The inaugural Indie Quest Showcase has well and truly planted its flag in the ground as a showcase to look out for every year. With over forty Independent games shown off, there was something for every JRPG fan to get excited about.
While my wishlist has suddenly ballooned, I’ve managed to whittle the list of games down to my top five. I’d encourage all JRPG fans to check out the full stream at the bottom of this article.
My Familiar
A turn-based pixel-art JRPG set in a grungy crime-riddle city, with anthropomorphic animals and a conscious rap theme song… Say less. The vibes are vibing with My Familiar, oozing style from every pore.
From a chain-smoking chicken to a luchador duck, and a weird purple rat thing… The Isekai-meets-buddy-cop tale will have six different familiars for you to recruit and run in your crew.
There’s no date just yet, but there is a demo on Steam to get a quick hit!
Artis Impact
Created by a solo developer, Artis Impact features an incredible minimalist pixel-art style with beautiful story panels that look right out of a manga. The flashy combat animations really pop when contrasted with the paired down art style.
You play as Akane, travelling through a futuristic Sci-fi world with her AI companion, Bot. It’s promising to offer a dark alluring narrative, balanced with plenty of cosy humorous moments. It’s not always about saving the world; take on a part-time job for extra cash, relax with a bath, or redesign your home… But eventually someone should probably save that world.
Artis Impact is coming to Steam on August 7th. If that’s too long to wait, there’s also a demo available.
Last Moon
While Last Moon looks a bit more like a dungeon-crawler than a JRPG, it also looks bloody incredible, so it’s on the list. Developed by Sköll Studio, the excellent sprite work and animations, paired with the vibrant colour palette, create a combo that I just want to dive right into.
You play as a Lunar Knight, on a quest to stop the moon from falling out of the sky… No pressure then. Dodge, block and slay your way through a ruined world full of tainted creatures and huge bosses. You can also experience the whole journey with a friend, in local co-op.
Last Moon is currently set to release sometime this year, you can wishlist and play the demo on Steam now.
Runa
With its beautiful backdrops and bustling cities, Runa had me glued to the future-fantasy world it presented. It boasts a turn-based battle system, environmental puzzles, base building and social links… Meaning, yes, there are dialogue options, relationships and characters to romance!
Promising a huge overworld to explore and dungeons to crawl, minigames like fishing and cooking, and a day/night cycle with a changing weather system; this indie title from Fennec Studios is swinging for the fences!
After incredible support on Kickstarter in early 2024, the game is more than fully funded and targeting a late 2026 release for PC and consoles. Wishlist on Steam if you like what you see.
Forge of the Fae
Steampunk meets magic in Forge of the Fae, a retro-modern JRPG inspired by Celtic folklore. The story follows Fiona, a genius inventor investigating a series of disappearances, as she explores an enchanting and dangerous world.
It very much looks like the quintessential JRPG. Its fabulously detailed pixel-art world, character sprites, and animations forged together with classic turn-based combat, creates a beautifully nostalgic game style.
Datadyne LLC smashed their funding goals on Kickstarter late last year, and are aiming for a 2026 release for PC and consoles. Check out the demo on Steam.
You can watch the Indie Quest Showcase in its entirety below.
