We’re always on the watch for new indie game greatness. Here are a few that have caught our attention! We rely on our readers to tell us about indie-game future classics that deserve notice, so feel free to drop us a line.
Plasma Puncher
Studio: Tomatotrap
Release Date: May 11, 2017
Genre: Beat-em-up with character progression
Indie game developer Tomatotrap’s stylish brawler hits Steam on May 11 to breathe new life into the genre. Plasma Puncher focuses on a lone white blood cell (plasma) defending against invading microbes. All the action takes place on the surface of a giant round germ which the protagonist can walk all the way around as the camera follows. Ultimately, the plasma cell must find a way to penetrate the giant germ and destroy it.
Along its journey, the cell also increases its microbe-bashing prowess by upgrading stats and adding new special attacks. With highly-stylized and slick graphics, nonstop action and character progression, this is one title we can’t wait to get our hands on! We’ve never seen a brawler like this before.
Cyber Shadow
It’s every NES game you ever loved.Release date: undetermined
Genre: Metroidvania
Cyber Shadow looks like a love child between Mega Man and Samus Aran after they hooked up with Ryu Hayabusa (Ninja Gaiden) and went on a Contra-style rampage. It’s a NES-flavored fantasy that’s almost too good to be true.
After years of hibernation, Cyber Shadow’s protagonist awakens to find his clan scattered and enslaved by robots. He must find and free them and, in return, they increase his prowess and unlock new abilities. The graphics in this game look absolutely astounding. It’s all 8-bit goodness with a modern approach.
The only downside to this game is that there’s no set release date. This looks like a one-man operation, so who knows how long the wait will be. Probably a million years!
The Pedestrian
An interesting take on puzzle platformeres.Release Date: “Mid 2017”
Genre: Puzzle platformer
Skookum Arts is bringing something very original to the puzzle-platformer genre. The Pedestrian features a stick man who – apparently – only exists in wall signs. It is the duty of the player to arrange these signs in such a way that the stickman can navigate the game environment. Sound weird? It is.
The Pedestrian is truly difficult to explain. It looks fantastic. But don’t take my word for it. See for yourself!
Sundered
Prepare to fight for your life and your sanity!Release Date: July 2017
Genre: Horror Metroidvania
Sundered is the follow-up to Thunder Lotus’s Jotun.
Jotun was generally well received among indie game enthusiasts, but some took not of long stretches without action (the beautiful hand-drawn scenery made up for it.) Sundered looks like it will be picking up the slack and creating a high-action horror Metroidvania for players to enjoy.
The Metroidvania genre seems to be enjoying a resurgence lately. That’s good news for many retro-game enthusiasts (like me!) And Sundered appears to offer plenty of gorgeous art with its Lovecraftian themes, intense action and epic boss battles to make epic and memorable Metroidvania moments.
