Digital Trends attended Summer Game Fest Play Days once more this yr, and though we noticed some notable AAA titles like Armored Core VI: Flames of Rubicon and Mortal Kombat 1, what caught out to us probably the most have been the plethora of indies we performed. Independent video games are typically a few of the most formidable, experimental, and interesting titles in the whole medium, and this yr’s Summer Game Fest didn’t disappoint with a variety of artistic indies that have been a pleasure to check out.
From a recreation that permits you to possess virtually any object to a recreation the place gamers can take photos and stroll proper into images, plenty of unique concepts have been on show. Some have been additionally simply enjoyable to play, like a meditative packing simulator or an orb-based puzzle journey recreation from one of many artistic minds behind Limbo and Inside. When all was stated and performed, Digital Trends performed over 15 upcoming indie video games. The following 10 stood out to us probably the most as our favourite indie video games of Summer Game Fest 2023.
Cocoon
Annapurna Interactive
From the second Cocoon was first introduced, it had my consideration. All I actually knew about it was that Limbo and Inside lead gameplay designer Jeppe Carlsen was concerned, however that was sufficient to pique my curiosity. But I’d be mendacity if I stated I understood what the sport really was after watching its cryptic reveal trailer. After lastly attending to play a slice of it at Summer Game Fest, I’m feeling justified in that blind pleasure. Cocoon is a mystifying, surreal indie that fuses the insect world sci-fi artwork design impressed by Alien. With fluid puzzle-solving and exploration that I didn’t want a single tutorial to know, it’s shaping as much as be as particular as I hoped it could be. ~ Giovanni Colantonio
Henry Halfhead
popagenda
Henry Halfhead is a bizarre recreation. As the titular character — who is known as very actually, by the best way — you progress round delicately crafted environments and possess any objects inside them, all whereas a narrator explains what Henry is making an attempt to do. Need to make a mattress? Possess the pillow after which the sheets to place it again collectively. Its goals are specified by a method much like Untitled Goose Game, the place gamers are simply given a set of goals and are then let unfastened in a small sandbox to finish them. There appears to be some room for experimentation and creativity in finishing these goals. At one level, I wanted to make a drink, and as an alternative of utilizing the espresso machine proper in entrance of me, I used some hidden tea baggage to make tea. After doing this, the builders advised me that I used to be the one particular person at Summer Game Fest who had accomplished that goal by making tea. That stage of freedom with interactions, in addition to the sport’s distinct wit and instantly iconic foremost character, make Henry Halfhead an indie title I’m eagerly awaiting. ~ Tomas Franzese
Été
Impossible
During my ultimate hour at Play Days, I made a decision to take a look at just a few smaller indies I hadn’t tried through the whirlwind two-day occasion. I’m glad I did as a result of I in any other case would have missed Été. The stress-free portray recreation initially caught my eye because of its pretty watercolor artwork type and a satisfying mechanic that lets gamers paint a colorless Montreal as they discover. The extra I performed, the extra I clicked with what can be my most zen second in a busy weekend, one that might let me categorical a bit creativity as I found hidden objects and painted requests for some pleasant Canadians. It’s a downright nice recreation, bringing quiet Bob Ross appeal that I want we noticed extra in video video games. ~ Giovanni Colantonio
Viewfinder
Sad Owl Studios
Over the course of some days, I’d get to play a number of big-budget releases like Mortal Kombat 1 and Foamstars. But at any time when I talked to different attendees at Summer Game Fest’s Play Days occasion, I used to be extra keen to debate a demo for an indie recreation I’d already performed months again. That’s how magical Viewfinder is. The astonishing puzzle recreation blew my thoughts after I tried it at GDC in March, and it left the identical robust impression this time round. Its core mechanic, the place 2D photos might be positioned on this planet to show them into 3D areas seamlessly, continues to be so spectacular that I can’t even think about how developer Sad Owl Studios pulled it off. If you need to see it for your self, you possibly can strive the demo for your self on PS5. ~ Giovanni Colantonio
Simpler Times
Iam8bit
Simpler Times is a recreation in regards to the reflection all of us expertise earlier than a significant life change. In this recreation’s case, it follows a younger woman as she packs up issues in her childhood room earlier than heading off to school. It’s not a way more complicated recreation than that, as gamers decide up and put issues away from a first-person perspective, however the entire expertise actually resonated with me as I’m transferring quickly. I additionally appreciated its optimistic outlook on massive life adjustments; indie video games about emotional life moments might use extra of that positivity. ~ Tomas Franzese
Lysfanga: The Time Shift Warrior
French online game studio Quantic Dream has lengthy been synonymous with narrative-driven video games like Heavy Rain, but it surely’s trying to diversify its portfolio by publishing indies. It had two titles on the present this yr, and a type of completely took me unexpectedly. Lysfanga: The Time Shift Warrior is a novel hack-and-slash motion recreation the place gamers have 15 seconds to clear an area filled with enemies. Every time that timer runs out, gamers respawn as a clone of themselves that works in tandem with their previous selves to take out everybody in a single loop. It’s an extremely intelligent idea that turns a typical motion recreation right into a strategic puzzler with a ton of potential for speedrunners. ~ Giovanni Colantonio
Another Crab’s Treasure
Aggro Crab
Another Crab’s Treasure is a Soulslike starring a crab. You most likely know whether or not or not this recreation is for you from that premise, however I encourage you to provide this recreation a shot even when you’re uncertain about it. At its core, it performs a bit like Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, however the recreation then layers on some distinctive methods, like equippable shells that grant totally different further powers and motion that feels extra like a 3D platformer. This, together with a humorousness that carries over from developer Aggro Crab’s Twitter account, offers Another Crab’s Treasure sufficient of an identification to the place it could actually stand out in a sea of Soulslikes. ~ Tomas Franzese
Little Kitty, Big City
Double Dagger Studio
I’ve a easy rule: If you present me a recreation starring a playable cat, I’m going to strive it. So, after all, I couldn’t resist Little Kitty, Big City. The journey recreation has gamers guiding a cat by means of a bustling metropolis because it tries to search out its method again residence. Though which will sound lots like Stray, it has a completely totally different tone, opting extra for a slapstick cartoon vibe than arduous sci-fi. It’s a cute and breezy little exploration recreation filled with plenty of environmental puzzles and much more lovable hats to gather. ~ Giovanni Colantonio
Thirsty Suitors
Annapurna Interactive
When I performed Thirsty Suitors final yr at Tribeca Fest, I believed I had a reasonably agency grasp on what the sport was. It appeared like a story recreation impressed by Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, the place I’d be preventing off evil exes in turn-based RPG battles. It turns on the market’s much more to it than that. The new demo I attempted at Play Days as an alternative was a fully-fledged skateboarding recreation the place I used to be performing tips and combos in between these narrative moments. I’d be so occupied with that clean skating gameplay that I wouldn’t even get to its cooking system, which is a wholly totally different pillar of its gameplay construction. Thirsty Suitors continues to shock me each time I see it, so I can’t wait to see what’s in retailer for the total recreation.
Fae Farm
Phoenix Labs
Phoenix Labs is the most important recreation developer on this record. It is technically an unbiased firm, although, and its upcoming farming sim Fae Farm has that cozy indie recreation really feel. It’s a farming recreation within the vein of titles like Harvest Moon and Stardew Valley however emphasizes co-op play and the magical skills gamers have at their disposal. The recreation has a little bit of a Legend of Zelda-type really feel as gamers can discover an overworld and delve right into a dungeon. That stated, it’s additionally shaping as much as be a deep farming and life sim with plenty of crops to develop and objects for your home to craft. It most likely gained’t dethrone Stardew Valley as the very best within the style, lastly going hands-on with Fae Farm affirmed that it is without doubt one of the most promising titles on this present farming recreation increase. ~ Tomas Franzese
Editors’ Recommendations