8 Upcoming Indie Games That Should Be On Your Radar

Take a peek at the video game release schedule over the next 6 months and you’re likely to go weak at the knees. We’re certainly in for a roller coaster ride of wonderful entertainment, with everything from intriguing new IPs, long-awaited sequels, and even the annualized franchises making bold changes to their upcoming titles. Indeed, with such a whirlwind of hype surrounding the industry’s big guns, it would be easy to forget the upcoming projects of smaller independent studios, and that would be a massive shame because if you look closely, there are some absolute gems set to launch in the not too distant future. We’re big fans of indie game developers here at WGTC because they continue to prove that creativity and innovation is capable of trumping a mega budget, and we owe some of our favorite gaming experiences in recent years to these humble studios. Talent among indie devs certainly isn’t in short supply, but marketing muscle is a different story, and that’s largely why many of these games aren’t being talked about enough. In light of that fact, we’ve compiled a list of 8 games that we believe should be firmly on your radar for the rest of 2016 and early 2017. Cuphead Cuphead is the long awaited run and gun 2D side-scrolling title from developer Studio MDHR. Clearly inspired by 1930s cartoons, its gorgeous cel shaded graphics and brilliant audio design scream the classic cartoon design of that era. Gameplay had originally been touted only as boss battles, but has since been updated to include traditional platforming levels as well, hence the game’s frustratingly long development period. We’re expecting Cuphead to echo brutal platformers of yesteryear such as the classic Megaman games, which, in combination with its own dazzling aesthetic flavor, makes it one of the most exciting indie projects to grace the Xbox One. Now, if we could only get a firm release date for it.... Aragami A stealth ninja game set in feudal Japan, Aragami might be the spiritual successor to Tenchu that we’ve all been waiting for. The brainchild of Spanish indie developer Lince Works, Aragami is a third person action stealth game in which the player takes control of an undead assassin with a host of deadly supernatural abilities. In Aragami, stealth is very much the name of the game. Similar to Tenchu, sticking to the shadows and remaining unseen is the key to success, especially given that a single strike from an enemy will result in instant death. Thankfully, Aragami’s special abilities include the ability to manipulate the shadows that keep players unseen, and much of the gameplay revolves around tactically baiting enemies into shadow traps or extending their reach to ghost past unsuspecting guards. It all sounds like a wonderful blend of Tenchu and Dishonored, and luckily we won’t have to wait too long to get our hands on Aragami, as the game launches October 4th on Xbox One, PS4 and PC. Absolver Devolver Digital love to bring us cool indie games (Hotline Miami) and developer Slocap’s Absolver is the latest gem that the publisher has brought to light. Absolver is a PvP online melee action game that features a slick combat system inspired by different schools of martial arts. But this is no simple button mash beat em' up, as Absolver allows players to create and execute almost endless different combos thanks to a clever combat deck interface. More of an intimate RPG rather than a full MMO, players will form small groups to trade and quest co-operatively against other rival online teams. The concept of the story, too, sounds interesting, as your group attempts to piece together the fate of empire amid its eerie ruined locale, with the ultimate goal being to join the Absolver order. Hellblade: Senua's Sacrifice Hellblade isn't your average hack and slash video game. Sunua, the main protagonist, struggles with a mental condition that manifests itself in the form of hallucinations, and much of the games locale is set in this nightmarish hell that exists within her mind. It's certainly a bold premise, and we're fascinated to see how sensitive issues such as depression and anxiety can co-exist with a fast paced action game. Developed by Ninja Theory, the team behind Heavenly Sword, the game has been labeled a “AAA independent production,” which essentially means the small development team are set to deliver a slick level of production quality. What's more, we're expecting Ninja Theory's experience with Devil May Cry and Heavenly Sword to result in a some stellar melee combat. Hellblade is certainly a ambitious premise, and we're fascinated to see it live up to its potential to deliver a unique and moving glimpse into the life of those affected by anxiety and depression. Yooka-Laylee Yooka-Laylee is bringing back the platforming genre in a big way, and we’ve got absolutely no issue with that. If Ratchet and Clank’s success earlier this year taught us anything, it’s that there's plenty of room for more games of this ilk. And, indeed, Yooka-Laylee's dynamic Lizard and Bat duo look set to bring out our inner kid in an adventure packed with entertainment. In fact, it’s hard not to smile when you're watching gameplay demos, because Yooka-Laylee’s vibrant and whimsical environments just look so fun. Gameplay closely resembles Banjo Kazooe, which makes sense given developer Playtonic Games created that legendary platform franchise. Apart from typical platforming mechanics, Yooka-Laylee centers around collecting various items, including “Pagies,” an in-game currency that can be used unlock new worlds and hidden areas. Additionally, the game features a stack of whacky power-ups that grant special abilities, and transformations in which the player will take control of different vehicles. It all sounds like a recipe for a memorable 3D platformer with the pedigree to stand beside the most iconic Nintendo titles from yesteryear, except this time gamers can enjoy Yooka-Laylee on multiple platforms. Katana Zero Katana Zero is a lightning fast samurai action game by little known developer Askiisoft that promises to deliver a hugely entertaining 2D gameplay experience resembling something like Ninja Gaiden meets Hotline Miami; a combination of merciless difficulty and high-score chasing arcade style gameplay. Rather like Hotline Miami, Katana Zero oozes 80s charm, its retro neon aesthetic accentuated by a funky synth sound track, VHS security footage (acting as the game's cameras), and flamboyant dialogue. It also features a rhythmic and elegant combat system, emphasizing carefully timed combo sequences via its matrix-like bullet slow down mechanics. This is a game that encourages precision, rewarding surgical combos with an addictive point scoring system. Chasm Chasm is a dungeon crawler that feels distinctly Castlevania both in appearance and in its gameplay mechanics. Evidently, Chasm also combines some distinctly Prince of Persia platforming with procedurally generated level design. It’s Metroidvania with a twist, in which the game's engine randomly generates different paths, making sure that no two playthroughs offer the same experience. It looks as though it could be the game Castelvania fans have wanted since the glory days of Symphony of the Night, a peak in the series that has never quite been repeated. Indeed, perhaps most exciting is Chasm’s emphasis on RPG systems akin to that seminal title. The game will feature items, weapons, and level progression in combination with its side scrolling platformer gameplay. It’s a formula that elevated Castlevania to legendary status, and given the stomping success of Axiom Verge, you shouldn’t bet against Chasm to reach similar heights when it releases early 2017. We Happy Few Kickstarted back in June 2015, Compulsion Games’ We Happy Few is a first person survival adventure game set in a retro futuristic dystopia. Heavily inspired by Aldous Huxley’s iconic novel, Brave New World, the inhabitants of the game’s procedurally generated fictional town, Wellington Wells, are controlled by a sedative called “Joy” that artificially induces pleasure. And similar to that iconic novel, the story centers around escaping the clutches of game’s twisted conformist society. In order to do so, players will have to rely on evasion and stealth, scavenging supplies and dodging the game’s mentally deranged law enforcement. What's so appealing about We Happy Few is its bold and alternative thematic premise, and it serves as a prime example of the creative style that indie gaming has become so adored for.