A somewhat eclectic collection of some of my favorite indie games I've played in the last year, bc @thievinghippo asked :3c
The Roottrees Are Dead - Puzzle / detective game
You are tasked with filling out and untangling a complicated family tree after the current heirs to a rich and influential family die tragically in a plane crash. You have to dig your way through diaries, old family photos, library books, and the internet ca 1998 to puzzle together the family tree bit by bit, discovering some old family secrets along the way.
It was originally a free itch.io game that just recently came out with an official release on Steam with some polish and custom art. One of my favorite games I've played in a long time, and it gave me a real itch I'm struggling to scratch in any other way.
If you're into deduction games like Return of the Obra Dinn and The Case of the Golden Idol I highly recommend you check this one out. (And if you've played neither of those what are you doing, GO! GO NOW! Golden Idol is even on sale for like $5 rn, a goddamn steal).
Cloudpunk - Open world sci-fi
You work for Cloudpunk, an illegal delivery service in a dystopian cyberpunk future. The world is filled with strange and interesting characters that you meet along the way, and the game frequently throws ethical dilemmas your way that don't always have an "obvious" answer.
The blocky 3D artstyle, combined with absolutely gorgeous lighting and a stellar soundtrack, creates a truly unforgettable atmosphere to spelunk around in.
The Long Dark - Open world survival
I don't know how I've completely missed this game up until now, because it's exactly what I've been looking for since forever.
TLD is a survival game in its purest form. There are no zombies, or cannibals, or even other people. Just you, an unforgiving wilderness, and the echoes of the past lingering everywhere you go.
It's super customizable in terms of difficulty, and you can basically do anything between a casual winter camping simulator and a death march where your days are numbered no matter what you do. It also has a very active community that create custom challenges and mods to tailor the experience even further.
The art style is simple yet distinct, offering some downright gorgeous scenery, with this almost painted watercolor look to it. And the soundtrack is subtle yet effective, especially coupled with an intense soundscape of wildlife and harsh winds. I don't think I've ever played a game that made me feel so truly, desperately alone, but in the best way possible.
Arcade Paradise - Work simulator / arcade bonanza
You are a college dropout at the mercy of your Big Business dad who has decided to give you one last chance: take responsibility for an old laundromat he owns, and make it turn a profit. There are also a few arcade cabinets in the back of the laundromat, but you are told not to bother with those. What if you did, though?
What initially starts out as a busywork simulation game slowly morphs into an old school arcade simulator, with dozens of unique and playable arcade cabinets. And the soundtrack fucking slaps.
This was one of the biggest surprises for me, as I originally went in thinking it was just a standard work simulator, and was so pleasantly surprised when it turned out to be so much more.
Orwell - Puzzle / detective game
As you might have guessed from the title, Orwell is set in a dystopian surveillance state, where you are one of its agents spying on everyone else. Social media, private emails and texts, people's own computers and phones, it's all at your disposal.
You are tasked with finding the culprit behind a series of crimes, burdened with the power to decide the fate of everyone you investigate, depending on what information you choose to relay to your superiors. It's a game about ethics and choices, and how easily the narrative can change based on how it's presented.
Another game I can recommend is Song of Farca, which has very similar mechanics but a slightly different premise.
Heaven's Vault - Language puzzle game
This one's bit of a ducy.
You are an archeologist, studying a mysterious civilization that came before you, slowly deciphering their language and uncovering the secrets of the past.
The setting is hard to pin down exactly, with a light mix of grimy sci-fi and fantasy, in a world where people are mostly separated from each other by a wast "Nebula" of rivers. You are one of very few people capable of sailing the "Nebula" in your ship, exploring the far reaches of the known (and unknown) space to puzzle together pieces of those who came before.
The game is meant to be played many times over, with the translations getting harder and harder each time as the sentence structuring becomes more complex. There are also slight changes in the narrative over time, and the idea of repetition is thematically important, but I don't want to spoil too much here, as it's such a joy to slowly discover all these things as you play.
(Hot tip: the game can feel a bit slow on repeated replays, and I highly recommend this mod that helps speed things along without making it feel like you're rushing).
Super unique setting and gameplay, and a hidden gem imo. The graphics are also very unique, with a 3D world and 2D sprites that leave a "ghosting" trail as they move around.
Although this is a little different, if you played Chants of Sennaar and want more of something similar this might be worth a try!
You might have played / heard of these before, but either way these are some of my recent indie favorites!
