Ive been trying some indie developed games this past year, more than ever and I’m in awe what lone devs or small teams can accomplish.
So, what are some games that you think don’t have the recognition they deserve, need a bigger audience or you would like the community to try.
I myself for example have played Monster Sanctuary, which at this point I think is not that hidden anymore and played a rougelike game called Elona, haven’t played RimWorld or Dwarf Fortress but I might in the future.
Sorry if a similar post already exists haven’t checked.
Noita. It’s just so good. Easily in my top 5 games of all time.
Agreed 100%. I’ve put way too much time into this game and I haven’t even scratched the surface.
I really enjoyed Songs of Syx. It’s a city builder and economy game, but with a lot of extra detail that you don’t often see.
Dredge is pretty recent but it definitely impressed me with how it conveyed fear/paranoia in an eldritch horror setting. The fishing was also pretty fun!
If you like space, you should play Homeworld and its sequels. Incredible game.
If you like chill strategy, try Terra Nil, Islanders, and Terrascape – they’re all really fun and Terrascape has turn-based multiplayer!
If you like puzzle games like Myst, Cyan has Obduction and the slightly controversial Firmament, which I thought was a lot of fun. Quern - Undying Thoughts is in the same vein and feels a lot like Myst or Riven.
If you like Halo’s multiplayer with an added Portal gun, try Splitgate. The developer isn’t going to be adding more content as they are shifting focus to a new game, but it’s still really fun.
If you like boomer shooters, try Amid Evil it feels like Quake, Unreal, and Hexen/Heretic. It’ll get your heart racing for sure.
Thanks for the super complete answer, gonna be checking a lot of the listed games
Also “DUSK” is really great and very similar to Amid Evil. I believe it’s from the same publisher.
If you were ever a fan of Rollercoaster Tycoon, check out Parkitect. It’s a phenomenal and fun themepark game!
My wallet hurts, but my steam library might be able to help.
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The Dungeon Beneath is a turn based party building roguelite. Easy to understand but can get pretty challenging. Also the music slaps.
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20 Minutes Till Dawn has a spin on the Vampire Survivors formula that I quite enjoy. Merging the crazed progression of items and swathes of enemies, with a twin stick shooter.
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Rodina was what I played when elite and nms were disappointing, and star citizen was still pretending to aim to deliver a final product. For a 1 person team, it really impressed me.
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Get to the Orange Door is a rougelite spin on Titanfall 2 in a weird cyberspace world. The biggest missing feature is a grappling hook.
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Sun Haven is a little buggy but a more rpg and combat focused Stardew Valley. I used to play a lot of rune factory 3, so I enjoyed it.
I tried to recommend some stuff I thought other people wouldn’t have played, so I hope you enjoy!
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If you liked Hades, play Ember Knights. It’s in early access but I legit put 6 hours in my first session cuz it scratched that Hades itch juuuuuust right
Haven’t gotten around to complete Hades, and I loved it. Thanks for the recommendation
Cassette Beasts! It’s a monster collecting game. It adds a lot to the genre (definitely not a clone) and the music is awesome. It got amazing reviews so I’m not sure how hidden it actually is, but I really enjoyed it!
Diaries of a Spaceport Janitor is one of my favorite indie games of all time. The city design really captures the feeling of wandering around an unfamiliar, large, bustling place. The diary mechanic at the end of the day is a great way to get in character, and I like that you can decorate the apartment. I did some light data-mining (mostly item info and dialogue strings), and I even have fridge magnets of some of the pixel art!
Depanneur Nocturne is also a great evening’s worth of exploration and vibes, but I mention it because it has a reference to Spaceport Janitor and it made me SO happy when I realized that. :)
If you’re into deck building Roguelites, Griftlands is an incredible game. It’s developed by Klei who also made Don’t Starve.
Does Tunic count?
Best to jump in without spoilers, but it’s way more than a Zelda/Souls like. So. Many. Layers.
Spelunky HD
A roguelike platformer. While it lacks any meta-progression (like the similar Rogue Legacy games), the core platforming keeps me coming back again and again. The systems-based nature of the game keeps things fresh through many play-throughs.
Umurangi Generation
A photography game that’s more cyberpunk than the game titled Cyberpunk. It gradually introduces you into its neon-soaked, Neon Genesis Evangelion-inspired world where humanity fights the good fight against kaiju.
spoiler
Except the kaiju, born from global warming, have already won, humanity is doomed, and you’re there to document the end of everything. The game takes a clear political position, inspired by the Australian bushfires and protests following George Floyd’s murder in 2020, that neoliberalism can’t solve society-level issues, and will instead use the power of the state to sell non-solutions to delay or hide problems while violently stifling any real dissent.
Florence
A story of love, loss, and moving on.
deleted by creator
Slice & Dice - dice-based roguelite. Runs on mobile as well.
Everything - a zen game about everything, very chill
The Sexy Brutale - weird name, actually a fantastic time travelling LucasArts adventure style game
Neo Scavenger - ignore the graphics, this is a really in-depth turn based post-apocalyptic mini rpg where you will come to love plastic bags
night in the woods!
