Game conventions are usually highlighted by announcements of big budget or AAA games, like Metal Gear Solid, and console exclusives. This year however, I was more intrigued by the support given to indie games by console developers, Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft. Smaller independent game studios have become more prominent in the past year with Sony and Microsoft allowing them to self-publish direct-to-console games.
The games which made the list are some that peeked my interest not only because they looked good, but they looked so impressive that they could rival games made by bigger, more recognisable companies, like Valve and Ubisoft. Without further ado, here’s my list of indie games to look forward to in the coming year.
1. Volume (PS4, PSV, PC, OSX)
From the makers of “Thomas Was Alone”, “Volume” is a stealth game based on a modern take on the legendary hero Robin Hood. In the game, the hero, Robert Locksley, finds a device called ‘Volume’, which allows the user to simulate heists that is part of a secret military coup attempt. According to the Mike Bithell, the developer, artificial intelligence built into the device acts like “the Microsoft Office paperclip as a military training program” and it guides Robert on how to use the device.
From the trailer, we can see that the game is reminiscent of the Metal Gear series, where the developer drew his inspiration from. Presented from a top down third person view, the aim of the game is to avoid detection from the guards, several antagonists, to complete various heists. Unable to kill their foes, players will need use an arsenal of tools to distract them and avoid detection.
2. No Man’s Sky (PS4)
Revealed at the E3 fair in June this year, “No Man’s Sky” promises to be one of the most beautiful games to hit the PS4 in the coming year. Featuring beautiful backdrops and a periodically generated open world universe, the sci-fi planetary exploration game developed by Hello Games, a British Studio. While the studio’s sole product has been the “Joe Danger” series, the games have been rated highly by critics and have won multiple awards.
The game will allow players to explore various planets and interact with the various flora and fauna found on each planet as well and engage with the hostile forces found on each planet.
With more than 18 quintillion planets available for exploration, some have estimated that players will take about 584 million years if they visit one planet every second. Thankfully, the game will have features that allows players to share information about their planets with others online.
3. Ori and the Blind Forest (XB1, X360, PC)
Yet another game revealed at E3 this year, “Ori and the Blind Forest” is a game produced by Moon Studios and is scheduled for release on the XBox 1 console later this year, with the XBox 360 and PC receiving their versions of the game next year. In the game, players play as Ori, a white guardian spirit who was adopted by a bear-like creature. The adventure begins when a malevolent entity Kuro, appears and take s Ori’s mother from him. Durinng his exploration of the forest, Ori meets Sein, who will both guide Ori and attack his enemies for him.
One interesting feature of the game is the ability to create checkpoints, or “soul links”, these checkpoints however can only be created using special resources that Ori picks up during gameplay, and these resources are scarce, forcing players to create them only when necessary.
4. Road not Taken (PS4, PSV, PC)
“Road not Taken” is developed by the developers over at SpryFox, the same developers who brought the hit mobile game, “Triple Town” to iOS and Android devices in 2010.
Not to be confused with the poem, “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost, In this grid-based puzzle game, players have to save children by moving next to an object, picking it up and throwing that object in a certain direction. While the game’s mechanics seem easy and rather basic, the developers promise that players will be challenged. “Just so you know, 90 percent of people die in the tutorial,” said one of the developers. “Including PhDs and fellow game designers. The game is meant to be very hard”. While some players will be turned away from the game due to the high level of difficulty, I believe that this game is one that will provide gamers with hours upon hours of enjoyment, if they master the mechanics of the game.
While the game is already available on the PS4 and PC, it’s my personal belief that the game will be best enjoyed on the PSV.
5. Cuphead (XB1, PC)
Bringing good old 1930s style animation to the new age, “Cuphead” in will prove to be an interesting mix of old and new. Brought to us by Canadian brothers, Chad and Jered Moldenhauer, Studio MDHR, the game’s art style is inspired by the works of cartoonists like Max Fleischer.
In this game, players have to fight a series of bosses to repay a debt to the devil. “Cuphead” has an infinite number of lives and is able to keep his weapons after he dies. The game also has a two-player cooperative mode that adds another player to what would otherwise be a single player boss battle.
Is there any games that has caught your attention? Do share with us in the comments below!
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