This year was filled with a wide variety of blockbuster games, making some indie games easy to miss behind the likes of Super Mario Odyssey and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. That doesn’t mean gamers shouldn’t miss the games from the little leagues.
Outlast 2
Outlast 2 was released April 25, a perfect time for early summer and late spring games. However, Outlast 2 had a huge marketing push other games lacked. The game did not have a big publisher to market, leaving the game at risk of not selling. The market push didn’t stop Outlast 2 from being an intense horror game that expanded on every frightening front.
With improved graphics, intimidating enemy variety and a expansive level layout, running away has never been scarier. Featuring an ambitious story that’ll ultimately leave players questioning every move, this is definitely a game to play.
Little Nightmares
Little Nightmares is similar to INSIDE and Limbo. You take control of a small, raincoat-clad character named Six, and attempt to survive through a tormented and twisted world: the mysterious Maw, a dangerous, sunken palace filled with human-like monsters.
With sprawling level design, simple yet chilling puzzles put the player's mind to work. Tension and wonder fill every room you visit, plus a shutter of anxiety and a hint of horror and mystery.
What Remains of Edith Finch
What Remains of Edith Finch is a story-driven narrative experience centered around the meaning of death and leaving a family legacy worth remembering. Each room brings a short story of the demise of a particular family member.
Narrative-driven games are what indie company Giant Sparrow does best, which explains why the game won best narrative from the Game Awards in 2017. It leaves players with senses of both warmth and despair, but it’ll be worth it in the end.
Life is Strange: Before the Storm
Life is Strange: Before the Storm takes place before the events of Life is Strange. Featuring Chole as the main character instead of Sam provides the player with new ground to cover, especially since the story covers Chole and Rachel’s relationship. If you’re a fan of story-based games, also known as “walking simulators,” give this a try. It’s also a must-play for Life is Strange fans.
Batman: The Enemy Within
Batman: The Enemy Within falls right after the first season of Batman: The TellTale Series. Just after a failed assassination attempt of Bruce Wayne, Batman is left to deal with unanswered questions and loose ends. With new villains, new story and tons of crime solving, The Enemy Within does what a sequel should do: build from the foundation. Building characters, relationships and story arcs is what TellTale does best, and it hasn't disappointed with the latest installment.
Night in the Woods
Night in the Woods tackles a serious subject matter that is often overlooked: the aftermath of dropping out of college. Specifically, it discusses how a person adjusts to regular life and tries to find a purpose in the small town they were raised in. It’s a coming-of-age story that many fear.
Along with the story, Night in the Woods comes with 2D side-scrolling action and a ton of mini games. If you like a focused narrative experience, hop into the woods and give this a go.
Uncharted: The Lost Legacy
Uncharted: The Lost Legacy leaves the main series and instead offers a fresh experience while still providing the Uncharted gameplay fans love.
The Lost Legacy keeps Nathan Drake at home and instead bring Chloe and Naydine along for the ride. These two work together and overcome their differences to make it out alive with the treasure in new uncharted territories.
Nier: Automata
Nier: Automata brings arcade-style hack-and-slash action and a surprisingly deep story that requires more than one playthrough to get the true ending. The story is set in a futuristic war against androids and machines. The story covers morale, religion and what makes humans human.
The gameplay flows seamlessly through the story, showing that there's no need to sacrifice one for the other. With a killer soundtrack to accompany the intense battles, there’s no need to sleep on it.
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice is an intense, story-driven action-adventure game from developer Ninja Developer.
Ninja Developer made Hellblade in the hopes of creating the first triple-A indie game. The studio did that by using the same production as big games, but in half the time and with small-game creativity. The game was driven to critical success by its tough subject matter, mental health.
