Asura the Striker
Space Harrier was a beloved game and we have seen spiritual sequels already such as one from Yu Suzuki himself in the form of Air Twister, but Asura the Striker looks to be different. This is a game that doesn’t just want to match the classics but surpass them and from what has been playable in the trial version that was available, the developers are hitting that goal. Bigger and Better and with visuals that are striking ( pun intended) Asura the Striker will be a must-play for fans of classic arcade games
Blade Chimera
Team Ladybug proved themselves to be excellent at Metroidvanias with Touhou Luna Nights and their new upcoming Metroidvania Blade Chimera sees the studio taking what they learned and going further. Playing as a demon hunter who has lost his memories and is now exploring the world together with a sword that is a transformed Lumina demon, you will collect new skills and learn to transform the sword in different ways. The game also looks to take a different approach to narrative storytelling leaving open many possibilities with this one.
Quest Master
The idea of a Zelda Maker game sounds like a good concept but has proven very hard to pull off with many indies falling short. Quest Master looks to change that, with a very detailed system, co-op, the ability to create your own action RPGs and more. So much variety was shown in the reveal trailer alone and what new info we have is enticing. This may be the game Zelda fans will crave.
Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore
This game may confuse people, because why create a spiritual sequel to the infamous CD I Zelda games? Well, because those games do have a fanbase and many feel the concept can be done right. Arzette: The Jewel of Faramore looks to not only take the basic concept of the infamous games and make something better out of them, but the developers have even gotten many of the voice actors from the CD I games to voice roles here. Perhaps something good will come from the CD I games’ existence after all.
Penny’s Big Breakaway
A new IP from the makers of Sonic Mania, Penny’s Big Breakaway is a brilliant-looking 3D platformer that looks to take inspiration from the best of the N64 and Sega Saturn era. Penny and her YoYo must go through an offbeat and kooky journey and everything shown so far tells us the developers are pushing their skills to the limit with new ideas and new creative levels. This will hopefully satisfy many fans of old-school platformers.
Warside
Advance Wars has seen a massive resurgence lately, both with games inspired by it like Tiny Metal and War Groove, as well as the recent remakes of the GBA games. The change in graphics may not be for everyone though, and there were some gameplay changes that didn’t go over well with some hardcore fans. Warside is answering those complaints with a classic pixel art look and aims to be the true successor to Advance Wars. With an innovative take on the format, this could be the game to show up Nintendo themselves.
(Disclaimer: This author backed Warside’s Kickstarter when the campaign was active)
Pepper Grinder
Gimmick platforms are hit or miss but Pepper Grinder immediately stood out to me. A game where you constantly use a giant grinder to move through areas instantly reminded me of one of my favourite GBA games Drill Dozer, and while the concept is a bit different here, the game looks instantly inviting. Pepper Grinder looks to be both fast-paced and exciting in terms of exploration and level traversal and has a lot going for it so far.
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes
A Spiritual Sequel to the classic Suikoden games from the original developers, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes has a lot of pressure on it to do well. Fortunately, it seems the developers are up to the task because the game looks truly amazing and seems like it will recapture what we loved about Suikoden while pushing the mechanics forward with new ideas. Fans of classic JRPGs should definitely keep an eye on this.
Skald: Against the Black Priory
Retro-style RPGs are making a comeback with titles like Moonring and more, Skald: Against the Black Priory Stands out. A retro-style party-based RPG set in a grim-dark fantasy world of tragic heroes, violent deaths and Lovecraftian horror, a lot is going on here and fans of old-school RPGs and modern RPGs alike will have much to enjoy here.
Toxic Crusaders
We are in a new golden age of beat-em-ups and following the success of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge, other classic franchises are being eyed for modern beat-em-up adaptations. Toxic Crusaders is not just a revival of the cartoon based on the classic film from Troma, but also looks to have numerous references and shoutouts to other Troma properties. With a recent demo on Steam showing off the gameplay, Toxic Crusaders looks like it could be one of the best beat-em-ups this year.
And there we have ten indie games to keep an eye on this year. Some may be delayed and not every game has a solid release date yet, but what we have are games that have a lot of potential and should definitely not be missed.
We will return to the list at the end of the year to see how the games did or what was delayed.
But what indie games are you excited for? Let us know!
I played the demo of Asura the Striker some time ago and it was a pretty boring experience.