The best indie games are only worth a tenth of what you've already heard about them. 2015 finally showed us that the gaming industry has turned towards the well-forgotten old.

From 2D pixel art games to developers shedding high-end products to complete years-long projects, you'd be surprised how unique (and much cheaper) games you can get for less money or even for free.

Batman: Arkham Knight, The Witcher 3 and Bloodbor are solid spots on our Best of 2015 list, but these brilliant titles can't always make a consumer buy the whole list.

Check out my list of the best indie games of 2015 and leave your suggestions in the comments below.

12. Westerado: Double Barrelled

You liked Red Dead Redemption, right? Are you partial to Old West trappings, Rootin "tootin" cowboys, horseback riding with shootouts and family members to avenge?

Great, then you'll love Westerado, Ostrich Banditos" (terrible name) revenge pixel art that turns you into a lonely hero whose family was killed by an unknown intruder.

The amazing part of the game is that you will track CLUEDO along the way. You start with one tiny piece of information - let's say he has a hat or something - which is shown in a menu that you set when doing side missions and scouting along the way. The more missions you complete, the more information you get and the faster you can find your family's killer.

It's funny that your prey is wandering around beside you. Each killer appearance is rewarding, the action unfolds intensely, with unique game elements to reload the gun, sending a bullet into the drum one by one, making each firefight incredibly intense, which smooths out the shortcomings of primitive graphics.

11. Axiom Verge

Nintendo apparently fails to give the legions of Metroid fans what they want? But one man, Thomas Happa, took it upon himself to create Axiom Verge, using all the trappings of Super Metroid. Everything is the same, the same graphics, the same square view of the world, and the card itself even looks exactly the same as in Nintendo's 1994 masterpiece.

If you're nostalgic for retro travel and want to do something in the most explosive years - Axiom Verge is for you.

10. Her Story

Her Story is the latest of the gameplays that set the modern standard for this type of game. This is an interactive story where you play a character and the events of the story will not happen until you do certain things.

Written by Sam Barlow (the guy who brought you Silent Hill: Shattered Dimensions). You find yourself in front of a 90s computer screen, you need to watch a huge number of videos and determine whether the woman in the video is guilty of murder or not. The action unfolds intriguingly - especially when you realize who you are and what you are doing in the game - but the main thing that holds it all together is Viva Seifert, whose seductive performance makes you believe her and grow tired of her innocence.

Due to the 90's settings, you have access to a limited number of programs on the computer itself, but this only forces you to start taking your own notes. If the atmosphere of the plot attracted you, try on the role of a detective, write your notes, state your version of events.

9. Not A Hero

Looking ahead, Not A Hero is essentially a 2D pixel art shooter game. A man named BunnyLord is running for mayor. Mr. Lord wants to rid the city of crime and you are gathering a team of people to do it.

The game is more dynamic than Hotline Miami, as you will find shelter in it depending on where you are. Fierce firefights give way to hopeless situations when you take up all-round defense and move on to rapid attacks, the result of which will be fountains of blood. Just like in Hotline, the more abilities you have, the more kills you can get by engaging in the game stream.

Devolver Digital remains one of the best game publishers, Hotline Miami, Luftrausers, Titan Souls and now Not A Hero - all games with great gameplay and great soundtracks. Check it out for yourself, Not A Hero is a great game...

8. Titan Souls

The latest development from Devolver Digital, a gun-free game that is both easy and hard at the same time. Playing in the 2D version of Shadow Colossus, you as a boy travel through the world of beautiful stone structures, fields and labyrinths of caves.

The meaning of the game is only to destroy the monsters. The hero has only one ability - dexterity, and the only weapon is an arrow. You can shoot and bounce, and so on until victory.

Each monster has its own weak point, which you must find in order to aim and hit it. The hallmark of the monsters is the ability to hit you in one hit - "one hit and you're dead". Titan Souls is a rather annoying beautiful little game, but for those who like to take on a challenge, this is the way to go.

7 Massive Chalice

XCOM 2 might not arrive on PC until next year, but those looking for a tactical strategy might want to check out Massive Chalice, Double Fine's unique product.
Instead of giving you a team of super soldiers, the MC presents you as the father of the nation, caring about the future of his people and resisting dark forces that threaten your land.

You must fortify camps in key areas and fill them with soldiers; you yourself must raise as many of the best warriors as possible for future battles. The entire campaign runs for 300 years, so each of your warriors can retire and pass on their genes to their offspring. If you miss the moment of retirement, the warrior will die, leaving no offspring, and he will no longer be used in battle.

Double Fine's characteristic humor is perfectly effective, and although it's borrowed from Game of Thores, it's quite refreshing for the game.

6. You Must Build A Boat

Bethesda's free Fallout Shelter was one of June's big releases (a game that lets you buy more currencies than you want, but also lets you choose the job you want). You Must Build A Boat will fit very well on mobile as it can be used comfortably on touch screen nails.

Focused on pick up n' play technology, YMBAB is an impressive combination of short and fast handheld quests - stack tiles to use swords to fend off attacks, and build a ship using conquered items and gold.

The puzzle is packed full of tricks, and outside of combat, you'll quickly navigate menus while looking around your growing ship and interacting with your ever-growing crew. The main idea of ​​the game is well executed, you can play session levels of any length, YMBAB is one of the mobile games that is really worth your time.

5. Invisible Inc.

The authors of Don't Starve, Shank and Don't Starve, Klei Entertainment are some of the best developers and their latest work is Invisible Inc. is a brilliant turn-based strategy, and if you play well, you will almost never get caught by anyone.

Leading a team of undercover spies who have lost their headquarters, you will go through a sequence of incredibly intense stealth missions to get resources and information, while trying to avoid being noticed by the guards and not getting caught on surveillance cameras. The typical features of this genre are preserved - fog of war and overwatch heroes, but the peculiarity of the heroes' activity is that they must adhere to the "stealth" tactics.

As with other Klei titles, the animation is great and the overall presentation of the world and characters is impressive, especially when you send a guard flying with a knockout blow or tiptoe from one shadow to another. The difficulty of the level depends on your choice.

An extremely original game, one of only available on Steam (Scheduled for release on PS4 later this year). Klei makes it clear that their stellar list of games is not over yet.

4. Ori & The Blind Forest

There's certainly no reason to spend your hard-earned cash on an Xbox One right now, but I wholeheartedly recommend the Microsoft-backed game Ori & The Blind Forest.

No one would have thought that an indie game could have such a massive budget. Starting as a small project and splitting into many studios (and only Microsoft took notice and was able to secure funding for the game), the game has a colorful atmosphere and scrappier design.

They say that the developers of Moon Studios - great professionals - put you in the place of Ori - a small, nimble cat-like creature. You will improve it as you play, opening up new worlds with amazing possibilities in Metroid style with each step.

When going through difficult moments, although difficulty is a purely subjective concept, when every meter is given with a fight, you can create checkpoints. Stuck on difficult jumps? Return to the checkpoint.

The game instantly sinks into the soul: Super Meat Boy-style and beautiful animation, amazing music and a story that plays on the strings of the heart like a violin, all this makes the game one of the pearls of the modern era of indie games.

3. Everybody's Gone To The Rapture

Developers of the cult classic Dear Esther and Amnesia put you in the role of an unknown hero exploring an abandoned village called Yaughton. The gameplay involves solving mysterious events through the prism of observation (light plays a huge role), carefully examining every nook and cranny.

Gradually, you will learn the memories of the inhabitants, get a glimpse of the last moments, accessing them through their phantoms in the form of luminous silhouettes. Here you realize how much information can be given by simple video cutscenes, sound effects, the use of voice.

Through a huge number of objects, artistic means and lines of dialogue of all characters, a picture of English society and humanity as a whole is outlined in each day of existence, which you collect piece by piece.

2. Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number

Trying to describe Hotline Miami is like trying to find words for driving a car at 100 mph, flying through the sky, or the last fight in an online deathmatch when the last seconds are counting down.

This is an injection of adrenaline right into the vein, a bright combination of colors, a constant alternation of a full load of the brain with relaxation.

In short, it's perfect gaming with a lot of bloody murders (a bunch of gangsters kill villains in the night) and a bunch of different effects that allowed the sequel to be one of the best of the year.

Now there is a craze for top-down shooters, and Hotline 2, like its predecessor, is filled with great soundtracks that enhance the effects when passing gangster hideouts. The game contains many characters, each of which must be used depending on the situation.

The entire game was essentially created by a team of two people, Jonathan Söderström and Dennis Whedin, and one can't help but notice what a huge impact they had on the indie genre. The latest release of the game is one of the best to date.

1 Rocket League

We already thought it would never happen, but the humble indie title Rocket League single-handedly proved that the non-Nintendpo 'big boy' console could push the arcade to the fore, becoming one of the most compelling and advanced games in recent years.

It looks like football on cars, but when you get behind the wheel, the feeling is amazing. You'll fiddle around with the camera modes first, then position yourself, hit start, and dash towards the giant ball, blasting through the crowd for a well-placed shot into the net. You will understand why this is undoubtedly the game of the summer.

By creating one of the "small games", Psyonix has proven with their efforts that despite the budget, much smaller than the rest of the games on our top list, this is a fantastic indie project.

Overview of the controller "Nes30 Pro"

Review of the best NES-style game controller from the creator of the site

Good day, dear readers!
So it's time to draw a line under the next material from the series "TOP-10: your choice", the theme of which was the best indie games. If anyone missed the beginning, we recall that the choice of dozens was made exclusively by our users, who first offered their options on the forum, and then voted for the best of them. Our task now is to talk about the results in this material and, in fact, show them in the video attached to the article. What will we do.
So, we meet - the top ten indie games according to our users!

Braid- the very rare pearl that the surf brings to the sandy covers of the beach so rarely that eyewitnesses no longer remember the last time such beauty appeared in public. Daredevil Jonathan Blow managed not only to retell an old Italian fairy tale about a princess kidnapped by an evil monster, but also to breathe into it truly new, original ideas, decorated with slightly metaphorical game mechanisms that allow you to command a smooth and sometimes capricious flow of time.

Braid- this is one of the biggest revelations of the 2008 model, which happened in the entire history of the existence of platform games. The creation of a proud and independent thinker from number None, which from the outside looked like an ordinary representative of two-dimensional "jumps", turned out to be a surprisingly deep, interesting and exciting example of developer ingenuity. "Inverted" narrative, coupled with a captivating soundtrack, colorful visual style and an invigorating approach to solving seemingly old tasks of moving from platform to platform - every part Braid radiated and radiates to this day the splendor of ideas that arose in the head Jonathan Blow back in 2004. Honor and praise to him.

By the way, the next project from alpha and omega Braid got out of the developer catacombs a long time ago - a three-dimensional puzzle The Witness is slowly building up muscle mass and is preparing to please fans of original ideas towards the end of this year.

Bastion I didn’t even try to break stereotypes, break patterns and other descriptive utensils. Fragile and independent studio Supergiant Games from the very beginning, she took up the sculpture of an extremely standard action / RPG with proprietary mechanics built around a systematic "calling" monsters, destroying barrels that always attract roleplayers with their rounded shapes, and emptying bottles of healing "tonic". Purely mechanical Bastion- one of the many representatives of his rich pedigree, not particularly standing out against the background.

However, all the stereotype of the concept was more than paid for by the incredibly bright, contrasting appearance of the game, the bewitching fantasy world that appears right in front of the hero’s feet, as well as the edification and caustic comments of the invisible narrator, who tells the tale of the adventures of the gray-haired savior of the universe. Together, all these small, but no less important advantages made it possible Bastion to win back that "small land" in the hearts of the players, which was enough to sneak into our top 10.

Supergiant Games managed to sculpt an exciting and long-lasting game that players will remember with warmth and sincere love for a long time to come. And there, perhaps, the next brainchild of indie craftsmen will arrive in time.

Super Meat Boy- another ode to dusty and sometimes rusty platformers, which only those with nerves of steel, invincible will, and at the same time dexterous fingers can run to the finish line. Another triumph of independent developer thought in the spirit of a completely free 2D meat grinder I wanna be the guy 2007 year of release.

And after all, the language does not turn to call Super Meat Boy revolutionary creation. Employees Team Meat they simply adopted all the usual piercing and cutting elements and unpretentious, but at the same time memorable two-dimensional graphics, connected them together and got one of the most "hardcore" platformers of recent years. The recipe for success is by no means innovative, but with due diligence and responsibility, it works and invariably rewards the creators for their work. After all, Super Meat Boy there is something that many modern platformers are deprived of due to an oversight of their parents - clearly calibrated, well-thought-out levels and polished to a shine control, which sometimes does not force you to ask questions about where some citizens' hands grow from.

For this, in fact, Super Meat Boy and loved by the masses. For this she got into the top ten "most-most" on the indie scene.

By the time of release Machinarium Czech craftsmen from Amanita Design already managed to make a name for themselves on the world stage due to the adventure series Samorost. If the previous inhabitants of the top 10 are debut projects from previously obscure developers, so to speak, "dark horses", then here on "Machinarium" There were high hopes from the very beginning. Still - one label "from the creators of the unique Samorost» what was it worth.

The Czechs, however, did not let the audience down. Machinarium became an exemplary and ideologically correct continuation of the adventure baggage that was present back in Samorost. Amanita Design again forged an interesting mechanized universe with its own way of life and social system, decorated it with a unique visual style that gave a certain zest to the mountains of scrap metal, deliberately deprived the characters of linguistic means and built an interesting narrative highway around this silent theater. In a word, she did everything that the fans wanted. Samorost, and at the same time wisely did not set off in pursuit of the complication of game gears and graphic delights.

The result was not long in coming - applause, hickeys on the neck from enthusiastic critics and demands for an "encore" fell immediately after the release Machinarium. At present Amanita Design is just getting ready to fly out from behind the scenes again - this time with a full-fledged Samorost 3.

Terraria I was lucky enough to catch the “design” wave that the Swedish creation raised minecraft. This same wave allowed the studio Re Logic not only fill your empty independent pockets with currency in the shortest possible time, but also earn the title of indie leaders who managed to return to the industry during the reign of shooters that charm and forgotten charm of 16-bit games.

Terraria has absorbed all the best from a number of genres - there are elements of ancient action / adventure games, and classic role-playing projects, and even a full-fledged "city-building" part, offering in the manner minecraft collect resources, build your dream homes and craft all sorts of items. Add to this appetizing track record a multiplayer mode that makes slaughtering and battles with beasts roaming the area a lot of fun, as well as true 2D graphics that pay homage to obsolete games, and you have one of the most outstanding representatives of the indie squad of the 2011 model of the year. .

Future at Terraria definitely cloudless, just like its creators - one of the main ideologists of the game, Finn "Tiy" Brice already rolled up his sleeves to the elbow and started working on the next project "your dream"starbound, two-dimensional and evocative of the SNES era.

2D Boy has every right to be proud of his debut and so far the only brainchild - a puzzle World of Goo. After all, more than three years have passed since its release, and the fan movement, doting on Goo's big-eyed balls, continues to raise its favorite to the top of Olympus in dozens of thematic "best of the best".

There is nothing to reproach such devoted popular masses with. World of Goo really was and is one of the most magnificent offspring of the indie scene. AT World of Goo put together all the elements necessary for success and screams "Bravo!" from the audience - intuitive and at the same time requiring some brain effort game mechanics, levels adjusted to the smallest detail, visual simplicity and volatility, as well as an amazing soundtrack and a surprisingly solid story path for such a crumb. In its genre niche World of Goo will easily give a light to most competitors.

The only moment clouding all the above raspberries is connected with the future 2D Boy- two developers who forged World of Goo, are somehow in no hurry to take on the development of their next big hit and prefer to rest on their laurels, melancholy transferring their debut beauty to all kinds of platforms. Alas and ah, they are clearly not going to rush.

Black and white theater of the death of one actor, hiding behind a sign Limbo, has been successfully touring from one top to another for a long time, and the Danes from Playdead Studios- continue to systematically collect awards, bathe in the rays of glory and bow to a storm of applause. As you can see, well-deserved, since citizens website placed the first-born of the Danes in close proximity with the prize three.

Again, it is worth noting that Limbo- by no means a breakthrough in the genre. Not a revolution pushing the boundaries of the platform fiefdom, and not even a revelation, trying to overthrow the recognized leaders and authorities from the throne. On a purely gaming level, it offers an extremely standard set of entertainment - two-dimensional graphics, a simple physics engine and an indispensable jump function necessary in order to maneuver between insidious traps and spiders walking around. Nothing new, just old, time-tested ideas.

Limbo succeeded on other fronts - visual, offering to travel through the twilight noir forests, and atmospheric, for which the silent universe of the game is responsible, smooth, slightly slow narration and ambient hitting the right strings. Here already Playdead Studios jumped over many colleagues, because the Danes managed to create a single and indestructible, immersive and enveloping adventure, which, no doubt, will roam the thematic "tens".

And here is our first winner. bronze "seat" top, however, got not quite an indie project. Taking a look at the previous participants and looking into their empty independent pockets, you can see that the casual forge Pop Cap Games decently different in size and capital from the usual "garage" bands, sculpting their hits on sleepless nights with the money saved. Pop Cap Games has long outgrown such a development stage and turned into a casual giant, which was recently swallowed up by Electronic Arts.

Nevertheless, this tiny circumstance does not diminish the merits of the game presented for the award. Plants vs. Zombies has become another diamond, complementing the golden crown of the company that once created Bejeweled, Zuma and Peggle- projects that still daily take away an hour or two of free time from millions of people. With Plants vs. Zombies the same story - behind the apparent simplicity of the game mechanics, built around the collection of solar energy, planting plants ready for battle around the perimeter of the beds and the systematic destruction of zombies, there are hundreds, if not thousands of hours of exciting warm-up for the gray matter. Together with the cute appearance, cherished variety and many game modes Plants vs. Zombies Deservedly included in the top ten best casual projects.

One way or another, the bronze award found its hero - an American company Pop Cap Games once again celebrates an intermediate victory.

If there was already a place in the top for Plants vs. Zombies then roost for Angry Birds will definitely be found. Angry birds hailing from Finland now divide and rule the casual sector of the gaming industry. Hundreds of millions of downloads, piles of merchandise and dump trucks loaded to the top with money - Angry Birds has long outgrown any of the representatives of the top and turned into a real phenomenon, whose success, however, is due to the same key elements that allowed the above-mentioned creations to break through the top ten.

The ingredients for success haven't changed a bit. "Availability" game mechanics, a well-thought-out concept revolving around the confrontation between pigs and birds, and easily recognizable characters that stand out from the general casual background due to unique creative strokes Rovio Entertainment, did their dirty deed and turned Angry Birds in one of the most successful series of games. It is thanks to her that the Finns not only live happily ever after, but also actively expand their sphere of influence, acquire other Finnish companies and continue to develop their profitable business. "nest".

A silver medal to fanfare is sent to the neck Angry Birds. Finns from Rovio Entertainment stopped just one step away from the gold and foreign exchange fund website.

On the way to first place "Angry Birds" shot down by another stately monster, a true work of the indie scene, nurtured by a Swedish craftsman Markus Persson, – minecraft. the same minecraft, about which he did not hear, it would seem, only lazy. The unique "cubic" sandbox, supported by a bunch of role-playing elements and the ability to build your own little virtual world, was able to overtake the Finnish puzzle and climb to the top step of the pedestal.

Children's dream constructor from a Swedish studio Mojang- the same phenomenon, an inexplicable phenomenon, whose popularity is growing by leaps and bounds. Almost every month, news of the conquest of minecraft the next commercial heights, bringing the Swedes tens of millions of US dollars. cubic universe minecraft has rallied under its banner more than one million self-proclaimed architects who continue to stubbornly build castles in the air, smash worlds to shreds with dynamite and engage in joint drilling operations, rebuilding vast dungeons.

Now minecraft is the most successful product of indie minds, the flagship project of an independent niche, clearly demonstrating that people are still interested in innovation and unusual games and are ready to adequately reward the brave for their efforts and experiments.

However, enough compliments and verbal molasses. The people have made their choice, the gold cup of the best indie game according to users website goes straight to the angular paws minecraft. Our congratulations to the Swedes from Mojang!

Well, that's all for today in terms of texts, but there is still excellent video material ahead, which you will find just below. We just have to say thank you for your participation and say goodbye until May 1st. Was with you today Eugene "Mumby" Molodov.

In addition, we remind you that right at this moment the first stage of preparing the next material from the TOP-10: Your Choice cycle has started, in which you can take part. The theme was the best games about superheroes.

Scrap Mechanic is a huge sandbox constructor for creating all kinds of machines and mechanisms. The action takes place in the near future, people have long been traveling to different planets and creating automated machines there. You play as a mechanic whose job is to maintain such machines. On one of your trips, you are shipwrecked on one of the planets, and now your task is to survive on a fairly hostile planet. The problem is that the local farming robots have become uncontrollable, and now, in order to survive, you need to use your brains and use your main advantage - design abilities.

Game under development

Sneak Thief is a thief simulator in which a variety of objects await the player. Start as a burglar thief, open a simple house alarm and collect various valuable junk. Once you gain experience, you can go for serious business and maybe even manage to rob a well-guarded bank. Moreover, the player is given complete freedom of choice: you can look for weaknesses in the system and stealthily rob, or you can arm yourself and take the same bank by brute force.

If you were in awe of the game "Sunless Sea", there you should definitely try the new creation of the studio Failbetter Games called Sunless Skies. This time the action of the game will take place not on the water, but in the air. Control a bizarre flying steam machine, trade, complete various tasks, fight and just explore the amazing world. Sunless Skies kept the atmosphere of the previous part. The developers' attention to detail allows you to believe in the world they have created and immerse yourself in it.

CHKN is a unique sandbox constructor where you will create the most incredible life forms. Create your own pet and explore the world looking for resources to survive as well as find others interesting views to continue their crazy experiments. The CHKN game has a huge number of combinations, and each combination is a unique creature with its own character and behavior.

Alchemist's Awakening is an open world sandbox where you play the role of a young alchemist who explores an amazing world. Gradually you will learn new features, you have 9 basic elements, by combining which you can create various items. Also with the help of alchemy you will be able to summon various creatures that will protect you from enemies. different elements, you can build anything, from machines to collect the necessary elements, ending with creatures that can then be revived. Alchemist's Awakening has three game modes: survival (you enter the world as a novice alchemist and try to survive in it), creative (this mode allows you to conveniently and quickly build whatever you want) and multiplayer (a mode in which you can survive on the map with real players).

Imagine Earth is a new game project in which the player will be asked to create a civilization on an uninhabited planet. Before you is an ideal planet for humanity. Your task is to create a prosperous civilization on the planet. Gradually developing, you must monitor the basic resources, as well as the ecology. A powerful industry provides good resources and a strong impetus for development, but it can completely destroy the planet. You can mindlessly cut down trees, which will very soon lead to a lack of oxygen and other natural disasters. You must learn how to moderately use the wealth of the planet, but at the same time develop your civilization. The problem is that other civilizations are developing on other planets, which will charmingly try to take the lead and because of this they will want to destroy you.

Abandon Ship is an indie strategy adventure game with a nautical theme. Immerse yourself in the world of pirates, treasures and fabulous creatures. Gather your team and go in search of treasures. Fight other ships, rob them, look for hidden treasures and avoid the giant octopus. Learn different skills for your team and skillfully use them during the battle. You are the captain, but you should not follow the code and sink with the ship, because the game is not lost while the captain is alive. Sometimes, it is better to escape on a boat than to start the game from the very beginning.

Although there are a huge number of indie projects with pixel graphics, Wargroove developers have tried to surprise and please connoisseurs of retro-style games. Before you is a turn-based tactical strategy, designed for both a single passage and a game in digging 3 more friends. The young princess of Mercia, under the onslaught of enemies, is forced to leave her kingdom of Cherrystone and flee to other lands to find allies there who will help her regain power. From which of the 12 heroes you choose, and which of the factions you join, the plot of the whole game depends.

Hello! Below is a selection of the best indie titles on PC. And if in Russian, then these are games of independent developers that were made without anyone's help.

POSTAL 2

Release date: 2003

A satirical first-person shooter with lots of black humor, tons of ultra-violence and surprisingly varied and addictive gameplay. The game has a lot of interesting locations, combined into one big game world, which also lives its own life. The protagonist is a simple dude named... A dude who is already pretty sick of everything: Dirty politicians, a grumpy wife, stupid people with their endless lines. At one not the most beautiful moment, the Dude decides to start his own vendetta, in which we must help him.

The concept of the game is interesting, where ordinary ordinary tasks (for example, buy milk or cash a check in a bank) can be performed both peacefully and violently. In this case, the game will push you to the second path (and who needs a peaceful passage of the game when you can burn and decapitate people here, use cats instead of a silencer and urinate on representatives of the law?).

Castle Crasher

Release date: 2008

A 2D beat'em up with high-quality cartoon graphics in which we, as one of the knights, must stop an evil sorcerer. The game has many different levels, a rich selection of weapons and spells, there is the possibility of pumping, there are unique bosses, each of which you need to choose your own tactics, and even an arena. Each of the knights has its own unique magic, and there are as many as 25 characters available for opening!

A huge part of the fun of the game adds the ability to play co-op up to four characters, while in the final then there will be a battle between the players for the kiss of the princess. In general, the project is filled with excellent humor with many references to everything that is possible.

Braid

Release date: 2008

A role-playing game with elements of strategy in a medieval setting, which is essentially an independent add-on to the original Mount & Blade and adds a number of innovations and improvements to it, among which there is also an online multiplayer game. On our website, the game is included in .

The project is interesting for a number of unique game features, including: an excellent combat system with the ability to fight on horseback, siege castles and cities, diplomacy, the ability to develop your own village / city / castle, the ability to upgrade not only your own character, but also his army, etc. In fact, this is a kind of medieval sandbox in which you can both engage in peaceful affairs (for example, trade) and fight, joining one of the kingdoms or starting own struggle for the throne.

LIMBO

Release date: 2016

Genre: Platformer, Horror

Atmospheric 2D-platformer, in which the gameplay is very much involved in physics and the interaction of the main character with the objects around him. Our character is a boy looking for his own sister in an extremely unfriendly world. He can run and jump, climb ledges, ropes or ladders, and pull and push objects. The game world, made in black and white style, is doing its best to kill our protagonist, so be prepared for frequent, very frequent deaths.

Despite frequent deaths, the project is not too hardcore and all the puzzles, as well as difficult places, are completed on the second or third attempt. At the time of its release, the game instantly received recognition from both game critics and the players themselves, as well as many prizes, including in the nominations "Best Platformer" and "Best Visual Style".

Terraria

Release date: 2011

Adventure indie sandbox, the main feature of which is the ability to explore a huge world without any restrictions, creating various objects and structures. The project is made in 16-bit style, and its gameplay resembles a mixture of games such as Metroid and Minecraft. The game world is randomly generated, and we always start with three basic tools for extracting resources. Actually, most of the gameplay is based on this - we extract resources, craft the necessary items, move on, fight monsters and, if necessary, repeat this again ad infinitum.

There are many opponents in the game, and if you defeat the especially powerful boss "Wall of Flesh", then a "difficult mode" with new items will become available to opponents and NPCs. There is also an even more hardcore “expert mode” here, where opponents become many times stronger.

Bastion

Release date: 2011

Genre: RPG

An isometric indie role-playing game with amazing graphics and an interesting storyline. The locations here are presented in the form of a kind of "flying islands" in which we need to find special items that improve the Bastion - a city that survived after an unknown disaster. As you progress through the character is pumped and finds (or acquires) a new weapon. At the end of the level, the player returns to the Bastion, where he builds or upgrades buildings, and also creates items for himself, etc.

It is noteworthy that in addition to story missions, the game contains a variety of tests, both for possession of weapons and for endurance - this adds variety to the project. One of the main features of the game is the presence of a narrator, who not only retells the plot offscreen, but also comments on what is happening on the screen with a bit of humor.

The Binding of Isaac

Release date: 2011

An indie top-down roguelike with a lot of bible references and just some incredible replay value. The game has several unlockable characters with their own characteristics, however, the main character here is the boy Isaac, who finds himself in the basement dungeons of his house, where his mother, who has lost her mind, has driven him.

Levels are randomly generated and divided into rooms, where you often need to fight monsters to advance. Along the way, you can collect money and equipment that increases your advantage over enemies. At the end of each stage there is a boss, the victory over which will open the transition to the next level. Interestingly, even in 10 playthroughs, opening all the content of the game is simply unrealistic, and if you still managed to open absolutely everything here, then the developer has added a lot of tests for you with special conditions.

to the moon

Release date: 2012

Genre: Adventure, indie,

An indie adventure game that tells the story of two doctors who travel through the memories of a dying elderly man in an attempt to fulfill his lifelong dream of flying to the moon. There is no action at all in the game, and all we will do is explore the memories of the old man, right up to the earliest days of his life, along the way, finding out why the dying man thought of this. But! Despite the absence of any battles, the game is able to keep you at the screen until the end credits. The reason is a charming storyline and an excellent soundtrack.

The project, which was created on the basis of the RPG Maker program, received many awards, including in the nominations " Best Story”, “Best Music”, etc. The game is played in one breath, and you will have more impressions in your soul than from some highly acclaimed books.

Torchlight II

Release date: 2012

Genre: Top-down RPG

Action-RPG in the style of steampunk, made in the spirit of the Diablo series and is a direct continuation of the first part. The gameplay here is traditional for games of this genre, however, unlike the first part, the developers have significantly expanded the world, as well as worked out the graphics and overall design of the project, including its plot component.

We are given 4 classes of characters to choose from: engineer, wanderer, berserker and ember mage. Each of the classes has its own weapons and combat tactics. In the process of passing, we will complete quests, fight mobs and get a lot of all kinds of gear, including unique sets. I was pleased that, despite class differences, even a magician here, in addition to a magic wand, can take a pistol or a sword in his second hand. A separate plus is the possibility of cooperative play.

Chivalry: Medieval Warfare

Release date: 2012

Genre: First Person Action, Knights,

A brutal first-person action game in the Middle Ages in which you, playing as one of two teams, must complete various tasks on large multiplayer maps, crushing enemies left and right along the way. The game stands out for its thoughtful combat system based on strikes, blocks and timing, as well as a variety of tactics. The latter is due to the presence of several classes, each of which has its own style of play.

Besiege or defend castles, attack settlements and fight your opponents in this great hack and slash game inspired by movies like Gladiator, 300 and more. hone your skills before heading into the real battle.

Hotline Miami 1 and 2

Release date: First 2012 Second 2015

Genre: 2D, "Shoot 'Em All"

A 2D top-down action duology inspired by 1980s culture and the movie Drive. The game is divided into chapters, which in turn are divided into stages. The task of each stage is to kill everyone (with rare exceptions), and before the mission we can put on one of several masks that give certain bonuses. The gameplay of both parts is built on a fast and clear sequence of actions leading to the total "cutting out" of enemies. Hesitated even for a second - you're dead (the hero literally dies from one hit), so the levels have to be replayed several times.

The second part continued and completed all the story arcs of the first, while the gameplay remained almost unchanged. The main difference is the presence of a new hardcore difficulty level, as well as a greater variety of characters and masks.

Battle Block Theater

Release date: 2013

Genre: Platformer

A fun platform game in which you, as a prisoner, have to go through various levels of the theater. Our hero can run, jump and fight. Levels consist of various blocks, obstacles and hostile creatures. There are two modes: "Adventure Mode" and "Arena". The first is a story campaign that can be played solo or with a friend. The second is literally an arena in which several players participate in mini-games.

The project is full of sparkling humor and references to various games, films, etc. The game has a level editor that allows any player to create their own locations, and share them using the Steam Workshop.

Don't Starve

Release date: 2013

Genre: Sandbox, Roguelike, RPG, Survival

Experience a hostile, randomly generated open world in this roguelike action-adventures PC game. At the very beginning of your adventure, you will need to choose your character, set up the world and start to survive directly. The hero is in random place without any items and resources. No help - just collect everything that comes to hand, hunt, make scientific discoveries and try to unravel the mysteries of these mysterious lands.

The main goal of the game is to survive as long as possible in a randomly assembled world. In this case, the player can have two endings - death, as well as a portal that leads to a new world. The longer the player manages to survive, the more new characters he will be able to open. There is also an adventure mode in the game, in which the hero enters the worlds of cruel trials through special Doors.

Sanctum 2

Release date: 2013

Genre: Tower Defense, first-person shooter

A mixture of genres such as Tower Defense and first-person shooter, which, moreover, can be played in co-op with a friend! The gameplay can be divided into two parts: construction and defense itself. In the first part, we build blocks and towers (determining, in fact, the geometry of the level), using resources that are kindly given to us before each mission. In the second, we begin the defense, becoming, as it were, its main element.

Apart from the direct participation of the player in the gameplay, everything else here is standard for the TD genre. Opponents go to our base in order to destroy it, the towers kill them. We, in the person of one of the four characters (each with their own characteristics), help our towers and periodically distract the enemy. Lots of enemies, lots of towers, lots of weapons and upgrades - what else do you need for fun?

Papers, Please

Release date: 2013

Genre: Adventure, Indie, Political

A unique pixel art indie game in which you take on the role of an immigration officer in the fictional totalitarian country of Arstotzka. Your country has recently opened its borders to foreigners and you need to verify documents and perform other verification activities at the checkpoint. And if at first everything seems quite simple and unpretentious, you gradually have to increase your vigilance, because among the crowds of immigrants there are smugglers, terrorists, and spies.

The gameplay is further complicated by the fact that some of the visitors are trying to pass without documents, others slip fakes on you, and still others do not know what a passport is at all. At the same time, you need to support your family and try to work in such a way that you do not receive a fine from your superiors. Original gameplay, deep storyline and as many as 20 endings!

Path of Exile

Release date: 2013

Genre: RPG, Hack and Slash

Free-to-play fantasy action RPG with hack and slash elements. The gameplay is reminiscent of the Diablo series. In particular, we have several available classes, huge locations, a lot of quests, clouds of mobs and bosses from which we knock out reagents for crafting, as well as new gear, etc. There is no gold, instead of it, all the same ingredients can be used to improve items equipment. Character development is unlimited. Each of the classes has a common tree of skills, consisting of 1325 items.

It is noteworthy that the donation here does not affect the gameplay. For real money, you can buy cosmetic items or, for example, expand your inventory, but you won’t be able to purchase any super-strong weapons - please create or knock out on your own. The game is actively supported by the developer, who regularly adds new content.

Space Engineers

Release date: March 2013 In Early Access

Genre: Sandbox, construction simulator,

A voxel indie sandbox in which the player needs to extract resources, then build and maintain spaceships, bases, etc. The game has 3 planets with their own planetary biomes and satellites. Resources can be mined both on planets and in space, for example, on asteroids. For those who are bored with single player, there is an opportunity to play in multiplayer.

It is worth noting that this game will require quite a lot of time from you. Those. if, for example, you devote 1-2 hours a day to it, then one adventure can drag on, if not for years, then definitely for months. In general, the project is very interesting and definitely recommended at least for review.

Rim World

Release date: 2016

Genre: Survival, sandbox, building

Sci-fi roguelike game in which you control a colony of people who survived a spaceship crash somewhere on the edge of the known space of the universe. The project does not go to any specific final. Here we have a kind of simulation of stories, both tragic and comic, which in a certain way take place in your settlement. For random events, a special AI is responsible here (similar to the director from Left 4 Dead), which decides which of the great many situations will be most interesting at the moment.

During the game, you will have to monitor the moods of your colonists, injuries and illnesses, thoughts, relationships with pirates or other tribes, and much more. Each gaming session is unique and capable of giving an unforgettable gaming experience.

Project Zomboid

Release date: 2013

Multiplayer cooperative tactical shooter about the events of the Iraq war. There are two sides to the conflict - American PMCs and Iraqi rebels. Each team has two departments, and the players in each of the departments have a clear specialization, from which their game task is built. For the sake of realism, there are no menu items on the screen, and players die already from 1-2 shots.

The project, which has developed from an ordinary mod on the Source engine, boasts the presence of more than 20 types of weapons with the possibility of improvement, 27 unique maps, 8 multiplayer and 3 cooperative game modes, and even an offline training mode with bots. The disadvantages include a small number of active servers.

Goat Simulator

Release date: 2014

Literally, the goat simulator is an indie project that was originally a comic prototype, the idea of ​​\u200b\u200bwhich gamers liked so much that it prompted the developer to release a full-fledged game. "Goat" is a huge location in which you, in the role of a goat, must destroy everything that is possible.

The project has just an incredible amount of bugs that have become it calling card. Even the developers themselves note that these bugs are so hilarious that they did not remove them (apart from critical errors). A nuclear concentration of stupidity, bugs and glitches, as well as tons of all kinds of parodies and references to everything that is possible - this is a recipe for endless fun that a goat simulator can give you!

Transistor

Release date: 2014

Genre: RPG, action

Sci-fi story of a singer named Red, made in the genre of Action-RPG. The game has a pleasant visual style, excellent musical accompaniment and competent presentation of the plot. The heroine is controlled from a third-person perspective. Our girl is armed with a two-handed sword, which allows you to make many different strikes (most of them open during the passage). The combat system has a planning mode in which you can choose the sequence of movements and actions and real-time mode.

In terms of gameplay, everything is standard for RPG games- we get experience points, gain a level, pump an active or passive skill and repeat this process again. For its captivating storyline, great atmosphere and strong soundtrack, the project received many awards.

The Forest

Release date: 2014

Turn-based fantasy RPG with party role-playing, which is a prequel to Divine Divinity. At the beginning of the game, we create two characters for ourselves (between which love relationships can even develop as we progress) and hit the road. Subsequently, our team can grow up to 4 players. The story begins as a simple small-town detective, but develops rapidly, and now you yourself do not notice how you are moving towards saving the world. On our website, the game is included in .

The turn-based battles are based on classic role-playing mechanics: there are action points, backstab and flank attacks are taken into account, as well as interaction bonuses between different characters. The gameplay is “assembled” according to the old old-school patterns, which means get ready for the fact that you really have to look for quest items on your own, and in general you will have to be very careful when completing tasks, since there are no markers kindly pointing us to important places.

Five Nights at Freddy's game series

Release date: 2014

Genre: Survival horror, point-and-click

A popular series of games that combines genres such as survival horror and point and click. Thanks to its mystical plot and minimalist gameplay, the project is highly appreciated by both players and professional critics. In all parts of the gameplay is based on survival. For example, in the first part of the game, you, as a guard, need to hold out for five nights and prevent the Animatronics from getting to you. At the same time, we actually sit in one place, and from a special remote control we control various doors, cameras, etc.

In the last parts of the game, the gameplay is already more diverse, in addition, it is diluted with additional mini-games that reveal the main plot of the series. In addition to addictive gameplay and an atmosphere of hopelessness, all parts of the franchise boast an abundance of all kinds of Easter eggs and references that players are happy to find.

The Escapists

Release date: 2015

Genre: Action, Adventure, Simulation, Strategy

A role-playing game with a touch of top-down puzzle in which the player controls a prisoner and has to escape from several prisons. To accomplish their goal, players can use many options: acquire, find, steal or create various tools, complete tasks for inmates, play sports or read books in the library to increase their characteristics. It is also necessary to observe the daily routine and in every possible way avoid the attention of the guards, who from time to time can search the cells of prisoners.

Reviews of the game are generally favorable. The players highly appreciated the possibilities of the game and the freedom of choice. It is noteworthy that each new prison will not only be different from the previous one (for example, have its own daily routine, etc.), but will also be more difficult to complete.

Dungeon of the Endless

Release date: 2014

Genre: Roguelike, tower defense

A roguelike game with an admixture of genres such as RPG, tactics, strategy and tower defense, which, moreover, are neatly and harmoniously interconnected. We select several characters from the proposed list, get into the dungeon and methodically open the doors at each level in search of a passage to the elevator to another level. Behind each of the doors you run the risk of finding both enemies and something of value (and sometimes both). At the same time, monsters may appear in already open rooms, which will stomp to the capsule on which you flew in and try to destroy the crystal there. If they succeed, you've lost.

This is where one of the game features of the game becomes clear - you can’t just mindlessly clear the rooms. You constantly have to protect the crystal by extracting resources and placing turrets at strategically advantageous points. With each new room, it is more and more difficult to protect the crystal, and here the player has a choice - to try to get more resources from the level or go to the next one. The game has 2 difficulties super easy and easy. "Easy" is actually incredibly difficult. Oh yes! In the game, after losing, we start all over again from the first level.

This War of Mine

release date: 2014

Bright and colorful arcade game with simple but addictive gameplay. Players need to press literally one button (space, up arrow or LMB) and then the character on the screen will perform certain actions. There are many levels, each of which also has hard-to-reach places with secrets. As you progress, the player will pick up special spheres that give some kind of bonus, as well as go through portals that will allow the player to change their size, change gravity, speed, etc.

Each level has its own difficulty, and although they are open all at once, it is better to start from the first, gradually moving on to the next. Also in the game there is a practice mode, where the player is given the opportunity to practice in the ideal passage of a particular stage. In addition, there is a level editor that allows you to embody your own game design fantasies on the screen and share them with the game community.

Verdun

Release date: 2015

Genre: first person shooter,

A multiplayer first-person shooter in a very realistic way that tells about the events of the First World War. Realism is felt literally from the first minutes of the game - there is no usual crosshairs, and players die already from 1-2 hits. The project offers players 4 game modes with their own characteristics, as well as the presence of several types of combat units with different roles on the battlefield. In addition, gun lovers will certainly appreciate the realistic models of weapons of the First World War and authentic uniforms.

The gameplay of the game is as severe as possible, and elements such as realistic blood and the ability to die from 1 hit allow you to feel the fullness of immersion in the gameplay. The developer's attention to detail is amazing. started gas attack? Put on a gas mask immediately. A sudden artillery salvo began? Urgently seek shelter and pray to live until the end of the shelling. An excellent game that conveys the authentic experience of the First World War.

Rocket League

Release date: 2015

Genre: Cars, simulator

A dynamic game that combines such genres as car racing and football simulator. Since the game does not pretend to be realism, the cars here behave very funny. For example, you can ride a wall or jump up to hit a ball in mid-flight (there's even a double jump). In addition, special places are scattered throughout the level that give the player certain bonuses, such as acceleration or the ability to fly.

There is only one game mode here, however, you can play both 1 on 1 and 2 on 2, 3 on 3 or even 4 on 4. The main task is to take possession of the ball and push it into the opponent's goal by any means. There are also ample opportunities for customization in the game, however, any body kit changes the car only cosmetically, and does not give any special advantages over the enemy. The latter allows both beginners and “old-timers” to play Rocket League without any imbalance in one direction or another.

Undertale

Release date: 2015

Genre: RPG, puzzle

An original RPG in which we play as a child trapped in the Underground - a closed area inhabited by "monsters", long ago expelled from the surface by people. The player can interact with the monsters in different ways, and our main task is to get out. At the same time, during the game, you will decide more than once who is worth killing, and who should be saved or even made friends with. The ending of the story directly depends on the actions and decisions of the player.

The project was warmly received by critics and the gaming community, who highly appreciated the dialogues that change depending on the situation and attitude towards the player, the intuitive combat system and the contrast of the dark plot with witty humor. Often, during the game, the fourth wall will be broken, and observant players will meet many references to the old role-playing games.

Plague Inc: Evolved

Release date: 2014

Genre: Simulator, strategy,

A biological simulator of a dangerous virus (and not only) with an admixture of strategy. So, you have in your hands one of the many diseases (each with its own possibilities), with which you infect patient zero. The whole world is in front of you, and the task is to infect and, if possible, destroy all of humanity! As more and more people are infected, the player will receive DNA that can be spent on developing disease parameters such as lethality, stealth, animal and bird tolerance, etc.

The game is incredibly realistic, while the world, controlled by extremely smart AI, will adequately respond to the impending threat. So, for example, countries will begin to close their borders, and scientists will direct their forces to confront the infection. With the latest additions, a cooperative and competitive mode was added to the project, when two dangerous diseases develop in the game world at once!

Life is Feudal: Your Own

Release date: 2015

Genre: Medieval, sandbox, MMO,

Role-playing sandbox in a medieval setting with the possibility of terramorphing, free building and an extensive crafting system. In general, the game is a "pocket version of the MMO" in which the action takes place on a small island 3x3 km for 64 players. Here players can create their own world with their own rules. The location is inhabited by various animals that can be hunted and even tamed. There is a system of guilds and even a family brand!

The combat system of the game is based on physics and is characterized by the lack of the ability to capture the target. The direction of the attacks depends on what mouse movements the player performs. Directed attacks in conjunction with basic movements allow you to create truly deadly combinations for opponents.

Airships: Conquer the Skies

Release date: 2015

Genre: Sandbox

An indie sandbox constructor in a steampunk universe where players design and build flying ships from various functional modules, complete tasks and fight against each other or against artificial intelligence. The game is made in 2-D pixel art, and the ships are shown here in a sectional side view.

The construction of a flying flotilla occurs by installing various modules on a free space on the ship, while the player must constantly take into account the fact that certain modules are interconnected with each other, as well as the fact that each module is serviced by the ship's crew. There are a lot of options for creating combat flying vehicles, and each ship will eventually have its own strengths and weaknesses. There is a single-player campaign with a fairly strong AI (where each of the virtual opponents behaves differently), and there is also a multiplayer.

Darkest Dungeon

Release date: 2016

Genre: RPG, turn-based battles, roguelike

A challenging turn-based RPG with elements of the roguelike genre set in a dark, gothic medieval world where the characters' adventures take their toll and affect their mental state. The player controls a group of "adventurers" who explore the dungeons under an old manor. Before the start of each campaign, you can select several characters with different classes and characteristics. In randomly generated dungeons, the player can find treasure, meet monsters, or fall into a trap. The characters, depending on their state of mind, may have a kind of “quirk”, and in case of serious danger, the fighter may lose his nerve and he will behave inappropriately.

The replay value is colossal, and the project itself turned out to be very hardcore. So hardcore that with the latest updates, the difficulty of the game was lowered, although it remained at a fairly high level.

factorio

Release date: 2016

Genre: Sandbox, real time strategy

An indie real-time strategy game in which we have to build factories and keep them running. The main game mode here is a sandbox, where we, controlling one character, study an unknown planet, extract resources and build all kinds of devices, both for extracting these same resources and for processing them. Very quickly, the player will physically not have time to perform all the necessary actions on their own, so they will have to build automated production chains, carefully planning the structure of their factory and balancing the production and consumption of components.

The expansion of the factory will require the construction of a railroad network, which is similar to Transport Tycoon in terms of controls. Do not forget about the waste of the factory, which can disturb the local inhabitants. The latter can gather in a flock and attack the source of pollution. Here the player will have to build fortifications and weapons, including even tanks.

Grim Dawn

release date: 2016

Genre: Hack and Slash, Top-Down Action, RPG

Action-RPG, made on the Titan Quest game engine, and telling us the story of a fictional gloomy world. The gameplay is based on battles and collecting all kinds of "loot" - weapons, armor, potions, money, etc. There is also a crafting system similar to the DOTA game. Leveling is similar to the same Titan Quest, when a character can combine two classes. In addition to the classes, there is a piety system that can greatly improve the characteristics of the hero.

The graphics in the game are nice. The plot, although trivial, is quite interesting. Implemented the possibility of cooperative passage. After completing the story, you can play in hardcore mode or install the official survival mod (purchased separately).

This Is the Police 1 and 2

Release date: First - 2016 Second - 2018

Genre: strategy, simulation, management

An indie strategy game in which we take on the role of police chief Jack Boyd. He has 180 days left before his retirement, and our hero decided to secure a decent old age and earn half a million dollars. How he will do it depends on the player. Here you can, for example, start cooperating with the mafia, help various enterprises, or look for other ways to earn money. The gameplay is divided into several parts, one of which is real-time duty, where the player will have to decide how many people to send to this or that operation, build a strategy, etc.

The game has several endings that can cause a variety of emotions in the player. In general, the game will not let you get bored for a second, as the routine and monotonous duties of the police chief will constantly be diluted with emergency situations.

Lost Castle

Release date: 2016

Genre: RPG, roguelike

Beat 'em up with a touch of genres like RPG and roguelike. The game has a huge castle with randomly generated rooms that we have to explore, finding chests with loot, traps and all sorts of opponents there. Naturally, there are also ultra-strong bosses, all kinds of merchants and much more. The combat system is reminiscent of the Castle Crashers game - we walk around the locations, hit opponents with two types of attacks and periodically use a super-skill. After the death of the hero, he is replaced by another (completely random) one, to whom the already deceased character “kindly” left his achievements and savings.

You can improve the hero for the souls of killed enemies, and equip it with a variety of various items, artifacts and other things. As you play, the project will constantly challenge you, and random events and generated dungeons add replay value.

Terratech

Release date: 2016

Genre: Sandbox, action

An indie sandbox constructor in which players need to various parts create combat vehicles, fight other players, win, get new materials from defeated enemies and again create more powerful and deadly units for yourself. There are four factions with a clear bias in one or another specialization: explorers, resource miners, racers and military.

The game has a very convenient and voluminous constructor - there are a lot of details, and even more options for combining them. At the same time, some blocks are opened for completing missions, extracting resources, or defeating enemies. In addition to creating combat vehicles, the player can create a base out of extra blocks, which will become a plant for processing extra resources and their subsequent sale.

Dead Cells

Release date: 2017

Genre: Platformer

An indie action-platformer with roguelike and metroidvania elements, in which players will find a huge ever-changing castle, 2-D Souls-lite style skirmishes, many deaths and rebirths.

The gameplay is based on a 2D action game with a complex but fair combat system. At the same time, the game encourages high-speed passage, giving bonuses for quickly killing enemies or quickly passing a location. The hero explores the castle with many secret rooms and secret passages, fights, collects powerful weapons and gradually pumps. Death happens often here, because. each new opponent requires a special approach, and the levels are often replete with all sorts of traps. After death, the game must be started all over again, however, pumping for the killed souls of enemies remains, which makes the hero stronger over time and allows you to gradually move further and further with each replay.

Graveyard Keeper

Release date: 2018

Genre: Simulator

An indie simulator of a medieval cemetery in which the player builds and expands his own cemetery (as well as the church adjacent to it) in order to earn both on ritual services and on things that are completely far from the cemetery theme. At its core, this game is about capitalism, so the player needs to do everything possible to make his business prosper. So, for example, you can scare the inhabitants so that they begin to attend church more often, or sell the organs of the dead on the black market.

Graphically and gameplay-wise, the game is reminiscent of Stardew Valley, but without the focus on farming. We have a character who develops his business, who can not only do business, but also explore dungeons, organize festivals, craft the necessary items, etc. There is a global goal - to earn money by providing ritual services, which can be achieved both honestly and and, going beyond ethical standards (in this case, the developers do not limit the player in any way).

The most interesting indie games of 2018, fresh!

Indie games. They are created by independent developers who fund development out of their own pocket or raise funds through crowdfunding platforms. A talented loner or a small studio is often able to release a masterpiece that can outdo AAA with a multi-million dollar budget. An example of this is, for example, the roguelike Binding of Isaac - even now more than 4 thousand people play it at the same time (and these are only Steam licenses).

Indie games in 2017

Many cool indie games came out last year, the best of them can be found in the article ""

And this year there will also be a lot of candidates for receiving all kinds of awards, judge for yourself!

The most anticipated indie games of 2018

Q.U.B.E 2

• Developer: Toxic Games
• Platforms: PC, PS4, XBOX One
• Release date: March 13, 2018

From the moment Valve unveiled their hugely successful puzzle game Portal, indie developers have been producing clones of it to varying degrees. Against the background of most crafts, the first part of Q.U.B.E favorably differed. It would seem that a nameless character walks through the minimalistic levels of some kind of laboratory and moves objects with the help of magnetic gloves, what could be interesting or unique about this? But the creators were able to significantly diversify a simple formula, making each new level different from the others. There is platforming, puzzles, and manipulations with various objects, such as magnets, laser beams, balls, etc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6K1xyiGFvMY Video can't be loaded: Q.U.B.E. 2 | Official Gameplay Trailer (First-Person Puzzle Adventure) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6K1xyiGFvMY)

The second part promises to surpass the first in absolutely everything. Already from the trailers it is clear that the graphics component will be greatly improved (Unreal Engine 4 is capable of showing a really gorgeous picture), plus a full-fledged story will be added that tells about an archaeologist girl who finds herself in an unknown world. The developers in the interview hint at the non-linearity of the narrative and the ability to influence the story.

Scorn

• Developer: Ebb Software
• Platforms: PC (Windows)
• Release date: October 2018 (part 1)

In 2018, the first part of the creepy, but at the same time very stylish horror movie Scorn will be released. The action will take the player to a nightmarish universe inspired by the sick imagination of Hans Giger, a Swiss artist who participated in the creation of the famous xenomorphs from the Alien franchise. The world will be divided into locations, each of which will have its own visual style and features, and some will even be filled with hideous and terrifying creatures. With the latter will help to cope with an extensive arsenal of futuristic weapons.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtOcbZG5xA4 Video can't be loaded: SCORN Gameplay Trailer (2017) New Horror Game PS4/Xbox One/PC (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtOcbZG5xA4)

The developers are especially proud of how the character will interact with the environment. There will be no objects floating in the air in Scorn - every action, whether it's pressing a button, picking up something or operating levers, is carefully and efficiently animated.

DarQ

• Developer: Unfold Games
• Platforms: PC (Windows, Mac, Linux)
• Release date: 2018

A frightening 2D adventure tells the story of a boy, Lloyd, who is trapped in his nightmares. To escape from numerous opponents and overcome the obstacles encountered on his way, the guy will have to face his own phobias and fears. Creepy dreams will be filled with moderately difficult puzzles based on the manipulation of the surrounding world. Some sections of the levels will be able to be passed secretly, avoiding any collisions with antagonists.

The choices made in the process of passing and the actions taken have an impact on the final - the developers promise several endings, how many exactly - is not yet known. As for the horror component, you can be calm. The creators of DarQ rely on the atmosphere and psychology, introducing the player into tension with a picture and high-quality sound. There will be no cheap tricks like “screamers” in the game.

Praey for the Gods

• Developer: No Matter Studios
• Platforms: PC, XBOX One, PS4
• Release date: 2018

PC owners can now rejoice - their very own Shadow of the Colossus will soon be released on their platform, in which you can also climb on the backs of giant creatures, revealing their weaknesses and inflicting deadly attacks. In addition to the obvious similarities with the aforementioned Play Station console exclusive, the creators are hinting at some commonality with the Deus Ex role-playing game and the DayZ action game. It is likely that the gameplay will be supplemented with elements of pumping, crafting and survival.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynGkwB0FOTQ Video can't be loaded: PREY FOR THE GODS Gameplay Trailer (PS4, XBOX ONE, PC) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynGkwB0FOTQ)

The heroine will be thrown onto a snow-covered island, and in the beginning she will have nothing but clothes. From the trailers, it becomes clear that one of the weapons will be a homemade bow, which will come in handy not only in the battle with the titans, but also when attacking smaller opponents, such as wolves and other wild animals.

Super Meat Boy: Forever

• Developer: Team Meat
• Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, XBOX One, PS4, Mobile
• Release date: 2018

The original Super Meat Boy can rightfully be considered a truly hardcore platformer, which, in fact, has gathered a huge fan base around it. The meaning of the game is quite simple - the main character, which is a piece of meat (already interested, isn't it?), needs to get from one end of the level to the other in order to save his girlfriend from the clutches of the evil Dr. Germ. The problem is that the level is crammed with circular saws, spikes, chasms and other traps, collision with which automatically leads to loss.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DLPiGJDSQs Video can't be loaded: Super Meat Boy Forever Announce Trailer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DLPiGJDSQs)

Super Meat Boy: Forever is a direct sequel to the aforementioned game, which has slightly changed the visual style, making it more like a cartoon in the vein of Gravity Falls and other similar cartoons. As for the gameplay, it has been fully preserved. Players will have to run through short levels, dying hundreds of times, to eventually move on to the next, even more hardcore stage.

Fe

• Developer: Zoink
• Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, XBOX One, PS4
• Release date: February 16, 2018

The original 3D adventure game in open world tells of a strange little creature who set off to save his forest from the villains that threaten him. In addition to stylish and bright minimalist graphics, the developers offer players original gameplay based on the use of various sounds and songs. Sounds will allow you to interact with the environment, overcome obstacles and receive help from other creatures. For example, it will be possible to ride on a wolf's back or fly on a mighty bird.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFVy8IbJWMo Video can't be loaded: Fe - Official Gamescom Trailer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RFVy8IbJWMo)

The very process of voice communication is an exciting mini-game, the purpose of which is to synchronize the sound waves of your character and another creature. Ordinary representatives of the local fauna, in case of successful completion of the mini-game, assist the character, and defeated bosses reward him with new abilities. In general, the game does not offer gamers any challenge - it's more like a walk through a beautiful world, diluted with various activities. The story takes 3-4 hours to complete, plus a couple of hours to collect the remaining collectibles. Is it a lot or a little? Depends on how you get hooked on this game.

Pestilence (Pathologic 2)

• Developer: Ice-Pick Lodge
• Platforms: PS4, XBOX One, PC
• Release date: 2018

Pathologic 2 is not a full-fledged sequel, but a kind of rethinking of the original Pathologic - a horror about survival in a plague-infected city, better known among the Russian-speaking audience as Pestilence. The Moscow studio Ice-Pick Lodge did not abandon the classic concept, focusing on graphics (admittedly, after more than 12 years since the release of the game, even at that time the mediocre graphics look very bad) and fine-tuning the gameplay to an ideal state of balance .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8m3ONH60Gc Video can't be loaded: PATHOLOGIC 2 Reveal Gameplay Trailer (New Open World Survival Horror Game 2017) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8m3ONH60Gc)

The player is given a choice of three characters, each of which has its own history, character and goals. The task is simple - survive for twelve days, using all possible means and tricks. Theft, murder, robbery, blackmail, begging. These things are taken as the norm here. To get food, drink, medicine and other supplies, you can go in several ways. The plot and ending will depend on the decisions made during the game.

The Hong Kong Massacre

• Developer: Vreski
• Platforms: PC, PS4
• Release date: 2018

The developers of this arcade shooter, Vreski, a small Swedish studio, were inspired by John Woo's classic action films, which he shot early in his career for an Asian audience. In terms of gameplay, this is the heir to the famous Hotline Miami - a shootout with a top-down view and a vulnerable protagonist. Almost any hit on the character will be fatal for him, so players will have to carefully plan their movement through the levels and train the speed of their reaction in order to have time to put a bullet into the enemy a split second before he does it himself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uk0kLsGW7Pc Video can't be loaded: PS4 - The Hong Kong Massacre Gameplay Trailer (2018) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uk0kLsGW7Pc)

The possibilities of the protagonist significantly diversify the gameplay. By pressing just one button on the joystick / keyboard, the player will be able to enter the slow-motion mode, spectacularly cracking down on many opponents at the same time. Shooting and explosion animations, sounds and visuals turn every shootout into a scene from a Hollywood blockbuster in the vein of The Matrix or Equilibrium. Gamers will also like the variety of levels - authentic Chinese houses, restaurants, rooftops and other equally impressive locations.

Fight Knight

• Developer: Team Sorcerobe
• Platforms: PC (Windows)
• Release date: 2018

Fight Knight is a variation on shooters like Wolfenstein 3D and Doom with their hallways and 2D enemies. The only difference is that instead of a large arsenal of various firearms, the protagonist is equipped with only armor (which is not surprising, because he is a medieval knight). The player will have to make his way through the crowds of enemies, using the power of his fists. There will be several strikes, spectacular blocks, punches and hooks at your disposal that can knock out opponents.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqlIUPBeoKo Video can't be loaded: FIGHT KNIGHT kickstarter trailer! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqlIUPBeoKo)

If we draw analogies, the closest competitor of this game can be called Zeno Clash - also indie, also about fisticuffs and almost the same punch animations. But Fight Knight, of course, has its own unique advantages - hardcore and dynamic gameplay, visual style that pleases fans of old times and a soundtrack with retro motives.

What else to expect from 2018?

In addition to the above projects, dozens of noteworthy games from independent developers will be released this year. First of all, players are advised to check out The Banner Saga 3 and Pillars of Ethernity 2, which are sequels to already well-established series that have raised impressive amounts on crowdfunding platforms. This made it possible for the studios making them to create a high-quality picture and AAA-level gameplay, so even indies can already be called a stretch.

Budget crafts are also presented in in large numbers is the sequel to Spelunky, the dieselpunk platformer Eon Break, the pixel adventure Death Trash. The list goes on and on. It also makes sense to rummage through the Steam library from time to time. Now that Greenlight has been removed and anyone can post their game for as little as $100, the store is flooded with indie crafts, both good and bad.