer below. Read more…
Tags: Indie Games, Octodad
Posted by Ben Huber on Jan 18, 2014 in Videogames 
Just a few days ago now, Nidhogg, the intrepid indie title that has been in development for several years now, jumped onto Steam. It’s a simple-looking game on its surface: two dudes face off against each other with swords. But despite only having one button to jump and another to jab with your blade, it becomes very complex, very quick. While you can play single-player or online, the real joy is playing against someone in the same room. Ducking, dodging, and stabbing each other is some of the most fun I’ve had in ages. It’s $11.99 on Steam until January 20th. Read more…
Tags: Indie Games
Posted by Ben Huber on Nov 4, 2013 in Videogames 
It’s rainy. But you’ve got to fix this mess and complete these puzzles. But it’s ok, you’re a robot! A very very sad robot. Reset is a sci-fi noir puzzle game, mixed with a little bit of mystery and atmosphere. While it’s still very early, and the game looks like it needs a little polish yet, I find the concept very intriguing. Portal has shown that you can tell a great story within a puzzle game, so I’m hoping the creators can pull off the mysterious story in Reset. Is humanity long gone? Are these robots just cleaning up the mess? Or is there something deeper going on? Check out the first gameplay trailer below. There’s a Kickstarter coming soon! Read more…
Tags: Indie Games
Posted by Ben Huber on Oct 28, 2013 in Videogames 
Here’s a cool-looking indie game… and it’s not even on Kickstarter! Yet. Paradise Lost: First Contact is a sweet indie game that has a silly title. You play as the monster in a space base and you get to terrify and mutilate the various denizens however you wish as you try to escape. I really like the conceit of playing as the thing that goes bump in the night, and trying to find your way out while using your various alien abilities. The pixel art is also pretty neat. The game will be going up on Kickstarter soon and is on Greenlight now. Check out the trailer below! Read more…
Tags: Indie Games
Posted by Bob Muir on Oct 8, 2013 in Videogames 
Yacht Club Games’ first release, Shovel Knight, is due out later this year. The game is coming out on PC, 3DS, and Wii U (all digital releases), and Nintendo is showing up at Indiecade, so there’s a new trailer to build up more hype for the game in a crowded holiday season. If you haven’t gotten a good look at the game before, watch the trailer and marvel at the NES+ style pixel art and fun, old-school gameplay. If you’re a fan of retro indie games, this one should be on your list! Read more…
Tags: 3DS, Indie Games, Wii U
Posted by Ben Huber on Sep 23, 2013 in Videogames 
Perhaps you’ve already heard it. The echoing cries across the internet. SUPER. HOT. SUPER. HOT. It’s the cry of the recent indie game made for 7dfps that is, unsurprisingly, called SUPERHOT. In it, you play a first person shooter and you must take out everyone in the room. Seems simple, right? But here’s the twist: time moves only when you do. Suddenly, dodging bullets becomes an intricate puzzle and each bullet of your limited ammo is carefully plotted as you plan. The best part? You can play the game right now in your browser with Unity. Right here. Try it! Read more…
Tags: Indie Games
Posted by Ben Huber on Aug 19, 2013 in Videogames 
I was never a big fan of typing games. I’m not sure why, perhaps I associated it too much with “work” and not “fun.” However, Icarus Proudbottom Teaches Typing is a bit of a different beast. Made in one month by Holy Wow Studios for the July 2013 Something Awful GameDev Competition, the idea was to make an educational game that isn’t boring or unentertaining. They lure you in with warnings about profanity and Native American spirit animals and then next thing you know you’re putting points into your typing skilltree and typing like the gods. Trust me, this game is worth it, and you can play it right in your browser, here. Do it. Read more…
Tags: Holy Wow Studios, Indie Games
Posted by Ben Huber on Aug 2, 2013 in Videogames 
Get your wallets ready for a bunch of new games arriving via Steam Greenlight! After much wailing and gnashing of teeth, both Divekick and Papers, Please are finally arriving on Steam. Papers, Please puts you in the role of a border agent who can approve or reject any immigrants papers. It’s a fascinating look into a dark world of borders, immigration, and oppressive governments. It’ll arrive August 8th for $9.99. On the opposite side of the spectrum, Divekick is a fighting game that parodies fighting games and their community. You can only use two buttons: jump and divekick. And it’s amazing. I mean, there’s a Seth Killian character for crying out loud. Divekick will arrive August 20th for $9.99 as well. Buy both of these games! Read more…
Tags: Divekick, Indie Games, Papers, Please
Posted by Ben Huber on Jul 28, 2013 in Videogames 
I love seeing creative and unique new games that come out of the indie game movement. Some are hit, some are miss – some aim so high that there’s no way they can meet expectations, but yet you still admire them for trying something new. Shelter is a recently Greenlit game that is a bit smaller in scope: you play as a mother badger taking care of her cubs, as you explore a wild and dangerous world. You must forage for food and escape danger, all while doing your best to protect your children. The game will arrive late this summer on Steam. Rock, Paper, Shotgun has a great writeup of a playthrough, or you can watch the trailer below. Read more…
Tags: Indie Games
Posted by Ben Huber on Jul 26, 2013 in Cinema, Videogames 
It’s only fitting that the wonderful documentary, Indie Game: The Movie, would get DLC, just like a real video game, right? Ok, ok, it’s technically a special edition, but if you’re like me and own it on Steam as well, then you can now purchase DLC that will upgrade it to the “special edition.” This includes over 100 minutes of new short films, epilogues on what happened to the developers, and new commentaries from the director and Team Meat. If you prefer the feel of a real disc, a full special edition box set is on the way in early August, which you can preorder here. If you haven’t seen this amazing documentary yet – do it! Read more…
Tags: documentary, Indie Game: The Movie, Indie Games
Posted by Ben Huber on Jul 5, 2013 in Videogames 
Do you like rougelikes? Maybe a little Metroidvania-style gameplay? And what about tying it all together with a family tree that let’s you play through each child in a generation? Rouge Legacy is a recent indie game that has really taken off, mainly because of it’s unique take on lives and death. You play as a knight exploring a castle that changes every time you enter – but if you die, it’s permanent. Instead, you return to the castle as your knight’s child, and the cycle continues again. Each new generation of knights has unique traits, some helpful, some hurtful, and some just weird (like colorblindness or hypogonadism). Check out the trailer below, or pick it up on Steam! Read more…
Tags: Indie Games
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