The most sensational and interesting projects of small independent studios.
Some ten years ago, indie games were a curiosity for ordinary players. They were talked about only in narrow circles, and many talented projects did not even reach a large audience. But the past few years have clearly shown: independent games have a place in the industry! After all, they offered gamers something that they dare not offer AAA projects: diversity, creative courage and honesty towards the audience.
In this video, we have collected ten great indie games that are due out in 2023. But note in advance that by the word “indie” we mean the work of small independent studios – even if they already have a publisher.
Developer: Moon Studio
Publisher: Microsoft
List platforms: PC, Xbox One
release dateMarch 11, 2023
The first game on our list has already seen the light of day. Ori and the Will of the Wisps – continuation of the most beautiful metro Ori and the Blind Forest. The first part was released in 2015 and collected many awards, including the title of the best platformer of the year from review. The main difference between the new “Ori” – a greater emphasis on action. The main character turns the rays of light into a weapon: a sword, hammer or bow with arrows. As he progresses, he finds new skills – and we, as in Hollow Knight, will need to choose which ones to equip. Ori and the Will of the Wisps is already available by subscription Xbox Game Pass.
Developer: Star Theory Games
Publisher: Private Division
List platforms: PC, Xbox One, PS4
release date: 2023
Take-two will release a sequel to one of the most famous indie games of the last decade – Kerbal Space Program. Not the developers who did the first part are already engaged in it, but they are big fans of the original.
The Kerbal Space Program was dedicated to funny green men who tried to fly to other planets of their solar system. The sequel will allow them to travel between the stars. Moreover, it will be possible not only to assemble spaceships, but also to build colonies on other planets. And, of course, make many mistakes. Moreover, the latter will be as clear as possible, because the developers pay special attention to animations. Also, the game promises to become more understandable and accessible for beginners – but at the same time remains very difficult.
Developer: Phobia Game Studio
Publisher: Devolver Digital
List platforms: PC, Xbox One, PS4
release date: 2023
Company Devolver digital has long been a kind of guarantor of the quality of its releases. Therefore, it is worth paying attention to Carrion – “Horror vice versa”, where you control a terrible, incomprehensible creature that kills people.
The main character is just a tangle of biomass that clings to walls and ceilings with the help of many tentacles. Absorbing people, the monster grows in size, and taking damage – decreases. Moreover, each size has its advantages and disadvantages. A small monster can spit a web that immobilizes the victim, and a large one can break through wooden doors and do more damage.
Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout
Developer: Mediatonic
Publisher: Devolver Digital
List platforms: PC, PS4
release date: summer of 2023
Another release from Devolver is the battle royale Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout. Many probably already tired of this genre, but do not chop off the shoulder! There are no weapons in Fall Guys at all. You do not kill other players – the arena itself does this for you. The main thing here is not to yawn and avoid the dangers yourself, and for victory you just need to remain the last surviving lucky man.
However, not all tests are so brutal. There are races, and little things – but all with the participation of hundreds of players. Somewhere, dexterity is more useful, and somewhere – luck. But it will be fun anyway. Fall Guys is probably the world’s largest patigame than the standard battle royale.
Developer: Luis Antonio
Publisher: Annapurna Interactive
Platform List: PC, Xbox One
release date: 2023
But let’s finally digress from Devolver products. There is another indie publisher with a great reputation – Annapurna interactive. They released hits like What Remains of Edith Finch, Telling Lies and Kentucky Route Zero. The next game in line is the “interactive thriller” 12 minutes from Luis Antonio, artist The witness.
12 Minutes is a quest where the protagonist is caught in a temporary loop of only twelve minutes. A romantic evening with his wife turned into a nightmare for him. A policeman broke into their home, accused his wife of murder and arranged for lynching of both of them. But then time was rewound twelve minutes ago – and it started again. Now the main character needs to find out what is the matter and prevent the tragedy – otherwise he will have to die again. True, the answer is not easy to find: according to the developer, it takes 6-8 hours to complete it.
Developer: Glumberland
Publisher: Glumberland
Platform List: PC, Xbox One
release date: 2023
Next on our list is a cartoon game Ooblets. There you will have to collect funny monsters, as in “Pokémon”, to farm, as in Harvest moon, and sort things out in a dance duel format. And all this within the framework of a simulator of life in a small town, as in Animal crossing.
However, the matter is not limited to one city: we will explore the vast world with different biomes, complete quests and look for especially rare monsters. There is craft and fishing – but fishing here is necessary not for living things, but for supplies. In general, children will surely enjoy the game. But among adults, she already has enough fans: more than a thousand people support the development of Patreon.
Developer: Thunder Lotus
Publisher: Thunder Lotus
List platforms: PC, Xbox One, PS4, Switch
release date: 2023
But SpiritfarerDespite the fabulous art design, it is designed specifically for adults. The developers themselves describe it as a “cozy game about death.” In it, it will be necessary to build and maintain a boat for transporting souls to the afterlife. Moreover, each soul will have its own story and its requests, which will have to be fulfilled. But these are not the only classes in Spiritfarer – even here you can explore the expanses of water, go through platform levels, collect resources, grow food and craft items. Such an unusual hybrid of different genres.
Developer: Modus Games
Publisher: Dreams Uncorporated
List platforms: PC, Xbox One, PS4, Switch
release date: 2023
But the remaining three games are very clearly fit into the genre framework. Cris tales – This is an RPG about time travel. But there is a nuance: the past, present and future are displayed on one screen at the same time. The main character named Chris learned the magic of time to save the world from a terrible fate. This magic is also used in battle: for example, you can douse the enemy with water, and then throw him into the future so that the armor is rusted.
Despite the fact that Cris Tales makes a small studio, it looks great, and all the lines there are voiced. In addition, a demo version of the game has already been posted on Steam. So now you can check how much you like it.
Developer: Lizardcube, Guard Crush, Dotemu
Publisher: Dotemu
List platforms: PC, Xbox One, PS4, Switch
release date: 2023
Quests, platformers and metro-diving are one of the key game genres of the 90s that have recently been revived thanks to the indie scene. Only bitemaps, such as Streets of rage. This series was one of the most spectacular on Sega mega drivebut since 94 has not received an official continuation.
What Sega could not do, the company plans to overpower Dotemu – they develop Streets of Rage 4. It will be a classic bitemap with familiar characters and hand-drawn sprites. You just need to move through the stage from left to right and scatter enemies with your hands, feet, or with the weapons that the opponents themselves will drop. I hope that in 2023 it will be as interesting as 30 years ago.
Developer: Wube Software
Publisher: Wube Software
Platform List: PC
release date: September 25, 2023
The last game on our list has already gained considerable fame. Factorio – This is a simulator of the construction and management of a huge factory on an uninhabited planet. The project has been in early Steam access for more than four years, but the final version is due out in September. It’s hard to overestimate the people’s love for it: over the past years, the game has collected more than fifty thousand reviews, and 98% of them are positive.
In Factorio, you start playing as a lone person who crashed a spaceship. At first, you have to mine wood, coal and ore yourself – but soon you will build simple machines that will do this for you. And over time, install a generator, connect everything with an electric grid and conveyors – and the factory will begin to control itself. It remains only to expand it and set the system more and more complex tasks. But be careful: if the game drags on, it will be very difficult to come off!
That’s all for us. But, of course, much more interesting indie games will be released this year. Tell us in the comments which ones you yourself are waiting for the most.
