Exciting Indie Games: Platforming, Metroidvania Horror, and More to Explore

Spotlight on Indie Game Awards Nominees

Welcome to this week’s wrap-up of thrilling new entries in the indie game scene. It's been a vibrant week marked by the unveiling of numerous fresh games and previews of forthcoming releases. This week, noteworthy was the announcement of contenders for the second annual Indie Game Awards.

Showcasing a blend of prominent names and emerging talents, the Game of the Year nominees include:

Absolum crafted by Dotemu and company.

and Roger developed by TearyHand Studio.

Blue Prince from Dogubomb.

Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector by Jump Over the Age.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 from Sandfall Interactive.

Consume Me by creators Jenny Jiao Hsia and team.

Hades II from the masterminds at Supergiant Games.

Hollow Knight: Silksong by Team Cherry.

Keep Driving by YCJY Games.

Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo from Pocket Trap.

I’ve been keen to explore both Consume Me and and Roger for some time. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which could very well be the frontrunner, has also piqued my interest, especially with its sights set on leading accolades at The Game Awards soon.

Other distinguished nominees span a range of categories, featuring entertaining titles like Discounty and the poignantly engaging Time Flies. Of note, solo endeavours Spilled! and Vile: Exhumed have also made their standout marks. Notably addictive Ball x Pit has been highlighted, but faces stiff competition from titans like Öoo, Absolum, Hades II, and Silksong in the gameplay design group. Recognition for Playdate’s Taria & Como is also noteworthy.

Catch the Indie Game Awards live at 6:30 PM ET on December 18 via YouTube and Twitch.

Latest Game Releases

Among the latest releases, Windswept intrigues me deeply. It's a precision platformer harkening back to classic '90s games reminiscent of Donkey Kong Country. Here, Marbles the duck and Checkers the turtle, each equipped with distinct motion skills, team up to traverse through complex terrains getting back home post-storm.

Hidden wonders and ally creatures punctuate the 40+ level journey. Raised on games like this one from WeatherFell and Top Hat Studios, I can't wait to dive into Windswept, now accessible across Steam, GOG, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Series X/S, priced at $20.

Possessor(s), published by Devolver Digital and created by Heart Machine, offers a divergent take—a horror-tinged Metroidvania deriving its combat essence from platform-fighting games. A high school student named Luca allies with a demon post interdimensional chaos, to survive and uncover the catastrophe's root cause.

Despite Heart Machine's usual visual flair, reviews of Possessor(s), available on PS5 and PC, have been somewhat divided. The studio faces challenges, including laying off staff and halting development on Hyper Light Breaker, still under early access.

Nice Dream’s recent creation, Goodnight Universe, similar to Before Your Eyes, leverages camera interaction through eye movements and expressions. Players inhabit a six-month-old infant, Isaac, with psychic prowess, struggling to evade capture by a clandestine tech company as he seeks love from his family.

Published by Skybound Games, Goodnight Universe is priced at $20 and available on Nintendo Switch 2, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Steam, with camera-enabled Switch support set for a later update.

On the Horizon

Indie's next anticipated gem, Barkour, continues our streak of highlighting dog-themed games weekly. Amid the Steam Animal Fest, which wraps up this Monday, look out for a new trailer and updated Steam demo. In Barkour, players take on the role of Agent T.H.U.N.D.E.R., executing missions equipped with an array of gadgets and canines of cunning capabilities.

Varsav Game Studios anticipates launching Barkour by 2026. Tailside, focusing on café simulation, heralds the debut of Coffee Beans Dev's single-developer endeavor slated for release on January 21 on Steam, with a demo live now. Here, players refine coffee-making in their customizable furry café paradise without time constraints.

Coffee Talk Tokyo, unveiled during the Japan State of Play, arrives March 5 on Steam, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch. In this latest installment by Chorus Worldwide Games and Toge Productions, players embody a barista, influencing narratives with beverage artistry.

The coffee's concoctions, enhanced with artistic stenciling, steer client interactions, and returning composer Andrew Jeremy provides another soothing soundtrack.

Finally, a future release confirmed for April during State of Play Tokyo is InKonbini: One Store. Many Stories. This simulation by Nagai Industries places players in early '90s Japan running a convenience store. Customer interactions and item selections shape patrons' narratives, adding depth to this simulator.