Welcome to the introductory version of the Indie Appreciation Thread!
Before to start, I'll briefly explain the criteria followed in these threads. Basically, a game has to meet at least one of these three conditions:
1) Being developed (not necessarily published) by an indie company, or a small or medium-sized one (whether it's properly independent or not).
2) Being relatively unknown, that is, not being a big and easily recognizable brand or belonging to an already established franchise.
3) Not having a big budget.
As you can see, the criteria is pretty simple, but also kind of subjective, so if you feel that a certain game shouldn't be here or notice that there's some other lacking (or there's something wrong), please tell me.
And here is the list with the meanings of the text formats and the abbreviations used, respectively, in the Platforms and Genre section of the tables.
The release platforms of any given game are displayed using the following structure:
Bold/Regular/Italics (Parenthesis) [Square bracket],
where
| Bold = platforms where the game is releasing. |
| Regular = platforms where the game is already released. |
| Italics = platforms where a different version of the same game is released. |
| (Parenthesis) = platforms where the game is releasing at a later date. |
| [Square bracket] = any other additional information. |
While genres are abbreviated as follows:
| ARC = Arcade |
| SPRT = Sports |
| RAC = Racing |
| FGT = Fighting |
| ACT = Action |
| RTHM = Rhythm |
| FIT = Fitness |
| BT'M = Beat'em up |
| SHT'M = Shoot'em up |
| HNS = Hack'n'slash |
| SOUL = Souls-like |
| SHTR = Shooter |
| BR = Battle Royale |
| SUR = Survival |
| PLAT = Platformer |
| METR = Metroidvania |
| ADV = Adventure |
| GADV = Graphic Adventure |
| RPG = Rol-playing game |
| ROG = Roguelike/Roguelite |
| VN = Visual novel |
| NAR = Narrative |
| HOR = Horror |
| STR = Strategy |
| TB = Turn-based |
| RT = Real-time |
| TD = Tower Defense |
| BLD = Building |
| D-BLD = Desk-Building |
| CARD = Card |
| PUZ = Puzzle |
| STLH = Stealth |
| SIM = Simulation |
| MP = Multiplayer |
| PRTY = Party |
| COOP = Cooperative |
| MMO = Massively multiplayer online |
| MMORPG = Massively multiplayer online rol-playing game |
| MOBA = Multiplayer online battle arena |
And that's all. Have fun!
2021 Indie Releases
January
(16 games)
Highlights
| GAME | GENRE | METACRITIC | PLATFORMS |
|
Skul: The Hero Slayer |
ROG PLAT | 82 | Steam (PS4/XBO/NSW) |
|
Cyber Shadow |
ACT PLAT | 77-81 | PS4/XBO/NSW/Steam |
|
Project Winter |
MP SUR | 75 | XBO*/Steam (PS4/NSW) |
|
Olija |
ACT ADV | 77-79 | PS4/XBO/NSW/Steam |
|
The Pedestrian |
PUZ PLAT | 81 | PS4/PS5 (XBO/NSW/XS) |
Other games
| GAME | GENRE | METACRITIC | PLATFORMS |
| Everspace 2 | SHTR | - | Steam/GOG (PS4/XBO/GOG) [Early Access] |
| ENDER LILIES: Quietus of the Knights | 2D ACT RPG | - | Steam (PS4/XBO/NSW/XS/PS5) [Early Access] |
| Neoverse | D-BLD ROG | 63 | NSW/XBO/Steam (PS4) |
| Temtem | MMORPG | - | Steam [Early Access] |
| King Arthur: Knight's Tale | TB STR RPG | - | Steam (XS/PS5) [Early Access] |
| Auto Chess | STR | - | PS4/NSW/EGS/Android/iOS [F2P] |
| Curious Expedition 2 | TB NAR ROG | 68-75 | Steam/PS4/XBO/NSW |
| Disjunction | STLH ACT RPG | 67-77 | PS4/XBO/NSW/Steam/GOG |
| Journey to the Savage Planet | ADV | 65-78 | Steam/PS4/XBO/NSW/EGS |
| TOHU | PUZ ADV | 66-77 | PS4/XBO/NSW/Steam |
| Silver Chains | TER | 51 | PS4/NSW/Steam |
February
(42 games)
Highlights
| GAME | GENRE | METACRITIC | PLATFORMS |
|
Haven |
RPG | 78 | PS4/NSW/EGS/XBO/XS/PS5/Steam/GOG |
|
Little Nightmares II |
PUZ PLAT HOR ADV | 81-83 | PS4/XBO/NSW/Steam/GOG/Stadia (XS/PS5) |
|
Anodyne 2: Return to Dust |
ACT ADV | 78 | PS4/XBO/NSW/XS/PS5/Steam/GOG/EGS |
|
Natsuki Chronicles |
SHT'M | 80-83 | PS4/Steam [West release] |
|
ALTDEUS: Beyond Chronos |
VN | 78 | SteamVR (PSVR) |
|
Thomas Was Alone |
PUZ PLAT | 77-88 | NSW/PS4/XBO/Steam |
|
Curse of the Dead Gods |
ROG ACT | 78-90 | PS4/XBO/NSW/Steam/EGS |
|
Rogue Heroes: Ruins of Tasos |
ROG ADV | 77-81 | NSW/Steam |
Other games
| GAME | GENRE | METACRITIC | PLATFORMS |
| Cresteaju | RPG | - | NSW [West release] |
| Destruction AllStars | ACT RAC | 63 | PS5 |
| Blue Fire | PLAT | 71 | NSW/Steam (PS4/XBO) |
| Conarium | HOR ADV | 65-71 | NSW/PS4/XBO/Steam/GOG [North America release] |
| Elemental Knights Online R | MMORPG | - | PS4/NSW/iOS/Android |
| Kowloon Highschool Chronicle | RPG | 71 | NSW [West release] |
| NUTS | ADV | - | NSW/Steam/Arcade |
| Arrog | PUZ ADV | 69 | PS4/PS5/Steam/iOS/Android |
| Home Sweet Home: Survive | HOR | - | Steam [Early Access] |
| We Were Here | COOP ADV | 63 | PS4/XBO/Steam |
| Aground | SUR RPG | - | PS4/XBO/NSW/EGS/Steam |
| Gunbarich | SHT'M | 66 | Steam/NSW |
| #DRIVE | ACT RAC | 67 | NSW/iOS/Android |
| Fallen Legion Revenants | ACT RPG | 54 | NSW/PS4 [North America release. Feb 19 in Europe, Feb 27 in Oceania] |
| Moose Life | SHT'M | - | PS4/PSVR/Steam |
| Speed Limit | ARC ACT | 68-71 | PS4/XBO/NSW/Steam |
| 30XX | ROG SHTR PLAT | - | Steam [Early Access] |
| Shattered: Tale of the Forgotten King | ACT RPG | 67 | Steam |
| Cathedral | METR | 71 | NSW/Steam |
| Raspberry Mash | ROG ACT | - | NSW/Steam |
| Steven Universe: Unleash the Light | ACT ADV RPG | - | PS4/XBO/NSW/Steam/Arcade |
| The Sinking City | ACT ADV HOR | 61-76 | PS5/PS4/XBO/NSW |
| Dry Drowning | VN | 68-80 | NSW/Steam/GOG (PS4) |
| Horned Knight | ACT PLAT | - | PS4/XBO/NSW/Steam |
| We Were Here Too | COOP ADV | 69-72 | PS4/XBO/Steam |
| We Were Here Together | COOP ADV | 62-77 | PS4/XBO/Steam |
| Pumpkin Jack | ACT ADV | 73-80 | PS4/XBO/NSW/Steam/GOG/EGS |
| Code: Realize ~Wintertide Miracles~ | ADV | - | NSW/PSV/PS4 [West release] |
| DOTORI | ADV | - | NSW/Steam |
| Hellpoint | ACT RPG | 50-68 | NSW/PS4/XBO/Steam (XS/PS5) [Physical release on Feb 26] |
| Legal Dungeon | ADV | - | NSW/Steam |
| Mighty Fight Federation | FGT | - | PS4/NSW/PS5/Steam [Only Europe on Switch, North America soon after] |
| Yupitergrad | PUZ PLAT | 67-75 | PSVR/Vive/Rift/Index [Physical release on Mar 12] |
| Cardaclysm: Shards of the Four | ACT D-BLD STR RPG | - | Steam |
March
(54 games)
Highlights
| GAME | GENRE | METACRITIC | PLATFORMS |
|
Everhood |
ADV RPG | 81-83 | NSW/Steam |
|
Gnosia |
RPG VN | 82 | NSW/PSV |
|
Loop Hero |
D-BLD ROG | 82 | Steam |
|
Two Point Hospital: JUMBO Edition |
STR | 83 | PS4/XBO/NSW |
|
Battle Brothers |
TB STR RPG | 77-80 | NSW/Steam |
|
Saviors of Sapphire Wings & Stranger of Sword City Revisited |
RPG | 83 | NSW/Steam [North America release. March 19 in Europe, March 23 in Oceania] |
|
Signs of the Sojourner |
NAR CARD | 77-82 | PS4/XBO/NSW/Steam |
|
Terraria |
ACT ADV | 82-84 | Stadia/PS4/XBO/NSW/Steam/GOG |
|
Overcooked! All You Can Eat |
SIM STR | 84 | PS4/XBO/NSW/Steam/XS/PS5 |
|
Genesis Noir |
ADV | 81 | XBO*/Steam |
|
It Takes Two |
ACT ADV | 85-89 | PS4/XBO/XS/PS5/Steam |
|
Kaze and the Wild Masks |
PLAT | 77-83 | PS4/XBO/NSW/Steam/Stadia |
|
Disco Elysium: The Final Cut |
RPG | 91 | PS4/PS5/Steam/GOG/EGS/Stadia (NSW/XS) |
|
Narita Boy |
ACT ADV | 76-81 | PS4/XBO*/NSW/Steam |
|
Another Eden: The Cat Beyond Time and Space |
RPG | 90 | Steam/NSW/iOS/Android [F2P] |
Other games
| GAME | GENRE | METACRITIC | PLATFORMS |
| PixelJunk Raiders | ROG | 49 | Stadia [Free for Stadia Pro members] |
| Enlisted | MMOFPS | - | PS5/XBO/XS [Closed beta] |
| Maquette | PUZ ADV | 70 | PS4/PS5/Steam |
| Bang-On Balls: Chronicles | PLAT | - | Steam [Early Access] |
| Kill It With Fire | ACT SIM | 68-78 | PS4/XBO/NSW/iOS/Android/Steam |
| Laid-Back Camp -Virtual- Lake Motosu | ADV | - | PS4/NSW/Steam/iOS/Android |
| Neoverse | D-BLD ROG | 63 | PS4/XBO/NSW/Steam |
| POSTAL Redux | SHT'M | 54 | PS4/NSW/Steam |
| Crayta | ACT ADV PRTY | 71 | EGS/Stadia [Starter version is F2P. Premium versions already on Stadia] |
| Smashing The Battle: Ghost Soul | HNS ACT ADV | - | PS4 [North America release] |
| Pascal's Wager: Definitive Edition | ACT ADV RPG | 69-78 | Steam/iOS/Android |
| Smash Legends | MP ACT | - | Steam/iOS/Android [Early Access] |
| Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning | ACT RPG | 72-81 | NSW/PS4/XBO/Steam |
| Mundaun | ADC ADV HOR | 72-76 | PS4/XBO/XS/PS5/Steam/EGS |
| Stubbs the Zombie in Rebel Without a Pulse | ACT | 51-75 | PS4/XBO/NSW/Steam/GOG/Xbox |
| Dungeon Defenders: Awakened | STR RPG | 74 | XBO/Steam (PS4/NSW) |
| DARQ: Complete Edition | PUZ ADV | - | NSW/XS/PS5/PS4/XBO |
| Dogworld | PLAT | - | Steam (NSW) |
| Minute of Islands | NAR PUZ PLAT | - | PS4/XBO/NSW/Steam/GOG |
| QV | ACT ADV | 74 | Steam/NSW |
| Can't Drive This | RAC | 65 | PS4/XBO/NSW/XS/PS5/Steam |
| Root Film | VN | 67 | PS4/NSW [West release] |
| Vaporum: Lockdown | RPG | 68 | NSW/Steam/GOG/Humble (PS4/XBO) |
| Sanity of Morris | HOR ADV | - | PS4/XBO/Steam |
| Paradise Lost | NAR ADV | 69-71 | PS4/XBO/Steam/GOG |
| Black Legend | TB STR RPG | 56-57 | PS4/XBO/NSW/XS/PS5/Steam |
| El Hijo: A Wild West Tale | STLH | 73 | PS4/XBO/NSW/Steam/GOG/Stadia |
| Evil Inside | HOR | 43 | PS4/XBO/NSW/XS/PS5/Steam |
| MazM: The Phantom of the Opera | ADV | - | NSW/Steam |
| Paperball Deluxe | PLAT | - | NSW |
| Cooking Mama: Cookstar | SIM | 46 | PS4/NSW |
| Last Oasis | SUR MMO | - | XBO/XS/Steam [Game Preview / Early Access] |
| Spacebase Startopia | STR SIM | 58-69 | PS4/XBO/XS/PS5/Steam (NSW) |
| Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth | METR | 73 | Steam |
| Auto Chess | STR | - | PS5/PS4/NSW/EGS/iOS/Android [F2P] |
| UnderMine | ACT ADV ROG | 54-67 | PS4/XBO/NSW/Steam |
| Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria Simulator | SIM | - | PS4/XBO/NSW/Steam |
| Outbuddies DX | METR | 66-70 | PS4/XBO/NSW/Steam/GOG |
| The Binding of Isaac: Repentance | RPG ADV | - | Steam (PS4/NSW/PS5) |
Death Crown, a real-time strategy game which is already in Steam, was supposed to launch in March for PS4/XBO/NSW, but it's nowhere to be seen on any of those stores and no new annoucement has been made, as far as I know. Totally lost in combat.
If you feel that a certain game shouldn't be here or notice that there's something lacking/wrong, please tell me.
Last edited by Verter - on 01 July 2021I'm mostly a lurker now.
