Outdated-school platforming, Metroidvania horror and different new indie video games value trying out

Welcome to our newest roundup of what is going on on within the indie recreation area. As ever, it has been a busy week of latest video games arriving and particulars of upcoming releases rising. Before we get to a few of these although, the nominees for the second annual Indie Game Awards have been introduced this week.

There’s a pleasant combine of huge hitters and smaller, however equally worthy titles among the many Game of the Year contenders. Those are:

• Absolum – Dotemu, Guard Crush Games and Supamonks

• and Roger – TearyHand Studio

• Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector – Jump Over the Age

• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 – Sandfall Interactive

• Consume Me – Jenny Jiao Hsia, AP Thomson, Jie En Lee, Violet W-P and Ken “coda” Snyder

• Hades II – Supergiant Games

• Hollow Knight: Silksong – Team Cherry

• Keep Driving – YCJY Games

• Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo – Pocket Trap

Consume Me and and Roger are two I’ve been which means to take a look at for some time. I’m additionally but to hop into Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, which is arguably the frontrunner right here — it is wanting like the favourite for prime honors at The Game Awards subsequent month as properly.

There are a complete bunch of worthy contenders in different classes, from hits like Discounty and the charmingly bittersweet Time Flies, to solo-developed initiatives like Spilled! and Vile: Exhumed. The supremely addictive Ball x Pit picked up a nod, nevertheless it’s going in opposition to the large Öoo (and Absolum, Hades II and Silksong) within the gameplay design class. It’s neat to see Playdate recreation Taria & Como earn recognition too.

The Indie Game Awards ceremony takes place on December 18 at 6:30PM ET. You can watch it on YouTube and Twitch.

New releases

The new launch I’m most wanting ahead to making an attempt when I’ve an opportunity is Windswept, a precision platformer that is impressed by comparable video games from the ’90s like Donkey Kong Country. Marbles the duck and Checkers the turtle every have distinctive motion talents, and you may must swap between the pair to greatest navigate environments. You’ll be making an attempt to assist them get again residence after a storm whisked them away.

There are plenty of secrets and techniques to find throughout the 40-plus ranges, animal buddies to journey and way more. I grew up with video games like this one from WeatherFell and writer Top Hat Studios, which seems to be utterly up my alley. Windswept is out now on Steam, GOG, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S for $20.

The Devolver Digital-published Possessor(s) is one thing a bit of completely different from Hyper Light Drifter studio Heart Machine. This is a horror-inflected Metroidvania and the builders drew inspiration from platform fighters for the fight. Here, highschool scholar Luca kinds an alliance with a demon in want of a bunch following “an interdimensional catastrophe.” They staff as much as keep alive and uncover what led to the catastrophe.

As with Heart Machine’s different video games, it seems to be very fairly, however evaluations for Possessor(s) — which is out on PS5 and PC — have been pretty blended up to now. Things have not precisely been going nice for Heart Machine general. The studio final month laid off workers and ended growth of Hyper Light Breaker, which stays in early entry.

As with its earlier recreation Before Your Eyes, Nice Dream says its newest undertaking, Goodnight Universe, is greatest performed with a digital camera. There’s the choice to work together with the sport utilizing your eye motion and facial expressions. That makes plenty of sense for Goodnight Universe, which casts you within the position of a six-month-old child with psychic powers. Little Isaac simply desires familial love, however a shadowy tech company is trying to take custody of him.

Skybound Games is the writer of Goodnight Universe, which is obtainable on Nintendo Switch 2, PS5, Xbox Series X/S and Steam for $20. A Switch model is approaching December 18, and an replace that may convey digital camera help to the Switch 2 version is on the way in which.

Bonaparte – A Mechanized Revolution is a turn-based technique recreation that affords you the prospect to shift the result of the French Revolution. An alternative to revolutionize the revolution, because it have been. You can defend, depose and even reform the monarchy.

As the title suggests, you may have mechs at your disposal in battle — to that finish, this jogs my memory a little bit of the clockpunk soulslike Steelrising, which was additionally set throughout the French Revolution. Bonaparte – A Mechanized Revolution, from Studio Imugi and co-publisher 2P Games, left early entry on Steam this week. It prices $20.

Upcoming

I’m very completely happy to proceed this little run of together with a canine recreation on this roundup each week with one thing new on the fantastically titled Barkour. As a part of Steam Animal Fest (which runs till Monday and features a sale on video games like Tunic and Hello Kitty Island Adventure), Varsav Game Studios unleashed a brand new trailer and an up to date Steam demo.

Here, you play as Agent T.H.U.N.D.E.R., a particular agent with devices galore and loads of chew to go together with the bark. On missions, you’ll be able to play the stealthy means, combat your enemies head on or perform barkour parkour runs. Varsav Game Studios is hoping to launch Barkour in 2026.

Next up, we’ve launch dates for a pair of cafe sims, beginning with Tailside. As a furry cafe proprietor, you may be trying to good the artwork of espresso making so you’ll be able to serve scrumptious concoctions to your patrons. You may even create foam artwork on lattes for an extra-special contact.

In this recreation from solo developer Coffee Beans Dev, you’ll be able to customise your cafe to your liking. There aren’t any timers to fret about, so you’ll be able to play at your personal tempo. Tailside is coming to Steam on January 21. A demo is obtainable now.

As revealed throughout the State of Play Japan showcase this week, the newest entry within the Coffee Talk collection is certain for Steam, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch on March 5. Chorus Worldwide Games and Toge Productions’ Coffee Talk Tokyo locations you within the position of a barista who hears out their clientele.

The drinks you make (which you’ll be able to improve with sprinkle stencils for latte artwork) assist form your conversations with clients and have a bearing on the branching storylines. Coffee Talk and Coffee Talk Episode 2 composer Andrew “AJ” Jeremy returned to craft one other lo-fi soundtrack for the newest installment.

A launch window for InKonbini: One Store. Many Stories was confirmed throughout the State of Play Tokyo stream as properly. It’s coming to Steam and consoles, together with PS5, in April. There’s a Steam demo accessible now.

From Nagai Industries, this simulator places you within the position of a faculty scholar and worker of a small-town Japanese comfort retailer (a konbini) within the early Nineties. You’ll resolve which merchandise to promote, and order and restock items. More importantly, you may must ship distinctive customer support. That entails having conversations with clients, which is able to generally find yourself having an affect on their lives. It appears fairly beautiful.