Welcome to the start of a new new series – The IndieList – in which I curate the noteworthy titles that have popped up in my Steam Discovery Queue in the past few months, or that have otherwise grabbed my attention whilst browsing.
I’ve been fortunate to play some of these games; the majority I’ve yet to touch. Alas, I hope at least one of them may pique your interest! Notes are based on external and/or first impressions.
All images sourced from Steam / SteamDB.
Strange Horticulture
Strange Horticulture is an occult puzzle game in which you play as the proprietor of a local plant store. Find and identify new plants, pet your cat, speak to a coven, or join a cult. Use your collection of powerful plants to influence the story and unravel Undermere’s dark mysteries. Steam.
Notes: Surprisingly enjoyable game! This is one I’ve played to completion. Customers will request plants, it’s up to you to identify them using the horticultural notes and a bit of luck. Travel to different locations to collect new plants. There’s also some good detective work with various clues and cryptic items. Story features multiple endings. UI and text is on the small side, even with the game allowing you to zoom, keep this in mind if on a laptop.
Onde
Catch a wave in this smooth sound-surfing platformer: Let ethereal tunes carry you fluidly through serene abstract landscapes, tune into soothing sound spheres and revel in a meditative journey of life. Steam.
Notes: Gorgeous platformer with a minimalist aesthetic. Looks like a 2D ABZÛ!
Beat Invaders
Beat Invaders is an unique space action roguelite! Blast your way through enemy fleets, unlock skills, items, ships, and upgrade them! Blast away to a pushing soundtrack and neon visuals! Steam.
Notes: Awesomely prismatic action roguelike with extensive upgrade systems. This is to Space Invaders what Nova Drift is to Asteroids.
Ignited Steel
Ignited Steel is a mech roguelike turn-based-tactics game. Manage a team of overheating old-tech mechs, more heat means more vulnerability and damage! Unravel the galaxy’s story as you travel from node to node, improving your mechs, acquiring new pilots, and defeat the sentient A.I. overlord! Steam.
Notes: At first glance it’s visually indistinguishable from Into The Breach. Shares most gameplay albeit with heat management and faster-paced combat.
What Lies in the Multiverse
A bombastic puzzle platformer about worlds turned inside out. Shift dimensions at the push of a button, solve brain-twisting logistical riddles, and race through the wilds of the multiverse in a bleakly hilarious (and hilariously bleak) story where everything you know can turn on a dime. Steam.
Notes: Interesting concept in shifting between worlds. Strong narrative elements.
Alina of the Arena
ⓘ Early Access
A roguelite deckbuilding tactics game that combines elements from ‘Slay the Spire’ and ‘Into the Breach’. Play as a gladiator to survive. With roguelite deckbuilding and hex-based tactics, no longer bound by simple attack and defense. Make use of dodges and knockbacks to stay alive! Steam.
Notes: To say I’m a fan of both games the developer quotes as inspiration is an understatement. This is a mechanically rich game with a steep learning curve. Promising future.
NEEDY GIRL OVERDOSE (a.k.a NEEDY STREAMER OVERLOAD)
NEEDY STREAMER OVERLOAD is a “multi-ending ADV” depicting daily life with “OMGkawaiiAngel”, a young girl with a rather extreme need for approval attempting to become the #1 “Internet Angel” (streamer). Steam.
Notes: Frighteningly accurate social commentary on the vapidness of modern society. A wonderful vapourwave psychological horror.
Not For Broadcast
The National Nightly News is live and you’re the brains behind the scenes. Beep the swears, keep the cameras on the celebs and keep the audience hooked in this darkly comedic game of televised chaos. Steam.
Notes: I loved seeing the news headlines in Papers Please. I also loved Lucas Pope’s Republia Times browser game. Not For Broadcast is your opportunity to literally decide what goes to air. Choices have consequences, ain’t no doubt about it.
Core Keeper
ⓘ Early Access
Explore an endless cavern of creatures, relics and resources in a mining sandbox adventure for 1-8 players. Mine, build, fight, craft and farm to unravel the mystery of the ancient Core. Steam.
Notes: Great fusion of Terraria and Stardew Valley. Current a little glitchy, worth waiting for some polish.
KEPLERTH
You woke up and found yourself lying in a hibernation pod. You have no food, no clothes, no nothing. You can gather resources, craft useful items, build your own home, tame wild animals, fight strange creatures to survive in this dangerous world. Steam.
Notes: Visually similar to Rimworld but with the survival and RPG mechanics of Terraria, with a surprisingly extensive crafting and genetics system.
FAR: Changing Tides
⚠ Denuvo DRM
An atmospheric vehicle adventure that follows the emotional journey of a boy and his ship as he embarks on a voyage to find a new home. Steam.
Notes: Decent sequel to FAR: Lone Sails. Great atmosphere driven home with a great soundtrack and art style. Somewhat slow-paced with janky controls. Worth it for those seeking solace.
Home Wind
ⓘ Early Access – Free to Play
Home Wind is a minimalist, relaxing and cozy city builder about creating large settlements based on proximity tactics. All for free! Steam.
Notes: That’s right, it’s free! Similar gameplay to ISLANDERS but with fantasy-map visuals.
Neon Sundown
Neon Sundown is a unique roguelite shooter that mixes card-building with fast-paced action. Build your deck using a variety of unique playing cards, collect various resources to unlock different power modules, and take on several diverse arenas. Steam.
Notes: Similar to Geometry Arena, but with more refined visuals and gameplay. Synthwave soundtrack.
Hero’s Hour
A fast turn-based strategy RPG with real-time combat. Develop your cities and armies, level up your heroes to gain new, powerful spells and skills, and explore the wonders and dangers of the procedurally generated maps as you aim to conquer your enemies before they do the same to you. Steam.
Notes: Charming game in the spirit of the classic Heroes of Might and Magic games. Glitchy and unbalanced in places. AI has unfair advantages.
ArmaCulture
Free to Play – ⓘ Profile Features Limited
ArmaCulture is an indie factory-builder RPG set in the midst of a bitter, industrialized war between two nations in a fictional world similar to our own. The game combines illustrated character art with stylized pixel art to create a unique and dark historic atmosphere. Steam.
Notes: Incredible blend of story and gameplay, very reminiscent of Papers Please but with some lightweight Factorio. Has recently graduated from early access with the release of its final campaign chapter. Worth a try as it’s free!
Diplomacy is Not an Option
ⓘ Early Access
You were born a feudal lord. Sounds good, right? But you’re bored of hunting, executions and tournaments. Even of feasts with beautiful maidens. The only dream left – your castle surrounded by hordes of enemies. You would waste no time on negotiation. This is your chance to show’em who is in charge. Steam.
Notes: I get this confused with Going Medieval all the time as they both look exactly the same, but where Going Medieval tries to be a medieval Rimworld, Diplomacy is Not An Option is essentially a city builder with tower defense.
Distant Worlds 2
Distant Worlds 2 is a vast, pausable real-time 4X space strategy game. Steam.
Notes: Long-awaited sequel to the hardcore, space-based 4X Distant Worlds: Universe. Mixed reviews hint at various issues ranging from balance to lack of polish. Definitely one to keep an eye on for fans of the genre, just not in its current state.
Hyperbolica
Hyperbolica is a whimsical Non-Euclidean adventure with mind-bending worlds full of games, puzzles, mazes, and secrets! Immerse yourself in reality-warping geometries where lines can never be parallel, horizons are curved, and space grows exponentially. Steam.
Notes: Ever wanted to visualise a world with hyperbolic geometry? Now you can! Will probably leave you with a minor headache.
For The Warp
A roguelike deckbuilding game in space! Explore randomly generated systems, enemies and strange encounters. Build your deck, survive and reach For The Warp gate! Steam.
Notes: Basically FTL and Slay The Spire. Reports of some serious balance issues including easy exploits. Game recently exited from Early Access – arguably prematurely – so best wait for future updates.
The Planet Crafter
ⓘ Early Access
A space survival open world terraforming crafting game. Transform the ecosystem of a hostile planet to make it livable for humans. Survive, collect, build your base then create oxygen, heat and pressure to make a brand new biosphere. Steam.
Notes: All the mechanics you love from Subnautica but this time on land and with an ultimate goal of terraforming. Shows immense potential.
Patrick’s Parabox
A mind-bending recursive puzzle game about boxes within boxes within boxes within boxes. Learn to use infinity to your advantage as you explore a deep and elegant system. Steam.
Notes: My kind of game for sure. Ticks almost everything you’d want from an abstract puzzle game; handcrafted puzzles, minimalist aesthetic, mechanically rich. I’d be surprised if this isn’t overwhelmingly positive at some point in the future. If you enjoy games like Baba Is You or Sokobond, definitely check this one out!