Indie Game Recommendations
Bite-sized reviews of indie games that I finish and just can't keep my mouth shut about.
The Doll Shop
Store Link: Steam
Genre(s): horror, visual novel
Update: I originally played this on itch.io, but the devs have since removed it because they're working on a revamped version to be released on Steam! Click the store link above to check out the game and wishlist it if you're interested.
This is a horror game that takes place in a snowy, remote village in Japan, where you play as a doll maker who's trying to... er, make a new friend? There are light puzzles to solve, but it's mostly a slow-paced visual novel. You'll spend a lot of time walking around, exploring the village and taking in the gorgeous hand-painted environments. It's pretty cozy for a horror game that gets as dark as it ultimately does. The narrative is paced really well, starting out relatively mundane and gradually giving you glimpses into the main character's mindset as the story builds up to its malicious ending.
Between Stations
Store Link: Itch.io
Genre(s): interactive fiction, experimental
If you're of a certain age (read: old like me), you might remember late nights spent in front of the TV, flipping through channels just to see what was on. Between Stations seeks to capture those moments. You're presented with an old CRT TV, and all you have to do is change the channels, opening up a universe of late-night commercials, infomercials, and other randomness. Give this game a shot if you're into old tech and that strange state of being somewhere between awake and asleep.
Before the Green Moon
Store Link: Itch.io & Steam
Genre(s): simulation, sci-fi
A sci-fi farming sim that hearkens back to late PS1-era graphics, and it actually has an end goal. Farming sims tend to overstay their welcome, so it's a breath of fresh air to be given a sense of finality that isn't just running out of things to do or getting bored with the gameplay loop.
The cast of characters is small, but every person you meet is memorable. The gameplay is satisfying, with rainy and dry seasons that add challenges to your typical daily routine. You're encouraged to explore, and the process feels natural, like you're finding your feet alongside your character and memorizing the village and its little intricacies as you go. Full of character and well-written with really fun opportunities for discovery.
Lamprey
Store Link: Itch.io
Genre(s): visual novel, sci-fi
A visual novel about a group of tech developers who are programming an AI that's meant to change the world. Lamprey is a well-written cautionary tale about the perils of not only AI but also crunch culture. The cast of characters is diverse, with distinct personalities and motivations. The pixel art and UI are clean and crisp, which suits the tech-startup setting. The music and sound effects are nice atmospheric bonuses as well. Definitely check this one out if you're into people-centric sci-fi and sticking it to the capitalist man.
Misericorde: Volume One
Store Link: Itch.io & Steam
Genre(s): visual novel, historical fiction
A visual novel about murder and intrigue among a group of nuns in a Benedectine monastery. It's so well-written that it had me alternately gasping and laughing my head off. The nuns are vibrant, dynamic characters with distinct personalities and backgrounds. It's purely a visual novel, but the jazzy trip-hop music and hand-drawn illustrations add so much to it. Check it out if you're into good, in-depth stories with accurate historical touches and a vibrant cast of characters. I'm very much looking forward to Volume Two!
Paradise Marsh
Store Link: Official Site
Genre(s): walking simulator, exploration, adventure
A cute and surprisingly deep exploration game where you go around with a net and catch bugs, then you put them into the night sky as constellations. The story affected me more than I expected it to. It's sad but sweet. The bright and colorful graphics are a feast for the eyes, and it's a lot of fun to explore each biome and discover its unique bugs. There are other things to do as well, like completing tasks for lost spirits and interacting with different items you find around the environments. Lovely game.
Backpack Battles
Store Link: Steam
Genre(s): auto battler, strategy, roguelike
A moreish game that takes the concept of inventory management to another level. You purchase items from a shop and arrange them in your backpack to maximize damage, buff yourself, and heal, among other strategies. Then you auto battle other players' builds and see how well your planning paid off. You can choose from four different classes, but the game is still in early access, so I imagine there will be additional classes in the future. At the moment, ranger is my favorite. I can't stop playing this game!
Update: The game is out of early access and now has six classes, along with sub-classes!
Flesh, Blood, & Concrete
Store Link: Itch.io
Genre(s): horror, exploration, visual novel
It's hard to describe this game adequately. It's unlike anything I've ever experienced before. You play as a woman named Lera, who runs out of gas outside an abandoned apartment building in Siberia. She meets a young girl named Nika there, who's dressed in a traditional Russian school outfit and seems to be alone yet keeps referring to her "family." As you explore deeper, you pick up artifacts and discover the haunting and, at times, horrific depths of the building. The artifacts are detailed and nostalgic, the art style is beautiful, and the atmosphere is melancholy and lovely. Nothing I say about this game can do it justice. It's one of my favorites of all time.
Beneath the Ice
Store Link: Itch.io
Genre(s): fishing, casual, horror
You play as a person doing some ice fishing, upgrading your tools to reach further depths as you go, and what you find may surprise you. This game was completed in two days for a game jam, and it's such a fantastic concept. I honestly can't say much about this little game for fear of ruining the experience, but it only takes a few minutes of your time and it's absolutely worth it.
Don't Stare
Store Link: Itch.io
Genre(s): visual novel, dating sim, horror
An anti-dating sim where your friend signs you up for speed dating against your wishes, so you try to make everyone you meet uncomfortable and get thrown out of the bar. How do you make them uncomfortable? By figuring out which physical features they're self-conscious about and actively staring at them. Fittingly, the cursor is an eye symbol.
It's funny, the art is great, and the gameplay is really satisfying. I kept playing until I found all 67 anomalies, and after that it was fun to loop through them and try to see how many I could get in one sitting. Looking forward to seeing what this dev comes up with next!
Shaken, Not Stirred
Store Link: Itch.io
Genre(s): strategy, puzzle, horror
It took me a bit to figure out exactly how this game plays, but once I did I had a blast! You run a dark tavern that gets creepy customers, and your goal is to purchase and arrange ingredients in a way that will satisfy them. You can buy new ingredients and rearrange your table after each customer visits. I love the gloomy pixel art and strategic gameplay. It's challenging but so satisfying once you finally figure out the right combinations of ingredients to win.