I bloody love an Indie game. They often push genre boundaries and offer innovative mechanics, all while bringing a wide range of unique art styles. These titles have the creative freedom that big AAA games don’t.
We’ve seen some cracking new Indies already this year with Ultros and Balatro, as well as popular early access games Palworld and Helskate.
Here’s my list of eye-catching indies releasing this year and when you can play them:
Unicorn Overlord – Vanillaware
It’s coming to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch.
Goblin Stone – Orc Chop Games
We’ve all been guilty of it at some point, farming weak enemies like goblins for exp and loot… But what kind of destruction does that wreak on the Goblin community!? Well, developers Orc Chop Games are answering that question. Goblin Stone is a turn-based RPG roguelike, told from the Goblin’s perspective.
After being pushed to near extinction, it’s your job to wrangle what’s left of Goblin-kind, build a new lair… And repopulate 😳! Yes, you can selectively breed Goblins to pass the strongest genes onto future generations.
It’s boasting some pretty impressive stats. 9 narrated story chapters, 41 levels in 5 unique regions, 9 classes of goblin with over 70 combat abilities, 48 genes to combine via breeding 👀 plus 25 boss battles and over 60 enemies!
I think that’s the video game version of a triple double! Goblin Stone is coming to PC via Steam and Epic on March 12th.
Pepper Grinder – Ahr Ech
With vibrant pixel-art and silky smooth controls, Pepper Grinder is an action-packed 2D-platformer with a difference. Using a handy drill bit, Pepper dives through the earth like a fish through water, twisting and turning underground to grab coins and gems before being propelled back out into the open air. It’s a very intuitive mechanic that feels satisfying to control.
As a treasure hunter who has lost their riches, you’ll have to explore a foreign island to reclaim your stolen jewels — though the locals aren’t going to give them up without a fight. Your drill bit can do more than turn you into a human-mole, it’s also able to power various machines like lifts, cannons, and ski-doos! And of course, you can use it to pierce and pulverize the many enemies in the game.
Pepper Grinder is burrowing onto the Nintendo Switch and PC on March 29th, but if your interest is piqued, then there’s a demo available now.
Quest Daily played an early preview of Pepper Grinder last year, you can read our thoughts here: Preview | Pepper Grinder, Devolver Digital’s latest indie game banger.
No Rest for the Wicked – Moon Studios
Revealed at last year’s The Game Awards, No Rest for the Wicked immediately caught my eye. Its striking visual style with vibrant pops of colour, is a painting come to life. You play as a Cerim, a holy warrior sworn to defeat the Pestilence, in a time of Medieval politics and sacrilegious corruption.
Developers Moon Studios are setting out to invigorate the Action Role Playing Game genre with brutal but strategic soulslike combat. Cross swords with ghastly creatures, corrupt knights and punishing bosses.
It’s not all doom and gloom though, you can take a well earned break in the town of Sacrament; fishing, working the land and designing your own home.
The game will launch into early access for PC on April 18th, with console versions to come with the eventual full release.
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes – Rabbit and Bear Studios
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, the first game from Rabbit and Bear Studios, is a 2.5D JRPG set within the same world as Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising; a spiritual successor to the Suikoden franchise.
War looms in the land of Allraan as the Empire hunts for artifacts to increase their military power and political dominance, putting friendships and allegiances to the test. Follow the stories of three heroes and the hundred allies they make along the way.
Utilising the HD2D style we’ve come to know and love, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is easy on the eyes to say the least. Featuring gorgeous 3D backgrounds, charming pixel-art sprites and a masterful use of lighting and focus.
You can unleash powerful synergy attacks and use terrain to your advantage in a modernsied combat system, with an impressive assortment of enemies, bosses, attacks, and spells. With over 100 playable characters to assemble your team with, there looks to be a LOT of variety there. Humans, beastmen, dwarves, elves… All with their own unique battle abilities, personalities, and designs.
There’s also a tactical war mode, a home base that upgrades with each additional ally, a multitude of mini-games such as fishing, cooking, cards, and even this world’s version of Beyblades!
It’s set for an April 24th release across PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch and PC.
Tales of Kenzera: ZAU – Surgent Studios
Those of you who tuned in to last year’s The Game Awards might remember Abubakar Salim (Bayek, Assassin’s Creed: Origins) taking to the stage to announce a new game. In an emotional speech, he revealed Tales of Kenzera: ZAU, inspired by the grief he experienced over the loss of his father.
READ MORE: Why Baldur’s Gate 3 is a shoo-in
The bewitching metroidvania follows Zau, a young shaman on his quest to reclaim his father’s spirit. After bargaining with the God of Death, Zau must travel the perilous land of Kenzera, using his cosmic powers to battle formidable beings.
The game is heavily inspired by African Bantu culture, with Salim voicing Zau himself. With precise platforming, stunning environments, flashy combat, and epic boss battles, Tales of Kenzera: ZAU is shaping up to be an action-packed and emotional experience.
There’s a demo available to try now, with the full release coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch and PC on April 24th.
Another Crab’s Treasure – Aggro Crab
Aggro Crab, developers of action-roguelike Going Under, are back with a new snappy adventure. Dipping their toes into the soulslike genre, Another Crab’s Treasure is set in a vibrant under-sea world filled with crabby NPCs and clawsome enemies.
The self-dubbed “Baby’s first soulslike” follows Kril, the hermit crab, on a quest to reclaim his original shell. Kril will need to repurpose rubbish as new shells for protection, as he battles angry arthropods and crooked crustaceans.
You can dive into this action-packed shells-like on April 26th. It’s coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch and PC.
Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus – Squid Shock Studios
With fast and fluid movement and style out the wazoo, Bo: Path of the Teal Lotus is my most anticipated Indie for 2024.
The 2.5D metroidvania has a beautiful hand-drawn art style reminiscent of a Nihonga painting, with bold backdrops dripping in Japanese folklore that use a purposefully lower frame rate to great effect.
As Bō, a celestial blossom, bounce and glide around an interconnected world full charming Yōkai, help them with their problems or simply chat over a cup of tea.
READ MORE: Review | Helldivers 2 ‘Explosive and Incredible Game Design’ (PS5)
With your upgradable bō staff, mystical abilities, and spellcasting daruma dolls, take on a variety of mythical enemies and gargantuan bosses.
It’s scheduled to release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC and Nintendo Switch on July 19th.
Hades II – Supergiant Games
Supergiant Games are the cream of the crop when it comes to indie developers, with underrated gems in Bastion, Transistor, and Pyre. It wasn’t until Hades that they truly hit mainstream success. Now they’re gearing up for their first ever sequel, Hades II.
We can expect big things from the dungeon-crawling rogue-like, building upon everything that made the first game great; near limitless builds, bloodthirsty bosses, and, of course, plenty of sexy gods.
Gorgeous hand-painted environments and beautifully animated characters bring the new expansive world to life. With new stories, characters, enemies, challenges, and upgrades to experience; Hades II is going to be a day one purchase for many.
It’s set to launch into early access on Steam and Epic in Q2 2024.
Look out for Part Two of this year’s ‘Eye-catching Indies’ where I delve into more exciting Indie games that have more elusive release dates!
