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Indie Games 2017 [July] Anti Machina Stories

Toma

Let me show you through these halls, my friend, where treasures of indie gaming await...
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| 1. Header Information |
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IndieGAF recommends: The 50 Best Indie Games of 2013: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=766928
IndieGAF recommends: The 50 Best Indie Games of 2014: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=985103
IndieGAF recommends: The 50 Best Indie Games of 2015: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1203844
As before, voting is going to happen in the last week of the month.

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| 2. Overview |
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Post 1:
1. Header Information
2. Overview
3. Introductory Blurb
4. Indie Media Corner

Post 2[/URL]:
5. Remarkable Indie Release Dates coming up this month!"]

Post 3:
6. Recently released Indies!

Post 4:
7. Upcoming Indies to look forward to!

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| 3. Introductory Blurb |
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We are always interested in getting to know more people with the same hobby. If you share our love for Indies, let us know! We talk about anything Indie, want to talk about the mess that DoubleFine is leaving behind? The depth(s) of Dwarf Fortress? Need recommendations? This is the right spot to ask! We'd also love to read more impressions :)

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| 3.5 Quick Note about Formatting |
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If you want to suggest a game that has recently released or that looks interesting, but hasnt released yet, please follow the following formatting structure so the post is picked up by Toma-Bot:

Released games:
[B]TITLE[/B] - PRICE (PLAT)
[QUOTE][IMG]IMG[/IMG]
[URL]LINK[/URL]

DESCRIPTION TEXT
[/quote]

Not yet released games:
[B]TITLE[/B] - PLAT
[QUOTE][IMG]IMG[/IMG]
[URL]LINK[/URL]

DESCRIPTION TEXT
[/quote]
Copy the appropriate content and add the proper information for the black writing. Please only include 1 link and 1 image. I tried making it a bit failsafe, so it should be able to deal with 2 links or images as well, but 1 is safer.

If the game is free, then put "Free" as the price, otherwise please use $ or € for the price. You can also include more than one game per post (like the Screenshot saturday posts), but please stick to the above format for every entry.

If someone posts a non-proper formatted post, I'd appreciate if you could repost the game with the same info in the proper format.

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| 5. Voting Results |
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Hey! I assume you are new in this thread series and want to see what we were up to? Or you didnt have enough time to play through all of the games from the last month but still want to catch up with the best ones? Then this list is for YOU! These were the games we enjoyed the most in the previous thread, voted on by the community (More thorough descriptions and impressions in the previous thread, especially the last few pages with the voting):

1. Rime - $29.99 (PC, PS4, Xbox One)
RiME-screenshots-9.jpg

https://www.greybox.com/rime/en/

In RiME, you play as a young boy who has awakened on a mysterious island after a torrential storm. You see wild animals, long-forgotten ruins and a massive tower that beckons you to come closer. Armed with your wits and a will to overcome—and the guidance of a helpful fox—you must explore the enigmatic island, reach the tower's peak, and unlock its closely guarded secrets.
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2. Mages of Mystralia - $24.99 (PC)
UnderstatedCompassionateBluewhale.gif

http://game.magesofmystralia.com/

In a world of magic, your mind is your greatest weapon. Learn the ways of magic and design your own spells to fight enemies, navigate treacherous terrain, and right past wrongs in the kingdom of Mystralia.
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3. Dead Cells - $16.99 (PC)
2c7ec20a_8368070.jpg

https://dead-cells.com/

Dead Cells is a rogue-lite, metroidvania action-platformer. You'll explore a sprawling, ever-changing castle... assuming you're able to fight your way past its keepers in 2D souls-lite combat. No checkpoints. Kill, die, learn, repeat.
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4. World to the West - $19.99 (PC/Mac) $25.00 (PS4, Xbox One, Wii U)
ss_c4a67f47a6ce766b6260f6afb3cbc8cbc5ac88f0.1920x1080_zps9at2f7rc.jpg

http://store.steampowered.com/app/530020/World_to_the_West/

World to the West is a pulpy, cartoony top down action adventure inspired by European adventure comics. Take control of four unique characters —Lumina the Teslamancer, Knaus the orphan, Miss Teri the mind bender and the gloriously mustachioed strongman, Lord Clonington—, each with their own motivations, skills and interweaving storylines, as they seek to escape the dark shadow of an ancient prophecy. Travel trough corrupt colonies, lush jungles and frozen tundras, as you snoop through the secrets of a forgotten civilization.
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5. Crosscells - $2.99 (PC, Mac, Linux)
ss_3a43f9f90dc693c6bf02434ac67171c5903d5e49.1920x1080.jpg

http://store.steampowered.com/app/632000/CrossCells/

CrossCells is an ambient logic puzzle game.Use number clues to remove tiles and solve the puzzle.Includes 50 brain teasing puzzles.
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| 5. Indie Media Corner & Other Links |
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I noticed there are a few noteworthy, and relatively unknown, projects that deserve a shoutout here because I feel that they share a common interest with the people in this thread. I talked to the guy from Pixabyte and MetaVendetta and both are very enthusiastic about the things they love and figured you might appreciate the shoutout as well. If you enjoy anything here or want to give feedback, let these guys know via their websites or also here in this thread. If you appreciate something, let people know. A heads up can sometimes very valuable.

ii9XSD5.png

This is a monthly podcast series that presents notable Indie Game soundtracks. A likeable host and guests, a fantastic track selection, interesting discussions and a focus for Indies will make this one a mainstay in my monthly threads.

Episode 11: Episode 11: Summer Girls
[Wolfenstien | Elysian Shadows | Trials Fusion | Fract OSC | Out There | Parappa the Rapper]

GAF Thread: Freeware Games
So many free games are out there and so many are just really good games that a large majority of people will never play. From developers with large portfolios of freeware games, to free alphas and betas, to the hundreds and hundreds of entries for game jams such as Seven Day Roguelike, Seven Day FPS, Ludum Dare, and others, to the talented work of Digipen students, there's just an astounding amount of quality free games to play and enjoy that this thread tries to uncover.
 

Toma

Let me show you through these halls, my friend, where treasures of indie gaming await...
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| 6. Recently released Indies! |
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A-Train Classic - €54.99 (PC)
giphy.gif

http://store.steampowered.com/app/492090/ATrain_PC_Classic__APC/

An economy management game in the vein of Transport Tycoon. There is so much simulation stuff going on here, from different transportation modes, upgrades, different ages, stock market, owning companies, resource production/management/shipping, plenty customization options, employee happiness, dealing with antiquated euipment, trading and simulated goods values, buildings/very well done scenarios in the "campaign" (which is the reason why I like this game so much, as most sandbox sims dont have good scenarios) and a million different sale stats to keep track off.

Antihero - $14.99 (PC)
HxNvaZ0.jpg

http://store.steampowered.com/app/505640

Antihero is a turn-based strategy game where your run a thieves guild. Hire street urchins, thugs, gangs, assassins, and more. Use them to earn upgrades for your guild, steal, set traps, buy bribes, blackmail, and assassinate higher up citizens, all with the goal of earning enough VPs to win the map. Single player story and multi-player versus options.


Drifting Lands - $18.99 (Steam)
dash.jpg

http://store.steampowered.com/app/322750

Imagine a Diablo-like game with the mouse clicking part replaced by an horizontal shoot'em'up core gameplay.

Formicide - Free (PC)
ss_13f46e5f5ab2587c06683cd8b46db66db362d34e.1920x1080.jpg

http://store.steampowered.com/app/434510

Formicide is a fast-paced 2D online platformer with a lineup of versatile classes. Think Worms meets Team Fortress 2. Face off with teammates against enemies in destructible environments with the weapons and abilities at your disposal.

Framed 2 - $4.99 (iOS)
screen520x924.jpeg

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app

FRAMED 2 is a noir puzzle game where you re-arrange panels of an animated comic book to change the outcome of the story.Taking place before the events of the original game, FRAMED 2 is the follow up to Hideo Kojima's 2014 Game Of The Year, FRAMED.

Get Even - $29.99 (PC, PS4, Xbox One)
M7putI4.jpg

http://www.getevengame.com/en/

Cole Black is a man with questions...Or so he is told.When he awakes in an old abandoned asylum, his sole memory is the attempted rescue of a teenage girl with a bomb strapped to her chest. Everything else is blank.With a strange technology fused to his head - used to read and replay human memory - Black travels into the depths of his own mind. To find the truth of his past. To find the truth of what happened. And to answer two very simple questions:‘Why were you there?' and, ‘Who was the girl?'

LineWay - $0.99 (PC)
ss_b6267d79f20ccf019d40e4a7f11a4c6ed0d8b51b.1920x1080.jpg

http://store.steampowered.com/app/661430

Lineway is a concise style and easy to handle puzzle game.The goal of game is to connect all bricks into one line.Based on that, there are many different functional bricks to form varied challenging game levels.

Monolith - $7.99 (PC)
ss_e411bbbe4a5559d02b8dcc4e56973592953c6519.1920x1080.jpg

http://store.steampowered.com/app/603960

Monolith is a top down action shooter with procedurally generated elements. Explore a large, abandoned facility in search of incredible power, fighting dangerous foes and gaining new weapons and upgrades as you progress.

Monument Valley 2 - $4.99 (iOS)
qNhDHj4.jpg

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app

Guide a mother and her child as they embark on a journey through magical architecture, discovering illusionary pathways and delightful puzzles as you learn the secrets of the Sacred Geometry.

Nex Machina - $19.99, £15.99, €19.99 (PS4, PC)
ffUhy2A.jpg

http://www.housemarque.com/games/nexmachina

Nex Machina is an intense arcade style twin-stick shooter from Housemarque. Taking hints from both Robotron and Smash TV, Nex Machina focuses on pure action, voxel destruction and competition in the distant, cablepunk themed future.

PION - $14.99 (PC)
ss_8071d8aa7f36133804c1faba8807cdcfda4c6223.jpg

http://store.steampowered.com/app/667550

A fast-paced sci-fi top-down shooter with roguelike elements. Pilot exotic hovercraft and battle your way through ancient drones and defense systems to retake Earth. Collect powerful weapons and technology from the remnants of Earth's techno-cults.

Police Stories Alpha - Free (Windows)
giphy.gif

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/262888687

A fresh take on top-down shooters that elevates tactics and forces you to make split second decisions. Rescue civilians, disarm and arrest criminals. And remember - shooting first is not an option.
 

Toma

Let me show you through these halls, my friend, where treasures of indie gaming await...
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| 7. Upcoming Indies! (Not yet released) |
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wGUtKPh.jpg


BREAK ARTS II - PC
BA2_anime2.png

http://store.steampowered.com/app/547360

Be artistic, be destructive. Smartphone app BREAK ARTS is making its way to PC! This version boasts further improved graphics and a whole new game system.
 

Toma

Let me show you through these halls, my friend, where treasures of indie gaming await...
Thread open, filling in stuff now, but its quite a bit fewer this month. I blame the sales, nobody releases during sale time. :p
 

kasavin

Member
Thanks for making these threads, it's always a great way to keep up (and I've got a lot of catching up to do on 2017 games).

Pyre, which I've been working on with everyone at Supergiant for the last three years since Transistor came out, is out in less than three weeks on PS4 and Steam. As a longtime GAF reader, I really hope folks on this forum enjoy it and find it to be interesting. As our first foray into making a party-based RPG, it's quite a bit different from Bastion and Transistor, though I think has the feel of our previous games (hopefully a good thing if you enjoyed those games). It's just a bigger game with more characters to meet and places to go, and so on. I'll be looking forward to seeing what everyone thinks.
 

Toma

Let me show you through these halls, my friend, where treasures of indie gaming await...
Thanks for making these threads, it's always a great way to keep up (and I've got a lot of catching up to do on 2017 games).

Pyre, which I've been working on with everyone at Supergiant for the last three years since Transistor came out, is out in less than three weeks on PS4 and Steam. As a longtime GAF reader, I really hope folks on this forum enjoy it and find it to be interesting. As our first foray into making a party-based RPG, it's quite a bit different from Bastion and Transistor, though I think has the feel of our previous games (hopefully a good thing if you enjoyed those games). It's just a bigger game with more characters to meet and places to go, and so on. I'll be looking forward to seeing what everyone thinks.

Transistor and Bastion were among the best games in their respective years, so I have nothing but faith in your current project. Thanks for the headsup, Pyre went by me so far. :)
 

Toma

Let me show you through these halls, my friend, where treasures of indie gaming await...
Slowpoke me finally filled in the thread, let me know if there are issues.
 

StereoVsn

Member
Pyre looks really good and is a definite buy (pre-ordered already on PS4, might double dip on PC) since I liked Bastion and loved Transistor. Antihero also looks like something that could turn out to be interesting.

Can't believe I haven't heard of "World to the West"! It's by the same studio as Teslagrad as well. Going to put this and Antihero on the Wishlist. Between the backlog, stuff I got in Steam sale, Pyre and Trails of Cold Steel on Steam in July, that's too busy of a month :).

Speaking of which, while Trails of Cold Steel is not precisely Indi, it's not by a giant publisher by any means. The game is not as great as it's predecessors Trails in the Sky but still good.
http://store.steampowered.com/app/538680/The_Legend_of_Heroes_Trails_of_Cold_Steel/
 

lordkosc

Member
Yay Antihero made it over from June! If anyone has any questions about it , feel free to ask, I have over 100 hours in it since first access started late last year.
 

Wok

Member
I have recently been looking for hidden gems, and some people pointed out that the ranking heavily favoured games with a lot of good reviews, so that the really hidden gems might be lost in the process. So I have decided to compute the ranking again (same method), but this time, focusing on games with a good amount of playtime yet a low number of reviews. This is a part of the haul:

Cross-posting here:

Games which I discover




Games which I already know about




Games which might have been indirectly favored in the ranking due to their high price


What do you think? Has anyone played any of these games?
 

Toma

Let me show you through these halls, my friend, where treasures of indie gaming await...
Similarly: I was also playing some random games barely anyone seems to have played lately. Currently:

Chronicles of Teddy:

Super stupid name, but its actually a pretty interesting platformer combining elements from Zelda 2 and more intricate games like FEZ with a "communication via music" mechanic. The game is a bit obtuse sometimes, but its very charming and actually requires some imagination/clever thinking to play. Good stuff. Still on sale on PSN I believe.
 

Toma

Let me show you through these halls, my friend, where treasures of indie gaming await...
Also, from what you just linked: Monsters Den gives me a huge Nostalgia flashback, I think I have played this before and will need to look into this some more.

And Drunk from Nectar totally needs VR :-o
 

arcanadei

Member
West of Loathing - PC
header.jpg

West of Loathing

West of Loathing — a slapstick comedy stick-figure wild west adventure role-playing game.

Releasing next month from Asymmetric, the creator of Kingdom of Loathing. I feel like most people who would be interested already know about this, but for anyone that may have missed it or not heard of it before. If you haven't, KoL is a free, comedic browser based RPG that plays on multiple tropes from the genre and is a lot of fun. You can get a taste of their work now just by signing up for KoL. If you like it, check out this new one.

Wok I love the method you used to pull that game list. Really cool idea there.
 

SnakeLordJelly

Neo Member
Similarly: I was also playing some random games barely anyone seems to have played lately. Currently:

Chronicles of Teddy:


Super stupid name, but its actually a pretty interesting platformer combining elements from Zelda 2 and more intricate games like FEZ with a "communication via music" mechanic. The game is a bit obtuse sometimes, but its very charming and actually requires some imagination/clever thinking to play. Good stuff. Still on sale on PSN I believe.

I played the prequel to this game, Finding Teddy which a nice little point and click adventure. Chronicles was actually originally called Finding Teddy 2 but I believe there was some backlash from people who were expecting it to be more like the first.

I've also read some rather disenchanting reviews, but I usually trust your taste so now I'm regretting not picking it up during the Summer Sale.
 

Toma

Let me show you through these halls, my friend, where treasures of indie gaming await...
I played the prequel to this game, Finding Teddy which a nice little point and click adventure. Chronicles was actually originally called Finding Teddy 2 but I believe there was some backlash from people who were expecting it to be more like the first.

I've also read some rather disenchanting reviews, but I usually trust your taste so now I'm regretting not picking it up during the Summer Sale.

It's a bit of a weird one as some parts feel a bit underexplained, but it has pretty unique mix of mechanics going on. It's definitely one of those games that makes you wonder and guess about what's coming up next and I love when these games throw you off a bit, so that you need to develop a different kind of thinking. Definitely recommended whenever it hits a sale again. I believe it's still on sale for PS4.

On another note: I started playing Spacechem on my shiny new tablet, and omg, this game is still so good. Its the game that Kickstarter my fascination with programming games and now... I am very sure it's still the king of that particular hill. Stupidly good.
 
Strain Tactics - $14.99 (PC)
ss_ffdc3271e76568e7864464a5866038bf777f5491.1920x1080.jpg

http://store.steampowered.com/app/621810/Strain_Tactics/

Strain Tactics is a real-time, top-down tactical ARPG that is set in a cyberpunk apocalypse with the earth overrun by an infectious alien strain. Overlooking the action in your helibase, deploy your custom ground teams into sandbox engagements, maintaining their sanity ...and humanity!

SAELIG - $14.99 (PC)
ss_60dde07aacb5427b109f1b53643caa662591bbce.1920x1080.jpg

http://store.steampowered.com/app/612720/SAELIG/

At its core SÆLIG is a trading and management game centred around the accumulation of wealth, and the prosperity of your household. Live through the turmoil of the Dark Ages and do whatever you can to bring riches to your family.
 

conceptequals

Neo Member
Abstract Initiative - (PC, XBOX ONE)
ss_f052091514768f6d5afa753c1619de5bcdf4a5ef.jpg

http://store.steampowered.com/app/522070/Abstract_Initiative/

Abstract Initiative is a first person platformer with an emphasis on movement based puzzles. You will be given the ability to forcefully move and manipulate objects with the prototype EMG tool. All experiments will be conducted in the newly built offshore test rooms, these challenging environments will require you to be resourceful and innovative.
 

swarley64

Member
It looks like Sundered is wrapping up their closed beta, and the full game may be releasing this month... Has anyone played it? What were your impressions? The little bits I've watched on YouTube look f'in great
 

Tank Jr.

Neo Member
Similarly: I was also playing some random games barely anyone seems to have played lately. Currently:

Chronicles of Teddy:


Super stupid name, but its actually a pretty interesting platformer combining elements from Zelda 2 and more intricate games like FEZ with a "communication via music" mechanic. The game is a bit obtuse sometimes, but its very charming and actually requires some imagination/clever thinking to play. Good stuff. Still on sale on PSN I believe.

Have this, beaten it. Totally worth playing if you want a challenge and enjoy some rather beautiful atmospheric music.

The name isn't quite "stupid". This is the sequel to a game called "Finding Teddy" that plays nothing like CoT.
 

Toma

Let me show you through these halls, my friend, where treasures of indie gaming await...
Have this, beaten it. Totally worth playing if you want a challenge and enjoy some rather beautiful atmospheric music.

The name isn't quite "stupid". This is the sequel to a game called "Finding Teddy" that plays nothing like CoT.

I get the reasoning behind that, but I still feel it limits the appeal of the game notably, considering I also read a few comments discounting the game based on the name alone. It just makes it seem a lot less than it actually is. I know preconceptions suck, but its a reality devs kinda have to deal with considering there are a bajillion great games each year.
 

Valahart

Member
I'm pretty sure I've read this on last month's thread but I'll echo it anyway:

I think people might be sleeping on Shovel Knight: Specter of Torment. It's very undersold as an expansion. It feels as close to new game as it could possibly while still being built on Shovel Knight.

I'm playing through it now and WOW, I'm so glad I played Plague of Shadows first otherwise enjoying it after Specter of Torment would be impossible.

It's SO GOOD. Play it people (after Plague of Shadows lol).
 
I have recently been looking for hidden gems, and some people pointed out that the ranking heavily favoured games with a lot of good reviews, so that the really hidden gems might be lost in the process. So I have decided to compute the ranking again (same method), but this time, focusing on games with a good amount of playtime yet a low number of reviews. This is a part of the haul:

Cross-posting here:

Interesting haul, lot of stuff I didn't know about. But we do share DROD in common, I got that in the sales too. I also owned Creeper World already. Haven't put enough time into DROD yet (although I am a big fan of the original back in ye yonder past so I presume I will like it for nostalgia reasons alone) but I did quite like Creeper World, nice lo-fi battle management game.
 

Wok

Member
The creator of The Sea Will Claim Everything has released a new game on Steam.

No, it is not The Council of Crows. Sadly.

But still:



I don't really care about that tweet, but I still find it strange that the game release is a celebration of a writer.

i2YyzTh.png
 

Moobabe

Member
Hey all! Sorry I've been quiet but I have news!

I'm working in games. Like legit damn video games.

I'm now the content marketing manager (so official) at Splash Damage in London!

Once I've settled down I'll be around to play and write more about indies
 

Toma

Let me show you through these halls, my friend, where treasures of indie gaming await...
Hey all! Sorry I've been quiet but I have news!

I'm working in games. Like legit damn video games.

I'm now the content marketing manager (so official) at Splash Damage in London!

Once I've settled down I'll be around to play and write more about indies

Sweet, congrats. I am going the other way most likely soon, from Videogames after many years to retail.
 
Hey all! Sorry I've been quiet but I have news!

I'm working in games. Like legit damn video games.

I'm now the content marketing manager (so official) at Splash Damage in London!

Once I've settled down I'll be around to play and write more about indies

Congrats.
 

Stoze

Member
Jotun is currently free on Steam and GoG btw, they are doing some marketing for Sundered which I didn't realize was coming out this month. Looking forward to impressions on that one, maybe I should try and play Jotun too.

In other news, The End is Nigh is excellent. Edmund once again delivers with spot-on controls, clever and engaging level design with a plethora of mechanics. This time in an interconnected world filled with secrets and extra challenges.
 
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