The Ultimate Aussie Indie Showcase was held this week, promoting a whopping 27 up and coming locally made indie games.
Hosted by the Indie Brew team, it was one of the most welcoming and wholesome communities I’d seen! There were so many amazing games on offer that I found it hard to choose just five to highlight.
READ MORE: Nine Eye-catching Indie Games of 2024
Copycat
Ah, cat games. Who doesn’t love those furry, cosy vibes and cheeky playful moments? Aussie devs, Spoonful of Wonder, have created a narrative-driven game where you play as a newly adopted shelter cat.
Being the new kitty in town, she falls victim to an elaborate plot when a jealous stray tries to steal her place in her new household. This game is about rejection, belonging and the true meaning of home.
Can you leap the rooftops, wander lonely alleys and claw your way back home? Copycat will be released in 2024 and currently has a demo on Steam to try now.
Lighthaze World (Tassie represent)
Ok, we have had one for the cat lovers, now here’s one for our doggo lovers! In Lighthaze World, you play as Nym who is an anxious guy trying to overcome his fear of crowds as he goes on a heartfelt journey to save his lost and loyal dog. He must be brave and use his puzzle solving abilities to help other characters along the way.
READ MORE: Nine MORE Eye-catching Indie Games of 2024
Set in some familiar places around Tasmania, will Nym be courageous enough to be reunited with his pup? Lighthaze World doesn’t currently have a release date but there is a demo to download now on Steam.
Dungeons and Dining Tables
I have always wanted to play as an adventuring Axolotl and now Catalyst Games are giving me that opportunity. Dungeons and Dining Tables is a mix of Zelda and Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer. You delve deep into dungeons, fight your way through and collect rare furniture pieces. After a long day of action you arrive back at the village and use the furniture you found to decorate your home and the homes of your villagers. The cosier the home, the higher your Axolotls stats will be.
Can you find the perfect mix of adventure and relaxation? Currently, there is no release date, however, you can follow the development of this one on X.
Cyber Paradise
(To be said in your best Sci-fi announcer voice) Set in the not-so-distant future, reality is unmasked as nothing more than a computer simulator. In DDmeow’s game, you take on the role of Hayley, a skilled hacker-warrior who teams up with her loyal dog in this fast paced adventure. Hack and slash your way through many roguelite levels filled with creepy creatures that were manifested by the deceased’s fears and sorrow.
READ MORE: Roguelite Recommendations For Dummies
Uncover a deep dystopian narrative and build close relationships with the people you meet in your cafe styled hub world. Cyber Paradise hacks its way onto PC in the later half of 2024. A demo is out now on Steam.
Wild Bastards
The reveal of Wild Bastards took me a bit by surprise as I did not realise the original developers of Void Bastards, Blue Manchu, were Aussies. A spiritual successor to Void, Wild Bastards will have you travelling across planets to recruit and manage a gun slinging team of 13 outlaws. Each with their own unique, darn tooting, weapons and special powers. As you traverse space you will wrangle loot and start showdowns in intense bite-sized shootouts.
You can saddle up for this adventure sometime later in 2024. Unfortunately, there is no demo out right now, but ride on over to Steam to wishlist this game if it takes your fancy.
We Want More!
I didn’t know what to expect when I first started watching this small event — it’s clear we have an incredible indie scene here in Australia.
READ MORE: Our Picks | Spring Games Showcase
I’ve now ended up with a much larger Steam wishlist than I bargained for. This includes a magpie simulator, a card-based RPG and not to forget a retro-styled racer set in Melbourne.
Every game announced can be found on the Indie Brew’s website. Now it’s time to go have a nice Friady night bevo and play some ripper new games!
