Looks like a bumper year for off-the-wall games
JustJust before the holiday, I mentioned on Twitter that I’m gathering a story about the most anticipated games of 2020. I asked for suggestions, especially indie games, to include. list. The response was so great, that I couldn’t even begin to adjust all the games proposed to our original 50 list.
The list of the top 50 has included highly anticipated independent games including 12 minutes, Carrion, Griftlands, Minutes of the Islands, Nuts, The Red Lantern, Sable, Saturnalia, Skatebird. Spelunky 2, Spiritfarer, and more. And we’re just weeks away from the release of Kentucky Route Zero Act 5, part of one of the most important game series ever. But there are so many curious and intriguing independent games coming soon, I want to highlight a few more gems.
Just for the record, I rush to define standalone games here as games created by an individual or a small group that are not owned by a large company.
This is not a sure list of interesting indie games coming out this year. But they are the ones who caught my eye. Please add your suggestions in the comments below.
AN AIRPORT FOR ALIENS CURRENTLY RUN BY DOGS
Also known as Dog Dog Airport Game, the game player’s first-person story-telling riddle involves navigating airports outside the world, run by slightly incompetent hounds . Interacting with stock images of mutations through simple dialogue trees opens up a humorous interplanetary road trip that inspired the first adult TV shows. It is about to launch unannounced gaming consoles and Windows PCs.
[Disclosure: Xalavier Nelson Jr. is a regular contributor to Polygon.]
BACKBONE
Howard Lotor is a panda, working as a private detective, prowling the average roads of a Vancouver dermatologist. Adorably portrayed in pixel art, the Backbone rib story involves sneaking and searching for clues while interrogating potential customers through dialogue options. Developed by Eggnut, it comes with Linux, Mac, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows PC and Xbox One. Free demo is available on Steam.
BEFORE WE LEAVE
Hexagon Civilization Builders Before we leave Balancing Monkey game take the standard turn-based strategic formula of armed colonists and eliminate violence. Players emerge from post-apocalyptic underground bases to rebuild broken societies, organize resources, and learn skills and technologies. But ancient whale aliens must be convinced that developing citizens have learned lessons from the past. It was released, initially, as an Epic Game Store exclusive, with Steam to follow.
BEST FRIEND FOREVER
Raise a dog, walk the dog, meet other dogs, start dating. It’s the gist of Best Friend Forever from Starcolt based in New Zealand, in which a diverse community of dog lovers come together in search of romance. It is coming to Mac, Nintendo Switch and Windows PC on Valentine’s Day (February 14).
BLOODROOTS
Bloodroots is a melee fighting game viewed from above, in which Mr. Wolf, a woodcutter with extremely violent hobby, moves through many different environments at high speed, taking items and using them. they throw away weapons. When we saw the game last spring, we called Paper Cult Creation non-stop, stylish, bloody and fun. Its life comes to Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and Windows PC, through the Epic Game Store.
CALICO
This is Animal Crossing: New Horizons’ year, but if your passion is dedicated to cats, then Calico may offer a sweet alternative. Players take on the role of a Muslim magical girl, who is tasked with renovating a shabby cafe to serve its customers, filling it with beautiful items and creatures. lovely. It will be coming to Steam this summer.
ELK
Elk has the look and vibe of an old-style children’s TV show, in which a minimal animated 2D character meets new friends and helps them overcome many fun puzzles. But this is not a childish play. Stories are based on real-life events, some of which are emotionally painful and morally disturbing. Developed by Copenhagen-based Triple Topping, it will come to Mac and Windows PC.
HAVEN
French costume The Game Bakers is famous for its Furi fighting game, but Haven is a completely different type of game. It has a romantic role-playing game, in which two lovers (with a solo option available) fly through a beautiful alien landscape like No Man Man Sky, collecting and crafting things along the way. There is a storytelling element in the game, including dialogue options and a bit of sleepiness in the bedroom. It will come to Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows PC and Xbox One.
IN OTHER WATERS
In Other Waters uses a minimalist user interface to simulate artificial intelligence that tracks and guides the discovery of an underwater biologist. When the story unfolds, adventurers gather information, sample and investigate curiosities. It has a game about aliens, but the goal is not to shoot plasma, but to discover the truth. Created by Jump Over The Age, it will be coming to Steam this year.
INKULINATI
Based on the aesthetic of a medieval manuscript, Yaza Games, Ink Inkati is a turn-based fighting game in which creatures are painted by the player before entering the battle. The game also draws most of its humor from Middle Ages marginalia, with bizarre shapes as they battle pious nuns. It looks gorgeous and will be coming to Steam this year.
LIGHTMATTER
Placed in the Portal-esque installation, Lightmatter is a first-person fighting puzzle game in which players must avoid darkness at all costs. Game Tunnel Vision helps to freely use light sources such as beams and lasers, as well as reflexes. It will arrive on Steam on January 15, with the first hour of the game being played for free.
LUNA: THE SHADOW DUST
Lantern Studio, a beautifully drawn highlight adventure using clever puzzles and sublime soundtracks to tell the story of its 2D picture book. Players can solve physical and light puzzles taking on the role of a boy, or his mysterious companion. It will come to Linux, Mac and Windows in February.
PLAYTHING
Plaything is all about interacting with a variety of creatures and reacting to their emotional responses, which vary according to their individuality. Players tick, give gifts and play with each creature while nurturing its basic needs. Finally, like a child growing up to adulthood, this creature grows and moves on. It is produced by Will Anderson and Niall Tessier Lavigne and is coming soon on Windows PC.
PLEASE, DO TOUCH THE ARTWORK
Studio Waterzooi developer description Please, Do not touch the artwork as a relaxing and meditative color puzzle game. Players fool around with modern art patterns like Mondrian, Malevich and Kandinsky to create their own works. It is coming on Windows PC as well as mobile.
THE PROCESSION TO CALVARY
Joe Richardson, the sequel to Four Last Things is another Renaissance art cartoon that he cut, tore and pasted to create a clever and humorous animation of style jokes. Monty Python. Upcoming processing will come to Linux, Mac and Windows PC.
RÖKI
Röki is a non-violent Scandinavian folk tale in which a girl enters a dark forest in search of a family. Along the way, she found fascinating artifacts, encountered strange creatures and solved puzzles. The lovely-looking adventure of Polygon Treehouse, coming soon on Nintendo Switch and Windows PC.
THE SUICIDE OF RACHEL FOSTER
One-O-One Gone-style murder mystery tells the story of a woman returning to her family’s desert hotel, only to find the ghost of the past. While a snowstorm rages outside, players are confined to spooky hotels, offering the opportunity for long and frightening hallway shots. Rachel Foster ‘s suicide will come to Windows PC on February 19.
WAY TO THE WOODS
Anthony Tan has been working on the lovely Way to the Woods since 2015, when he was still a teenager. The game took a big step forward at E3 2019 when Microsoft announced a new trailer. This is a story-focused adventure in which players take on the role of a mother deer and children seeking to escape an urban trap and return to nature. It will come to Windows PC and Xbox One, including the Xbox Game Pass.
WAYWARD STRAND
Ghost Pattern Storytelling Game Tells about the adventures of a teenage girl as she explores a special aerial hospital. Using a dialogue tree and her own investigative abilities, she learns about the hospital patient’s life, as well as the hospital’s own secrets. Wayward Strand is coming soon on mobile devices, Macs and Windows PCs.
WEAVING TIDES
Weaving Tides is one of a handful of platform games. Players take on the role of a small dragon running through the weaving scene, using weaver’s skills to solve the puzzle. Watch Feathers, coming soon on Windows PC and Mac.
( Source: Polygon )
Thank you all for contacting us with suggestions for independent games this year. Please use the comments to highlight the independent games you are looking forward to, or you are working on. We can report more on these and other indie games in the coming months.
🥇 News Game Now 