Welcome to another rendition of The IndieList, a series in which I highlight a bunch of recently-released indie games that have caught my eye. As always, notes are based on initial impressions and/or experiences with the game. Screenshots and game descriptions are publicly sourced from Steam/SteamDB.
Dwarf Fortress
COLONY SIMULATOR
The deepest, most intricate simulation of a world that’s ever been created. The legendary Dwarf Fortress is now on Steam. Build a fortress and try to help your dwarves survive against a deeply generated world. Steam.
Notes: The venerable Dwarf Fortress – the colony simulator of colony simulators – has certainly come far over the years. That said, casting nostalgia aside, a convoluted UI with tedious interfacing coupled with general lack of polish make this particular version a hard sell for newcomers to the genre, or for those perhaps more accustomed to more modern entries such as Rimworld. Either way, expect an extraordinarily high time investment.
ZERO Sievert – ⓘ Early Access
ACTION SURVIVAL
ZERO Sievert is a tense top-down extraction shooter that challenges you to scavenge a procedurally-generated wasteland, loot gear, and explore what’s left of a devastated world. When the odds are stacked against you, you’ll need to do more than just survive… Steam.
Notes: Essentially a 2D pixel-art, single-player version of Tarkov with elements from the S.T.A.L.K.E.R series. A tad rough around the edges, but it slowly grows on you.
Sons of The Forest – ⓘ Early Access
SURVIVAL / HORROR
Sent to find a missing billionaire on a remote island, you find yourself in a cannibal-infested hellscape. Craft, build, and struggle to survive, alone or with friends, in this terrifying new open-world survival horror simulator. Steam.
Notes: The long-awaited sequel to the iconic survival horror game The Forest.
Kynseed
LIFE SIMULATOR
A beautiful Life Sim Sandbox RPG. Raise a family, farm the land, run a business, cook, craft and build an everlasting legacy in a vast world filled with adventure, creativity and meaningful choices. Steam.
Notes: An ambitious life sim (and certainly a beautiful one at that), though it ultimately plays the same as most other entries in the genre. A good introductory title to the genre.
Tower Escape
ROGUELIKE
Tower Escape is a reverse tower defense game, where instead of defending against incoming enemies, you play the baddies and guide your minions to the exit. Recruit a team of minions, and collect powerful gems and relics that make each run unique. Steam.
Notes: Mechanically interesting take on the tower defence genre encouraging creativity and experimentation, even if it can feel quite repetitive after a while (same sort of problem as Loop Hero).
SIGNALIS
SURVIVAL HORROR
A classic survival horror experience set in a dystopian future where humanity has uncovered a dark secret. Unravel a cosmic mystery, escape terrifying creatures, and scavenge an off-world government facility as Elster, a technician Replika searching for her lost dreams. Steam.
Notes: An excellent dystopian survival horror game with striking visuals and a compelling story.
Pentiment
HISTORICAL RPG
Step into a living illustrated world in a time when Europe is at a crossroads of great religious and political change. Walk in the footsteps of Andreas Maler, a master artist who finds himself in the middle of murders, scandals, and intrigue in the Bavarian Alps. Steam.
Notes: Amazing art style and narration, even if the dialogue options can sometimes be overwhelming, and where “choices” feel rather inconsequential.
Inkulinati – ⓘ Early Access
TURN-BASED STRATEGY
Inkulinati is an ink-based strategy straight from medieval manuscripts, where a rabbit’s bum can be deadlier than a dog’s sword. Become a master of the Living Ink, build your own bestiary, defeat medieval superstars and collect perks to unleash hidden powers. Steam.
Notes: Great art style, but at a high asking price given the relatively bland gameplay. Perhaps worth it if you’re a fan of games like Darkest Dungeon but are looking for a completely different change of pace and atmosphere.
Theseus Protocol – ⓘ Early Access
ROGUELIKE DECKBUILDER
Theseus Protocol is a deck building roguelike where rebirth offers strategic opportunity. Utilize a powerful suite of cards and weaponry to uncover the cruel truth behind the dystopian sci-fi world of Mark City. Steam.
Notes: An interesting Slay the Spire clone. Currently a bit rough around the edges, but with good potential.
Aces & Adventures
DECKBUILDER
Aces & Adventures is a deckbuilding RPG with poker-powered combat. Craft your deck, combining poker hands with powerful ability cards. Journey through 13 fully-voiced campaigns to save the Life Tree, or tackle procedurally-generated runs in this strategic deckbuilder unlike any other. Steam.
Notes: Something completely different as far as deckbuilders go with a surprising level of creative gameplay mechanics.
Melatonin
RHYTHM
Melatonin is a rhythm game about dreams and reality merging together. It uses animations and sound cues to keep you on beat without any intimidating overlays or interfaces. Harmonize through a variety of dreamy levels containing surprising challenges, hand-drawn art, and vibrant music. Steam.
Notes: Short but sweet, and also pleasantly calming (as one may expect from the name).
The Last Starship – ⓘ Early Access
STRATEGY
Introversion Software, the indie legends behind Prison Architect, Darwinia, DEFCON and Uplink, present to you our most ambitious title ever: Pick a ship hull, kit her out with engines, life-support, sensors and railguns and start your galactic adventure in The Last Starship! Steam.
Notes: An extremely ambitious title… definitely one to keep an eye on as it has the potential to be an excellent game in the style of Cosmoteer and/or Space Haven.
Astro Colony – ⓘ Early Access
FACTORY AUTOMATION
Explore endless Universe and create the most efficient constellation of colonies. Build conveyor systems to automate production. Take care of Astronauts and their needs! Establish new colonies as part of intergalactic simulation. Steam.
Notes: Quite buggy (to be expected for early access), but nevertheless a solid factory automation game in the style of Satisfactory.
Surviving the Abyss – ⓘ Early Access
CITY BUILDER / SIMULATION
Earth, 1976. You have been tasked with managing a deep-sea science facility working to perfect cloning. Explore the darkness and keep your crew alive in this hardcore survival colony builder. And beware. The darkness hides untold horrors. Steam.
Notes: A survival city builder like Frostpunk but set twenty thousand leagues under the sea.
Plan B: Terraform – ⓘ Early Access
AUTOMATION / MANAGEMENT
Terraform a lifeless rock into a lush and habitable world. Build trucks, trains and sprawling factories on an enormous hexagonal planet. Grow its population to millions. Enjoy a dynamic simulation of atmosphere, temperature, water and forests. Steam.
Notes: A chill, low-poly city builder with factory elements and scarce resource management.
Farlanders
CITY BUILDER / PUZZLE
Terraform, strategize, and construct a Martian colony in this retro-inspired turn-based city builder. Create a comfortable living for your citizens, research alien artifacts, and uncover the secrets of the Red Planet. Steam.
Notes: Outstanding game blending classic SimCity style immersive gameplay with satisfying puzzle elements and resource management, which encourages creativity and forward planning. Surprisingly addictive!
Against the Storm – ⓘ Early Access
CITY BUILDER / ROGUELIKE
A dark fantasy city builder where you must rebuild civilization in the face of apocalyptic rains. As the Queen’s Viceroy, lead humans, beavers, lizards, and harpies to reclaim the wilderness and secure a future for civilization’s last survivors. Steam.
Notes: An excellent, relatively fast-paced city builder with roguelike and survival elements.
Scorchlands – ⓘ Early Access
CITY BUILDER / MANAGEMENT
Scorchlands is a game in which you manage production of fantastic resources on a foreign, volcanic moon. Build colonies, connect them with lasers, discover new tech and terraform a hostile moon. Steam.
Notes: An interesting concept, definitely worth checking out for fans of strategy and resource management.
Cygnus Enterprises – ⓘ Early Access
SCIENCE-FICTION RPG / ADVENTURE
Take charge of a derelict outpost on a faraway planet. Rebuild your base and manage your employees help it thrive. Battle fierce creatures and gather resources in a lush alien environment. Steam.
Notes: An interesting hybrid game that swaps between base building and adventuring.
Your Only Move is HUSTLE
2D FIGHTER
Master your technique, execute flashy combos, and outsmart opponents across the world, frame-by-frame. Slow down the clock to fine-tune your fighting style in this innovative, turn-based combat simulator. Pulverize your friends and choreograph spectacular fight scenes. No training mode required. Steam.
Notes: Possibly the most excruciatingly detailed 2D pixel fighter ever made.
Cultivation Story: Reincarnation
ROGUELIKE
Cultivation Story: Reincarnation is a top-down pixel art style action roguelike based on cultivation and Chinese mythology. Steam.
Notes: A great action roguelike with similar gameplay to The Binding of Isaac. Certainly one to consider for fans of Wuxia.
Rain World: Downpour – ⓘ DLC
ATMOSPHERIC PLATFORMER
Rain World: Downpour is a DLC expansion of Rain World. Take control of five new characters with new abilities in this vast, redefined world. Slugcats have adapted to the harsh conditions alongside evolved predators! Survive new environmental conditions, dangers and explore uncharted territory. Steam.
Notes: An excellent addition to an already excellent game.
TERRACOTTA
ADVENTURE PUZZLE
Puzzle your way through 80+ hand-crafted levels in this uniquely challenging action-adventure game. Unleash world-shifting abilities, awaken ancient mechanisms, and defeat 8 brutal bosses – balancing cunning and force to rescue the cursed spirits of your fellow warriors. Steam.
Notes: Excellent Zelda style action-adventure game with gorgeous pixel art.
14 Minesweeper Variants
LOGIC PUZZLE
Minesweeper but the rules are changing. Steam.
Notes: The only Minesweeper game you’ll ever need.
Chronescher
ISOMETRIC PUZZLE
Chronescher is a challenging turn-based puzzle game in Escher-esque spaces. Use impossible geometries, teleportation and environmental snapshots to navigate your mind and uncover your lost memories. Steam.
Note: An excellent, well-paced isometric puzzle game with a good sense of progression. Ideal for fans of Monument Valley.
Stereo Boy
ISOMETRIC PUZZLE
A chill, innovative sci-fi adventure where you explore two isometric worlds at the same time. Teleport between worlds to navigate impossible terrain and solve mind-bending puzzles. Along the way, you’ll fend off hostile creatures and uncover the story of a lost civilization. Steam.
Notes: Brilliantly designed puzzle game that executes its core gimmick well, even if some of the larger puzzles become tedious.
Sailing Era
ADVENTURE RPG
Every voyage is a journey of “Sailing & Beyond” in Sailing Era! Navigate your fleet and sail for fun; run a business; have a romantic encounter in the tavern; capture pirates amid intense battle; explore inland for treasure… Experience foreign culture, make novel discoveries, and sail away! Steam.
Notes: Part visual novel, part adventure RPG, in what can be considered a spiritual successor to games like Uncharted Waters.
Temple of Starlight
ABSTRACT PUZZLE
Temple of Starlight is an abstract first-person puzzle game with a striking retro visual style. Use colored lights to clear obstacles and explore an ancient temple along with its forgotten history. Steam.
Notes: Interesting abstract puzzle game based on mixing colours with a great visual aesthetic reminiscent of Antichamber.
Beat Hazard 3 – ⓘ Early Access
RHYTHM
Are you ready to explore your music collection mapped as a stunning galaxy of wonders? Experience your music collection as never before with this intense music driven twin stick shooter. Each of your songs will have its own unique ebb and flow based on the music. Steam.
Notes: Great rhythm game that runs on your local music collection and also integrates with streaming services.
Lunistice
RETRO 3D PLATFORMER
Lunistice is a 3D Platformer created with simple & fun gameplay and a cute PS1/SEGA Saturn inspired artstyle in mind. Take the role of Hana the Tanuki and jump and fight through her dreams! Steam.
Notes: An interesting take on the classic 3D platformers of days gone by, though I’m not sure if the controls are also meant to be set in the late 90s.
Starcom: Unknown Space – ⓘ Early Access
SPACE-BASED SANDBOX / EXPLORATION
Starcom: Unknown Space is an action RPG of space exploration and adventure. Build your own starship while discovering an epic story in a universe of strange mysteries, alien factions and uncharted worlds. Steam.
Notes: Great exploration-style space game in the spirit of Star Control: Origins but with considerably more RPG depth.
Voyager – ⓘ Early Access
MINIMALIST RHYTHM
Come with us now on a journey through music and space… To the world of Voyager! ◦ A minimalist & easy to pick up experience ◦ Atmospheric and relaxing voyage of exploration ◦ Let the celestial bodies guide you with their gravity ◦ Take it easy and create your own gorgeous emergent journeys! Steam.
Notes: A great game with a killer lofi soundtrack to simply get lost in.
The Ouroboros King
ROGUELIKE
The Ouroboros King combines the tactical depth of chess with the build variety and replayability of roguelikes. Build a formidable army, discover powerful relics, and buy surprising gadgets to defeat the Covenant. Steam.
Notes: A chess variant game wrapped up in a roguelike.
Chess Survivors – ⓘ Early Access
SURVIVAL ROGUELIKE
Chess Survivors is a grid based, quick-turn, roguelike where you outmaneuver and destroy an ever growing horde of chess based enemies. Combine abilities, upgrades, and relics to create game-breaking builds. Think fast, die, learn, repeat! Steam.
Notes: It wouldn’t be an IndieList without including at least one of the seemingly hundreds of Vampire Survivors clones out there. Chess Survivors, thankfully, puts an ever so slight spin on things.
Nebula
SURVIVAL ROGUELIKE
Survive in the deep void of the galaxy against thousands of invaders! Nebula is a challenging action, space shooter where you have to face endless waves of space enemies. Additional map resources and space drones can provide you a support but be wary, they can as well become a deadly trap. Steam.
Notes: One of the better VS clones with a clear emphasis on the bullet hell aspect.
Soulstone Survivors – ⓘ Early Access
SURVIVAL ROGUELIKE
Face the Lords of the Void and their endless minions, collect their Soulstones and become a god! In this Action Roguelite, unveil secret spells, craft mighty weapons, unlock multiple characters, discover game-breaking synergies and conquer the power of the void. Steam.
Notes: Definitely one of the more polished survival roguelikes out there, although the overall progression is on the slow side.
Noobs Want to Live
SURVIVAL ROGUELIKE
Noobs Want to Live is a fast-paced roguelike featuring several characters and a large pool of skills to choose from (that synergize with one another, too!) Fight, kill, grow. Each run is a new chance to create a steamrolling build! Steam.
Notes: Another polished VS clone with a distinct 2.5D aesthetic and better emphasis on skills and upgrades.
Handshakes – ⓘ Free to Play
SOKOBAN
Take your brain for a walk in Handshakes, a simple yet tricksy sokoban puzzle game. Guide two hands through puzzles designed to stump, not frustate, so that they may achieve their dream of a warm, firm handshake. Steam.
Notes: Excellent sokoban puzzle game that takes around 1-2 hours to complete.
Encoded War
INDIE
Here is the 5-year contract to get your son back. You must become the morse messenger during World War II. Each day comes with a new tasks for you to overcome and challenges your morse coding skill. Steam.
Notes: Excellent indie game, really scratches that Papers Please itch. Quite a short game, though.
Warsim: The Realm of Aslona
TEXT-BASED SIMULATION
Warsim is a deep and rich text based kingdom management game unlike anything else. Complete with charming ASCII graphics, navigate the millions of different procedurally generated races, events and areas with a huge emphasis on player choice. Don’t let its look fool you, there is depth in every direction. Steam.
Notes: Absolutely outstanding game, like a text-based Crusader Kings mixed with the management of Dwarf Fortress in the resplendent glory of ASCII.
SIC-1 – ⓘ Free to Play
ESOTERIC PROGRAMMING
SIC-1 is a single-instruction programming game. Neglect your personal life in pursuit of promotions and vague assurances of job security! Optimize your programs to rise to the top of the leaderboards! SIC Systems thanks you for your hard work! Now please return to your desk. Steam.
Notes: While Zachtronics is no more, the niche of challenging esoteric programming games is far from gone. If you liked TIS-100 there’s much to like here.