The newest Day of the Devs showcase has come and gone, however the stream positioned a highlight on an entire bunch of promising indie video games. The occasion is curated by Double High-quality and iam8bit and this digital showcase highlighted dozens of in-progress titles to keep watch over. The digital present included some world premieres and launch date bulletins, together with a bunch of recent trailers about video games we already knew about.
We winnowed down the checklist to our 14 favorites, so it’s a baker’s dozen plus one. These are all vastly totally different titles, with their very own publishers, genres, budgets and visible kinds. They’ve only one factor in widespread. These are indie video games, in the truest sense of the word.
New video games
Neon Abyss 2
The hit run-and-gun roguelite is getting a sequel, and it appears to be like like an enchancment over the unique in each main means. There’s an up to date weapons system and loads of new melee and long-distance weapons to select from, together with a gun that fairly actually shoots out a large dragon. Merchandise synergies are again, and are even crazier this time round. The sequel additionally consists of lots of the random parts from the unique, like slot machines and claw video games.
There are brand-new minigames, comparable to a nifty-looking match-three puzzler. The graphics look much like the unique, however that’s not a nasty factor. I put like 80 hours into the primary one on my Steam Deck, so that is undoubtedly occurring my wishlist. We don’t even have lengthy to attend, as the sport hits Steam early entry on January 14.
Recur
This goofy-looking puzzle platformer duties gamers with controlling a postal employee that may manipulate time. Is a pack of indignant canines (they hate postal employees) harassing you on the beat? Rewind time and put them behind a locked gate. There look to be every kind of distinctive puzzles that benefit from the overlaying recreation mechanic. The graphics look beautiful, with a cartoony artwork design, and the world appears to be like each foolish and harmful. It’s being printed by Astra Logical, who launched the well-received Rebots and Star Stuff. We don’t have a launch window for this one, nevertheless it’s undoubtedly value maintaining a tally of.
PBJ – The Musical
Because the identify suggests, this can be a musical recreation that stars peanut butter and jelly. The handcrafted artwork model is breathtaking, calling to thoughts stuff like the recent Yoshi games. The title chronicles the invention of the peanut butter and jelly sandwich, so it follows a peanut and a strawberry on their journey to get grinded up, salted, sugared and unfold between two slices of bread. We don’t know precisely how this recreation will play, although I spied some quick-time occasions within the trailer, however the music sounds nice and the child-like mangling of Shakespearean dialogue is super-cute.
Tankhead
It is a third-person motion recreation through which gamers management flying drones that may connect with robots and automobiles, permitting for distinctive vehicular fight situations. The title Tankhead is kind of literal, because the drone sometimes sits atop the pinnacle of a tank. The trailer exhibits different weird mixtures, like some type of nightmare hybrid between a constructing and a horse. Customization appears to be the secret right here, with a myriad of chassis and weapon combos out there. Need some excellent news? Tankhead is offered proper now on the Epic Video games Retailer.
Blippo+
Right here’s one thing actually attention-grabbing from Panic, the writer behind Untitled Goose Game and the creator of the adorable portable console Playdate. Blippo+ appears to be like much less like a recreation and extra like these interdimensional cable episodes of Rick and Morty. The FMV title is a portal to a whole cable platform of made-up TV exhibits, full with a listing of what’s airing and extra oddities than you possibly can shake a stick at. It is being developed by YACHT and Telefantasy Studios, and appears to have an analogous vibe to the latter company’s archive, drag performer included. We aren’t certain what the precise recreation will likely be, or if there even is one beneath the layer of public entry grime, however the trailer certain has us intrigued. It’ll be out there for PC by way of Steam within the close to future.
Launch date announcement
Hyper Mild Breaker
Are you able to imagine it? The successor to the surprise hit Hyper Mild Drifter is sort of right here, as the sport releases as an early entry title on Steam on January 14. Discover I mentioned “successor” and never “sequel.” Hyper Mild Breaker drops the retro 2D Zelda aesthetic in favor of an all-new 3D engine, whereas the story itself is positioned extra as a prequel. It’s additionally now not a single-player affair, as this recreation locations an emphasis on co-op play. One factor that hasn’t modified? The motion remains to be relentless and there’ll nonetheless be waves of enemies to slash by means of. This follow-up has faced some delays, so it’s good to see we’re solely a month out from giving it a go.
Read the full story on Hyper Light Breaker here.
Different stuff that appears dope
Kingmakers
Have you ever ever needed to alter the course of historical past by going again in time with a couple of machine weapons and laying waste to hordes of medieval-era bozos? That’s the fundamental premise of Kingmakers. The sport asks gamers to “seize a gun and lead a military of 1000’s into huge, real-time simulated battles.” It’s a mix of motion and technique, like many medieval real-time technique video games, however with an exceptionally sturdy hook. Additionally, all the things is destructible and might be blown up, which is at all times a pleasant contact. The sport might be performed solo or in a co-op mode with as much as 4 gamers. It comes out someday subsequent yr as an early access title.
Bionic Bay
This nifty-looking title takes its inspiration from video games like Gravity Rush and Limbo. It’s a side-scrolling platformer with a stunning aesthetic, similar to the aforementioned Limbo, however the protagonist has the power to regulate time and gravity. He may teleport objects. This results in all method of precision-based platforming and loads of distinctive puzzles, all set throughout an historic biomechanical world. Writer Kepler Interactive, who launched the incredible Pacific Drive, are calling it “a platformer like no different.” It comes out on March 13 for PS5 and PC by way of Steam. It’s out there for wishlisting right now.
Faraway
On the lookout for one thing easy, but hopelessly addictive? Faraway is a one-button affair that duties people with exploring the furthest reaches of area. That is finished by drawing constellations and connecting stars collectively. It’s a puzzle recreation, full with numerous modes, a high-score counter and multipliers. The maps are procedurally generated and the graphics look appropriately minimal. This one has the Annapurna pedigree, so it’s undoubtedly value maintaining a tally of. We might all use a brand new iconic puzzle recreation. Faraway will likely be launched for PC someday in 2025.
Read the full story on Faraway here.
Sleight of Hand
It is a third-person hybrid recreation that mixes stealth motion with deckbuilding, all set in a magical noir-tinged metropolis. It’s extraordinarily simple on the eyes, with a darkened shade palette and a forged of oddballs. Gamers management an occult detective pulled out of retirement to do one final job. You recognize the drill. It’s noir. As for gameplay, the developer’s say it’s like Metallic Gear Stable, solely with the weapons and instruments changed by playing cards. These playing cards dictate what strikes and powers can be found. The protagonist can disappear in a puff of smoke or set a bunch of anonymous thugs on fireplace, as long as the deck is correct. It appears to be like enjoyable! Sleight of Hand is available to wishlist right now and will likely be launched for Xbox consoles and PC by way of Steam. It’ll even be out there on Recreation Go when it launches.
Read the full story on Sleight of Hand here.
Blue Prince
This recreation is described as a “roguelike Gone Residence combined with a board recreation.” From the trailer, that doesn’t sound to date off. The sport duties gamers with exploring a big property that modifications each day, on account of an ever-shifting blueprint (thus the title.) There are many household mysteries to unravel and a technique part that permits for purposeful rejiggering of the aforementioned blueprint. The vibe is appropriately eerie and, effectively, who doesn’t like exploring a creepy previous mansion? Blue Prince is a PC title that launches within the early a part of subsequent yr.
Read the full story on Blue Prince here.
Feltopia
This “hand-felted cease movement” recreation appears to be like completely gorgeous and it was developed by a pair of dual siblings. The felt. The material. All of it appears to be like so actual. Feltopia is, principally, a shmup, however with some distinctive mechanics that set it other than rival shooters. Initially, there will likely be no killing of enemies. As a substitute, gamers shoot optimistic vibes that rework monsters into associates. The builders are calling it a “cute-em-up” as a substitute of a shoot-em-up. Additionally, each single sprite within the recreation has been needle-felted by hand. That’s some dedication. You possibly can wishlist this one on Steam right now, nevertheless it doesn’t truly come out till 2026. All of that material work takes time.
Read the full story on Feltopia here.
Incolatus: Do not Cease, Girlypop!
Right here’s one thing I’ve by no means seen earlier than. Incolatus: Do not Cease, Girlypop! is a first-person shooter impressed by early 2000s girly pop. The soundtrack is pumping, all the things is pink and gamers talk by way of a Nokia-style flip telephone. There’s one other twist, past these retro-soaked vibes. The sport encourages individuals to by no means stand nonetheless, just like the early 2000s motion flick Crank. Fixed motion will reward gamers with bonus injury and therapeutic. Lastly, there’s a costume up minigame that’s impressed by CD ROM titles from the Nineteen Nineties and early 2000s. Inject this recreation into my Y2K-loving veins please. It’s out there to wishlist on Steam right now and will likely be launched “quickly.”
Read the full story on Incolatus here.
LOK Digital
Because the identify suggests, this can be a digital model of a pre-existing puzzle book. It might appear to be a conventional phrase search puzzle, however gamers are dropped in with none steerage. We’ll have to determine the principles on our personal, which might be deduced by working by means of the 90 puzzles. There’s a respectable story and a whole made-up language. That’s proper. The phrases that comprise every puzzle grid is not going to be in English, or in any recognizable language. Each time a participant unlocks (or unloks) a brand new phrase, it gives a novel energy up. The entire level is to make use of these energy ups to black out the whole grid. It appears to be like fairly enjoyable and, guess what, it’s available right now on PC. The devs say it’ll be launched for cell units subsequent yr. This does seem to be the proper pill recreation.
If these 14 video games aren’t sufficient, try the entire Day of the Devs stream here!
